Chapter 59

Emma's POV

The morning after Eva’s engagement party, I woke up to an empty bed. The space where Ryan had been lying just hours ago was now cool.

I lay there for a moment, staring up at the ceiling, trying to summon the energy to get up. The events of the night before played on a loop in my mind—the way Ryan had held me, his arm draped protectively around my waist, his warm breath tickling the back of my neck. It had felt so real, so right, that I’d almost forgotten we were just pretending.

Almost.

But now, in the harsh light of day, reality had come crashing back in. I wasn’t sure where Ryan had gone, but the house was still quiet, everyone else likely sleeping in after the party. I should have been relieved for a moment of solitude, but instead, I felt an inexplicable need to find him.

I slipped out of bed, grabbed my robe, and padded down the hallway. As I made my way through the house, I noticed that the door leading out to the garden was slightly ajar. Curious, I stepped outsid