Share
Chapter 61
Related chapters
Hired Fiance Chapter 62
Emma's POV "Why don’t we go for a walk after breakfast?" Ryan suggested, squeezing my hand lightly. "I’d love to explore more of the estate with you.""That sounds lovely," my grandmother chimed in, clearly pleased with the idea. "It’s a beautiful day for it."I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. My emotions were too close to the surface, too raw. The idea of spending more time alone with Ryan, of being out in the open where anyone could see us, filled me with a mix of excitement and dread. How much longer could I keep this up before I completely lost myself in the illusion we had created?After we finished breakfast, Ryan insisted on cleaning up, much to my grandmother’s amusement. She watched us with a fond smile as we worked side by side, Ryan washing the dishes while I dried them. It was such a simple, domestic task, but it felt strangely intimate like we were a real couple going about our morning routine.At one point, Ryan bumped his shoulder against mine playfully, causing
Hired Fiance Chapter 63
Emma's POV Eventually, we made our way back to the house, where my mother and grandmother were waiting for us on the terrace, sipping tea and chatting animatedly. When they saw us approaching, they both smiled, clearly pleased to see us together."Did you two have a nice walk?" my mother asked, her eyes twinkling with amusement."We did," Ryan replied, his voice warm as he glanced down at me. "The estate is beautiful. I can see why you love it here."My mother beamed, clearly pleased by his compliment. "I’m glad you think so, Ryan. You’re always welcome here.""Thank you, Mrs. Wales," Ryan said, his smile was genuine. "That means a lot."As we joined them on the terrace, my grandmother motioned for us to sit down. "Come, sit with us," she said, patting the seat next to her. " Tell us everything about how you met, your first date, " Mom said.We told them the story we had rehearsed with dates. Ryan even showed them our photographs on his phone. The photos where we were smiling and ha
Hired Fiance Chapter 64
Emma's POV “Eva, that sounds lovely, but we don’t want to intrude,” Ryan said smoothly, trying to deflect the invitation without outright rejecting it.“Nonsense!” Eva waved off his concern, her smile unwavering. “It’s not an intrusion at all. You’re practically family now, and I want you to be part of this. Besides, you have great taste, and I could really use your input!”I forced a smile, but inside, I was desperately searching for an excuse. “Eva, I’m not sure—”“Oh, please, Emma!” Eva cut me off, her voice tinged with a hint of desperation. “It would mean so much to me if you were there. I want us to share these moments together. It’s not just about the cake—it’s about making memories.”Her eyes grew soft, and she leaned back, looking almost vulnerable. “I know how much everything has changed recently, but having you there makes me feel like things are still normal like we’re still connected.”Guilt began to gnaw at me. Eva was trying so hard to include me in her happiness, and
Hired Fiance Chapter 65
Emma's POV "You remember, Emma, the last time we were here, we were supposed to be planning our wedding." Daniel turned to me, his voice dripping with barely concealed bitterness.I froze, the weight of his words hitting me like a ton of bricks. He wasn’t going to let this go, wasn’t going to let me forget and will keep making sarcastic remarks that I’d left him at the altar. I glanced at Ryan, who gave my hand a reassuring squeeze, but it did little to calm the storm brewing inside me."That wasn’t the same," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "It was an arranged marriage, Daniel. I was forced into it. We both knew it wasn’t what I wanted.""And yet here you are, planning a wedding with someone else," he shot back, his tone laced with venom. "Someone who isn’t half the man I am."" Mind your words, you better behave yourself or we will not be a part of this. You have no right to judge anyone when you are far away from being a perfect man or eligible bachelor. He is much bet
Hired Fiance Chapter 66
Emma's POV Daniel laughed, a cold, bitter sound that sent a chill down my spine. "You’re fooling yourself if you think this is real," he sneered. "Emma’s just using you to get comfortable in this situation."I felt the blood drain from my face. His words cut deep, not because they were true, but because they were a reflection of the worst fears I hadn’t even allowed myself to acknowledge. What if, deep down, I was using Ryan as a shield, a way to avoid dealing with Daniel? But Ryan didn’t waver. He kept his gaze locked on Daniel, his voice steady and strong. "Emma and I are happy," he said, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "And that’s all that matters."It was a simple statement, but it carried so much weight. He wasn’t just saying it for Daniel’s benefit; he was saying it for mine. He was reminding me that, despite everything, I was happy with what I had done in my till now; I wanted to make a career for myself and wanted to work on something I was passionate about. And we were
Hired Fiance Chapter 67
Emma's POV The evening had a relaxed air, the sun dipping below the horizon as everyone gathered in the grand sitting room after dinner. The atmosphere was a blend of laughter and conversation, with the clinking of glasses and the occasional burst of laughter filling the air. The whole family gathered there. My mother and grandmother were in deep conversation about some upcoming charity event; Dad and Daniel were playing at the billiards table, while Ryan, Eva, and I were in lighthearted banter about the wedding party. Ryan had been the center of attention all day, charming all ladies with his easy demeanor and quick wit. I could tell that even Dad, who usually had a skeptical eyebrow permanently raised around new people, was beginning to warm up to him. But Daniel wasn’t going to let Ryan off that easily. As the evening wore on, I noticed Daniel watching Ryan, a mischievous glint in his eyes, like he was waiting for the perfect moment to pounce.That moment came when Daniel teased
Hired Fiance Chapter 68
Emma's POV I looked at Ryan immediately, but he just smiled and declined the offer politely. "Thank you, sir. But I am happy with my work. " "Well," Daniel finally said, a hint of reluctance in his voice, "I’ll admit, you know your way around the financial world. But let’s see how you do on the billiards table."Ryan’s eyes sparkled with amusement as he straightened up and chalked his cue. "I think I can manage," he replied, flashing a grin in my direction that made my heart skip a beat.The game began with my father and Daniel taking turns against Ryan. The atmosphere was competitive, but friendly, with plenty of good-natured ribbing flying around. Ryan handled the cue with the same precision he’d shown in his earlier discussions, his shots calculated and smooth. The balls clicked against each other with a satisfying sound, each shot expertly sinking into the pockets.It wasn’t long before Ryan was winning, much to Daniel’s chagrin. Every time Ryan made a particularly difficult sho
Hired Fiance Chapter 69
Emma's POV See?" Ryan said, his voice was low and filled with warmth. "You’re a natural."I barely heard him, too lost in the sensation of being so close to him, too aware of the way my body was reacting to him. My cheeks were flushed, my heart was racing and I could barely catch my breath. I wanted to turn around, to look into his eyes, to see if he was feeling the same thing I was, but I was too scared of what I might find there.Instead, I just nodded, my voice barely above a whisper. "Thanks."Ryan stepped back, giving me some space, but the absence of his touch only made me crave it more.What was happening to me?? I wanted him to leave me and step back as I was not myself a few moments ago, and now, when he did, I am still feeling restless. I could still feel the ghost of his hands on my skin, the warmth of his body lingering around me. I was a mess, my emotions all tangled up in a knot of confusion and desire.Mom, Eva, and Grandma clapped from the sidelines, clearly amused
Latest chapter
