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CHAPTER 61: LIAM

Author: Tamara’s Diary
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56

The car hums softly as we drive through the winding roads of Tuscany. The vineyard's rows of grapevines slowly give way to open fields and rolling hills. I glance at Emma, who's sitting quietly beside me, her gaze fixed on the passing landscape. The tension that was there when we first started this day seems to have eased, replaced by a comfortable silence that I'm not used to sharing with anyone. She looks relaxed, her hair catching the sunlight as it filters through the car windows. It's hard not to notice the way the light plays on her skin, and I quickly shift my focus back to the road.

She's curious, I can tell, but she doesn't ask where we're going. Maybe she trusts me enough to just enjoy the ride, or maybe she's lost in her thoughts. Either way, I'm glad for the quiet. It gives me time to think, to sort through the jumble of emotions I've been trying to ignore since the moment I met her.

When we pull into a small village, I see her eyebrows raise slightly in surprise. The stre
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  • THE MARRIAGE GAME   CHAPTER 62: EMMA

    "There you both are," Isabella sighs once she sees us.I turn to give Liam a perplexed look. Could there be anything of importance that we missed? Anything from the boring, suffocating schedule we skipped out on?"Evening Mother," Liam greets curtly."Save your greetings, where have you been? I called your line a few times," she explains quite furiously.She eyes me and Liam.I turn to look at him, is that true? Great. Another reason for her to hate me even more."I saw your calls, Mother. Please, let's get some rest, Emma and I are both tired after a long day--""Tired indeed. I wonder what she dragged you to, to make you miss out on this crucial meeting," she throws the blame my way."Leave Emma out of this," Liam steps forward, blocking me out of her gaze.His heroic act makes me swoon internally, I almost want to kiss him."What's all this about?" I finally muster the courage to ask, he can only speak for me long enough, at the end of the day, I have to stand up for myself."Oh dr

    Last Updated : 2024-10-29
  • THE MARRIAGE GAME   CHAPTER 63: LIAM

    The night air is cool as I step out into the garden, looking for some space to clear my head. It's quiet out here, just the sound of crickets in the distance and the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze. The sky is clear, the stars scattered like a million tiny lights above. It's a night that begs for contemplation, but my thoughts are too jumbled for that right now.I walk further down the path, the gravel crunching softly under my feet. The estate is beautiful at night, the soft glow from the lights along the pathway casting shadows that make everything feel almost magical. But tonight, something's pulling me toward the garden, a quiet instinct I can't ignore. Maybe it's just the need to escape the weight of the day, or maybe it's something else.As I approach the stone bench nestled between two large rose bushes, I see a figure sitting there. It's Emma, her silhouette illuminated by the soft light from the moon. She's in her nightgown, the fabric delicate and flowing around he

    Last Updated : 2024-10-29
  • THE MARRIAGE GAME   CHAPTER 64: EMMA

    Brunch in Rimini is exactly what I need after everything that's happened. We're at our favorite café, the kind with checkered tablecloths and the smell of fresh bread wafting through the air. The sea breeze drifts in from the open windows, carrying the saltiness of the Adriatic with it. Seated outside under a striped umbrella, our table is a colorful mess of pastries, cappuccinos, and fresh fruit. The sun casts a warm, golden light, but all I can think about is the last few days in Tuscany."So, spill," Gia says, leaning forward with her big, dark eyes wide with anticipation. She's perched on the edge of her seat, her petite frame almost bouncing with energy. "What happened with Mr. Brooding and Handsome?"I can't help but smile at the nickname. "It was... intense," I start, my voice a bit unsure as I stir my coffee. "He kissed me."Natasha, who's been twirling one of her blonde coils absentmindedly, suddenly perks up. "Wait, what? You and Liam kissed? Where? When?"Odette, ever compo

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  • THE MARRIAGE GAME   CHAPTER 65: LIAM

    The day drags on in my office. Papers cover my desk, but my mind isn't on them. It keeps drifting to Emma. Ever since we returned from Tuscany, she's been on my mind constantly. It's annoying, frustrating even. She's different from anyone I've ever known, and that kiss… Damn, that kiss.A sharp knock on the door pulls me out of my thoughts. I glance at my watch—almost noon. My assistant pokes her head in."Mr. Giovanni is here to see you," she says, her voice tight.Of course, he's back. I knew this was coming sooner or later. I straighten up in my chair, waving her in."Send him in."Marco Giovanni strides in like he owns the place, which, of course, he doesn't. Not anymore. He looks better than last time—cleaner, his suit crisp, and that infuriating smirk on his face like he's got a secret he can't wait to share.I don't stand, just motion for him to sit. He doesn't, hovering by the chair instead, his eyes scanning the room like he's looking for something to criticize."Liam," he sa

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  • THE MARRIAGE GAME   CHAPTER 66: EMMA

    The city hums around me as I make my way to the art studio, a place I haven't visited in far too long. It's early, the streets are still quiet, and a sense of anticipation bubbles inside me. The studio was supposed to be my sanctuary, a place where I could pour my energy into investigating my father's disappearance. But now, it's become more than that—a reminder of how much my life has changed since Liam entered it.The studio is tucked away in a quiet part of Rimini, a little haven I'd once thought would be my retreat from the world. But as I approach the door, a strange unease settles over me. The feeling only intensifies as I unlock the door and step inside. The familiar scent of paint and canvas greets me, comforting, but there's something off. Something I can't quite put my finger on.I flick the lights on, eager to get lost in my work again, but as the room floods with light, my breath catches in my throat.Someone is here.Standing by the window, as if she owns the place, is Se

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  • THE MARRIAGE GAME   CHAPTER 67: LIAM

    Dinner is tense, like we're both walking on eggshells. Emma's sitting across from me, poking at her food, barely eating. She gives me these half-hearted smiles that don't reach her eyes, and I know something's wrong. It's like she's trying to put up a front, but I can see through it. After everything we've been through, she should know she can't hide things from me, not anymore.I try to draw her out, but she's evasive. Her mind is elsewhere. It's frustrating because I thought we were past this, past the pretending and the hiding. I thought we were finally on the same page, but tonight, she's retreating into herself again.Out of nowhere, she says, "I'm going to visit my mother tomorrow."It's so abrupt that it catches me off guard. I nod, taking a sip of my wine. "Okay, I'll come with you.""No!" The word is out of her mouth before she can stop it, sharp and panicked. Realizing how she sounds, she quickly backtracks. "I mean, you don't have to. It's just a quick visit."My suspicion

    Last Updated : 2024-10-29
  • THE MARRIAGE GAME   CHAPTER 68: EMMA

    I take a deep breath, letting the warm, comforting scent of the café wash over me, but it does little to settle the storm brewing inside. The past few months have been a whirlwind, and sitting here with Natasha feels like the calm before another storm. It's just the two of us today—no Odette, no Gia—just me and Natasha, my cousin, trying to piece together the puzzle that has haunted our family for years.Natasha sips her coffee, her eyes scanning the notes spread out on the table between us. "So, let's go over this again," she says, her voice steady but with an edge of frustration. "Your dad disappeared twenty years ago, and mine...eighteen.""Yeah," I nod, feeling the weight of those numbers. Two years apart, yet the disappearances felt like they were linked somehow. It's something we've both suspected for a while, but finding concrete evidence has been like chasing shadows.Natasha flips through one of the old documents, her fingers trembling slightly. "Antonio...he always believed

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  • THE MARRIAGE GAME   CHAPTER 69: LIAM

    I'm at my desk, flipping through a stack of contracts, but my mind's not on them. My thoughts keep drifting, not toward work but to the woman who's upended my life in ways I never saw coming. Emma. I can't get her out of my head, no matter how hard I try. And maybe I'm not trying that hard anymore.The door swings open, and without even looking up, I know who it is. Only one person in this house walks in like they own the place—and maybe she still thinks she does."Mother," I say, my voice flat. I set the papers aside, knowing this wasn't going to be a pleasant visit."Liam," she responds, her tone as cold as ever. She takes a seat across from me, her posture rigid, always in control. But I can see the tightness in her jaw, the way her eyes narrow just a fraction. This isn't just a casual drop-in."We need to talk," she starts, her eyes locked onto mine."About what?" I ask, though I already know the answer."About Emma," she says, her voice dripping with disdain. "This... influence s

    Last Updated : 2024-10-29

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  • THE MARRIAGE GAME   CHAPTER 108: LIAM

    The phone rings, and Emma's name lights up the screen. My heart skips a beat. I pick up, trying to keep my voice steady, but as soon as I hear her voice, soft and warm, I feel a smile tugging at my lips."Hey," she says, and I can hear the smile in her voice too. "I just got the flowers. A hundred roses, Liam? Really?"I chuckle, leaning back in my chair. "Too much?""No," she says quickly, a slight laugh in her tone. "It was perfect. You know, everyone at work is completely jealous. Rob hasn't stopped squealing since they arrived.""I'm glad you liked them," I say, feeling the tension in my chest loosen a little. "I wasn't sure if a hundred was over the top, but... I needed you to know how serious I am.""I know," she says softly. "And I love them. They're beautiful."There's a pause, a comfortable silence settling between us. I close my eyes, just listening to her breathe on the other end of the line. Even through the phone, the connection between us feels so strong, so real. It's h

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    Monday hits me like a freight train. After a long, emotionally charged weekend, the idea of being back at work feels surreal. I sit at my desk, staring blankly at the computer screen in front of me, barely registering the flurry of emails that have piled up in my inbox. My body is here, but my mind is still somewhere else—somewhere between the memory of Liam's arms wrapped around me and the question that's been gnawing at me since we parted: 'Should I go with him?'Italy. Home. The idea stirs something deep inside me. I miss it—the warm cobblestone streets, the smell of my mom's hair, the laughter of my friends. But this internship is my dream. It's everything I've worked for, and it's not over yet. This is my life now. But, God, it's hard not to wonder what it would be like to be with Liam every day, no distance, no uncertainties. Just us."Okay, spill."Rob's voice breaks through my thoughts, snapping me back to reality. He's leaning against my desk, arms crossed, his eyes alight wi

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