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CHAPTER 62: EMMA
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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
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
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
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
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
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
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
THE MARRIAGE GAME CHAPTER 70: EMMA
I'm sitting by the window in the living room, staring out at the garden, but not seeing anything. My mind is miles away, back in that café with Natasha, unraveling every word, every possible connection between our fathers' disappearances and the Caruso family. It's all tangled up, like a knot I can't quite untie, and the more I pull at it, the tighter it seems to get.Matteo, my uncle, disappeared two years after my dad. Two years of what? Planning? Hiding? Running from something? And then there's the car accident that killed Natasha's mother—an accident Antonio, Natasha's older brother, is convinced wasn't an accident at all. He said it once, called our fathers murderers, with so much venom in his voice that it stuck with me, playing on repeat in my head.I shiver, the thought sending a chill down my spine. If Antonio's right, if what he suspects is true, then what does that mean? And how deep does this go?I'm so lost in thought that I don't even hear the door open. When I finally n
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