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CHAPTER 73: LIAM
Last Updated:
2024-08-22 20:29:18
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THE MARRIAGE GAME CHAPTER 74: EMMA
I've been holed up in my room all day, my mind spinning in circles around the same damn thoughts, the same damn questions. I've cried until my eyes are sore, puffy, and swollen, and I feel like there's nothing left inside me but this aching void. I can still hear Liam's voice in my head, those cruel, dismissive words replaying over and over again, like a broken record I can't turn off."You were right, Mother. I was never meant to be with someone like Emma."I thought I knew him. I thought we had something real, something that could withstand whatever obstacles came our way. But now I see that I was just a fool, blinded by hope, by some stupid, naive belief that love could change things. That it could make people better.He played me. I don't know why, and that's what hurts the most. Was any of it real? Did he ever care, or was I just another pawn in whatever game he and his family were playing? I feel so stupid for believing in him, for thinking that we could build something together
Last Updated : 2024-08-23THE MARRIAGE GAME CHAPTER 75: LIAM
I'm in my study at home, surrounded by piles of papers and files, each one more damning than the last. My father's old desk is barely visible beneath the stacks of documents I've accumulated over the past few weeks. Papers with names, dates, and transactions—every sordid detail of my family's legacy laid bare. And it's all connected to the Conti brothers. How did we get here? I think as I take a swig from the glass of whiskey in my hand, letting the burn steady me.I curse under my breath, my frustration building with every second. My mother. My family. This goddamn legacy I've inherited. It's all rotten. All of it. A cancer that's eaten away at my soul for far too long. And now, knowing what I know, the full weight of it feels unbearable. The Conti brothers...their disappearance, the secrets surrounding them. It's all tied back to us, to my mother, to this cursed family.Emma doesn't know. She can't know. Not about the Conti brothers, not about the part my family played in their disa
Last Updated : 2024-08-23THE MARRIAGE GAME CHAPTER 76: EMMA
When I get home, it's late, and the house is dark and quiet. I drop my keys on the table by the door, my feet aching from a long day. I'm not in the mood for any more surprises, but as I walk into the living room, I see Liam sitting there, almost hidden in the shadows. He's got a glass of whiskey in one hand, his posture slumped, like the weight of the world is pressing down on his shoulders.For a second, I wonder if I should just ignore him and go straight to my room. I'm not sure I have the energy to face him right now, not after everything that's happened. But he notices me standing there and looks up, his eyes filled with something I can't quite read. It's like guilt mixed with exhaustion, but I can't tell what he's feeling guilty about."Emma," he says, his voice heavy and a little slurred from the alcohol. "We need to talk."I roll my eyes. "I'm not in the mood, Liam. I've had a long day, and I just want to sleep. Besides, you don't look like you're in any state to talk about a
Last Updated : 2024-08-24THE MARRIAGE GAME CHAPTER 77: LIAM
I pounded my fist on the conference table, the sharp crack echoing through the room. The projector screen was still flashing its garbled data, but no one seemed to be paying attention anymore. Everyone's gaze was fixed on me, a mixture of fear and uncertainty in their eyes. My patience was gone, and my frustration was reaching its limit."Seriously?" I barked, my voice echoing off the walls. "We've been going around in circles for weeks. I'm tired of this. We need a real plan, not this disorganized mess!"The room fell silent. You could cut the tension with a knife. I felt like I was on the edge of a cliff, looking down at a chasm of stress and exhaustion. It wasn't just this meeting. It was everything—my work, my strained relationship with Emma, and the looming shadow of her father's disappearance two decades ago.Emma and I had been distant lately, but that wasn't the whole story. The real weight on my shoulders was the dark history connecting our families. Her father had disappeare
Last Updated : 2024-08-24THE MARRIAGE GAME CHAPTER 78: EMMA
The call comes in at 3 a.m. Liam's name flashes across my screen, but it isn't his voice on the other end. It's some guy from a bar, sounding both annoyed and exhausted. "He's drunk off his ass," he says. "Never seen him like this. You need to come get him."I groan, rolling over in bed. Why am I doing this again? Every time I decide to be done with him, he finds a way to pull me back in. Still, something in the guy's voice makes my heart sink. Liam isn't a lightweight. If he's this far gone, something must be wrong.I throw on a hoodie and sneakers, muttering curses under my breath about my "stupid empathetic heart." The streets are eerily quiet at this hour, and I have a good twenty minutes to think about how pissed I am at him. But the second I pull up to the bar, all that irritation melts into concern.The bartender, a guy with a buzz cut and a look of utter exasperation, is half-dragging, half-carrying Liam toward the door. When he sees me, relief washes over his face. "Thank God
Last Updated : 2024-08-26THE MARRIAGE GAME CHAPTER 79: LIAM
I've been thinking about everything that's happened. Everything I said. Everything Emma said. I've been thinking about it so much that it's driving me insane.Sleep doesn't come easily. I keep replaying Emma's voice over and over again, telling me to stop interfering in her life. The hurt in her voice is like a knife twisting in my gut. I was drunk and rambling, and all I managed to do was make everything worse. I keep pushing her away, even when all I want is to hold her close.Today, I can't focus on anything. Work feels like a blur, a series of motions I go through without really being present. I stare at my computer screen, but I can't make sense of the words.By midday, I can't take it anymore. I leave the office early and head home, my thoughts racing. The house is quiet when I get in, the silence pressing in on me. I don't even know if Emma's here or if she's gone out, but I need to do something. Anything. I head to the kitchen and decide to make dinner. Something special. Some
Last Updated : 2024-08-26THE MARRIAGE GAME CHAPTER 80: EMMA
Odette's place feels like stepping into a chic Parisian daydream. Soft pastels, delicate lace curtains, and tiny porcelain knick-knacks perfectly arranged on dainty shelves. The walls are a light blush, and there's a faint scent of vanilla—probably from some fancy French diffuser she picked up on one of her trips back home. Everything about Odette is cutesy and delicate, from her taste in decor to her soft, melodic accent. I stand outside her door, my chest tightening with every passing second. I shouldn't even be here. I should be handling this on my own, trying to figure out my next steps. But right now, I just need a friend.I press the doorbell, and it chimes a sweet, lilting tune. Within moments, the door swings open, and there she is, Odette, looking as polished as ever in her neat sweater and pleated skirt. Her face is bright and welcoming, but it immediately shifts to worry when she sees the tears already welling up in my eyes."Emma, mon chéri, what's wrong?" she asks, her vo
Last Updated : 2024-08-27THE MARRIAGE GAME CHAPTER 81: EMMA
The days pass, and I haven't heard a single word from Liam. No calls, no texts—nothing. I should feel relieved, but instead, it's like this gnawing emptiness, a reminder that maybe I meant even less to him than I thought. I don't know why I expected anything different. Finally, on the third day of silence, I made up my mind. I grab my phone, scroll to Liam's name, and hit "Block." I should have done this a long time ago. A clean break is what I need, and I'm not going to keep hoping for closure that will never come.Odette, sensing my need for a change of scenery, decides it's time for a little adventure. "Come with me to Paris," she says one morning, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "It will be good for you, I promise. A fresh start."I hesitate at first, but the idea of getting away from everything, even just for a little while, is too tempting to resist. "Okay," I agree, smiling for the first time in days. "Let's do it."Within hours, we're on a flight from Rimini to Paris, and
Last Updated : 2024-08-27
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THE MARRIAGE GAME CHAPTER 115: EMMA
I glance at the clock and my heart starts racing. I'm late."Okay, stop fussing!" I scold my bridesmaids, but I can't help the nervous laugh that escapes my lips as Gia fluffs my veil for the third time. Natasha is running around, making sure every single detail is perfect, while Odette is already dressed and helping the makeup artist add the final touches to my lips.And then there's Rob. He's pacing back and forth, muttering under his breath, "You're going to be late for your wedding, Emma. Of course, you are. I knew it. I knew this would happen!""Rob," I groan, rolling my eyes. "You're not helping!"He stops pacing and dramatically places his hands on his hips, his eyes full of fake indignation. "Excuse me, darling. Who has been by your side through every single dress fitting, cake tasting, and meltdown?"I chuckled despite myself, the tension easing just a little. "I love you, Rob.""Yeah, yeah, yeah," he mutters, coming over to adjust my gown. "But seriously, we need to get movi
THE MARRIAGE GAME CHAPTER 114: LIAM
The darkness is heavy, but slowly, painfully, it starts to lift. I feel a strange tug in my chest, and I'm aware of the beeping sounds, the sterile scent of the hospital filling the air around me. My eyes flutter open, and the brightness of the room stings my vision. It takes a few moments for everything to come into focus.Where… where am I?"Liam?" A soft voice calls out to me, and when I blink again, I see Lilian, Emma's mother, standing by my bedside, her eyes wet with tears. "Oh my God, you're awake."I try to speak, but my throat feels like it's on fire. Instead, I groan, my hand instinctively reaching out to grasp hers. Lilian smiles through her tears, gently squeezing my hand."You've been in a coma, sweetheart," she says softly. "For a while now. But don't worry, you're okay. You're going to be okay." Her smile wavers for a moment before she adds, "Emma… she's at the station with your mother, confronting Serena. But she's fine. She's been by your side every day."My mind race
THE MARRIAGE GAME CHAPTER 113: EMMA
The silence in the room is deafening. Isabella stands before us, her posture rigid, her hands clasped together tightly as if she's holding on to a secret too heavy to bear. My mom and I sit across from her, the tension thick between us, suffocating."There's something you both need to know," Isabella begins, her voice wavering slightly. I glance at my mom, who looks pale, her fingers tightly gripping the arms of the chair. "I've held onto this for years, but it's time you hear the truth. About Enzo."At the mention of my father's name, my heart skips a beat. I feel my stomach churn as I wait for her to continue. Isabella takes a deep breath, then says the words that make my world tilt off its axis."I knew him."The words hang in the air like a weight, pressing down on me. My mom's face pales even more, her lips trembling as she absorbs the shock of the revelation. Isabella presses on, her eyes filled with a mixture of shame and regret."Enzo and I… we had an affair."The room goes co
THE MARRIAGE GAME CHAPTER 112: EMMA
The beeping of the heart monitor is the first thing I hear, steady and rhythmic, pulling me from the darkness that has consumed me. My body feels heavy like I'm being held down by invisible weights, and there's a dull ache spreading across my chest and limbs. The sterile smell of the hospital fills my nostrils, and it takes a moment for me to remember where I am.I blinked, squinting against the harsh fluorescent light above, trying to make sense of my surroundings. As my vision clears, I notice my mom, slumped over in a chair next to me, her head resting on her crossed arms, fast asleep. Her face looks worn, more tired than I've ever seen her.I try to sit up, but a sharp pain shoots through my ribs, forcing me to wince. The memories hit me all at once—the truck, the crash, Liam's bloodied face. Panic rises in my chest, and I gasp, "Liam."My voice is weak, barely more than a croak, but it's enough to wake my mom. Her head snaps up, her eyes widening as she sees me. "Emma!" she cries
THE MARRIAGE GAME CHAPTER 111: EMMA
We're curled up on the couch, the flicker of the fireplace casting warm shadows on the walls. Liam has been quiet all evening, his usual playful mood replaced by a somberness I haven't seen before. I know something's wrong. The weight of his silence presses down on me, but I don't want to push him, not yet.Eventually, he breaks the silence."Emma," he says quietly, his voice strained. His eyes are red and teary, and my heart aches just seeing him like this. "We need to talk."I sit up, my chest tightening. "Liam, what's going on? You're scaring me."He doesn't look at me, his gaze fixed on the fire. His hands tremble, and I gently place mine over his, trying to calm him, to let him know I'm here, whatever it is."I'm a monster," he whispers, his voice breaking. "I've done terrible things, Emma. Things I can't undo."I freeze, my heart hammering in my chest. "Liam, what are you talking about? You're not a monster."He shakes his head, his eyes squeezed shut as if the memories are too
THE MARRIAGE GAME CHAPTER 110: LIAM
I lean back in my office chair, glancing out of the large windows that overlook the city humming with life. It's been a perfect week, just me and Emma, no distractions, no obligations. We've spent our days exploring the city, enjoying quiet dinners by candlelight, and getting lost in each other's company. For the first time in a long while, I felt completely at peace.But now, it's back to reality. Back to work. And as much as I hate to admit it, the tension in the air is thick. I've barely been at my desk for half an hour when my mother storms into the office, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floors. Right behind her, Serena follows with a face full of barely contained rage. Great. Just the pair I didn't want to see today."Liam!" my mother snaps, her voice slicing through the silence of the room. "We need to talk."I sit up, bracing myself. I knew this was coming. Ever since Emma returned, I've been waiting for the inevitable confrontation. My mother never approved of E
THE MARRIAGE GAME CHAPTER 109: EMMA
I step off the plane, my heart racing with excitement and nerves. It's been months since I last set foot in Italy, and the anticipation of seeing Liam again has my stomach in knots. He thinks I'm arriving tomorrow, but I can't wait. My internship is officially over, and now I'm here, ready to surprise him.Odette is waiting for me just outside baggage claim, her signature oversized sunglasses perched on her head, and a wide grin stretching across her face. Beside her, Natasha and Gia are waving excitedly, their energy contagious. The second I step through the doors, I'm swept into a whirlwind of hugs, laughter, and excited chatter."Girl, you look amazing!" Gia says, her eyes sparkling as she gives me a once-over. "Internship did wonders for you.""I agree," Natasha adds, her arm looped through mine as we start walking toward the car. "Liam is going to lose his mind when he sees you."Odette, always the ringleader of the group, claps her hands together. "Alright, ladies. Time to make
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
THE MARRIAGE GAME CHAPTER 107: EMMA
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
