Chapter 4: A Doubt

After Pauline arrived at Emily’s house, she went to Emily’s room. Emily immediately locked the door to ensure no one would barge in while she was talking with her friend. Then they sat on a pink couch.

“You know, it’s bad if you let him go. He is one of the youngest billionaires in our country,” Pauline said. “His name is on the list of ten of the most eligible bachelors too.”

“I know!” Emily sighed. “But what if I must spend my whole life in misery?”

“So, decide now. What will you do?” Pauline stared at Emily. “Will you try to win his heart or let him go?”

“I don’t know ….” Emily bent her head. “It’s a tough decision. If I knew, I wouldn’t ask you.” She exhaled and shook her head. “Before talking to you, I already discussed it with my mom, but you shook my decision, girl!”

“Sorry!” Pauline tapped her fingers on the couch. “Okay, I have an idea. Between losing him and fighting to get her love, which one is better for you?”

“I ….” Emily let out a heavy sigh. She couldn’t choose right away. After a while, she finally said, “I think I will try to fight to get his love.”

Pauline nodded after hearing that. “Now, we can start moving from that. What will you do?”

“Since I won’t see or communicate with him for a month, I will send him gifts.” She shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s silly, but Jacob and Amy didn’t engage for a long time. So, maybe he doesn’t love her too much. I wonder if I can win his heart with some thoughtful gifts.”

“Okay, girl. Then, let’s go shopping! You need to buy some pretty clothes too if you want to win him.”

“But … My wedding is still a month from now.”

Pauline lifted her pointer finger and moved it to the left and right. “That’s where you’re wrong. You must prepare for it from now on if you want to win the battle.”

“Maybe you are right.” Emily tilted her head to the side. “Let’s go!” She notified Harry Taylor, her driver, to prepare the car.

They went to the front yard. A luxurious white car waited for them there. Harry, the driver, was already opening the backdoors of the car for them.

When he saw Pauline, Harry bent his head a little to greet Pauline. “Nice to see you again, Miss Line.” Since Emily used ‘Line’ as Pauline’s nickname, Harry called Pauline the same as Emily. 

Pauline smiled at Harry. “Hey, Harry, nice to see you too.”

Emily and Pauline entered the car. After the car moved and left the house, Pauline smiled. “You look great, Harry! What do you think about losing Emily soon?”

Harry glanced at Emily and smiled. “It’d be hard, but Miss Emily is like a daughter to me because I have known her since she was a little girl. No matter what, I’ll be happy because she will have a happy life with the man she loves.”

“Thanks, Harry.” Emily smiled a little. Despite being unsure a happy life would be what she had later, she could only wish Harry was right.

“Where do you want to go, miss?” Harry stared at Emily through the rearview mirror.

“To LL.” LL was an acronym for the Lux and Luxurious, the biggest shopping center in the capital. 

“Sure, miss.” Harry pushed a button to raise a partition between them so he couldn’t hear Emily and Pauline’s conversation anymore. It was a habit, as he respected Emily’s privacy so much.

“So, what will you buy?” Pauline asked. “Will you buy a set of sexy lingerie to tease him?”

Emily blushed and giggled to hear that. She covered her heated cheeks with her palms. “I don’t know. I may want to buy something for him first. What’s the best gift for a fiance and soon to be a husband?”

“Hmm, a positive test pack, maybe?”

Pinching Pauline’s upper arm, Emily laughed aloud and shook her head. “You’re impossible! Be serious, okay?”

“Ouch! You are mean, girl!” Pauline rubbed her pinched arm, but then she giggled. “Hey, it’s true. Besides, both of you have already had sex many times. I wonder if he wants to impregnate you.”

“It’s possible. Jacob is a billionaire, and he surely wants an heir.”

“What about his mother?”

“Hmm? His mother?” Emily tilted her head to the side. “Why do you ask?”

“Did she urge you to have a child soon?”

“His mother has never said that, but she is kind enough to me.”

“Yeah, since you are an heiress.” 

Emily gasped because of what Pauline said. “Line!” 

“What?!” Pauline raised her eyebrow. “You know I’m right. Everyone who knew about Amy’s canceled engagement with Jacob was fully aware of what had happened. If you weren’t an heiress, maybe Jacob’s mother wouldn’t ask you for a marriage arrangement with her son.”

Emily said nothing, as she couldn’t deny it. Tanya’s preference toward the heiresses was notorious. She was perfectly aware Amy and Jacob’s engagement had ended because Tanya was against their relationship after her cousin broke.

Somehow, she wondered too if Jacob agreed because of the same reason. However, Emily let out a small sigh. Her fiance built his success and wealth by himself. He didn’t need to marry her. Was it true he married her solely because she reminded him of Amy?

Pauline glanced at Emily who sighed again. “Hey, are you alright?”

Emily nodded, but then shook her head. “Oh, it’s so messed up. If only I knew from the beginning, I wouldn’t agree to the marriage arrangement.”

“But you have loved him for a long time!”

“Yes, but it’s more like a dream since he has never paid special attention to me.” Emily rubbed the white lace on her pink dress. “I don’t know if my love will be enough for both of us.”

“Hey, Em, if you have decided to fight, don’t think otherwise. Stick to the plan!” Pauline reminded her friend. “If you keep changing your mind, you will get nowhere.”

Emily raised her head as she stared at the car’s ceiling. “I know. It’s just ….” She couldn’t finish her words as her thoughts were too full of worries. 

“You have been through a lot.” Pauline held Emily’s hand. “Don’t give up too soon. Maybe your determination can move his heart. It doesn’t matter he accepted you because you reminded him of Amy. The most important thing is you’re the one he’ll marry.”

“You are right.” Emily sighed and then squeezed Pauline’s hand. “I mustn’t give up easily. The battle has just begun!”

“That’s Emily Brooke that I knew!” Pauline squeezed Emily’s hand too. “You can do it, girl! I’ll always be beside you to cheer you up.”

“I don’t know what I’d do if you didn’t help me.” Emily hugged Pauline and let out a long sigh. 

“Hey, that’s what friends are for. Now, what do you have in mind?”

Emily frowned. “Hmm? Nothing I guess.”

Pauline snapped her fingers on Emily’s forehead. “Do you forget our plan? We’ll go shopping to buy Jacob a present. Remember?”

Giggling, Emily laughed hard until she shed tears. “Of course I remember! I just didn’t get what you meant.”

Both girls laughed together. After a while, the car arrived at Lux and Luxurious.