Emily's POVThe car ride was filled with an uncomfortable silence, and I wished that we would reach Ethan's house soon. I was grateful he had offered to bring me to the store, but I couldn't help but feel a little unsettled by the sudden change in his behavior. I wondered what had brought about the shift, and whether it would last. When we arrived at his house I was relieved. I carried the groceries inside, heading straight for the kitchen. I put the items away, avoiding any eye contact with Ethan. He was still silent, and I wasn't sure what to say to him. We both seemed to be avoiding any conversation, and the air was thick with tension. I couldn't help but feel anxious and uneasy.I was almost done putting the groceries away when I tripped on the rug and a few items fell to the floor. I scrambled to pick them up, but Ethan walked right past me without offering to help. I was taken aback by his lack of concern. Was he really that self-absorbed? I continued to put the groceries away,
Emily's POVMy frustration was growing by the second. I was already feeling stressed about work, and now he was adding to it with his demands. "I'll be leaving now." His tone was curt and demanding. "I want you to submit the PowerPoint I asked for, and I want you to be at work as early as possible." I wanted to snap back at him, but I bit my tongue. I didn't want to make the situation worse. I just wanted to get out of there and go to work."Okay, sir." I tried to sound as respectful as possible. I didn't want to make things worse by arguing with him. "Have a good day." He just grunted in response. I hurried upstairs, feeling a sense of relief as I closed the door to my bedroom. I took a deep breath and tried to relax. I poured some cold water on my face and neck, hoping it would help to calm my mind. I felt so stressed out after my interaction with Ethan. He was such a jerk, and I couldn't believe I had to deal with him every day at home and work. I took a few minutes to just br
Emily's POV"What about the girl you ran into?" I asked, wanting to know more about Sofia's condition."You mean Sofia?" I nodded. "Yeah, she's doing better. I went to visit her today, and I bought her some cupcakes," A smile was on his face. I couldn't help but feel a wave of relief wash over me, knowing that Sofia was doing better. "That's so nice of you." I was impressed by his thoughtfulness. "You are a good guy," I added, my voice full of admiration."Don't flatter me." "I'm serious.""You mentioned you were busy." "Yeah, I am," I admitted. "Don't worry, I'll let you get back to work," he gave me a knowing smile. "Thanks, I appreciate it." He gave me a quick wave and then turned to leave. I watched him go, feeling grateful for his kindness and generosity.I took a bite of doughnuts, savoring the sweet, fluffy goodness. As I ate, I couldn't help but feel warm and fuzzy inside, thinking about how kind and thoughtful Liam had been. He was such a sweetheart, always looking o
Emily's POVIt was lunchtime, and I was sitting at my desk, trying to regain my composure. Then, I heard the door open and saw Liam's smiling face in the doorway. But as soon as he saw my tear-streaked face, his smile disappeared. "What happened?" he asked, concern in his voice. I wanted to tell Liam everything, from how Williams had broken my heart to how I ended up in this position due to the proxy marriage. But I stopped myself, remembering Ethan's warning not to tell anyone about the arrangement. I felt torn between wanting to confide in Liam and wanting to obey Ethan's wishes. I didn't know what to do, and I just sat there, silent and unsure. Liam's concerned expression turned to confusion, and I knew I had to say something."My grandma is sick," I blurted out, not thinking about the consequences of my lie. I knew it was wrong to lie, but I didn't want to tell him the truth. I didn't want to look weak or vulnerable. As soon as the words left my mouth, I regretted them. But then
Emily's POVI lay there for a few minutes, letting my thoughts consume me. But then my phone started ringing, jolting me out of my daze. I looked at the screen and saw that it was my mom calling. I took a deep breath and answered the call. "Hi, Mom," I said, my voice sounding flat and lifeless. I didn't want her to know how I was feeling."I haven't heard from you in a while," my mom said, her voice sounding concerned. "Is everything okay?" I felt a lump in my throat, and I struggled to answer her question. A surge of anger welled up inside me as I thought about how my mom had pushed me into the proxy marriage. I knew it was wrong, and I was mad at her for trying to control my life like that. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. "Everything's fine," I lied."And how's Ethan?" she asked, her voice sounding cheerful. I bit my lip, not sure how to answer her. I didn't want to lie to her again, but I also didn't want to tell her the truth.My anger towards my mom was still
Emily's POVI closed my eyes and thought about the past. I missed my dad, and I wished he was still here. I knew he would never have forced me into something like this, and I felt like I was letting him down by going along with it. I wished I could go back in time and change things, but I knew that was impossible. All I could do was try to make the best of the situation and hope that things would get better.I thought about my mom and how our relationship had changed over the years. We used to be so close, but after she married Olivia's dad, things started to shift. It was like she was trying to please him by putting his daughter first, and I felt like I was no longer a priority. I couldn't understand why she had changed so much, and I wondered if I would ever be able to repair our relationship.I went to take a shower, hoping the hot water would wash away my frustration. As I got dressed, I tried to push aside my anger and focus on what I had to do. I headed to the kitchen and began
Emily's POV"You owe me a date, remember?" :)I let out a little laugh, my heart racing at his words. He was so sweet, and I loved the way he always knew how to make me smile. I quickly typed my reply: "Yes, I remember. And I promise I'll make it up to you. I promise." I couldn't help but feel a little hopeful as I sent the message. Maybe, just maybe, things would work out between us."Can I come and pick you up? Can you make it tonight?" :)I felt my heart skip a beat at his words. I was over the moon, and I quickly replied: "Yes, of course! I'll be ready. Just let me know when you're on your way." :) I felt like I was floating on air, and I couldn't wait for the night to come.I was so excited that I decided to spend some time on the internet, watching makeup tutorials and trying to find the perfect look for our date. I wanted to look my best, and I was determined to put my best foot forward. I was going to make the most of this chance, and I was determined to impress him. I
Emily's POV"So, what would you like?" Liam asked, his warm smile melting my heart. I felt a flutter in my chest as I looked into his eyes. But I was still too preoccupied to make a decision. "I'm not sure yet, what about you?" "I'll have whatever you're having," he said, surprising me. I was not expecting him to say that. I couldn't help but feel a little bit flattered that he wanted to have the same thing as me. "Okay." I had a huge smile. "I'll have the grilled salmon with a side of asparagus," I said, picking one of the most popular dishes on the menu. "That sounds delicious."His eyes lit up. "Do you want to share a dessert?" he leaned forward in his chair. I felt a flutter in my stomach again, and I nodded. "That sounds great," I felt a little bit giddy.The waiter came to take our order, and we both placed our orders. He then asked if we wanted anything to drink, and we both ordered a glass of wine. As we waited for our food to arrive, we made small talk, talking about o
Ethan's POVI extended my hand, but Emily looked at it with confusion, her stubbornness radiating like a shield."Emily," I called softly.She snapped out of her reverie, her gaze focusing. Finally, she took my hand. Her palm felt incredibly soft, sending unexpected waves of comfort through me. I hated to admit it, but her touch soothed me."You're my wife.... for today." The words felt strange coming out of my mouth, but they were true.Emily's gaze dropped to my shoes, then met mine, her brown eyes locking onto mine. "That's what I'm being paid for," she said, her voice heavy with sorrow.I nodded silently, acknowledging the truth in her words. I felt bad for telling her that I was trying to create a conversation; I just couldn't say anything to alter what she just said. As painful as it was to her, that was the truth. I wanted to counter it, but no words could express it in a way I wouldn't show vulnerability.I had planned to drive myself, but occasions like this left me no choice
Ethan Smith In record time, she emerged from her room, radiant in a fitted blue sundress that accentuated every curve. I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. Had I been blind to her allure this whole time? The dress hugged her figure in all the right places, showcasing the soft swell of her hips and the gentle dip of her waist. My gaze lingered, tracing the contours of her body. How had I managed to overlook this stunning woman standing right before me? "OH. GOD!!" my mind screamed as if finally waking up to the reality of my feelings. In that instant, I yearned to feel her warm breath dance across my skin, her body melting into mine. The thought of her gentle touch sent shivers down my spine. I craved the softness of her hands, the whisper of her fingers intertwining with mine. Every cell in my body ached to be closer, to feel her radiating heat. Time stood still as I gazed at her, lost in the depths of her eyes. The world around us dissolved, leaving only the two of us
Emily's POV I walked away from him, my heart still racing from our brief moment together. The way he brushed away the biscuit crumbs, his fingers grazing my skin... I couldn't shake the feeling. I returned to my room, I couldn't shake off the memory of our encounter. My mind replayed the moment, scrutinizing every detail. "Ugh, Emily, what's wrong with you?" I muttered to myself, shaking my head. "You practically threw yourself at him." My cheeks flushed at the thought. I couldn't believe I'd been so forward, my lips parted, inviting him to kiss me. But he didn't. Instead, he coughed, breaking the spell. I felt like I'd been doused with cold water. Why did I do that? Was I that desperate for connection? I forced myself to focus, but my gaze kept drifting to the door, hoping he'd appear again. I smacked my hand against my forehead, feeling like an utter idiot. "He's your sister's husband, Emily! Get a grip!" I reprimanded myself, pacing back and forth. How could I b
Ethan's POV I paced back and forth in my room, frustration boiling over. Why did my mom always have to sabotage my plans? Her constant interference was suffocating. But I refused to let her win. "No," I muttered to myself, determination hardening my resolve. "I won't let her control me." Or would I? The familiar doubt crept in, undermining my confidence. I stopped pacing and faced my reflection in the mirror. My eyes flashed with defiance. "I'm done letting her dictate my life," I declared, the words echoing in my room. This time, I meant it. I stood there, a grown man torn apart by conflicting desires. My mother didn't get it - I couldn't bear the thought of spending more time with Emily. Yet, my heart yearned for her desperately. The contradiction was maddening. How could I simultaneously feel an intense attraction to Emily and an overwhelming need to escape her? Two emotions wrestled within me: longing and repulsion, desire and resistance. It was as if my heart and m
Emily's POV The sweet words spilled from his lips like honey - "You're important to me," "I care deeply for you" - but I saw right through them. They were empty reassurances, crafted to soothe my frazzled emotions. I searched his face, my gaze piercing, but his expression revealed nothing. Still, I knew better. He was pretending, feigning concern. Olivia's haunting words still echoed in my mind: "I'll be back soon, and you'll return." The memory sent a shiver down my spine. "No, you didn't do anything, Em." I stared at him, shock etched on my face. "Em" - he'd never called me that before. Why now? It was just another tactic, a feeble attempt to soften the blow before cutting me out of his life. Just like everyone else. His sudden familiarity grated, a painful reminder of what I was about to lose. The truth stung: I was disposable, a temporary convenience. Then why now? I thought the contract stated that Olivia returns before I leave beside his Mom said I must fulfill my o
Contract DissolvedEthan's POV I watched Emily head to her room, I couldn't help but feel a sense of protectiveness towards her. The pain in her eyes after that phone call had gutted me, and I knew I had to make today count. I wanted to tell her everything. I waited for her to get ready, and I steeled myself for the conversation ahead. I had to tell her the truth - that the proxy arrangement was over, that I couldn't keep pretending anymore. But it wasn't just about the arrangement; it was about my feelings. I was catching feelings for her, and I didn't like it. I didn't want to be vulnerable, didn't want to risk getting hurt. But I knew I had to be honest with her, and with myself. I took a deep breath, pushing aside the conflicting emotions swirling inside me. Time to end this charade and move on. She emerged from her room, dressed in black leggings and a cropped top, and for a moment, I saw her in a different light. The familiar contours of her face, the curve of her neck, see
Emily's POV I gazed up at Ethan, his words hung in the air like a gentle promise. "You're important to me, Emily." I couldn't believe what I was hearing. It was the last thing I thought possible - that I, a burden to everyone around me, could be important to someone like Ethan. His eyes, warm and sincere, held mine, and for a moment, I felt seen, truly seen, for the first time in what felt like an eternity. Time seemed to freeze, suspending us in a moment of electric tension. Our eyes locked, unblinking, as if the world around us had melted away. The air vibrated with unspoken emotions, our faces inches apart. It was as if the universe had pressed the pause button, trapping us in a cinematic tableau. The only sound was our synchronized breathing, the only movement was the fluttering of my heart. Ethan cleared his throat, shattering the spell that had held us captive. "Thanks for the coffee, Emily,' he said, his voice low and even, as if the tender moment we'd shared moments befo
Ethan's POV I gritted my teeth as Emily leaned into me, her body trembling with fear. The movie was intense, I'll give her that. But I didn't need her clinging to me like a lifeline. I tried to subtly shift away, but she only held on tighter. Her chest was pressed against my arm, and I could feel her warmth seeping into my skin. I hated it. I hated how my body reacted to her touch, how my mind started to wander to places it shouldn't. I focused on the screen, trying to distract myself from the sensation of her body against mine. But I could feel her gaze on me, sense her looking up at me with those big, scared eyes. I sighed inwardly, feeling like a jerk for not being more understanding. But I couldn't shake off the feeling that she was getting too close, that I needed to push her away before things got out of hand. "I'm Sorry" I couldn't help but notice the hint of disappointment in her voice, and I felt a pang of regret for not prolonging the moment. But I pushed it asid
Emily's POV After I was done eating, I quickly freshened up and got into an outfit for the movie night. I chose a comfortable yet stylish pair of dark wash skinny jeans, a soft white blouse with a relaxed fit, and a cozy black cardigan to layer over it. My hair was tied up in a messy bun, and I added a touch of subtle makeup to enhance my natural features. I slipped on a pair of black ankle boots, grabbed my small cross-body bag, and headed out to meet Ethan in the sitting room. As I entered the sitting room, Ethan looked up from his phone and smiled, his eyes scanning my outfit with approval. "You look great," he said, standing up from the couch. "Ready to head out?" I nodded, feeling a flutter in my chest as he approached me. He was dressed in a simple yet stylish outfit of his own - a pair of light blue jeans and a fitted white T-shirt that showcased his broad shoulders. We walked out of the house together, the evening air crisp and cool as we made our way to the car park.