I lay in bed, my phone in my hand. I reread the texts between me and Liam, and my mind kept wandering to the memory of the girl he brought to dinner. The kiss we shared also kept playing in my head, confusing me even more. I had the urge to dial his number, to talk to him and make sense of everything. But I didn't want to come across as too desperate or needy. I didn't want to seem like I was forcing myself on him, or trying to make him like me. I just wanted to understand what was going on. As I lay there in bed, I thought about all the times Liam had made me smile, even when I was feeling down. But now I felt confused, and I didn't know what to make of him. My mind was a jumble of thoughts, and I was exhausted. Before I knew it, I had drifted off to sleep. ********** I woke up to the sound of my phone's alarm, and when I looked at the time, I was shocked to see it was already 10 am. I hadn't intended to sleep that long, but it felt like I needed it. I stretched, feeling a bit
"Excuse me, I'll be right back," I said, getting up from my chair and heading towards my room. As soon as I was in the bathroom, I splashed cold water on my face, trying to calm myself down. I didn't know why Ethan was affecting me like this. It was like my body and mind conflicted with each other."What's happening to me?" I whispered to myself, my eyes searching my reflection in the mirror. "I need to get a hold of myself. After getting myself together, I headed back downstairs to Ethan. I didn't want to stay away too long, or he might think I was avoiding him. But I also needed time to figure out what was going on inside me. As I walked back to the dining room, I felt a mix of fear and anticipation.I sat back down, trying to act normal. But every little thing Ethan did seemed to draw my attention. The way he chewed his food, the way he picked up his fork, even the way he sipped his water. Everything seemed to hold a new fascination for me. I was mesmerized by him, and I couldn't
"I came here to ask a favor," I managed to blurt out, taking a deep breath to steady my nerves. "I need to send my friend the address of this house so he can come and pick me up."Ethan looked at me with a curious expression, as if he could sense that there was more to my request than I was letting on. "Of course," he said. "Do you need me to help you with anything?"My heart fluttered at the sound of his voice, and I found myself struggling to maintain my composure. "No, thank you." I tried to keep my voice steady. I knew that if I stayed any longer, I would risk giving in to the magnetic pull of his presence. With a quick, "Thank you," I turned on my heel and hurried out of the room, my heart racing.As I retreated, I could feel his eyes on me, watching me leave. I rushed from the room, avoiding his gaze and any lingering temptation to give in to my feelings for him. As I left, I felt the weight of his gaze following me, but I refused to turn back, knowing that doing so would only
Liam's abrupt stop startled me, but when he reached for my hand and turned to look me in the eye, his expression had softened."Emily," he said, his voice was low and intimate. "I love you. I've loved you from the very first day I saw you. And I know we've had our ups and downs, but I can't shake this feeling that there's something between us, something that won't go away, no matter how hard I try."His gaze burned into me, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest.As he confessed his love for me, I was speechless. All I could do was gaze into his eyes, my heart racing as I struggled to process what he'd just revealed.Without another word, he drew closer to me, his lips pressing against mine with an intensity that took my breath away. The world seemed to slow down as Liam's lips met mine, his kiss fierce and passionate, as if all the emotion he'd been holding back was finally spilling out. My breath caught in my throat as I surrendered to the intensity of the moment, letting my
Ethan was deeply engrossed in his book. "Ethan, I've hardly seen you since I got back, so I wanted to check on you," I tried to sound as friendly and nonchalant as possible.Ethan looked up from his book, his eyes meeting mine for a moment before he returned to his reading. "I've been busy with work." His tone was cold and distant.I suppressed a sigh, feeling a wave of frustration wash over me. Why was he being so closed off all of a sudden?Trying to hide my disappointment, I pressed on. "Okay, no problem. Would you like me to make you anything to eat? I'm happy to whip up a quick meal if you're hungry."Ethan shook his head, his eyes still fixed on the pages of his book. "No, thanks. I've already ordered and eaten something." His tone was disinterested.I fought the urge to roll my eyes. It was like talking to a brick wall! I couldn't help but wonder what had changed again.The tension in the air was palpable as Ethan continued to rebuff my attempts at conversation. "Don't forget
"I'm sorry about how I spoke to you the other day," he apologized, his voice cracking slightly. "I wasn't in a good mood, and I'm always taking my aggression out on you. That's not fair, and I know it. I'm sorry, Emily." As he spoke, his words dripped with intensity, and I couldn't help but cast my gaze downward. He closed the distance between us, his presence suffocating, making my breath catch in my throat. His hand grasped my jaw, gently but firmly, lifting my face to meet his piercing stare. I was paralyzed, frozen in time, as if the world had come to a standstill. The moment hung heavy, like a precipice, waiting to plummet into chaos. I felt trapped, unable to look away, as his eyes bore into mine. My voice was barely audible as I finally found the courage to speak. 'Yes, I forgive you,' I whispered, taking a step back from him, desperate to break the spell. His hand fell away from my jaw, leaving a palpable absence, like a phantom limb. I hastened upstairs, my thoughts racing
Ethan led us through the bustling airport, his presence commanding and effortless. I followed him, trying to keep my nerves under control as we approached the security checkpoint. The lines were long, and we waited patiently for our turn to scan our luggage. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, it was our turn. Ethan went first, his bag sailing through the X-ray machine without a hitch. As I was about to follow, I heard the announcement: our flight had been delayed by an hour. I sighed, glancing over at Ethan to see his reaction. Ethan's face remained impassive as if the news of the delay had barely registered. He adjusted his suit jacket, glancing down at his phone before tucking it back into his pocket. I was starting to get a sense that Ethan was always like this, controlled and unreadable. It was frustrating but also intriguing. There was something magnetic about his mystery, something that made me want to peel back the layers and discover what lay beneath. We moved
He released my hands and settled into the passenger seat, while I took my place in the front seat, feeling a pang of disappointment wash over me. I couldn't help but wonder if I had misread the moment or if I had misinterpreted his intentions. But to my surprise, he didn't seem to notice my discomfort, or if he did, he didn't let it show, his expression serene and calm, putting me at ease despite my inner turmoil. As the car began to move, I focused on the road ahead, trying to shake off the feeling of disappointment. But my mind kept wandering back to the moment we shared, the touch of his hands, the intensity of his gaze. I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to be close to him, to feel his presence, to be the one he turned to. But I pushed those thoughts aside, reminding myself of my loyalty to my sister, and of the boundaries I couldn't cross. The silence in the car was comfortable, but my mind was a whirlwind of emotions, all centered around the man sitting behind me.
Ethan's POV I stepped out and saw Emily in the living room. "Is there a problem?" I asked, concern etched on my face. "I was hearing loud voices.”I raised an eyebrow, my curiosity piqued. "An unexpected visitor?" I repeated, my voice gentle. I took a step closer to Emily, trying to get her to meet my gaze. "Everything okay?" I asked, my tone softening."There isn't," she said, her gaze drifting away from mine. Her voice was laced with a hint of tension, and I could sense that she was hiding something.I nodded, taking note of the subtle change in Emily's demeanor. "Olivia's back," she announced, her voice neutral. I couldn't help but think of my own unwanted visitor. But my attention was quickly refocused on Emily, and the hint of unease that lingered beneath her composed exterior.She cleared her throat nervously. "I was about to inform you... I will be leaving this morning." Those words made my heart drop."Just wait until after dinner, then," I said, trying to sound casual. But E
EMILY'S POV I rushed back, my footsteps silent on the stairs as I watched him walk away. His eyes sparkled with a love so true as he confirmed his love for Olivia. My heart shattered into a million pieces as I realized the painful truth: he was in love, and he had always been in love. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I felt my world crumbling around me. My box of emotions was overflowing, and I couldn't hold back the sorrow anymore.I was already packed, my bags stood silently in the shadows, a poignant reminder of the decision I'd made. Immediately after dinner, I would be leaving him forever. The thought was razor-sharp, cutting through my heart like a knife. I felt a chill run down my spine as I contemplated the finality of it all - the end of our relationship, the end of our life together.Tomorrow was a day of conflicting desires. A part of me yearned for its arrival, eager to escape the anguish that had become my reality. I longed to leave behind the shattered remain
Ethan's POVI found myself drawn to her room, compelled to gaze into her eyes. Their piercing beauty had a calming effect on my frazzled nerves. I stood there, mesmerized, unsure of what to say to her. Our time together was fleeting, and soon we'd be parting ways forever. In the precious moments I had left, I couldn't help but indulge in the beauty of her gorgeous eyes.I retreated to my bedroom, seeking solace in the familiar comfort of my bed. As I lay down, I stretched out my muscles, trying to release the tension that had been building up inside me. But despite my efforts to relax, my heart remained heavy with pain.My heart ached with the weight of inaction. I yearned to fight for what I desired, but the risk of vulnerability held me back. The fear of being shattered once more, of enduring an everlasting pain, kept my emotions in check. My mind screamed to take a stand, to seize what was mine, but the terror of heartbreak silenced my resolve, leaving me paralyzed and torn.The sh
EMILY'S POV Liam's eyes darted around the space, his gaze lingering on every corner as if expecting someone to emerge from the shadows before finally settling on me to ask, "Did Ava speak harshly to you?” “No,” I replied, my voice firm so he couldn't see right through me, but unfortunately he did because I met a skeptical look on his face. “Emily,” he called, his voice gentle as always, "Are you hiding anything from me?" he added. His eyes locked on mine with an intense gaze. “I'm not.” I needed to be out of her. My body was here, but my mind and soul were with someone who cared least about me. I realized at that moment I was in love with Ethan. I had always known that, but what I just discovered was the connection between me and Liam-Lust. I didn't know how to put it. I didn't know how to tell him why I was giddy with excitement whenever he was around. It wasn't because I loved him; it was because I wanted to escape the sad reality of unrequited love. “Emily,” I snapped out o
Ethan's POVI watched from a distance as Liam's car pulled away from the curb, a mixture of curiosity and unease swirling in my chest. I had specifically warned Emily to keep our arrangement private, and yet, here she was, meeting with...him. I narrowed my eyes, my mind racing with possibilities. What were they discussing? And why did Emily feel the need to sneak around behind my back? I made a mental note to confront Liam about this later, my eyes never leaving the fading tail lights of his car.The anger simmered beneath my surface, a slow-burning fire that threatened to consume me. I couldn't believe she would kiss me, pretend to have feelings for me, when all along she was still entangled with Liam. The thought was a bitter pill to swallow, and I felt my jaw clenched in frustration. I wasn't used to feeling this way about anyone, especially not a woman. My usual detachment, my ability to remain aloof, had been breached, and it was a disconcerting feeling.I stood in front of the s
EMILY’S POVI felt a surge of anger and frustration towards Ethan, mixed with a strong dose of self-loathing for the desire I still felt for him. It was a toxic combination that left me feeling raw and exposed.I hated how my heart went crazy whenever Ethan was near. The skipping beats and nervous flutters were a dead giveaway to the feelings I was trying to suppress.I was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn't notice Liam standing there, and I ended up bumping into him.Liam raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile on his face. "Hey, looks like I've got Miss Clumsy back in the building."I attempted to muster a smile, but my heart wasn't in it. The pain and turmoil I'd been feeling lingered, making it impossible for me to feign happiness.Liam's eyes locked onto mine, and he could tell something was off. "Hey, is everything okay?" he asked, his voice soft with concern."No, I'm good," I said, trying to downplay my emotions. But Liam wasn't buying it. He kept looking at me with that c
EMILY’S POVI opened my eyes to find the sun shining brightly through the window, its rays piercing my eyes.I rubbed my temples, trying to get rid of the annoying headache that had settled in.I stood up, stretching my arms and legs. I headed to the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and splashed some water on my face. The cool water helped me relax.I looked in the mirror, and my eyes widened as I remembered what had happened last night. The memories came rushing back, and I felt a mix of emotions.A wave of panic washed over me as I struggled to recall the events of the previous night. "What did I do?" I whispered to myself, my mind racing with fragmented memories. I rubbed my temples again, trying to massage away the throbbing pain as more visions flashed through my mind.My fingers drifted to my lips, and I was instantly transported back to the moment when Ethan's lips had touched mine. The sensation still lingered, a gentle tingling that seemed to echo through every nerve ending.I
Ethan's POV The ceremony went off without any major hitches, although there were a few dramatic moments that kept things interesting.Tonight was different, however. As I watched Ava and Liam together, I was surprised to find that the familiar pangs of sadness and disappointment were noticeably absent.I felt a deep sense of gratitude that the bitter emotions I had long harbored had finally begun to dissipate.Emily and I headed to the nightclub for a meeting with Don Sacrum, a prominent investor. Unconventional as it may seem, Don consistently preferred conducting business in such settings. His reputation preceded him, and I made it a point to be available at his beck and call, regardless of the hour.As the son of a renowned billionaire, Don Sacrum had inherited a vast fortune following his father's passing a few months prior.I glanced over at Emily, noticing a look of discomfort on her face. Seeking to alleviate her unease, I gently took her small hand in mine, offering a reassur
Emily's POV Ava's smile was a thin, cruel line. "Don't play dumb," she sneered. "I know all about the way Ethan looks at you now. The way he hangs on your every word."Ava's words hung in the air, her implication clear. I felt a surge of indignation, but I kept my tone level. "I don't know what you're insinuating, Ava," I said, "but I assure you, nothing is going on between Ethan and me."Ava's smile was a cold, calculated thing. "Even if there is something between you and Ethan," she said, her voice dripping with malice, "I promise you, it's coming to an end soon."Ava's gaze flicked to my ears, her eyes narrowing as she gestured to the earrings. "Those belong to me," she stated, her tone cold and possessive.I turned to Ava, my gaze locking onto hers. "What belongs to you?" I asked, my voice even and measured."Those earrings," she replied, her voice firm, her eyes never leaving mine."I think you must be mistaken," I said, my tone polite but firm. "Those earrings couldn't possibly