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.
Emily's POV Ethan's gaze lingered on me, his expression a mix of surprise and disapproval. I felt a surge of shyness, wondering if it was the robe that had caught his attention. His words dripped with reprimand: "Don't forget, you're here with your boss. This isn't a vacation. Put on something decent, and let's go out for some fresh air. I need the evening breeze." With that, he turned and walked away, leaving me feeling embarrassed and chastised. My cheeks flushed with heat as I hastily got dressed, the sting of his words lingering like a rebuke. I swiftly swapped the robe for a simple yet elegant flair gown, ran a comb through my hair to tame the tangles, and headed to the sitting room to meet Ethan. As I entered, I saw him standing by the window, gazing out at the evening sky. The soft light cast a warm glow on his features, and for a moment, I forgot about the tension between us. But as our eyes met, I remembered the awkwardness and felt a flutter in my chest. "Ready?" He
Ethan's POV "I can't believe her," I thought to myself, shaking my head in disbelief as I sat on the couch, still trying to process the chaos that had just ensued. One minute we were having a decent conversation, and the next, she was tumbling into the pool, phone and all. I rubbed my temples, feeling a headache coming on. I had never seen someone so careless and accident-prone in my life. And to top it off, she had the nerve to call me by my last name, Smith, like she was trying to get under my skin. I sighed heavily, wondering how I was going to put up with her for the rest of the evening. I grudgingly admitted to myself that despite my frustration, I couldn't ignore the sight of her shivering like a leaf. Something about it tugged at me, and I found myself wanting to help her, even if I didn't want to admit it. "No, Ethan, don't be ridiculous," I thought, chastising myself for even considering making her a hot coffee. But the image of her shivering persisted, and I reluctantly r
Ethan's POV I stamped my feet in frustration, feeling like a child again, trapped in a web of family expectations and obligations. "Why does it always have to be like this?!" I muttered to myself, frustration boiling over. I was getting fed up with all this. I felt like I was living in a never-ending drama, with my mom pulling the strings and me dancing to her tune. I took a deep breath, trying to calm down, but my anger and resentment lingered, refusing to be extinguished I knew I had no choice but to go along with my mom's plan. I had to find a way to ask Emily to pretend to be my wife, even though we had only attended a dinner together once before, and she had been there as my assistant. I was worried that asking her to play along with this charade would be awkward, but I had no other options. As I walked into the hotel apartment, I couldn't ignore the rumbling protests from my stomach. I had been so caught up in the evening's events that I had forgotten to eat dinner! I he
Ethan's POV The uncomfortable truth hit me like a ton of bricks. Maybe I was indeed sugarcoating my words to spare her feelings. In reality, Emily wasn't someone who particularly stood out to me, neither positively nor negatively. She was, as I thought to myself, simply average. But in that moment, I realized that my honesty, or lack thereof, wasn't what mattered. What mattered was that Emily was hurting, and she needed someone to acknowledge her pain, even if I didn't truly believe she was "amazing". I took a deep breath, deciding to focus on being present for her, rather than trying to convince her of something she didn't believe herself. My eyes scanned the room, desperate for a way to rescue our conversation from the awkward abyss. And then, I spotted it - a tiny opening to pry open the door to understanding. "Why do you think there's a chance your mom, boyfriend, and best friend just don't...get it?" My voice was a gentle probe, trying to coax her into sharing her thought
Ethan's POV I carried the food to the dining table and headed back to the room where Emily was still sitting, looking vulnerable and hurt. I didn't feel like continuing our intense conversation, but I couldn't just ignore her either. She had been pouring her heart out to me, and it would be a jerk move to just walk away. So, I took a deep breath, trying to muster up some empathy, and sat down beside her, hoping we could find a way to move forward, even if it was just a silent meal together. The silence was suffocating, so I tried to break it with a lighthearted comment. "Hey, I'm starving! I ordered dinner, want to join me?" But she just shook her head, her eyes still red from crying. I persisted. "Come on, you should eat something, you look weak." She gazed into my eyes, her hands extended, asking for my help to get up from the bed. I gently lifted her, supporting her frail body as we walked to the dining table together, the tension between us palpable but also, somehow
Ethan's POV I stepped out of the hotel apartment and into the warm night, my emotions in disarray. I wandered, lost in a sea of thoughts and feelings, as the hotel lights blurred together around me. The sounds of laughter and music filled the air but only served to heighten my sense of isolation. I felt like a ghost, invisible and alone, without purpose or direction. My mind raced with memories of Ava's words, and her rejection, leaving me wondering what I had done wrong and what I could have done differently. Ava's betrayal had shattered me to the core, leaving my heart in pieces and my entire existence in ruins. It wasn't just a romantic relationship that had ended; it felt like my whole world had come crashing down. Every memory, every dream, every hope I had tied to her was now tainted with pain and sorrow. The heartbreak was all-consuming, leaving me feeling lost. To the outside world, I was a paragon of perfection, always excelling and achieving. But behind the mask of confid
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