Emily's POV; Liam's eyes sparkled with mischief as he leaned in closer, his lips inches from mine. The crowd's chants grew louder, and I felt my heart racing with anticipation. Then, in a moment that seemed to slow down time, Liam's lips brushed against mine in a soft, gentle kiss. The crowd erupted into a frenzy of cheers and applause, their whistles and screams filling the air. I felt like I was melting into Liam's embrace, our lips moving in perfect sync. The host's voice boomed through the microphone, "And there's the kiss we've all been waiting for!" The crowd's cheers reached a deafening pitch, and I felt like I was on cloud nine. As we pulled away from each other, gasping for air, Liam grinned at me, his eyes shining with excitement. I couldn't help but smile back, my heart still racing from the thrill of our kiss. Liam stepped back onto the stage, this time whispering something in the emcee's ear. The emcee's face lit up with a knowing smile, and he turned to t
Ethan's POV: I felt a knot in my stomach as I paced back and forth in front of the clock. Where was Emily? She had promised to return today, and now she was nowhere to be found. I tried calling her again, but her phone went straight to voicemail. I left another message, trying to keep my voice calm. As the minutes ticked by, my anxiety grew. Something must have happened to her. I thought about our last conversation, wondering if I had missed something. Had she hinted at any problems? I racked my brain, but nothing came to mind. I knew Emily was a grown woman and could take care of herself, but I couldn't shake off the feeling of worry. Maybe she had simply slept over at a friend's place, but she could have at least called me. I tried not to be overly concerned, but I was deeply worried that something dangerous might have happened to her. I prayed and hoped that everything was okay. I decided to head to the kitchen to make a cold coffee, hoping the familiar ritual would calm
Emily POV:My heart skipped a beat as I realized I was in Liam's room. The large picture frame on the wall, the sleek furniture, and the luxurious decor all screamed 'Liam'. I felt a flutter in my chest as I remembered the events of the previous night. I had been so caught up in the moment, in the music and the laughter, that I hadn't even thought about where I was going or what I was doing. And now, here I was, in Liam's bed. I looked around the room again, taking in the details. There were photos of Liam with his friends and family, and a few awards and trophies on a shelf. But what caught my eye was the photo of us, taken just last night, on the stage. We were smiling and laughing, our arms around each other. I quickly scrambled out of bed, my mind racing with thoughts of how I was going to explain my whereabouts to Ethan. I had told Ethan I would be returning home, but clearly, that hadn't happened. And now, it was past 10 am the next day, and I was still in Liam's apar
Emily's POV: "Here, change into something fresh." Liam offered, walking over to his closet. "You can borrow my shorts and a T-shirt." "But I'd be swimming in them!" I exclaimed, playfully making a distressed face, exaggerating the idea that his clothes would be way too big for me. He chuckled and teased. "You'd look adorable in them, I promise!" I rolled my eyes, laughing, and said. "You're just trying to distract me from my embarrassment, aren't you?" He grinned mischievously and replied, "Maybe a little, but seriously, you'd rock the oversized look!" I playfully shook my head, still smiling, and said, "You're impossible, Liam." He chuckled and handed me a crisp white t-shirt and a pair of worn denim shorts. "Come on, change into these. I promise you'll be the cutest thing I've ever seen." I took the clothes, feeling a bit silly, but also grateful for his kindness. I slipped into the dressing room, swapped my clothes for Liam's, and gazed at my reflecti
Emily's POV As I took the bouquet, Liam also handed me a mysterious envelope. "Open it when you're inside." He whispered. His eyes glinted with a mischievous sparkle. He leaned in, his lips brushing against my forehead in a gentle peck, sending a shiver down my spine. The touch was fleeting, but the sensation lingered, leaving me feeling curious and intrigued. I took the envelope, my mind racing with possibilities, and watched as Liam stepped back, his smile still playing on his lips. With the bouquet in hand and the mysterious envelope tucked away, I waved goodbye as Liam drove off, a wide smile still plastered on my face. As I turned to head towards Ethan's house, my mind began to wander back to the unforgettable events of the past 15 hours- from the moment Liam picked me up the night before, to our laughter-filled conversations, thoughtful gifts, and sweet gestures. A warm glow spread through my chest as I replayed the memories, feeling grateful for the unexpected
Emily's POV "Do you know why you're here?" Her eyes pierced through mine. I was taken aback, unsure of how to respond. My mind went blank as I struggled to find the right words. I simply stared at her, my expression frozen in confusion. The silence between us grew thicker, heavy with unspoken questions and accusations. "Answer me!" she demanded. Her voice rose in anger. "Do you know why you're here?" she asked again, her eyes blazing with a fierce intensity. The air was electric with tension as she leaned forward, her face inches from mine. I could feel her breath on my skin, and her words hung in the air like a challenge. I shook my head, still unsure of what to say, and her expression darkened even further. "Don't play dumb," she snapped, her voice dripping with disdain. "You know exactly why you're here. Stop pretending you don't." Her anger was palpable, and I felt a surge of fear as I realized I was at her mercy. "I signed a proxy marriage for my sister." I s
Emily's POV Ethan didn't give up. He kept knocking, kept calling out to me, his voice a steady presence outside my door. "Emily, please talk to me. We need to discuss this." I closed my eyes, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over me. What did he want from me? Couldn't he see I was broken? "Please, just go." My voice was shaking and barely above a whisper. "I don't want to speak to anyone. please leave me alone." I could hear the desperation in my voice, and I knew Ethan could too. It was obvious that I was crying, that I was broken and shattered into a million pieces. I didn't want to talk to anyone, didn't want to face anyone, didn't want to exist. I just wanted to be left alone, to wallow in my pain and try to make sense of the betrayal that had been dealt to me. "Please, Ethan, just leave me alone." I repeated, my voice cracking with emotion. The knocking stopped, and for a moment, there was silence. Then, I heard his footsteps, heavy and reluctant, as he walked a
Emily's POV: Ethan's words hit me like a ton of bricks, shattering my already fragile heart into a million pieces. "I didn't know your mom had to pay for you to be here." His voice was laced with a mix of guilt and regret. The truth cut deep, like a knife twisting in my soul. I felt like I was a commodity, a transaction, a payment made to secure some unknown benefit. My eyes stung with fresh tears as I processed the weight of his words. My mom had sold me, bought my presence in his life. I felt like a pawn in a game I didn't understand, a game where I was the prize to be won. The realization was suffocating, crushing me beneath its weight. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of hurt and betrayal. A single tear escaped my eye, rolling down my cheek like a lonely raindrop. It was as if my heart was weeping, the pain and sadness overflowing from my very soul. I didn't bother to wipe it away, letting it fall, a silent testament to the anguish that had taken up residenc