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
Emily's Pov "I saw the food you made, thank you so much, Ninja Chef" Ethan said his voice tinged with gratitude. His playful praise was a deliberate attempt to coax a smile from me. And it worked - his lighthearted jab had pierced through my sorrow, eliciting a small, tentative smile from my lips. "Don't worry, everything will be fine. Just lay here, I'll go get you some tea." I felt a surge of gratitude but protested. "You don't have to worry, I can get it myself." But Ethan refused, his firm tone gentle yet insistent. "No, lay here, rest your head. I'll get the tea." His kindness and concern enveloped me, and I reluctantly yielded to his care. I settled into the bed, following Ethan's instructions, and watched as he headed towards the door. Just as he was about to exit, he paused and turned to look at me, his eyes locking onto mine for a brief moment. I felt a sense of comfort and reassurance in that glance before he smiled softly and disappeared into the
Emily's POV "Maybe we could go watch a movie tonight?" Ethan suggested, his eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief. I stared at him, my mind going blank as I took in the chiseled features of his face, the sharp jawline, and the piercing gaze that seemed to see right through me. His gorgeous smile held me captive, and I forgot to respond, my voice caught in my throat. Time stood still as we locked eyes, the air thick with tension, until Ethan's chuckle broke the spell, and I remembered to breathe again. "What do you say?" His eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled. "Would your boyfriend have a problem with that?" he added, his tone light, but his gaze piercing as if trying to read between the lines. I snapped back to reality, my mind racing to catch up. "Oh, no, no." My words tumbled out in a rush. "I would love to go. I appreciate that you suggested it." I tried to sound casual, but my heart was racing at the prospect of spending more time with him. The fact t
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.
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 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