All Chapters of Hired Fiance: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

Emma's POV He was right, but the weight of Daniel's words was pressing heavily on my mind, and I finally broke down. " I am feeling very guilty about lying to my parents l. He's right, Ryan. My parents deserve the truth. This has gone on long enough."Ryan sighed, his expression pained. "Emma, I know this is hard. But if we come clean now, everything we've done will be for nothing. Your parents will never trust you again." He said. I nodded. Tears streamed down my face as I considered the implications. The web of lies had grown too much.He just wiped my tears and pulled me in his arms. For a change I let him hold me as I was feeling very guilty. Finally, I calmed down and realized that I was in his arms, I moved back, getting awkward I had never seen him in such an intimate setting before. The way his shirt strained against his broad shoulders, the way his fingers deftly unbuttoned his cuffs before rolling up his sleeves—it was all too much. He moved with an easy confidence, compl

Emma's POV We fell into an easy conversation after that, swapping stories about our childhoods, our likes and dislikes. For a while, it was almost as if we really were just two friends hanging out, the awkwardness slowly fading away. But every now and then, I would catch him looking at me with a strange intensity, his gaze lingering on my lips or the curve of my neck, and the tension would creep back in.At one point, he reached over to brush a stray lock of hair behind my ear, his fingers grazing my skin. The touch was brief, but it sent a shiver down my spine, and I turned my head quickly, trying to ignore the flutter in my chest"Emma, you are so beautiful." he said softly, his voice low and serious now. I swallowed hard, my heart beating faster. " Ryan, You know we don't have to keep up this act when it's just the two of us. You don't have to say all that to me."He was silent for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, he reached out and took my hand in his, his thum

Emma's POV Watching them together, I wondered if Eva was truly happy or if she was simply going along with this to please our father. Dad had always been difficult to please, his expectations impossibly high, and I feared that Eva, in her desire to make him proud, might be sacrificing her own happiness.As I walked into the grand ballroom, memories I’d rather forget came rushing back, uninvited and unwelcome. The faces around me were the same ones that had been present at my engagement to Daniel, and at what was supposed to be our wedding day. They had witnessed my decision to cancel the wedding just a day before the ceremony, and I knew that people had not forgotten. In fact, I could feel their eyes on me, and the whispers that followed me like a shadow, reminding me that this was not just Eva’s night; it was also a painful reminder of my past.The room was filled with elegant women in glittering gowns and men in sharp tuxedos, all gathered to celebrate my sister’s happiness. But be

Emma's POV As the night wore on, I found it increasingly difficult to distinguish between what was real and what wasn’t. Ryan’s touch, once merely a part of the performance, began to feel more natural, more genuine. His presence was a comfort, a steadying force that kept me grounded amidst the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me. I could feel myself slipping, the lines between pretend and reality beginning to blur. Every time he smiled at me, every time he held me close, I had to fight the urge to believe that maybe, just maybe, there was something real between us.The engagement ceremony was a spectacle in itself. The room was filled with the sound of clinking glasses and soft music as Eva and Daniel exchanged rings, their every move followed by the watchful eyes of the guests. Ryan stood by my side the entire time, his hand resting gently on the small of my back, a constant source of support. He made sure I was included in every conversation, always making me feel like we belo

Emma's POV The morning after Eva’s engagement party, I woke up to an empty bed. The space where Ryan had been lying just hours ago was now cool. I lay there for a moment, staring up at the ceiling, trying to summon the energy to get up. The events of the night before played on a loop in my mind—the way Ryan had held me, his arm draped protectively around my waist, his warm breath tickling the back of my neck. It had felt so real, so right, that I’d almost forgotten we were just pretending.Almost.But now, in the harsh light of day, reality had come crashing back in. I wasn’t sure where Ryan had gone, but the house was still quiet, everyone else likely sleeping in after the party. I should have been relieved for a moment of solitude, but instead, I felt an inexplicable need to find him.I slipped out of bed, grabbed my robe, and padded down the hallway. As I made my way through the house, I noticed that the door leading out to the garden was slightly ajar. Curious, I stepped outsid