All Chapters of Hired Fiance: Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

Emma's POV "Why don’t we go for a walk after breakfast?" Ryan suggested, squeezing my hand lightly. "I’d love to explore more of the estate with you.""That sounds lovely," my grandmother chimed in, clearly pleased with the idea. "It’s a beautiful day for it."I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. My emotions were too close to the surface, too raw. The idea of spending more time alone with Ryan, of being out in the open where anyone could see us, filled me with a mix of excitement and dread. How much longer could I keep this up before I completely lost myself in the illusion we had created?After we finished breakfast, Ryan insisted on cleaning up, much to my grandmother’s amusement. She watched us with a fond smile as we worked side by side, Ryan washing the dishes while I dried them. It was such a simple, domestic task, but it felt strangely intimate like we were a real couple going about our morning routine.At one point, Ryan bumped his shoulder against mine playfully, causing

Emma's POV “Eva, that sounds lovely, but we don’t want to intrude,” Ryan said smoothly, trying to deflect the invitation without outright rejecting it.“Nonsense!” Eva waved off his concern, her smile unwavering. “It’s not an intrusion at all. You’re practically family now, and I want you to be part of this. Besides, you have great taste, and I could really use your input!”I forced a smile, but inside, I was desperately searching for an excuse. “Eva, I’m not sure—”“Oh, please, Emma!” Eva cut me off, her voice tinged with a hint of desperation. “It would mean so much to me if you were there. I want us to share these moments together. It’s not just about the cake—it’s about making memories.”Her eyes grew soft, and she leaned back, looking almost vulnerable. “I know how much everything has changed recently, but having you there makes me feel like things are still normal like we’re still connected.”Guilt began to gnaw at me. Eva was trying so hard to include me in her happiness, and

Emma's POV Daniel laughed, a cold, bitter sound that sent a chill down my spine. "You’re fooling yourself if you think this is real," he sneered. "Emma’s just using you to get comfortable in this situation."I felt the blood drain from my face. His words cut deep, not because they were true, but because they were a reflection of the worst fears I hadn’t even allowed myself to acknowledge. What if, deep down, I was using Ryan as a shield, a way to avoid dealing with Daniel? But Ryan didn’t waver. He kept his gaze locked on Daniel, his voice steady and strong. "Emma and I are happy," he said, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "And that’s all that matters."It was a simple statement, but it carried so much weight. He wasn’t just saying it for Daniel’s benefit; he was saying it for mine. He was reminding me that, despite everything, I was happy with what I had done in my till now; I wanted to make a career for myself and wanted to work on something I was passionate about. And we were

Emma's POV I looked at Ryan immediately, but he just smiled and declined the offer politely. "Thank you, sir. But I am happy with my work. " "Well," Daniel finally said, a hint of reluctance in his voice, "I’ll admit, you know your way around the financial world. But let’s see how you do on the billiards table."Ryan’s eyes sparkled with amusement as he straightened up and chalked his cue. "I think I can manage," he replied, flashing a grin in my direction that made my heart skip a beat.The game began with my father and Daniel taking turns against Ryan. The atmosphere was competitive, but friendly, with plenty of good-natured ribbing flying around. Ryan handled the cue with the same precision he’d shown in his earlier discussions, his shots calculated and smooth. The balls clicked against each other with a satisfying sound, each shot expertly sinking into the pockets.It wasn’t long before Ryan was winning, much to Daniel’s chagrin. Every time Ryan made a particularly difficult sho

Emma's POV He looked at me for a long moment, his eyes searching mine as if he was trying to figure out what to say. Then, he let out a sigh and leaned his forehead against mine, his voice barely above a whisper."Maybe it doesn’t have to be just pretend if you want. "The words hung in the air between us, heavy with meaning. My heart skipped a beat, and I felt a rush of something—hope, fear, longing—I couldn’t quite place it.But before I could respond, before I could even process what he had just said, the sound of laughter from the sitting room reached us, pulling us both back to reality. Ryan straightened up, his hand dropping from my face as he took a step back."We should get back," he said, his voice suddenly distant.I nodded, feeling a pang of disappointment at the loss of his touch. "Yeah, we should."We walked back to the sitting room together, but the atmosphere between us had shifted. The lighthearted banter from earlier was gone, replaced by a tension that neither of us