Hearing this sent a shiver down my spine, and I adjusted my sitting position, feeling a wave of confusion wash over me. Just then, he looked to his left, then turned his gaze back to me. "Speaking of… what do you think of this place?"I glanced around the surrounding area, mumbling as I spoke. "This is your place."He leaned closer. "How about you move in here?"I blinked in surprise. "You want…," the words caught in my throat, but I forced myself to continue. "The two of us to live together?" I chuckled nervously. "Are you crazy?""I'll… go to my parents' place today," he sighed. "If we want their permission, shouldn't we at least do that?" His tone grew serious."But…," I blinked rapidly, looking around the room again. "How can I be in someone else's place…"Just then, Amory stood up. He walked over to me, grabbed my hand, and pulled me to my feet. He led me to the kitchen, heading straight for the upper cabinet at the top of the room. Placing a steadying hand on my shoulder, he sai
I walked briskly, my heels echoing against the floor with each step. My mind raced, contemplating how things would unfold. Just as I reached the large flower garden, I heard a familiar voice."Emma, let's talk," Zayn’s mother called out from a corner.Her voice distracted me, but I kept moving forward, ignoring her. "I have nothing to say to you."She intercepted me, spreading her arms in front of me to block my path. "If you change your mind and break it off all of a sudden, what about Zayn? What is he supposed to do?" she pleaded.I turned my head away, trying to avoid her gaze. "Do you even know how he's feeling right now?" she continued, grabbing my hand to get my attention.I yanked my hand away, giving her a sarcastic look. "He must be relieved. He won't have to be sold for money," I spat, watching her face twist in shock."What?" she exclaimed, her mouth hanging open.I shifted my bag to my left hand. "The store my family is giving you," I said, stepping closer to her. "You alr
I sat alone in my room, the events from earlier tormenting my thoughts. My stomach churned with frustration, and I wondered how I could ever make changes while still enduring so much. I raised my hand, looking at the date marked on my wrist. "When that moment comes again, what will happen to me?" I whispered to myself, the weight of uncertainty heavy on my heart. "Emma, please… we're family," my mother's pleading voice echoed in my mind. I remembered gripping the steering wheel so tightly that my knuckles turned white, trying to blink away the tears. My lip throbbed where I had bitten down hard, stifling my sobs. The taste of blood was sharp on my tongue, mingling with the salt of my tears. Without realizing it, I approached an intersection. The traffic light had turned red, but my distracted mind didn’t register the change. It wasn't until I was almost in the middle of the intersection that panic surged through me, and I instinctively turned the wheel to the left, desperate to avoid
Sitting in a cozy restaurant with Mia, I watched as the staff brought a platter of fried chicken and placed it on the table between us. The aroma was mouthwatering, but my mind was elsewhere. I picked up the drink placed beside me, used the opener to uncover the cap, and started pouring it into the little glass cup provided.Mia reached out for the plate, taking one lap of the chicken and holding it delicately with her left hand as she took a bite. “So good,” she exaggerated, savoring the flavor.I watched her for a moment before picking up my glass and taking a couple of sips, the cool liquid soothing my throat.Mia glanced at the plate, then back at me. “You’re not eating?” she asked, concern evident in her voice.I smiled and nodded. “Have as much as you want,” I said, placing the glass back to my lips for another sip.She frowned, pausing mid-bite. Her mouth curved slightly upwards in a mixture of amusement and reproach as she fixed her gaze on me. “You need to stop being such a p
The next morning, I dressed carefully, choosing an outfit that was stylish but not too flashy. Arriving at the cooking class early, my heart pounded as I stood in the lobby, nerves threatening to overwhelm me. “What am I supposed to do?” I said hoarsely to myself, then took a deep breath, gathering my courage. I proceeded inside, my heels slapping the floor, carrying a box bag in my hand.Inside the apartment, chaos reigned. Just as Mia had described, everyone was too caught up in their own arguments to notice my entrance. “I must be famous around here,” I said loudly, trying to get their attention.Heads turned, faces full of remorse, some craning to see who had spoken. I recognized Mrs. Elizabeth as she turned to face me, a serving spoon in her right hand.“Who are you? Are you interviewing today?” a woman in a light blue outfit and apron asked.“Yes,” I smiled. I spotted Amory’s mother, who immediately recognized me and lowered the spoon she was holding. I took a couple of steps
With my heels slapping the floor softly, I made my way out of the building. I looked up and, to my surprise, saw Amory’s mother standing at the entrance, probably waiting for me. Each step felt heavier than the last as I approached her."Hello, Emma. I doubt you signed up for an expensive cooking class just to learn to cook," she said with a cold edge to her voice.My heart sank at her tone, but I maintained my composure. "How about it, Emma? Do you have time for a cup of tea?" she asked, not giving me a chance to refuse.She turned, and I followed her to a nearby restaurant. We entered, and to my surprise, she continued to move without pause, as if she had a specific destination in mind. She turned left, heading towards a VIP room she had apparently booked in advance.My steps grew heavier as I entered the room after her. To my shock, my sister was there. She stood up quickly upon recognizing our presence at the entrance.Amory’s mother shook her head, a bitter smile on her lips. "I
I took a deep breath, my head lowered. “You must be curious why I decided to break off my engagement,” I paused, looking at her. “It's because I was betrayed. I found out that he was going to take advantage of me,” she lowered her head slightly. “I swore that I would never fall in love again. But then, I met Amory,” I glanced at Amory, who was standing beside the couch. He looked at me, but I quickly looked away. “I thought… at least, he would never betray a woman, his person, like that,” I paused, then continued. “Even if he did, he has an assertive and opinionated mother who wouldn't let him get away with it.”“What?” She exclaimed, blinking her eyes rapidly and also to Amory who made a slight cough.I turned my gaze to my left side grabbed my bag from inside the couch I was sitting on and stood up. “I'm sorry about today,” I said, bending my head slightly with pleading in my voice. “I'll see you soon, mother.” Amory grabbed my hand, but I could sense the disbelief washing over his
The sound of the door creaking open woke me abruptly, my eyes fluttering as I realized I had fallen asleep beside him. My body ached from the awkward position — half on the floor, my hand resting on his chest, feeling the slow rise and fall of his breath. For a second, everything seemed serene. Then, the gasp shattered the silence. “Oh, my God!” A voice pierced through the room, jerking me fully awake. I blinked and turned my head towards the source of the voice. Amory's mother stood in the doorway, her wide eyes fixed on me. The sight of her sent a wave of panic coursing through me. “Emma?” she exclaimed, her voice sharp with disbelief, cutting straight through the remnants of my sleep. Her presence filled the room with tension. "Oh, Mother!" I exclaimed, stumbling to my feet, my heart pounding in my chest as I searched for the right words. "Nothing happened. Really. I swear." My voice cracked slightly as words spilled out, rushing to explain myself, to dispel the assumption t