Emily's POVI couldn't help but feel a sense of regret over the proxy marriage I had signed. I had done so much for him, and he had still treated me so harshly. His apology didn't seem to make up for it. I wasn't sure if I could ever forgive him. I wondered what had made him act that way. What had I done to deserve it?I felt so foolish for trying to hug him, only to have him pull away. It was humiliating, and it made me feel like a fool. I felt trapped. I had signed a contract that bound me to him indefinitely, and I couldn't get out of it. I wished I could leave, but I knew I couldn't. I felt helpless like there was nothing I could do to change my situation. I was stuck in a situation I didn't want to be in, and I didn't see any way out.The shrill sound of my phone ringing jolted me out of my thoughts. I had been so deep in my thoughts, trying to figure out what to do, that the sudden noise startled me. I pulled my phone out of my pocket, wondering who could be calling me.When I
Emily's POVI went downstairs to the kitchen and made myself a quick breakfast. I knew it was important to start the day with something nutritious, so I made myself a healthy smoothie with fruit, vegetables, and protein powder. I took a few minutes to sip it slowly, savoring the taste and enjoying the feeling of taking care of myself.As I was walking out the door, I saw Ethan heading out as well. I considered asking him if he could give me a ride to work. I quickly dismissed the idea. I knew he would say no and it would only make things awkward between us. I didn't want to start the day off on an unpleasant note."Emily." It caught me off guard when Ethan called me by my name. He had always referred to me as Olivia's sister, so it was surprising to hear him use my name. I walked up to Ethan."Good morning!" I greeted. He didn't respond. Instead, he just started talking about something else, as if he hadn't even heard me. "You will make sure that no one in the office knows that we li
Emily's POV"Would you mind if we went down to get something to eat?" Liam asked. I was taken aback by the invitation, but I couldn't help but feel a little thrill of excitement. "I would love to!" I said, trying not to sound too eager. I was hungry, and I was eager for some company, even if it was just a quick lunch. But then I remembered I had got a lot of work to do."Oh, I'm so sorry. I have a lot of work to do and I can't afford to be distracted right now." "Oh, poor little Miss Clumsy," Liam was teasing me with a grin. "I wish I could help you, but I've got a lot of work to do myself." I couldn't help but laugh at his playful tone. He was just trying to make me feel better, and it was working. I felt a bit lighter, my mood was lifted."Maybe we could hang out some other time," Liam said, and I felt a flicker of hope. "That would be great." "Bye, Miss Clumsy," Liam grinned at me as he walked away. I watched him go, feeling oddly satisfied. It had been a pleasant brief interactio
Emily's POVI was so relieved to get home after such a long day. I had been dreading work, especially after the way Ethan had spoken to me before. But today had turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Ethan had been polite, and I had even had a great conversation with Liam. I felt like someone had lifted a weight off my shoulders. I was exhausted, but I also felt energized.I was so tired, but I knew I had to get ready for my outing with Liam. I was a little nervous but also excited. I did not know where we were going, but I wanted to look my best. I rummaged through my closet, trying to find the perfect outfit. I wanted to make a good impression, and I wanted to feel confident and beautiful.I was so tired from searching through my closet that I headed downstairs to the kitchen to fix myself a quick meal. I was starving, and I needed to refuel before I could continue getting ready.I took the stairs down to the kitchen, and when I reached the bottom, I saw Ethan standing there. I froze,
Emily's POVLiam's voice was low and pained as he spoke. "I was driving to pick you up, and a kid ran out into the road. I couldn't stop in time and hit her. I'm so sorry. I'm at the hospital now. I'm not sure how bad it is, but I wanted to let you know what was going on." I was still in shock, trying to process what he was saying. My heart sank as I listened to Liam's explanation. I had been so worried about being stood up, and now I felt terrible for doubting him. I was horrified to hear that a child had been injured and that he was at the hospital. "Oh my god, Liam, are you okay? Is the child okay?" I asked, feeling a wave of panic and sadness."Yes, she is."Hearing that the child was okay was a huge relief. I let out a breath that I hadn't even realized I was holding. It was a terrible situation, but it could have been much worse. I felt a little calmer, but I was still concerned about Liam. "How are you doing?" I wanted to make sure he was okay."I'm fine, a bit overwhelmed.""
Emily's POV"You look beautiful, by the way," Liam said, making me blush. "I'm sorry. I forgot to say that earlier." His words surprised me, but I didn't know what to say. I wanted to come up with a witty response, but I just stood there, blushing and smiling like an idiot. "I like your shoes, too," he added, gesturing to my feet. I looked down at my shoes. My cheeks flushed a deep red. I stammered a little as I tried to find the right words to respond. "Thank you," I finally managed to say. "You look pretty great yourself." I wasn't sure if that was the right thing to say, but it was the best I could come up with. He just smiled at me and I felt my heart flutter.I could feel my hands shaking as I stood there, trying to think of something to say. I was usually so comfortable around Liam, but for some reason, I felt more nervous than usual. Maybe it was because of the situation, or maybe it was something else. I couldn't quite put my finger on it. I took a deep breath, trying to
Emily's POV"I'm going to pick out a teddy bear for you," Liam said, his tone playful and mischievous. "And then you're going to pick one for me. If you don't like the one I pick, I lose. But if you like the one I pick, I win." I thought about his proposal for a moment, and then I nodded. "You're on." A smile was on my face. "This is going to be fun." And with that, we set off to find the perfect teddy bears for each other.I started looking through the shelves, searching for the perfect teddy bear for Liam. There were so many to choose from, but I wanted to find one that reflected his personality. Finally, I spotted the perfect one. It was a big, fluffy brown bear with a red bowtie around its neck. I knew it was the one. "I found the perfect one," I said, holding it up for Liam to see. "It's you, in teddy bear form." He laughed, and I could tell he was impressed. "That's pretty accurate."Liam studied the teddy bear for a moment, and then he turned to me, an impish grin on his fac
Emily's POVAs we drove closer to Ethan's apartment, I felt a sense of panic rising in my chest. I didn't want Liam to know where I lived, for some reason. So, when we reached a point close to Ethan's building, I decided to lie. "We've reached my destination." I pointed to a random apartment building. "Thank you for the ride." Liam got out of the car and came around to open the door for me. I wasn't expecting that, and it caught me off guard. I felt a flutter in my stomach as I stepped out of the car. I was grateful for the gesture, but I wasn't sure what to make of it. Was this a sign of something more, or was it just a friendly gesture? "Thank you for making my evening interesting," he said, his eyes meeting mine. I felt a blush creeping up my cheeks, and I looked away, trying to regain my composure. "It was my pleasure." My voice was a little unsteady. "It was nice to get out and do something fun for a change. I'm glad you enjoyed it." His voice was warm and sincere. "We shoul