Her Fake Lover

Chapter 15

Lea laughed at Emmeline's surprise. "Why? No need to be surprised. You're funny. How did you meet Corbin? It's not something strange, is it, if I'm curious?" Lea raised her eyebrows nimbly.

It's not out of the intention to just be nosy. Lea seemed curious because of the curiosity born of her genuine support for Emmeline and Corbin's relationship, and now, Emmeline was forced to think hard about what answer she should give. After all, Corbin didn't sound like he was whispering anything either.

Emmeline was still confused for a while to choose the right narrative, until then Lea surprised her by asking, "Why are you silent, Emmy? Come on, tell me!"

Emmy couldn't choose the right storyline and said in surprise, something that wasn't a lie, "I know Corbin from his sister!" Emmeline widened her eyes at her own words. Emmeline couldn't understand why she was saying that, but it was pointless to think because it was already done.

Emmeline heard Corbin's faint chuckle in her ear.

"Oh, Corbin's sister? Wow! This is interesting. How could it be like that?" Leah was both surprised and curious. "Who is Corbin's sister anyway? Is she your friend?"

"Um—we know each other," was all Emmy said, quickly, and still nervously. Meanwhile, Lea, raised her eyebrows while looking up, as if to say that she was waiting for further information. "Ah, there's no need to overthink this story, Lea. Nothing too amazing. Corbin's sister is a young and lively girl, an admirer of Karfis & Vin. She then ... um ... on one occasion made me get to know Corbin. Well— like that. I—I don't think the story of our first meeting is important either. I—I—"

"What was your first impression?"

"Ah—I forgot the first impression I met him. It just happened."

"Isn't this love at first sight? Like me to Darren?"

"Um—no."

"How about—"

"Ah, that's enough, Lea. You're talking about small details that make me dizzy," said Emmy. She really didn't want to get caught up in more complicated questions, and besides, Corbin hadn't said anything earlier to help her either. But Emmeline began to understand at that moment, Corbin didn't seem like someone who liked to make up stories.

"Ah, you don't sound like a romantic girl, Emmy. I can't believe you take things in your relationship too casually," Lea commented disappointedly.

"Um—let's just say so."

Lea pursed her lips. But she didn't stopped. She said, "Okay. I know Corbin might be more reliable at this. Oh yeah, that Corbin's sister—what's her name?"

"A-Annaliese!"

"Well, invite the girl here someday, or let me meet her. Maybe I should thank her, because she has become the bridge that brings you two together?"

Emmeline widened her eyes. What kind of request was that? She thought.

"Why only Annaliese? Why not all his family?" a voice interrupted. Emmeline was surprised and straightened her back on reflex, while Lea greeted the newcomer cheerfully.

"Mom, you're here?"

"I knocked on the door earlier, but you two were so busy talking that when I came in you still didn't notice."

"And I was planning on going out soon because Emmy was tired, and she too—ah! She's reluctant to talk."

Mrs. Jeanne laughed. "Not reluctant, honey. Maybe Emmy is just nervous, and it's hard to say anything about the relationship. Look at how she's hidden it from the rest of us before." Jeanne looked at Emmeline, and gave a motherly smile. "I understand my two daughters more and more. When falling in love, Lea turned out to be more open than Emmy. But that's okay. Oh yeah, Emmy. We've been to Italy a lot. In which city exactly does Corbin live?" Jeanne asked.

Emmy raised her eyebrows for a moment. "Which city does Corbin live in?" Emmeline repeated. The two people in front of her nodded. "Um .... "

"Brilfaxa," Corbin whispered in Emmeline's ear over the phone.

"Ah—Brilfaxa, Mom." Emmy smiled. Now it felt like Corbin was listening to her. Emmy really wasn't alone.

"About her sick aunt—ah, what's her name?" continued Jeanne.

"Em—Corbin's aunt's name is ..."

"Aude Altieri," Corbin whispered again. Emmy also conveyed it.

"Has she recovered?"

"Yes. She was out of the hospital when Corbin left for France." Emmeline, delivered it exactly the way Corbin had whispered it.

"Does Corbin only have one aunt? Maybe he still has another uncle, or aunt?"

Emmeline, said cautiously, waiting for Corbin to finish. "No, Mom. Corbin and Anna have no other family apart from their aunt. Aunt Aude lives alone because her husband is dead." Emmeline and Corbin's lips took turns saying the same words, in two different places, where both of them adjusted their voices to be able to hear each other well. Their cooperation goes hand in hand.

"Your Dad loved the dinner. And he plans to bring Darren and Corbin back to enjoy some more time together in the future. Hopefully this wish will come true."

Jeanne left. "Now you two get some rest. It's getting late. And tomorrow morning you have to go to work."

"Mom, I'm going out too," Lea interrupted.

"Okay, Lea. Come on!" said Jeanne. "I meant to return your cellphone that you just left in the kitchen, Lea. I'm afraid you'll be confused looking for it. But when I found you weren't in the room, I was curious to look for you and found you here. Emmy, honey, good night."

The two of them had passed. Emmy sighed with relief. She rushed to the door to lock it, and as she walked back to her bed she said to Corbin, "Thank God. They're gone."

"In that case, good."

"Corbin," Emmeline said carefully, "thanks for helping me."

"You're welcome. This has become infectious stupidity."

Emmeline furrowed her brows. "What do you mean?"

"We've gone into the game even further."

Emmeline was silent for a moment. She looked toward the bedroom door, where her mother and Lea had come out, and Emmy remembered what her mother had said that their father might want to see Corbin again. But Emmy didn't want to break her promise to Corbin.

"I'll keep what I told you," said Emmy. "You, have been released tonight. You may return to Italy if you wish."

Corbin sighed with a chuckle. "Emmeline, you've made things complicated, then suddenly cut the strings. There will be broken family expectations, and the disappointments of others that you bear. Miss, you've taken a step forward to create a little trouble in your life. May I know, what are you doing all this for?"

Emmeline raised her eyebrows in a gasp. She was taken aback, then was silent for a moment. There was no way she thought if Corbin didn't suspect anything about Darren's attitude towards him. Then before Emmeline could answer, Corbin was ahead of her.

"Let me guess. I'm assuming this has something to do with Darren."

Emmeline took a deep breath. She agreed because she didn't think that saying no would fool Corbin.

"I thought so. It's hard not to be suspicious about this," Corbin said.

Emmeline, who had plopped down on the bed, and pulled up the blanket then even lightly gave a glimpse of when the relationship was established, and when Darren reappeared before her and introduced himself as Lea's boyfriend, and—

"And you now feel the need to make Darren aware that your relationship is over."

"That's right," said Emmeline.

"All right," Corbin Valsecchi then replied calmly. "Now it's time to turn off your phone. You may rest, Emmeline. Good night."

***