Her Fake Lover

Chapter 10

The warm dinner was still going on. The slight awkwardness between Corbin and Darren made Emmeline feel a little anxious, but she believed Corbin could be relied on for the smooth running of tonight's event. Somehow, Emmeline felt that Corbin wouldn't break her expectations, though Emmeline also saw a slight tendency that he could also be a little unpredictable.

"How are your parents, son?" Mr. Guillaume asked Corbin. "It would be great if they were here tonight too." A warm and friendly smile tugged at his lips.

Emmeline glanced at Corbin. As per her agreement with Chloe, which of course had also been conveyed to Corbin, Corbin was free to give any answer if questions like these were directed at him.

It was because Emmeline guessed that she would only need him that night. After that he was free to go back to Italy, and Emmeline would pretend to be in a long distance relationship with the man, then break up soon. Emmeline guessed that the pretense would only last no more than two or three months, because it was only the previous night that Lea had shared a plan with Emmeline to immediately ask Darren to marry.

That day Emmeline hadn't had a chance to talk to Lea again, but she had even planned to help Lea prepare the best dress for her wedding.

Corbin only looked calm. "My parents are dead, Mr. Karfis. But thank you for your kind wishes."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," Mrs. Jeanne interrupted. She straightened her back with a sympathetic face.

Emmeline gasped. She looked at Corbin, and found Corbin looking back at her calmly. Emmeline seemed to be asking through her expression about the seriousness of the statement, and Corbin nodded slowly with a wink as if he understood the implied question. Emmeline gasped. She took her drinking glass and drank it with a wandering mind.

The conversation continued with Corbin's confession that his parents had died since he was a teenager. He was then under the care of his aunt along with his two other siblings.

"Ah, that's why you are so close to your aunt," added Mrs. Jeanne. Corbin smiled approvingly.

He momentarily turned to Emmeline who was also staring at him. They looked at each other for a moment. Emmeline felt that Corbin was being honest about his identity, and Emmeline didn't know why he chose to be honest instead of making up another temporary identity.

"Then you, Darren," said Mr. Guillaume, "what I heard from Lea, your parents are in Germany at the moment. Our hopes are the same. We wish we could meet them, but we understand very well that circumstances don't always allow it. Please just convey my regards to them this time."

Darren readily agreed to the request. The man then glanced at Emmeline, and at the same time Emmeline looked at him unintentionally. Their gazes lingered on each other for a moment. Corbin turned to Emmeline right at that moment, and quickly and precisely, Corbin was able to deduce that there was something between Emmeline and Darren.

Corbin briefly glanced at Emmeline's sister, and found that she didn't seem to suspect anything. If Corbin noticed quickly there was something wrong that he didn't fully understand, Lea didn't even notice it at all.

Corbin sipped his drink, ending his observations.

"When are you guys getting married?" Emmeline suddenly asked Lea and Darren. Everyone is shocked. Corbin was the only one able to calm down. He only needed to glance at Emmeline, and find the girl's expression was full of hope for a definite answer from the couple she asked. The question started to make Corbin realize where Emmeline was playing.

Previously, Emmeline's assistant had only told him that he only needed to go out tonight, then he would be free after that. The rest would be taken care of by Emmeline herself. Corbin then understood, it was because it seemed that Emmeline would pretend to break off relations when her sister was married. Corbin suppressed a goofy smile, reading the play's direction.

"A-a-ah, Emmy," Lea said nervously, "um—" Lea glanced awkwardly at Darren. She seemed to realize Emmeline's question was the fruit of her earlier confession that she wanted to marry Darren soon, but something seemed to make her regret having said it. "Sorry to disappoint you, honey, because ... although we want to get married soon, but ... um ... we have decided not to get married until ... at least a year."

"What?" Emmeline was taken aback.

Corbin, calmly observed the developing atmosphere.

"You said you two were getting married soon. I was already planning to prepare a dress for you. I'm getting ready to help plan the party. Mom, Dad, that's what Lea told me yesterday."

Mr. and Mrs. Karfis just blinked their eyes in disbelief.

"Oh, Emmy. Thank you. You're so sweet. But ... Darren is right. I'm developing important research for a new medical technique at the hospital I'm currently working at, and Darren, he's working on an important project at work. It would be better if we focus on our work first."

Emmeline gasped. It was read from Lea's words, it was Darren who refused to marry in the near future. Emmeline had heard earlier from Lea that Darren worked for a sizeable media company, headquartered in Elderville-Bryxton as well. The company was on the rise recently, so it was only natural that he had quite a bit of work to do.

But that didn't matter to Emmeline, because now all she had to think about was that she had to pretend to have a boyfriend until a time she couldn't even be sure. At least another year? Emmeline felt herself almost losing her sanity. The longer the time, the more likely the charade would be exposed. She's not good at hiding lies. Even a lie like that was the first time she had ever done it. She had never been that mad before.

Emmeline's face lost its light in an instant, until Corbin secretly pitied her.

"Marriage is something sacred," Corbin said. "Everything will happen at the right time."

Mr. Guillaume expressed his agreement. "What's this anyway? I didn't even know my two daughters had been talking about marriage. You two really surprised me." Emmeline gasped at her father, while Mrs. Jeanne gave a small smile at her husband's words.

"Don't forget that since childhood Emmy has loved to protect and do great things for her sister, Honey," said Jeanne, and Guillaume confirmed it with a smile full of emotion.

Emmeline turned to Corbin with a helpless look. Corbin could see the pitiful disappointment in the expression of the girl beside him.

The strange situation wasn't over yet. Because only a few seconds later, Lea returned the complicated idea to Emmeline.

"I'm sorry you had to delay your good intentions of planning a wedding for me, Emmy. But you can plan a wedding for yourself with Corbin, can't you?" Lea said enthusiastically. "Ah, I can't wait to prepare a party for you. Let me do it for you first, before you do it for me."

"What?" Emmy gasped.

***