Her Fake Lover

Chapter 9

Everyone turned their gazes in the direction Emmeline was looking. Corbin, standing there, greeted all the attention that was directed at him, with his warm, silent smile.

"Oh, my daughter's boyfriend has arrived? Is this the one?" Mrs. Jeanne covered her slightly gaping mouth. Her surprise was real mixed with joy.

“Ah, haha,” Mr. Guillaume chuckled with maintained dignity. He also seemed to like the moment.

"Ah, let me repeat what my sister said. Your name is ... Corbin?" Lea drew closer to Corbin.

"Oh yes." Corbin smiled, straightening himself. He then put his hand to his chest and bowed slightly. In a natural but pleasant manner he said, "I'm Corbin. Corbin Valsecchi."

"Ah, I'm Lea Karfis. I'm Emmeline's twin sister." Lea turned to Emmeline enthusiastically, then back to Corbin. "Even though we don't look the same, we are twins. It would be a shame if she didn't tell you that."

Mr. Guillaume laughed. Emmeline smiled too. She wasn't worried about this, because introducing her entire family to Corbin had been on the to-do list she had mandated Chloe. Emmeline was sure that Chloe had done her job well. "Of course. I know about it," Corbin said with a smile.

"Ah! Now why don't we just start dinner? We can talk more at the table," said Mrs. Jeanne. Emmeline smiled. But just as she was about to get up to go to Corbin, Mrs. Jeanne was ahead of her, and that stopped Emmeline. Mr. Guillaume smiled amusedly. He was forced to gladly relent when his wife preferred to hold the arm of the young man who was coming to his house for the first time, because she seemed to have liked the young man quickly.

"Darren, let's go to the dining room," said Mr. Guillaume then. He seemed to be aware, that Darren had been quiet since a while ago, and the look on his face showed that he wasn't in a good mood. Mr. Guillaume couldn't possibly let Lea's boyfriend feel jealous because everyone's attention was quickly turned to Corbin.

Darren gasped. He then nodded his head as he agreed to Mr. Guillaume's invitation with a stiff smile. Emmeline also noticed the change in Darren's expression. Emmeline knew the man was probably very upset.

Mr. Guillaume took Emmeline's hand lovingly, and everyone then headed for the dining table.

All sat with their respective partners.

From across the table, Darren nailed a sharp glare at Corbin. Then Emmeline realized it. Emmy took a sip of her drink, glancing at Darren. She was sure Corbin didn't notice. Of all the information Emmy had ordered Chloe to pass on to Corbin, the story that Darren was Emmeline's ex-boyfriend was one that was omitted from the list. Corbin shouldn't have known, and only knew, that the reason Emmeline asked him to be her partner tonight was because at dinner that time, she and her sister had to bring their respective partners.

Emmeline lowered her glass and swallowed her drink heavily. If Darren continued to treat Corbin that way, Emmeline didn't know how long she would be able to hold out against making Corbin suspicious.

"Ah, Corbin. It's a pleasure for all of us to welcome you into this house. This is the first time we've met. We were surprised when at the birthday party the day before yesterday, Emmy suddenly said she had a boyfriend, and we then planned to have dinner tonight." Mr. Guillaume smiled. "But why didn't you come to Emmy's birthday party, then?"

Emmeline swallowed heavily. Why did his father have to ask that question?

Corbin was silent for a moment. Luckily the slight smile on his face—which Emmeline found attractive—could cover whatever was going on in his mind. He turned to Emmeline in a few seconds. Emmeline didn't know what the man was going to say.

"Ah, I'm sorry for that, sir. I was in Italy." Corbin said. He only stared at Mr. Guillaume for a moment, then turned back to Emmeline. Emmeline laughed inwardly. That's not a fake answer. That night Corbin was in his country.

"Ah, so you're from Italy?" continued the mother.

"Yes," said Corbin. Emmeline didn't expect the man to turn back to her intently to say, "Do you mind my absence that night?" Emily was surprised. She knew Corbin had known her birthday—because according to Chloe, a boyfriend couldn't possibly not know about it, so Chloe had intended from the start to tell Corbin some important things about Emmeline—so Corbin would know she and Lea had just had a birthday.

"Ah, no. No way. You have urgent business in Italy. Em—em—important work!" said Emmeline, making up stories. "How could I possibly force you to come to my party?"

"Hah," Darren interrupted with a low sigh. Disdainful. "You had an important job yesterday? So your job is more important than your girlfriend?"

Emmeline glared at Darren. Surprised and furious because his words were really provocative. She glanced at Corbin, and found Corbin seemed to be starting to think. His gaze towards Darren now seemed full of inquiry. But Emmeline was grateful, Corbin was apparently a calm person.

"In fact, on the day of the party, I was waiting for my aunt at the hospital," was all Corbin said. Still very calm. Emmeline gasped. She looked at the man, and as their eyes met, Emmeline saw that Corbin was being honest. Corbin also looked a little sad.

"Emmy said you had an important job earlier. But you just said you were waiting for your aunt? Which one is true?" Darren returned to rebuttal sentence.

"E-em, honey," Lea interrupted uncomfortably. She held her boyfriend's arm, looking awkwardly at her family, especially Emmy and Corbin. The girl felt her lover had cornered Corbin a little.

"That means Emmy thinks of it that way," Corbin said calmly.

"Oh, what's this? You guys are so sweet. You must not have told Emmy because you didn't want to make her worry about her boyfriend's sick family, when she was supposed to be enjoying the party," said Lea with a moved expression on her face. Emmeline swallowed heavily. She knew that her sister was indeed soft-hearted, and, unfortunately, she had been deceived by her own imagination. Emmeline felt guilty inside.

"This is an interesting conversation, Corbin," said Mrs. Jeanne. "Don't feel bad. Trust me, I don't have any bad impression of you. Ah, even to be honest, I'm actually a little pissed off about this—but not with you, but with my own daughter." Emmeline squinted in surprise at her mother. "Believe me. What really happened was that Emmy seemed to be hiding about your relationship. That night she admitted she had a boyfriend, Lea said, it was because Darren accidentally made her confess. Then before, she also never told about you either to us or Lea. Even though she always shared with us for whatever else was happening in her life. We are a close family to each other."

Emmeline sighed, smiling stiffly at the remark.

"Now you can tell us about your family. Em—about your aunt you told me about. I hope she's okay now. And um—maybe about how long you and Emmy have been together? Ah, my God. I can't wait for this introduction. But wait, make sure you guys enjoy the food at our table tonight." Mrs. Jeanne smiled. Mr. Guillaume just chuckled, finding his wife so fussy.

Emmeline, her glance accidentally returned to Darren, and found the man's face stiffening. His gaze was fixed on Corbin, his jaw tightening.

It only took a few seconds before Corbin realized that he was being stared at with hatred by another girl's boyfriend in the house.

Corbin and Darren, now looked at each other, and no one else noticed it but Emmeline. "Oh, my God," she sighed softly.

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