Her Fake Lover

Chapter 46

Emmeline was still in the workshop. She looked around the objects, directions, and saw how the room seemed to be full of dreams. There were passions and ideals, as well as strength because Corbin's brother lived his dreams on the memories of their parents. Emmeline seemed to be able to read, determination had accompanied him in that room a few years ago.

Emmeline also felt an aura of sadness that pervaded the place, for the love of those who were still alive made the stories and memories piled up there become powerful triggers of unwanted sadness. Emmeline sighed.

Someone, suddenly grabbed her shoulder and it startled her. She turned around swiftly.

"Corbin?" said Emmy.

Corbin was silent. He had lowered his hand. His gaze then wandered around the corners of the room, and Emmeline gave him time. They stared at each other again after a while.

"I came in here when Aunt Aude was still here earlier. But now she's out, with a neighbor on an errand. They said they had an appointment to see someone at the hospital," Emmy explained.

“Hm,” Corbin only answered in a small voice. He sighed.

"You," said Emmy again, "I know you don't like this place very much," Emmy stepped forward and reached over and grabbed Corbin's arm.

"No, actually I really like this place."

"Yeah, I mean, since this place is full of memories of your brother, then—"

"Shh," Corbin took hold of Emmy's hand that had been holding his arm at that moment. As if with that Corbin asked Emmeline to stop talking. They were very close at the time, and they were staring at each other.

There was a color of sadness in Corbin's eyes. Emmy saw it. She swallowed heavily.

"I'm sorry," said Emmy. "Let's go out."

"No. This is the first time I've been in here in years. And to my surprise, it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. Maybe it's because I'm not alone."

Corbin lowered Emmy's hand that was holding his arm, then he grabbed it and pulled it away. "Let's take a look at some of the things he left behind."

Emmy smiled while Corbin withdrew her hand with a smile on his face, replacing the sadness she had seen earlier.

"Corbin, you're good at making watches. How about—"

"We're just getting started, Emmy," Corbin interrupted. "Give me time." Corbin sighed. "I'm still getting used to this. It's been a long time," he said his last sentence with a sigh.

Emmy paused for a moment, but then rested her chin on Corbin's shoulder. "Okay. Come on, don't be sad anymore." A small, cheerful laugh escaped Emmy's mouth, and Corbin smiled as he glanced at the girl. Then they laughed together.

Spending a few moments together there didn't feel boring at all for the two of them. There, they talked about many things not far from the watch business. Until time was creeping forward, and while they were still there, someone shrieked, and it was clear that it was Annaliese.

"Aaah!"

Corbin and Emmy were suddenly taken aback. Corbin straightened his back swiftly, and said, "What's with that kid? I'm out for a bit." He held Emmy's arm for a moment and rushed out. Of course Emmy also rushed to follow Corbin. But she had to put down some of the things she was holding on to first, and just as she put them down, she saw a pendant necklace dangling out of the drawer of a desk not far from where Emmy was standing.

Emmy frowned. She felt like she knew the pendant of the necklace. Emmy went to the necklace, then opened the drawer, until she got all the parts of the necklace. Emmy dangled the necklace in front of her face. She watched it for a few seconds. But soon her consciousness returned.

She looked outside, and remembered that she also wanted to ascertain what had happened outside for Anna to scream so loudly. Emmy looked back at the necklace in front of her, then looked back outside. Emmy was confused. Finally, guided by her curiosity about the necklace, which did not feel foreign to her, Emmy decided to pocket the necklace.

Emmy rushed to get the key, then exited the building and locked the door. She then ran towards Corbin and Anna. She could see them from a distance.

Corbin had tamed a dog by the time Emmy got there.

"I thought he was after me?" said Anna.

"Indeed he's after you. But not against you. He wants to play with you I think," said Corbin. He had managed to get the dog out of their gate.

"Oh, maybe it was because I was running that he chased me. I thought I was in danger," said Anna.

"Then what did you do?" asked Emmy.

"I went up to the roof using the stairs. And because he didn't want to leave so I shouted. He's the neighbor's dog. Ah, forget it, miss! You both are from my brother's workshop?" she asked. She turned toward the workshop. "Corbin's never been in there, and I was surprised to find him coming from there. Miss, it must be because of you."

Emmeline smiled. "Em, yes. We ... chatted and looked around there."

"Corbin is really weird. Miss Emmy, I wonder how you can get Corbin to do things he hasn't done before. Build fake relationships, get rid of reluctance to walk into that workshop. You really—"

"Annaa! Come in," said Corbin, walking towards them.

"Ah, alright, fine." Anna winked at Emmeline. "He's probably afraid I'm talking nonsense about him, Miss."

Emmeline smiled as she watched Annaliese go.

"What did she say?" asked Corbin as he reached Emmeline.

"No. Nothing," Emmeline replied with a smile. "Let's go in."

"Okay, come on. I'm thirsty anyway."

It was evening when Emmeline, in her room, found a missed call from Chloe Levine.

In order to clear the question in her mind about what Chloe Levine might want to say, she called her back.

Chloe picked it up quickly, and right after their call connected, Chloe immediately teased Emmeline. "Wow, what a fun holiday in Brilfaxa you didn't have time to pick up my phone, Miss Boss."

Emmeline cleared her throat. She said she left her cell phone in her room, so she didn't know Chloe's call. "What are you calling me for? Are things all right at the office?"

"Ah, yes. Calm down. Everything is fine here. I called you because you told me to report. I still remember your message before you left for Brilfaxa."

"That's good then. I'm glad to hear that."

"But Emmy, by the way, yesterday on the day you left for Italy, Lea brought someone to the office. Lea's car was stuck on the road. Then a man passed by and offered to help by willing to take Lea on her way to where Lea wanted. It's close to our office, so Lea just asked him to take her to our office. After that she borrowed the office car to continue her journey, because she didn't want to bother the man."

"Then?"

"I had a chat with the guy. And you know what?"

"What?"

"He was apparently your college friend. His name was Waylon Ledger. Do you remember anyone by that name?"

Emmeline was silent for a moment. She frowned. The name did not sound foreign to her ears. But who? Emmy was still thinking.

"Emmy?"

"Ah, yes. I ... I was ... ah, Waylon ... " Emmy remembered something. "Ah—yes! I know him! Wa-waylon. He's a friend of Darren's to be exact. They're in the same class. But we're also pretty close, and yes, you could say he's my friend too."

"Well! That's right then. Today he came again. Em, just around the office, and we passed. Then we chatted."

"With you? Does he like you?" Emmeline teased.

"Don't be silly. He said, well, it would be nice if he could meet you and chat after a long time of not seeing each other. He works for a real estate company now. Ah, you, how was your holiday in Brilfaxa?"

"Em—fun." Emmeline smiled. She glanced at her own reflection while smiling. "I came to a warm family."

"And then Corbin? What about him?"

"What do you mean by asking like that? He's—he's all right."

"That's not what I meant. What are your next plans for your fake relationship? You two certainly didn't forget to talk about it, did you?"

"Oh, about that ... yes. We ... we're going to continue this whole thing. And ... and Corbin said, more seriously."

"More serious?" Chloe Levine laughed. "More serious about being in a fake relationship? Then the fake one could be real!" Chloe laughed again, "Oh, sorry, sorry, fine. Erm! Okay. I'm serious." But Chloe couldn't help but laugh so her laughter broke out again.

"Chloe, that's enough! You better tell me what other news you can tell me."

"Oh, haha, my God, yes, yes, sorry." Chloe tried to shake off the rest of her laughter. "Another ... um ... nothing new has happened, Emmy. It's just that maybe you need to know this. Mr. Piers is sick at the moment."

Emmeline raised an eyebrow swiftly. "Mr. Piers is sick?"

"Yes. He's in the hospital. He's been in poor health since you left for Italy."

"W-what? But—"

“Shhh! Calm down. Mr. Piers actually forbade me to tell you. He doesn't want you to worry. It's just that I don't want you to scold me later, so I'm telling you. You don't have to worry. Mr. Piers will get better soon."

Emmeline, instantly felt uncomfortable hearing that.

***