Her Fake Lover

Chapter 43

Corbin carried Emmeline's suitcase, walked past Emmeline who had been sitting in the living room. Emmy didn't know where Corbin would take the suitcase, but when she was about to ask, Aunt Aude stopped her. "Ah, calm down. Corbin will carry your suitcase to your room."

"My room?" Emmeline frowned.

"Yes. We have prepared a room for you. I assure you, you will enjoy your holiday here."

"Oh," Emmeline sighed. She was happy, but she also felt a little nervous with the treatment she received. With just one meeting, Aunt Aude made Emmeline feel as if she was part of the family.

Aude invited her to chat for a while, namely discussing the matter of fashion shows. Aude talked about Annaliese and Emmeline responded well.

A few moments passed, and Aude, gave Emmy a chance to take a shower. It was already early evening, for Emmeline and Anna did reach the house in the late afternoon.

It was nearing dinner time.

"After showering, join us at the dinner table. We'll have dinner together," Aude said.

Emmeline, nodded obediently.

She headed to her room, because she was going to take a shower in her bathroom, and accidentally met Corbin in front of the room. Emmeline's steps stopped.

Corbin, looked up at her, and approached her quietly.

Emmy whispered in protest, "You and Anna suddenly left me with Aunt Aude, and neither of you showed up?"

Corbin smiled. "We're both thinking about the reason Aunt Aude likes you so much. She's possessive of you." Emmeline sighed. Deeply agree with Corbin's words. Corbin was so close to her at that time. After a while Corbin said quietly again, "Anna went straight out of the house to see her friend. Just a minute, she said she'd be back soon." The two of them looked at each other at a very close distance. "Welcome," Corbin said. "I haven't said this to you personally."

Emmeline was still silent, and just stared at Corbin. The man then backed away saying, "Take a shower. Join us for dinner after that." Corbin walked away, and what made Emmeline feel stupid was, that her heart skipped a beat as Corbin approached her. She also felt speechless at the same time, which was ridiculous. Emmeline ruffled her hair hoping she would regain consciousness. She then stepped firmly, into the room that was prepared for her.

A few moments passed. Emmeline was adjusting her appearance in front of the mirror after she finished bathing and found that her body had recovered. She wore casual clothes, and slightly wore small, unobtrusive jewelry.

For a moment she stared at her face in the mirror. She was feeling nervous. She didn't know why, but she felt it. Emmeline cleared her throat. She straightened her back and finally walked out of the room.

Anna's cheerful voice had been heard since Emmy came out of the room. Anna was telling her aunt about her activities on campus. Aunt Aude was also heard responding enthusiastically, which would surely sound pleasing to the niece's ears.

It was only when Emmeline had entered the dining room that she knew Corbin was there too. He stared at his sister's cheerfulness calmly. Emmeline walked over. Everyone's attention then turned to her.

"Hi," said Emmeline. Corbin, looked at the girl with a thorough look. Emmeline realized that. It made Emmeline feel a little awkward.

"Come here, Dear," said Aunt Aude.

"Miss Emmeline, let's have dinner," Anna added.

Corbin, being the only one who was silent there. But he smiled, and stood up, pulling out a chair for Emmeline, invite the girl to sit down.

Emmeline, was now faced with the joy of the existing family. But Emmeline noticed, Corbin turned thoughtful glances at his aunt a few times.

"Dear," Aude said to Emmeline. "Is there any particular plan you want to work on after this? Or will you just sit at home?"

"Oh?" Emmeline was slightly confused for a moment. She hadn't really made any plans herself, and now she was considering whether it was better to stay at home or go out. But even if she did, who would she go out with? "Em—em—I don't have any plans for that yet, Aunt Aude."

"Shall we go out together, Miss?" said Annaliese.

"Where are you taking her to?" said the aunt.

"I don't know, Auntie. But we can walk wherever our feet go. I think that would be fun."

Emmeline smiled. But she had doubts. In that unsteadiness, her gaze accidentally fell on Corbin, then they met eyes.

"You look tired," Corbin said.

Annaliese heard it. "Ah, that's right. Before we left here, we had some time to walk around Paris. It's only natural that Miss Emmeline was tired."

"Then you just rest first tonight," continued Aude. "If you want to go out, you can do that tomorrow."

Emmeline simply took all the advice. What she didn't understand was, her gaze always returned to Corbin. So did Corbin to her.

Seconds and minutes passed. Annaliese was busy receiving calls from some of her old friends. The girl had excused herself to go into her room since she had finished dinner, while Corbin, was with Emmeline. Aunt Aude had let them, and even Corbin had advised her to rest.

Emmeline looked up at the night sky with Corbin. Just the two of them in front of the house. Emmeline's gaze fell on the small cottage at the far end of the courtyard. It was far from where they were standing, but for Emmeline, this was the second time she had been curious about the cottage. Corbin realized that focused gaze.

"You remember the story I told you about my brother's workshop?" said Corbin suddenly. Emmeline gasped.

"Oh, y-yes," she said nervously in surprise. "Yes, I remember. Is that the workshop you mean?"

"Yeah. I haven't been in it since my brother died. But Aunt Aude, she comes in and cleans the place every day."

Emmeline frowned. She saw the sad look on Corbin's face. Only a few seconds ago she had intended to ask Corbin to take her in there, but hearing what Corbin had just said, Emmeline couldn't do it. She didn't want to make Corbin do what he didn't want.

Emmeline looked back at the workshop, along with Corbin. Each of them held different thoughts, but their eyes were focused on the same object. Lights illuminate the back and sides of the workshop. The small building seemed to stand by keeping its own authority.

Early morning at Corbin's house. Today Emmeline decided to go with Corbin. They needed to talk about their fake relationship stuff, but they could not talk about it at home. It was because they were worried Aunt Aude would hear and find out.

Annaliese, who understood all that had happened between Emmeline and Corbin, supported the plan by telling her aunt that Emmeline wanted to look at Brilfaxa jewelry models. Emmeline wanted to go out for it, and the aunt quickly understood it even though she initially seemed to want to spend time with Emmeline.

Emmeline brought that up when she was on a trip outside with Corbin.

"I'm curious myself," said Corbin, "why Auntie looks so enthusiastic about you. And what I'm also quite curious about is that yesterday, the morning before she asked me to call Annaliese, I found her eyes were puffy. I thought about what happened to her, but every time she saw me and she knew I was watching her, she'll put on a smile and laugh."

Emmeline frowned at that. Then she paused and thought. "Then what does all that have to do with me. Why is she so eager to see me. And earlier before we left, she looked disappointed. I feel a little guilty."

Corbin, looked at Emmy for a moment. "Never mind. Don't think about it anymore. Now tell me how things are going at Elderville-Bryxton."

"Hoh," Emmeline sighed. "Yesterday Darren just saw me."

Corbin stopped the car suddenly. Emmeline was even surprised. "What for?" he asked.

Emmeline looked at Corbin. Seriously this time. "He made it very clear that he doubted us, although I finally managed to silence him by telling him that I was going to Italy at your aunt's request. He also seemed really angry yesterday. And ... Lea ... she was starting to doubt Darren."

"Is he starting to get into trouble with Lea?" asked Corbin.

Emmeline sighed tiredly. She then told what happened between Lea and Darren. She felt that Darren began to show strange attitudes to Lea, and all of that hurt Lea's feelings. Only, Lea's love was too big for Darren.

Corbin, back to driving. He then asked about the developments in the Karfis family. Emmeline stated, "Mom and dad always ask about you. Lea too. They share plans to meet you, meet Anna, visit Brilfaxa—ah! That's it." Emmeline, glanced slightly at Corbin. Then she smiled. "But I'm glad you care about this. I know I'd have a hard time dealing with it myself."

Emmeline straightened herself and stood with her arms outstretched. Corbin drove an open-top car, so Emmeline could breathe freely in the fresh air of the deserted streets they were driving. "Ah, I feel a little relieved. I know I'm not alone."

Corbin just let Emmeline do what she wanted. But his silence for a long time made Emmeline disturbed too. She sat back down and gave Corbin a good look, "Why are you so quiet? Weren't you serious when you said you were willing to help me?"

"I'm serious. That's why I thought, you might need to be reminded, that if we want to play this whole thing more seriously, we can't just pretend to be in a long distance relationship. I'm even sure, you must have had a hard time yesterday, because I was not present at your important event, and also not by your side when the bad news hit you. Your family must be wondering what I'm doing here that I don't care."

"Hah, about that," Emmy sighed. "It's good that you know." Emmy said without hesitation. "But I won't blame you for that. I know I don't deserve it. And now, why are you talking about all that stuff? What are you going to do? You're going to improve our way of playing? Would you be willing to come to Elderville-Bryxton once or twice when my parents invited you? Are you going to take the role seriously? Hh," Emmeline sighed with a goofy laugh. "Things like that require sacrifice, and I'm sure you won't want to. I don't want to either, if you say I like getting into trouble and getting people into trouble. Trust me. I don't like any of this either."

"Looks like you weren't the one looking for trouble," Corbin said. Emmeline raised her eyebrows. "I'm the one who's been looking for trouble. If I didn't agree to your offer from the start, wouldn't I not be involved?"

"Hoh," Emmeline smiled happily. "Sorry to say this, but you're right. Haha!" Emmeline laughed. Corbin, drove faster. The street wind grabbed their faces.

"I can take you on a few trips if you want," Corbin said.

"Wow, that's very kind of you. Alright. Then it's fine we take a moment to enjoy the city of Brilfaxa.

Corbin didn't break his promise. He actually took Emmeline to some places in Brilfaxa, and Emmeline really enjoyed it.

***