Chapter 8: The Love Story That Was Written For Me
I refused to believe it.
Not because it sounded impossible.
Because it sounded too possible.
Every strange moment.
Every coincidence.
Every time Ethan appeared exactly when I needed someone.
Was it real?
Or was it planned?
I spent the next hour going through everything.
Our first meeting.
Our first date.
The day he told me he loved me.
My father noticed my silence.
“You’re blaming yourself.””
I looked up.
“No.””
But he knew me too well.
“Yes, you are.””
I looked away.
“I should have noticed.””
“Emma.””
“I should have seen the signs.””
My father leaned forward.
“Manipulation works because people trust.””
His words were simple.
But they mattered.
The door opened.
Rachel entered holding a tablet.
“We found more.””
My stomach tightened.
“What?””
She placed it on the desk.
“Ethan’s relationship timeline.””
I looked confused.
“Relationship timeline?””
“We reviewed his financial records, messages, and contacts.””
She tapped the screen.
“Before meeting you, Ethan had significant debt.””
I looked at the information.
“He was broke?””
“Not exactly.””
Rachel scrolled.
“He was desperate.””
Then I saw the transfers.
Large amounts of money.
From Patricia.
To Ethan.
My father stared.
“She was paying him.””
Rachel nodded.
“For years.””
I felt sick.
“So he was following instructions.””
“Yes.””
I looked at the screen.
Then I saw something.
A message.
From Patricia.
To Ethan.
My hands went cold.
“Can I read that?””
Rachel hesitated.
Then turned the tablet toward me.
The message was short.
*Remember why you’re doing this. Feelings are temporary. The family comes first.*
I stared at those words.
Feelings are temporary.
I laughed quietly.
Not because it was funny.
Because it hurt.
My father watched me.
“Emma.””
“I spent three years loving someone who was acting.””
The room stayed silent.
Then my phone rang.
Ethan.
Everyone looked at me.
I answered.
“What do you want?””
His voice was softer than before.
“Emma.””
I waited.
“I need to explain.””
“No.””
“Please.””
I almost hung up.
Then he said:
“You deserve the truth.””
I froze.
“Now you want to tell me the truth?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
A long silence.
Then:
“Because my mother went too far.””
I closed my eyes.
“You knew.””
“Yes.””
The honesty shocked me.
“You knew about the contract.””
“Yes.””
“You knew about the plan.””
“Yes.””
My hand covered my mouth.
For the first time, Ethan sounded broken.
“But I didn’t expect to actually fall in love with you.””
I said nothing.
“I know you hate me.””
“I don’t hate you.””
He was quiet.
“I just don’t know who you are.””
That sentence hurt him.
I could hear it.
“Emma…”
“No.””
I stood.
“You don’t get to say you loved me after helping destroy my life.””
“I was scared.””
“Of what?””
“My family.””
I laughed bitterly.
“You were afraid of your mother, so you sacrificed me?””
“I thought I could fix it.””
“When?””
Another silence.
“When I had control.””
I shook my head.
“There it is.””
“What?””
“You never loved me as a person.””
I looked out the window.
“You loved the idea that you could have me.””
He didn’t answer.
Then his voice changed.
“Emma, you need to know something.””
“What?””
“My mother wasn’t the only one involved.””
My heart stopped.
“What are you talking about?””
“Someone from your side knew.””
I frowned.
“That’s impossible.””
“No.””
His voice became serious.
“There was someone helping us from your family.””
I froze.
“My family?””
“Yes.””
“Who?””
Before he answered, the call suddenly cut.
I looked at the screen.
No signal.
Then Rachel’s tablet made a notification sound.
A new email had arrived.
She opened it.
Her face changed immediately.
“What?””
She looked at me.
“Emma…”
“What is it?””
She turned the screen around.
The sender’s name was visible.
A name I recognized.
May you like
A name that made my entire body go cold.
It was someone I trusted.
