Emily's Pov:

I organised all the fresh ingredients in the fridge, throwing away all the rotten and expired food products into the dustbin.

Stirring the glass of lemon water after adding a bit of salt, I drank it in one shot, cold water soothing my frustrated nerves and relaxing my body.

It had been three weeks already and I didn't receive anything satisfying from Cyber security and surveillance department, regarding the precise location of Mia or her whereabouts.

I heard shuffling of things, heavy footsteps on stairs resonated the ambient and I abruptly turned towards the kitchen counter, busying myself in wiping off the wet dishes.

My heart twisted painfully in my chest, remembering those three words which I had always wanted to hear from Edward my whole life, and which he indeed said to me but this time, those beautiful words weren't for me though.

His love and his feelings were for someone who held that special place in his heart which I couldn't even dare to take it, no matter how many years I would continue to be his friend.

No matter how many sacrifices I would continue to make for his sake!

"Good morning, lily!" Edward took his seat, scooting his chair closer to the dining table.

"Good morning" I continued to wipe off crockeries, not daring to turn around to look at him, knowing very well that my heart would betray my feelings once more and would forgive him for every pain and rejection he gave me every day, as a gift for standing by his side all my life.

"Here! Come and eat with me! It's been a long time since we ate together and I really miss eating with you!" He patted the chair beside him, motioning him to join him.

"I couldn't make anything good for breakfast today, Edward! Hope you don't mind-"

"I can eat everything as long as it's made by you, Lily!" Edward smiled at me, his hand still on the chair beside him, urging me to join him.

"Yeah but still, I couldn't wake up early today so-"

"Now will you please sit and eat with me if you're done nagging yourself already!?"

I nodded meekly and walked towards him, turning the plates around and started to serve him warm food. After placing spoons and fork on his side, I took seat beside him, still not looking at him.

Taking some food on my own plate, I dug my fork into the vegetables and stuffed it leisurely into my mouth.

"Emi!?"

"Yes!?"

"Why are you eating just vegetables in your breakfast!? You keep talking of my own nutrition and stuff when you yourself aren't taking proper care of your diet and your body!"

I sighed. "I don't really feel like eating, you know. It all seems just a boring work to me now!"

"Eating doesn't come in some boring work, Lily!"

"I don't know anything anymore, Edward." I looked at him, my eyes blank and deprived of every sort of emotions I was capable of feeling."I don't feel like talking to anyone now, I just want to stay alone in my room and I want everyone to hate me, to think of me as nothing more than some creature who doesn't care about anyone or anything and is selfish beyond recovery about her life and her own happiness!"

"What're you talking about!? My Emily is far from being selfish and she cares about each and everyone in her life. She is selfless as a freak and would do anything to bring a smile on someone's face!"

"I don't know. Maybe it's all because I have been wrong all along in my judgement, caring for those who doesn't even know what I actually want!"

Edward's eyes softened at my words and he shifted his chair closer to my side. He raised his hands to cup my chin but I stood abruptly from my chair, leaving his hands in air instead.

Turning my back at him, I turned to leave when he caught my wrist firmly and pulled me back to my chair. I furrowed my eyebrows at him, covering my fingers over his hand which was clutching my wrist and shoved his palm roughly to his side, leaving him shocked and gaping at my rude behaviour.

"What the-Are you seriously mad at me, Emily!? Why have you been acting so distant to me past these weeks!? You don't talk to me, you don't eat with me, you don't let me touch you, you don't let me hug you" He cupped my cheeks, making me look at him, but I still didn't look at him. "You don't even look at me anymore, Lily? Why? Tell me!? Did I do something wrong!?"

I shook my head, staring at the floor.

"You didn't do anything wrong, Edward. I just miss my home. It's been a long time since I last talked with my mom and dad so I guess that's the reason I'm getting hostile and frustrated these days!"

I put my hands over his and removed those hands cupping my chin slowly, putting them to his side.

Edward sighed in disappointment. "Why don't you go and visit your mom, then!? How about I come home early today and then we both can go and visit her properly!? After all, I myself wanted to talk to her-"

"It's not actually needed. Mom is coming to meet me today after I called her last night. I think I'll be fine after talking to her so you don't have to worry anymore."

Edward nodded and came forward to grab my hands, running his knuckles over my fingers. "Emi, you know I'm always there for you if you want to talk about something-"

"No. I don't want to talk about anything. I am really fine, Edward!"

"But-"

"I told you I am fine-" Edward lifted my left hand abruptly and ran his fingers over my knuckles, his eyes narrowed infintesemily, searching for something.

"Where is your ring, Lily!?"

"Ring!?"

"Your wedding ring, Emi! My family ring, the one I gave to you in our wedding!"

I looked at my fingers, realisation dawning on me. "Oh. I must have removed it while taking bath today-"

"Your mom is coming today, Emi! You need to be careful with all this otherwise we might get caught anytime soon and that won't be good for both of us then!"

"I understand-"

"Wait here!"

Quickly Edward ran towards the stairs and climbed over them deftly. After a minute or so, he came down and walked towards me with determination.

"Give me your hand!"

Ignoring his sentence, I kept my hands on my side. I bit my lips in nervousness, still staring at the floor, feeling his eyes burning holes into my skin.

Edward sighed loudly in frustration before grabbing my hand from my side and lifting it upto his level, he slid the ring smoothly onto my finger.

"Always wear this ring no matter wherever you are and whatever you're doing!"

"It's not that I removed it deliberately so-"

"It's my family ring, Emily! It's meant to protect you and keep you safe when I'm not around to do so!"

"But I am very safe here, Edward! We have guards all around this house and I really doubt if anyone would be fool enough to dare-"

"I don't know anything, Lily! Just never remove it from your finger! I don't feel very good seeing you without my ring and it's kinda unnerving to me seeing you getting all upset and distant from me these days!"

I nodded. "Okay. I understand"

When I attempted to remove my hand from his, this time, Edward raised his eyebrow at my struggle. His grip on my hand tightened and with a strong pull, he pulled me towards him and I landed straight on his chest. Quickly wrapping his arms around me to stop me from leaving him, he hugged me tightly, resting his chin over my head.

"I don't know why you're behaving like this, Lily and it's scaring the shit out of me! Please don't do this to me! Let's talk it all out!"

Tears pooled at the corner of my eyes, and I took a deep breath, wishing to God to give me some strength to bear all this unbearable pain without breaking out in front of him.

Resting my head on his chest, I let all my tears fall silently down my face. I wiped the salty moisture of my eyes on his shirt, my heart twisting and churning in my ribcage remembering his bold love confession for Lara, the night I confessed my own feelings to him for the first time.

"I love you too!"

"Lara"

Edward broke the hug to look at me and a pained expression passed through his eyes as soon as he saw me crying. Gently wiping my tears from his thumb pad, he kissed my forehead, running his fingers up and down my back to molify me.

"Atleast tell me what I can do to make you happy, lily. I really can't see you undergoing all this pain all by yourself. Share with me and we'll sort this out-"

I raised my hand. "I'm fine. Really you can't do anything for this. I'll be okay after some time!" I wiped all my tears frantically from the sleeves of my shirt and forced a smile back to my face.

"It's wrong, Emi! I don't understand why you can't share! Seriously you don't tell me anything when I never hide anything from you!"

"Trust me, Edward I am not hiding anything from you. You should leave for your office now, it's getting late!" I pointed my finger towards the wall clock, which showed thirty minutes past nine.

"I am not going anywhere unless you tell me the reason why you're behaving like this!" He took two steps towards me and I backed away from him, leaning against the nearby window.

"Why do you care anyway!? It's my life and my feelings, so I get to decide who should I share my things with!"

"Of course, you should share everything with me! I am here, right with you, to listen to everything you have to say!!"

Striding quickly towards me, he gripped my shoulders and I turned my head away from him, not willing to look at his eyes. When he gently grazed his fingers over my cheeks, I removed his hands roughly from my face.

"Don't touch me!"

"But why!?"

"Why not, Edward!?"

He looked at me with shock and confusion. "I don't understand-"

"There is nothing to understand in it! I am not your real wife, Edward and yet you touch me and kiss me like I was.." I stopped for a moment, searching for the right words to say to him "Like..like I never was your fake wife to begin with! You have a girlfriend who is very beautiful and lovely and you love her with every fibre of your being, don't you!? Then why do you keep on messing up with my mind and my feelings by doing all this!?"

"I just wanted to hug you, Emi! Why? Do you have a problem with this also!?"

"Yes! I have a huge problem with all this you're doing to me!"

"But why!? You didn't seem to have any trouble with those simple touches before, Emily!"

"Those were not the simple touches, Edward! You fucking kissed me-"

"But you kissed me first though!"

I hesitated a little. "I didn't mean to actually-"

"But you did it anyway though!"

I averted my gaze somewhere else. "There was a big reason why I did all that-"

"But I surely do remember that you thoroughly enjoyed what we did back there, without no resistance against my kisses or touches though!"

I stared at him in shock and embarrasment. "Seriously Edward you're saying all this shamelessly to me when you still have your first love as your fucking girlfriend! Don't you have a least bit of decency left in your words!?"

Edward shrugged nonchalantly. "Yes! But it's a truth after all!"

"It's a half truth, Edward, not the whole of it!"

"Then tell me the full of it, if you can, Emily!"

"I can't-"

"I don't understand what's wrong with me touching you like that!?"

I looked at him with sheer anger, my temper getting on my nerves. "I don't like it when you touch me!"

And you don't mean it!

"Oh so now you don't even like my touch!? Why so!? Any complete stranger can come out of nowhere and ask you on a date in front of me and I can't even touch my own best friend!? This is unfair, Emily! Totally unfair!"

I glared at him, tears of determination now brimming in my eyes, and I took two complete steps towards him. Our faces now stood close to each other, our noses touching and I stared deeply into his ocean blue eyes. "Do you want me, Edward!?"

He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "What-"

"Do you want to have sex with me!?"

I saw his eyes widening like saucers as heat rushed quickly to his face and he took one hesitant step away from me.

"Do you seriously want our pious friendship, our twenty years of long unbreakable bond, to turn into all this "friends with benefits" shit!?"

Edward looked away from my penetrating gaze, his eyes reflecting shame and regret.

"Answer me, Edward! I asked you a fucking logical question!"

I gauged his reaction for some time, waiting for his answer but none came from his side.

"See, Edward you're just attracted towards me" I looked down the floor and whispered to myself "As I am to you" I felt his eyes boring holes into my skin, at my sudden bold words. Collecting my courage, I looked at him, to show him the bare truth in my eyes. "And nothing else. I honestly understand all this 'cause it's kinda obvious and inevitable kind of thing between opposite genders!" Edward looked at me and I averted my gaze somewhere else. "But what I can't allow is this "attraction" thing to eat up what has existed proudly between us all these years! Our friendship is very special to both of us and that's why what I'm trying to say here may sound a bitter truth at first but still we can't deny that it is the only truth after all!"

Edward nodded lightly, his head hung low in realisation now. "I am sorry for everything, Emily! I'll never do anything like that again!"

I smiled at him. "Yes, that's better for both of us! You should get going now! It's getting late!"

************

I splashed some cold water over my face, cleaning each and every corner of my face.

Dark circles under my eyes were still visible, and I was worried if my mom saw me in freaking ugly condition like this, with my hairs sticking like a birdnest from my bun and my face looking like a distorted mushroom after all those sleepless depressing nights, then she would certainly throw a huge fit over it.

Mom was waiting in the drawing room after I excused myself to go to washroom and let Miranda open the door for her.

Quickly applying some foundation and cream under my eyes, which I stored in my makeup-kit for emergency makeup required often in conditions like these, I tied my hairs in a high ponytail and rushed downstairs to meet my mom.

She looked so innocent and heartwarming, sitting on the sofa and waiting for me impatiently. I smiled genuinely at her, and went behind her to scare her like old times.

"Booo!!"

Mom stood up immediately from the sofa and shrieked out loudly like a choked bird and I doubled up in laughter, seeing her immediate reaction. She raised her purse at me, thinking of me as some unexpeceted intruder or a thief.

"Relax Mom! It's just me!"

"Emily! You're gonna get a good beating from me if you pulled such pranks on me again!"

I raised my hands in defence, grinning like an idiot. "Okay! Okay! Guilty!"

"You really will never change, will you!?" She smiled back at me and hugged me tightly. I hugged her back, inhaling that motherly scent I missed all this time.

I really wanted to talk to her about everything I went through supporting this fake marriage with Edward all alone by myself but I knew that if she knew anything about our facade and pretend relationship, it might be possible that she might never let me be friends with Edward anymore, maybe going as far as breaking every relationship which we Willows have with Jones family all these years!

"How is my sweety these days!?"

I smiled. "Your sweety is doing fine as always! How about you tell me how have you been, my dear mom!?"

"Oh dear, why so formal now!? After getting married in a rich family, you sure have accquired some traits of ignorance and authority ,I guess!"

"Mom! Seriously! It was just to trigger your temper, you know!" I placed a cup of tea on the table, sliding plate of snacks beside it. "Here! It'll help your headache a little! How many times do I have to tell you not to travel in this hot weather when you can't tolerate all this scorching heat!?"

Mom made a face at me. "You seriously thought I would miss a chance to meet my own daughter after staying away from her all this time!?"

"But still Mom! It's not heatlhy for your migraine and besides, you could've visited me at night. Its not that I am going anywhere and Dad could also have come with you then! But tell me, how is Dad though!? Man, I really miss talking with him!"

"You missed your dad but not me!"

"Well well, I am the daddy's girl so am the selfish one here..." I trailed off, huge grin forming on my face seeing my mom frown sadly at my words.

When she didn't say anything for a minute, I sighed and hugged her from behind, resting my head on her shoulders. "Oh Mom! You know I missed you more than anyone else so why make this ugly octopus face! Make that chubby puppy face for me that you used to make whenever I would fall into a big trouble and came back home crying loudly after breaking my nose or jaw everytime I would go out to play!"

"You really have a weired way of showing emotions, Emily!"

I shrugged. "After all, fruits doesn't fall too far from their trees and I happen to resemble you in one way or another."

"You make me so worried sometimes, Emily, when you don't call or text me for weeks but I shrug it off thinking it is indeed tough to manage marriage life so you might be busy somewhere else!"

I grinned. "I love it when you worry over me for nothing Mom!"

"But you know I don't really worry much for you now, 'cause I know Edward is taking good care of you and I have witnessed a lot of his love for you these past years of your friendship with him so I am sure you must be very happy after marrying him, Emily!"

I looked down at my lap, fiddling with my fingers. "Yes, Mom. I am. Edward is a very good husband any women could ever ask for!"

"Of course he is! After all, he's your first love and first loves, when reciprocated, always give you every happiness of this world and a lovely happy ending!"

Mom was right in her each and every word but the problem was that...

I didn't have any happy ending in my life..

Or maybe I don't deserve to have any of it..

And I knew it from the moment I started loving Edward that my first love would always remain uncompleted and unreciprocated, even if for a moment I might get my hopes up for nothing.

He loved someone else and I was glad I never actually confessed to him.

After all, that would make me a complete idiot to confess to someone who already had a girlfriend, wouldn't it!?

"How is Dad doing!? Is he taking his medicine properly!? Is he in his office right now!?" I asked her, trying to change the topic of the conversation without making it too obvious.

"Yes! Your dad is planning to get a new car this time!"

"Why!? What happened to the old one though!?"

Mom sighed. "He got into another accident some days ago and this time, it's broken beyond repair-"

"Oh my god Mom! Is he okay!? Why didn't you tell me!? I would have come over to visit him properly then!? It's really scary and did he fracture anything-"

"Relax, Emily! He is fine! That's why I didn't call you! You would have thrown a useless fit over it then-"

"But what if he suffered a major injury!? Did you get an X-Ray!? A proper MRI!? What about a CT-Scan? Any minor injuries speculations!? Any blood clot adhering to the skin and muscles-"

"Oh dear, I told you he's fine! We got a proper examination and satisfactory results from the hospital already! If it was anything dangerous, I would've called you myself but since it wasn't, I didn't think it necessary to inform you!"

"I want to talk to Dad!"

"You can, dear, once he reaches home after his meeting! Don't worry Emily! Here. Take this!" Mom placed a red coloured box on my lap. "Your dad especially chose it for you! Send him the picture after you wear it! He wanted to see how you would look in it!"

I opened the box, unlacing the ribbons in a mild curiousity and my mood got a lot better after seeing a new pair of jeans and a shirt. I ransacked the whole box for further gifts and lifted my hand to see red floral dress entangled in my fingers.

"What's this, mom!?" I turned the dress around to take a better look at it.

Mom shrugged. "I don't know. It's supposed to be a dress girls wear to show off these days, you know!"

"I know what it is Mom. I just don't understand why Dad would send me something like this though, when he clearly knows I don't wear these frilly things!"

"Maybe this time, he wishes to see you in these frilly things!"

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously at her. "Are you sure that's what he wanted to send me!?"

"I don't know! Maybe he might have another reason in his mind to send you this dress, but see it properly Emily! Isn't this dress just gorgeous!? This colour will suit your complexion and if you would just open your hairs" She pointed at my bun, running her fingers down my hairs. "Your hairstyle will compliment these ribbons and I think red or maybe muticolored earrings will go better with it and-"

I raised my hand, chuckling at her words dripping with excitement. "I'll keep it Mom. Give it to me!"

She looked at me, a look of surprise and admiration adorning her fair face. "You won't throw it away after I am gone, won't you!?"

I waved. "No Mom. I won't, I swear I'll wear it and send you a pic soon!"

"Really!? Oh God, I am so happy for you, Emily! My daughter is making a progress, much better progress to dress like a women now! How blessed I am to have Edward as my son-in-law who changed her completely in mere few months, when even I wasn't sucessful in doing so!"

I opened my mouth to speak but found it better not to reply her back after all. It would be better to let her think what she wants as long as she is happy thinking I am happy.

I walked towards the kitchen and placed empty cups and plates on the sink. Opening the tap water, I started to wash them off one by one.

"Are you pregnant, Emily!?"

Cup slipped out of my hand and fell on the puddle of water, and I turned my head abruptly to look at my mom in confusion.

"No Mom! I am not pregnant! Why would you think that!?

She pointed her finger at the kitchen counter. "Then what about all these used lemons?"

I chuckled. "I just made some lemon water for myself. These days I am not feeling quite well and fresh." I looked at my mom and smiled a little. "How about we continue the rest of our conversation in my room!? It's quite comfortable there, and besides, you need to take a little rest after traveling in your sick condition also! I'll make you another cup of tea so take a little nap in my room until then."

"Then I can take these to your room!" She took the dress and placed it carefully inside the box. "I'll keep it in your closet then."

"And yes mom, if you want to wash up, there are some fresh towels inside my closet or you can find some on that black cupboard inside the washroom as well."

I busied myself in making tea and some proper lunch for both of us after Mom left to take a proper bath. Making myself another glass of lemon water, I drank it down in one go and resumed my cooking.

After half an hour, everything was ready and I started to plate snacks on a tray, placing glass of water beside them.

I heard a distinct shuffle of a carpet and turned my head around to see Mom standing on the stairs, looking at me with sadness and confusion.

"Mom? Why are you here!? Weren't you taking a bath!?"

"I didn't took it. Suddenly, I got some other things to take care of." She stared at me with some unknown emotion in her eyes.

"Oh never mind then. Let's go to my room to talk. I made you your favourite cutlets though I think I put a little too much flour in there. Or maybe I didn't! It's all to judge by taste now." I broke the cutlet in two pieces and taking one piece, I lifted my hand to her mouth. "Here! Taste it and tell me how it is? It's been a long time since I last made it so maybe it really isn't so-"

"Are you really happy with this marriage, Emily?"

I looked at her, my face forming a surprised expression at her sudden, very unexpected question. "Yes Mom. I am! How many times will you confirm it-"

"But it's the first time I asked you this question though."

I sighed loudly, placing the cutlet piece back on the plate. "Mom. Look at me and tell me! Do you really think I am not happy with this marriage!?"

"Emily, I am your mother and I know very well when my daughter is hurting."

"Mom, it's a futile argument. Really!
And you know already how much I love Edward and how much this marriage means to me!?"

"Right? Isn't it the problem, Emily? That this marriage means so much to you when it isn't the same for Edward?"

I placed my hands on her shoulders. "Trust me Mom. He's very much happy with this marriage and he's the one who proposed me-"

"What's the evidence, Emily!?"

"I love him-"

"But he doesn't love you back, Emily!"

She yelled at me, making me stagger back in shock. My eyes widened at her words, and I just coudn't comprehend how did she know about it when I was very much careful with my every words and things, even at those moments when I wanted to share my pain with her.

"Mom... How...did you..." I trailed off, not finding any words to answer her when I knew my any sentence would just fuel her suspicions even more.

Mom glared at me with anger before she pulled out a black file from her purse and shoved it roughly over my hands. I stared at the piece of paper, my mind going frenzy just by looking at it.

Divorce Agreement.

Signed by Edward!

Oh God, I shouldn't have asked her to open my closet!

I shouldn't have kept that file in my closet! That was a bad idea from the start! I already told Edward that keeping the divorce agreement at our own house wasn't really safe for our marriage but he didn't listen to me!

"Mom. Where did you find it?"

"Oh so you were really hiding it from me all this time!?"

"There is a big reason behind it mom-"

"Then tell me your stupidiest excuse to cover up for your dirty lies, Emily!"

I bit my lips in frustration, flipping the pages of the file in nervousness, my mind searching for better excuses to bury this naked truth alive in front of my mom.

She snatched the file from my hand and raised her eyebrows, looking at the paper. "It's dated just two weeks after your marriage!?"

"It's not that-"

"Means you two were getting divorced just after some days of your marriage!? Why? Did something happen!?" She looked at me, waving the divorce papers on my face.

"Actually something happened-"

"You lied to me, Emily! You lied to everyone around you! Even to your dad!"

"Mom. Listen to me for a minute-"

"You two never actually married for real, did you!?" She gauged my reaction and I looked down at the floor, guilt and remorse crawling slowly on my face. "Why would you do it, Emily! I don't understand all this facade! And here I thought you finally settled with Edward after crushing on him all this time!" She looked at me, her eyes filled with pity and mild rage.

"For a moment I was so happy, Emily seeing you living your life with the person you wanted to share all your moments and dreams with and any mother couldn't want anything else but to see her daughter living happily ever after but.." Her eyes shone with tears and she sat on the sofa, unable to complete her sentence.

I rushed towards her and took her hands. "Mom. Edward needed me for the first time that day and you know I coudn't deny him anything!"

"So you went there like a nightingale and helped him!? Not even caring what your parents would go through, once they discover the truth!? Emily.." She took a deep breath. "You didn't even think of your own feelings for him!? You didn't even think of your own heart, of how you would be able to cope up with all this fake marriage thing!? You weren't that hopeless, Emily!? What happened to your optimistic nature!?"

"I am sorry Mom!"

"Does Edward know that you love him!?"

I remained silent for a minute, deciding whether to tell her more or to remain silent for the better consequences.

But the biggest truth of our marriage was already out!

"No. He doesn't know it, mom"

She narrowed her eyebrows. "Then why didn't you tell him!?"

"Mom, you know I can't just confess to him after hiding it from him all these years!?"

"Is it because of that Lara Girl!?"

I gulped in nervousness. "Edward's girlfriend?"

"Yes! Isn't she that same girl whom he wanted to marry but his parents didn't approve of his relationship with her?"

I nodded briefly. "Yes, but-"

"Now don't tell me that he proposed a marriage to you just because he wanted to keep his relationship with his girlfriend!?"

I stood up abruptly from my side and started to stuff myself with cold cutlets. Drinking cold water from the water bottle, I looked at mom who was staring at me without any emotions, her eyes narrowed at me, asking for the answer of her question.

"Why don't you eat some of these cutlets , Mom! They're really tasty and here I thought that I actually put more flour in it!" Taking one piece, I lifted my hand to her face. "Here! Eat it mom! You didn't even eat your lunch so you must be hungry!"

"I lost all my appetite after hearing that my daughter is sacrificing all her happiness for someone who doesn't even know he is the reason for all her pain and suffering."

"Mom, you're just exaggerating it-"

"Then why don't you tell me the reason you agreed to this marriage!?"

If I told her that Edward married me for Lara then she would never be able to live the rest of her life without feeling remorse at the thought that she wasn't able to understand her own daughter all this time.

And I couldn't let her blame herself for all those mistakes which I committed in my haste!

"Actually, Edward urgently needed a wife to sign off some important deal for his company and so, he told me about his problem" I looked at her "And I swear Mom he doesn't force me into anything! It was my own free will to help him-"

"Is he still in relationship with his girlfriend?"

"No mom! He isn't! He broke up with her weeks ago even before marrying me-" I tried to fill in quickly.

"So why don't you go and confess to him already!?"

"I... I will. I will do it once all of this settles-"

"Then you aren't staying with him anymore, Emily!?"

"Why!? Why does me confessing to him have anything to do with us staying together, Mom!?"

"It matters Emily, it always does! My daughter will not stay with a man who doesn't respect his own best friend and her feelings!"

"But he doesn't even know about it!"

"Then tell him quickly, will you!? What're you waiting for!? For him to fall in love with someone, which isn't you!?"

But he already did it, Mom. It's not that I had done anything to stop him but people say it right, after all.

Love is indeed inevitable.

And will eat you alive unless you give it what it wants!

"I am waiting for the right time to come."

"The right time is any time one is still so lucky to have, Emily!"

"But that time never seems to come for me, Mom! You know I am born unlucky and whoever stays with me gets caught up with my bad luck-"

"Have some courage Emily! It's just Edward, your best friend! All you have to do is to tell him that you're in love with him and this fake marriage will turn real all by itself!"

If only my Mom knew how complicated it actually was!

Fake doesn't turn into real that easily!

Just as first loves doesn't always get reciprocated that easily!

"Yeah but still-"

"Does Edward already love someone else!?"

I opened my lips to speak but words died down my throat when I found myself out of every excuses. "I don't know anything actually. He never shares anyhing about his love life to me."

I stood silent for a long time, nervously biting my lips. I expected some kind of rude response from her side but Instead, Mom took out her phone and started to dial some number.

"What are you doing, Mom!?"

"Calling Edward. He needs to know about all this!"

Quickly I ran towards her and tried to snatch the phone from her hand. "No! Mom! Don't do this! Please! You're ruining everything by doing this-"

"It's not like you have anything to lose, Emily!"

"Why're you doing this!? I am happy living my life just as his friend-"

"But I am not happy seeing you living your life like this! I can't see you getting this miserable each time you see him with someone else-"

"Mom, try to understand!"

"Either confess to him right now or come with me back to your home, Emily!"

I stopped struggling, removing my hand from her grip on her phone and stared at the floor in deep thought. I blinked back the tears which were threatning to fall and looked at her with determination. "I'll go with you then." I told her finally, wiping my tears from the napkin.

Mom gazed intently at me. "He didn't really break up with her, right!?"

I looked at her, blinking twice. She sighed after gauging my reaction. "Lara? Edward still loves her, right? The reason you're not willing to tell him your feelings!?"

"Yes. It's true, Mom but I assure you that he didn't do it all intentionally-"

"Will you please stop taking his side already!?"

"But, Mom, you coudn't help who you fall in love with so it isn't actually Edward's fault-"

"That's it! You're coming with me right now, Emily! You'll not stay in this house for a single second, you understand that!"

"Atleast wait for him to come back home-"

"No! I am not waiting for anyone! Emily, for God's sake, have some self-respect and stop embarassing yourself further already!"

She took my hands and squeezed them gently. "Look at me, Emily!" She tilted my chin to her side. "I'll marry you off to someone better than Edward, the one who'll see you for what you are! The one who'll think of your happiness before his, one who'll do anything in this whole wide world to bring just a smile on your pretty face dear. And you know why" She carssesed my hairs softly "Because you deserve all this. You deserve every man in this world, Emily but it's bad luck for Edward though."

I stopped crying and looked at her, just as she wiped my tears gently from her hands.

"He doesn't deserve you, Emily. He never did."

I tried to believe in her words but my tears said it all otherwise. The heavy feeling in my chest engulfed my heart in a much larger storm, the deep abyss of tears and pain loosened strings of my hope for ever loving someone again in my life and for the first time in my life I realised that I kept on loving someone unconditionally with every heartbeat and passing second of my life, the very reason I forgot my own happiness and existence along the way and before I could realise it soon, I ended up doing everything...

For his sake...