Chapter 41 A Simulated Relationship

"Let's fake a relationship," he said lowly.

She furrowed her eyebrows. "And what are we going to do then?"

"Like, we can go on dates and stuff–like pretend we're together," he explained.

Essie frowned, not really knowing what Zac was implying. "So, you mean we pretend to actually be a couple? Like one of those reality shows?"

"That's right!" Zac gave her a thumbs up. "I know that you haven't been in love before, so I'll make sure to make this experience unforgettable."

'Why are you being so kind-hearted? What are you thinking?' These thoughts raced through Essie's mind as she stared at him reproachfully. "If you really want to play couple, then you could ring Mandy up. I'm sure she'll love that." She scoffed.

His smile faltered and he tightened his grip around her waist. "Do you really want me to find another woman?"

Her lips curled. "Well, that's your business, isn't it?"

"Really?" Raising his eyebrows up in the air, he stared at her like an artist looking into the person's soul. "Then why were you so angry when I was with Mindy?" he asked.

"I'm not. I was just defending Mandy's honor." Essie lowered her head unconsciously as a blush coated her cheeks. She didn't know why she was so flustered by his question. Her hands fidgeted. He didn't allow her to brush it off. Zac grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him. "Are you sure?"

"Yes!" she answered decisively, without giving herself time to think. However, there was a mysterious ache in her heart that she just couldn't express. Instead, she decided to bury it, hoping that she wouldn't be able to feel it in the future.

A hint of disappointment flashed across his face. Frowning, his eyes darkened similar to a deep abyss. "Since you're being so generous," he snapped coldly. "I won't let you down." Without giving her a chance to reply, he let her go and strode straight to the doorway.

Essie's jaw dropped. Was he really going to do it? Thinking of him holding another woman in his arms, the mysterious feeling she had buried started to spread like wildfire. She ran up to him. "Hey!" she called. "I didn't say I wouldn't play pretend. There are just rules that we need to abide by."

He finally stopped. "What rules?"

"You shouldn't kiss me, hug me, or even try to sleep on my bed. Are we clear?" She placed her hands on her hips and glared up at him.

"Okay." His eyes glinted. Although he wasn't allowed to kiss her, she didn't say anything about touching her. As for sleeping on her bed, that's fine as well, since she didn't say anything about sleeping on his bed.

The next morning, Essie went to the hotel. She didn't know what tricks her parents were abo

Drugged one night by her ex-boyfriend, a mysterious man took advantage of her in an ecstatic night filled with sex.

To take her revenge, she married the man, and used him.

"As long as I'm alive, I'm still his legal wife, while all of you are just his mistresses."

She remained adamant even when he was involved in scandals with other women.

Eventually she stormed off after she learned that he had betrayed her again.But life brought her back to him a few years later, to his astonishment.

lder. "All right. My parents aren't here now, so you can cut it," she joked.

Zac sighed in his heart. He was really not acting in front of them. In fact, he treated them as if they were his own parents. In time, he found that they were actually very easy to get along with. They were reasonable and amiable.

Essie didn't notice the helpless look that crossed his face. Instead, she took out the calculator from the studio. Zac was the one who had paid for their expenses the past few days, and now she had to calculate how much she should pay him.

"You do know that you can spend all my money as long as our marriage is still set," he said frankly.

"Zac, you really don't have to do this," she insisted. "What if your savings get dried up?"

"Rest assured, okay? I have my ways to get money." Zac placed an arm around her shoulder.

What? Essie couldn't help but scrunch up her eyebrows at his words. What else could he do except sell his body...unless...

"Zac, you aren't selling yourself, right?" she asked cautiously.

Zac almost choked at her question. How large was this woman's imagination?

He hurried to change the topic. "Honey, the only thing you should worry about now is our first date."

What? "Oh shit! It's about our fake relationship, right?"

Essie had forgotten all about it. She thought that he was just joking on the spur of the moment. She didn't expect him to take it so seriously. "Well, where are we going? How are we going to do this?" she asked. Essie didn't really have the experience with these types of things.

Zac smiled. He couldn't help but be attracted to her affectionate and innocent eyes. "I'll take care of everything," he stated. "All you need to do is look gorgeous."

'That's it? Was it a trap?' she was wondering.