The Accidental Wife (Emily and Julian)

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108

To say that I was nervous would be a huge understatement. Julian asked to meet me yesterday and I cannot help but keep wondering why he wants to do that. Well, he now knows that I'm his daughter's boyfriend, so this is probably the reason; however, that is enough to make my anxiety spike. It's been three days since my talk with Rosie and I thought things would become clearer between us, but it turns out that my misery has intensified. I don't just like Rosie, I'm starting to think that I actually love her. But what am I supposed to do when she doesn't see me the way I see her? I thought about it for a while, and I reached a painful conclusion. I have to stay away from her. I need to keep my distance to avoid heartbreak. I need to I to convince myself that Rosie is going to be mine. I should understand that she can never be more than just a friend. I forgot my place when I commented about her friendship with Everest and maybe I needed her reminder even if it was a harsh one. I wish we could stop the whole fake-dating thing to put myself out of my misery, but I'm not sure if I have this kind of strength in me to just walk away from her now. I need some time with her even if we're just pretending.

any

I have never had a problem with talking to Julian, but it doesn't take a genius to figure out that this time is going to be different, especially since he asked me not to mention anything to Rosie. This is my first time to have a one-to-one meeting with him.

I

I walk inside the restaurant, making sure to arrive early, but to my surprise, I find him sitting inside. Once he sees me, he ends his phone call and smiles. I take a deep breath and let my legs take me over to him. My heart is loudly thumping in my chest, and I silently pray that my face doesn't show how tense I am. "How's it going?" he asks once I sit down.

"All good. Busy with practice and assignments, but I'm managing," I reply. "What about you? How's work?" Work is work. I'm used to it," he replies. "Do you plan on coming with Rosie to Holden's soccer game?" go with her with her

to come. I can't say no to him." Just like how I can't say no to Rosie. She asked me to "He called me and asked before I received Holden's call and what Rosie wants Rosie gets.

How

is it it going with Rosie?" he asks and my stomach twists. I should not feel like that. Or maybe I should. What am I supposed to tell him? Should I tell him how I thought things were going great at first, but then everything went downhill?

"Everything is going great," I answer with a smile and I hope that he doesn't see through my lies. Everything is truly great. At one moment, what we had almost felt real. We fell into a pattern that I was madly in love with. I loved how we had our meals together. I used to take my textbooks to her place to study with each other even though our majors are completely different. We had even cooked together more than once and I just loved how she bossed me around the kitchen.

"You finally got what you wanted. I know that you've always liked her," Julian points out and I nervously chuckle. How I wish that was true. I wish I got what I wanted.

"I still can't believe it," say, rubbing the back of my neck.

"So.... How did you manage to make her see that you like her?" I want to correct him and tell him that I don't just like her. I, in fact, love her. This, however, should not be my main focus. I wish I had an answer to that question, but the truth is, I don't. I don't know how to make her like me. I don't know how to convince her to be mine. If anything, I have given up on that.

"I stopped pranking and irritating her. I... I paid attention whenever she talked." I shift uncomfortably in my seat not knowing what I'm supposed to say.

"Go on," he says. Something about the look in his eyes makes me want to sh**t my pants.

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"It's... It's not real," I blurt-and mentally slap myself.

To my surprise, Julian laughs as he claps his hands together. I don't understand his reaction. Shouldn't he punch me or something?

"I knew it wasn't real," he says, and my eyes go wide. "Now, why don't you tell me the truth?" And I did. I told him everything about what happened in the locker room and how Rosie took the whole thing. As I'm talking, I feel like I'm betraying Rosie because she didn't want her parents to know, yet here I am, telling her father everything. "How did you know?" I wonder.

"My marriage with Emily started as an arranged marriage and the whole world knows about it, Silas. We faked being a real couple in front of everyone for a while, so I know how to spot fake ones," he casually answers. "But I have to say, I almost believed you at first until I saw your face when we talked about how you've had feelings for her for a while."

Was I that bad at schooling my face during that lunch?

"I didn't want her to find out that way," I admit, looking down.

"Listen,

I know that you've always liked my daughter and frankly, I don't mind if she ends up with you, because something about you makes me trust you." Have I just gotten Julian's approval? "But if you break her heart, I will break your neck." "Fine by me." I could never do that to her. I cannot break her heart. Not when I want to win it. Not that I have a chance now

anyway.

"Do you think this whole acting thing would bring you closer?" Julian asks me.

"Not really." I look down. "Things haven't been the same between us."

"What do you mean?" A crease forms between his eyebrows.

end I up telling him everything, hoping he can help me out. I'm desperate and I don't know what to do.

ime you

"I think the first thing you need to do is to observe the way she acts around you after the decision you made. See if she still wants to get closer to you or not. If she makes an effort to talk to you or spend time with you, this means that she likes you! If she keeps her distance, then you're both simply not meant to be." What he says is absolutely right, yet his words manage to instill fear in me. Am I ready to see her doing what I asked her to do? "I won Emily back even when I gave her every single reason to hate me. I think you can do it "But Emily loved you before, so it was easier for you to get her back," I tell him, but he shakes his head.

100.

too."

"She was engaged when she came back. All odds were not in my favor, but I was lucky. God saw me worthy enough of another chance," he replies. "I may not be a fan of the whole fake-dating thing, but I think it can bring you two closer if you make use of it wisely. However, don't ever force her to do something she doesn't want."

"I can never do that to her. Rosie will always have a choice," I assure him. Even if her choice will cause me heartbreak, H would rather break my own heart than force her or trick her into doing something. I can never manipulate her. If her feelings aren't genuine, I don't want them. I don't want to build my relationship with her on a lie,

"I think you're smart enough to be able to win her heart." His words give me a push I truly need.

"Can I ask you for a favor?" I ask him and he nods. "Please don't tell Emily anything. Rosie already told me not to tell you anything and now that you know, I feel like I have betrayed her trust."

"I won't tell her only because she is very happy that you two are dating." Julian says. He loves his wife so much to burst the bubble of joy she is living in.

When I first told him that Rosie didn't want him and Emily to know, he seemed hurt. Julian isn't used to his daughter keeping anything from him, so it hurt him to find out that she wanted to keep something like that from him. I did my best

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to explain to him that she only did that because she wanted a little bit of an adventure, and it would never be easy for her to explain to her parents that she was in a fake relationship.

"I have to go. I have an important meeting," Julian says, standing up. "Take care of her." Nobody needs to tell me to take care of Rosie because no matter what, I will always take care of her, but I nod anyway.