Way Back Into Love (Essie)

"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 about to play that she was about to stop them immediately. Otherwise, Zac was doomed.

As soon as he got back last night, Bob sent a video he had snapped to his wife and reported to her. Lucy's eyes were practically burning with fury when she saw lots of women getting out of the room one after the other. "I have to remind Essie to keep an eye on Zac. There are so many shameless women in the world." If it wasn't for her carelessness, she wouldn't have let another woman wreck her own marriage.

"I think Zac is self-disciplined. If you want Essie to keep an eye on him, then she should do it secretly. Suspicions like that might just affect their relationship," Bob said thoughtfully. Before she knocked on the door, Essie managed to organize her thoughts in order to convince her parents. When she walked in, she immediately leaned on her mother's shoulder. "Mom, you went a little bit too far last night. Just trust me, okay? My husband is not that kind of man."

Lucy sighed. "Essie, your father and I have already been through this. We're more experienced in identifying those types of people. Besides, as the saying goes, spectators see more than the players. Since you're already in this marriage, it's inevitable for you to make the wrong judgment. We need a pair of objective eyes."

Essie hugged her. "I know you care about me, but you really shouldn't plan this anymore. You always say that a fox cannot hide its tail. He won't be able to hide his nature if he's truly a cheater," she persuaded "How about I'll take you out for the next few days, and you can observe him? Maybe you'll be able to get to know him then."

Hearing her words, Lucy glanced at her husband who gave their daughter a thumbs up. He honestly couldn't agree more with their daughter. It seemed that she had learned something from them over the years.

Half an hour later, Zac came with the car. Last night, he and Essie created a three-day travel plan. They planned to climb mountains, go sea watching, drive to a farm by the countryside. All of these activities were completely relaxing.

The proud son-in-law acted as if he was their doting son.

Seeing this scene, Essie couldn't help but feel touched. She believed that he could be promoted to best actor of the year if he kept that up! He was great at acting!

Once they had returned, Bob and Lucy summarized their entire meeting.

"I've observed him very carefully. He doesn't have any vices at all. Plus, he's decent and well-educated," Lucy started.

Bob continued, "He works steadily, but he isn't a workaholic. Some people sometimes suck up too much to their in-laws and boast about themselves, but he isn't like them."

"The most important thing is that he's kind to Essie," she said happily.

Essie touched her forehead, shaking her head. 'My God. It's been three days, and he had already charmed the pants off my parents. Has my parents been drugged?' she thought to herself.

"Mom, are you sure you're not over-exaggerating? How can you tell that he's being sincere?"

Lucy snorted, poking her forehead. "Have you forgotten what my major was?"

"I know that you major in psychology, but you were never a psychiatrist!" Essie pouted.

"Although I've never practiced it, I've definitely learned something from my experience. In my spare time, I've also been studying micro-expressions and mind reading," she started. "If a person is faking it, you could see it in his eyes or the little movements that he makes. Okay. For example, when you crossed the road, didn't you notice that he would naturally walk at the outer lane for your safety? When we were at the farm, he didn't let you touch anything with thorns. Although he said that it's because you're clumsy, you could see in his eyes that he's caring for you, not blaming you."

Really? After thinking about it for a while, Essie just continually denied it.

Zac's acting skill was excellent. That's all. As for her mother, she was probably enamored by the fact that she had a son-in-law, that her judgment about the man actually being sincere was wrong. He was only pretending to be nice! What he said about her being clumsy was the absolute truth.

When they returned to their apartment, Essie gave him a thumbs up. "I don't know how you do it, but you acted great! Hell, I don't think my parents will ever want to let you go at this rate." Zac raised his eyebrows. "Who said I was acting?"

Smiling, she patted him on the shoulder. "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.