A Beautiful Misunderstanding

"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?"

Are we clear?"

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,

hotel. She didn't know what tricks her parents were about to play that she

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.

an eye on him, then she should do

she knocked on the door, Essie managed to organize her thoughts in order to convince her parents.

last night. Just trust me,

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

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

He honestly couldn't agree more with their daughter. It seemed that she had learned

travel plan. They planned to climb mountains, go sea watching, drive to a farm by

if he was their doting son.

to

returned, Bob and Lucy summarized their

any vices at all. Plus,

a workaholic. Some people sometimes suck up too

that he's kind

three days, and he had already charmed the pants off my parents. Has my parents been drugged?' she thought to herself.

How

"Have

that you major in psychology, but you were

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

it for a while, Essie just continually denied it.

mother, she was probably enamored by the fact that she had a son-in-law, that her judgment about the