It had been five days since William proposed.
Five days since Emma told him, "I don't know. Let me think..."
Five days since he started living under her sister's roof.
And in those five days, William had somehow become... domesticated.
He stood at the kitchen sink now, scrubbing dishes with practiced ease. Emmawatched him, mildly fascinated. He wore an apron and her sister's husband's old clothes, clothes that had long lost their prime. Yet, when William put them on, they somehow looked expensive, as if wealth clung to him no matter what he wore.
"Hey..." Emma said, picking up a towel to help dry. "You've been here for almost a week. Don't you have a life to get back to? You can't be absent for this long."
William handed her a plate without missing a beat. "You've been absent for over a month. Why can't I?"
Emma huffed. "You do realize you're freeloading off my sister, right?" She placed the plate on the rack.
"I'm not freeloading. I pay for my stay per night here." He said it so casually, Emma almost missed it.
"WHAT?!" She nearly dropped the plate. "How much?!"
"Four hundred euros per night."
"FOUR HUNDRED?!" My voice echoed through the kitchen.
The realization hit her like a slap—she was the only one staying here for free.
Without another word, she stormed outside in search of her sister.
She found her kneeling in the garden, tending to her tomato plants, utterly unbothered.
"Sis, can we talk?" Emma planted her hands on her hips. "You're charging William rent?!"
"Yeah, why?" her sister asked, barely looking up.
"Four hundred euros a night?!" Emma's voice rose in disbelief. "What is this, a five-star hotel?"
Her sister finally met her gaze, blinking. "Oh, it was actually two hundred per night, but he insisted on covering yours too. Not that I asked for your share."
Emma gaped. "He what?"
"He's the one who brought it up," her sister said with a shrug. "Asked about the nearest inn, so I offered him a room here instead of
staying in the inn, He would be driving back and forth from the inn since I am sure he would want you to be you. So he agrees but he said he couldn't stay for free. I told him
it is okay since you do. He said that was fine since you're my sister, but he wasn't. So, he insisted on paying and then he insisted to pay for both of you."
Emma stood there, stunned.
Without another word, she spun on her heel and marched back inside. William needed to take a walk with her. They needed to talk.
Because there was no way he was staying here, paying four hundred euros a day.
He had to go back.
"William? Come with me."
Emma grabbed his hand and pulled him along before he could protest.
"Where are we going?" he asked, still wearing an apron. As they stepped outside, passing Emma's sister in the garden, William gave her a small wave.
Emma didn't answer. She only let go of his hand when they reached the first corner of the street.
Let's walk to the inn. They have a nice café downstairs," Emma said, striding ahead.
William followed. Though he had been here for five days, this was the first time he truly took in the countryside. The air was fresh, the streets quiet,and trees stretched endlessly around them. He glanced at Emma, noticing how she seemed to blend into this world now, as if she belonged here.
It was beautiful.
But somehow, he didn't like it.
To him, Emma belonged...
by his side...
in his world...
nowhere else.
They took a seat at the café, and Emma ordered two cappuccinos. As soon as the drinks were served, she spoke.
"William, you have to go back."
His brow furrowed. "Why? Will you go back with me?" He took a slow sip of his coffee, watching her.
"That's not what I meant." Emma lowered her gaze, unable to meet his eyes.
"Then what?" William leaned in slightly, his voice softer now, laced with uncertainty. "Have you made up your mind? Don't you want me anymore?" His eyes searched hers. "Don't you love me?"
Emma stayed silent.
"Tell me," he pressed. "If you don't want me anymore... I'll stop. I'll go back. I won't bother you ever again. You'll never have to see me
again." His voice held a quiet sorrow, a finality that made her chest ache.
She hadn't expected the conversation to take this turn. But maybe this was her chance, she couldn't leave William in limbo when she herself was still undecided. Maybe hurting him the way she had been hurt was the only way to finally move on, for both of them to move on.
So, she forced the words out.
"Yes. I never really loved you." She kept her voice steady, her hands clenched beneath the table. "I just wanted to know what it was like to live like a princess. That's the only reason I agreed to be with you. Nothing else..."
William chuckled, a dry, humorless sound. So that's it? She had used him?
He placed his cup down and leaned closer, his voice dangerously quiet.
"Then... can you let me touch you one last time?"
Emma froze.
William didn't wait for an answer. He closed the distance between them, capturing her lips in a deep, desperate kiss—one filled with all the longing and restraint he had held back.
She was still frozen when he pulled away. Without a word, he stood and walked off.
By the time he returned, he had a suite key in hand.
He took Emma's hand and, without hesitation, led her upstairs...