Emir took the package and settled onto a chair, carefully unpacking the lunch.
"Let's eat while it's hot," he said, his voice warm and inviting.
Ember eased into the chair beside him, her heart fluttering with an unspoken joy.
"I brought something you might like," Emir added with a soft smile.
Ember lowered her gaze, a shy warmth spreading through her chest. "Thanks for taking care of me while I'm here," she murmured.
Emir shook his head slightly. "I told you, you don't need to thank me for anything."
Happiness bubbled inside Ember, almost too much to contain. She hummed in response, her lips curving into a small smile.
Sensing her hesitation, Emir gently urged, "Let's eat." He picked up a bite and held it out to her. "Let me feed you."
Ember hesitated, her cheeks heating, but before she could take a bite, the door burst open. Both of them flinched in surprise.
Miss Xiao stood in the doorway, her expression unreadable.
Emir's brows furrowed. "Xiao, what are you doing? It's not good to enter like this."
Seeing her there, Ember quickly leaned forward and ate the bite Emir was still holding out for her. She chewed dramatically, savoring the taste.
"Yummy!" she exclaimed before turning to Xiao with a playful smile. "Oh, Miss Xiao, why are you here? Isn't it bad manners to barge into someone else's room without knocking?"
Xiao remained silent, standing stiffly in place. Emir, too, said nothing, simply watching the scene unfold.
Undeterred, Ember continued, her tone light but firm. "If you have something important to say, you can do it when you're both on set. It's break time. You should also take care of yourself—get some rest and eat something. Bye-bye."
With that, she picked up another bite and turned to Emir teasingly. "Open your mouth, ahh!"
Emir, amused, played along and took the bite.
Still, Xiao didn't move.
Ember let out a dramatic sigh and grinned mischievously. "Miss Xiao, if you want to join us, we can share. Right, honey?" She looked at Emir expectantly.
He remained silent, his expression unreadable.
Then, Xiao finally spoke, addressing Emir in a way that made Ember's stomach tighten.
"Dylan."
The smile vanished from Ember's face.
Xiao caught the shift in her expression and, unwilling to endure the tension any longer, forced a smile. "Ah, okay... enjoy," she said before turning and walking away.
A heavy silence lingered for a moment.
Ember exhaled and picked up another bite. "Let's continue," she said, holding it up for Emir.
He obediently opened his mouth, expecting her to feed him again.
But Ember smirked, pulling her hand back. "Eat it yourself."
She picked up her own bowl and started eating, trying to suppress the storm of emotions inside her.
Emir narrowed his eyes, clearly displeased. "Okay," he muttered, grabbing his own utensils.
After they finished, Emir stood up, brushing off his clothes. "I'm going back to the shoot. Take care and don't go anywhere."
Ember nodded. "Okay, I'll be waiting for you."
He took a few steps toward the door, then suddenly paused. Turning back with a teasing smile, he tilted his head.
"Ember, are you really jealous of her?"
Ember's heart skipped, but she masked it with a glare. "Emir, are you leaving or not?"
Chuckling, he raised his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay, I'm going. See you later."
With one last smirk, he disappeared through the door, leaving Ember alone with her thoughts.
When Emir left, Ember found herself alone in the room. She let out a small sigh, her thoughts racing.
"Let's discuss it later. But what I've achieved now is more important."
A victorious smile spread across her lips as she whispered to herself, "Finally, I've taken my revenge."
The shift in her demeanor was undeniable. Around Emir, she felt confident—powerful even. The satisfaction of provoking Xiao filled her with an odd sense of triumph. But at the same time, a small part of her questioned her actions. Had she gone too far?
Still, she couldn't stop smiling.
"Now that Emir likes me, I won't let anyone ruin our relationship. I'll fully focus on my honey. Emir can't even think about her."
Jealousy. It was a new, unfamiliar emotion, one that didn't align with who she truly was. Yet, she couldn't control it. Sometimes guilt crept in, but other times, a wave of satisfaction washed over her.
"I can't take back what I've done. Next time, I won't do such a thing."
Despite the conflicting emotions, a thrill coursed through her veins. Unable to contain her happiness, she twirled around the room, dancing like a carefree child.
"Emir confessed to me, and this is true. I don't need to be jealous of some girl. She's just a friend of his."
But deep down, she knew the truth—what she felt was more than just relief. It was possessiveness, a fierce claim over him. Emir was hers.
Collapsing onto a chair, she spun it in a circular motion, giggling like a teenager in love.
"Woo-hoo! I'm feeling so happy!"
As the chair slowed to a stop, a realization hit her.
"Honey..."
She had called him that so naturally. Her heart pounded as she pondered the weight of that word.
"Did I develop feelings for him? No, no… I'm just getting jealous when he gets closer to any girl. I think… I like him too."
A soft whisper escaped her lips.
"When I'm around him, I feel safe and complete. I don't know why, but my heart skips a beat when he smiles at me. I like him."
The thought of their trial period surfaced in her mind. Should she tell him? Or should she wait?
"I think I need to get to know him more, and he needs to know me more. This trial period will help us."
She hugged herself, lost in the warmth of her thoughts.
"When he calls me 'baby'… I get angry, but I also get butterflies in my stomach. 'Baby'... 'Honey'... So cute."
Her lips curled into a dreamy smile as she let herself imagine a future with him.
"Who is too cute?"
Ember froze.
Emir stood in the doorway, his arms crossed, a teasing smirk on his lips. She hadn't even noticed him standing there until he spoke.
"What?" she stammered, eyes wide in shock.
Emir stepped closer, leaning in just enough to make her heart race. His voice dropped into a playful tone.
"Tell me… who are you calling baby? Honey?"
Ember's breath hitched. She quickly looked away, trying to suppress the warmth creeping up her cheeks.
"No one," she denied, avoiding his gaze.
Emir wasn't convinced.
"You're blushing," he observed, his eyes glinting with amusement.
Ember shook her head, determined to keep her feelings hidden.
"No, I'm not," she insisted, though her voice wavered slightly.
A knowing smile tugged at Emir's lips. He reached out and gently brushed his fingers against her cheek.
"Your cheeks are red," he murmured.
The simple touch sent a jolt through Ember, making her blush even more. She panicked and blurted out the first excuse that came to mind.
"It's a mosquito bite… on both cheeks."
Emir chuckled. "Oh really?"
She nodded quickly, still refusing to meet his gaze.
Emir's expression turned more serious as he studied her. Something felt off.
"Is someone here?" he asked, glancing around the dressing room.
Before Ember could respond, he checked the space, even peeking into the bathroom.
"No," Ember answered, confusion flickering in her eyes. "What are you even looking for?"
But Emir's thoughts were already spiraling in another direction. His jaw tightened, and he turned to face her again.
"You're avoiding my answers because… there's someone , right? You were talking to him."
There was disappointment in his voice, a hint of something vulnerable beneath his teasing facade. He stepped closer, watching her reaction carefully.
Ember stared at him in disbelief. Did he really not trust her?
"No, I'm not," she said firmly, frustration creeping into her tone. Then, her voice softened, filled with quiet hurt. "You say you love me… but do you even trust me?"
Her words struck him. The sparkle in her eyes dimmed, replaced with sadness.
Still, Emir pressed on.
"Then tell me… who were you calling baby and honey?"
His fingers curled around her wrist, not forcefully, but enough to make her pause. He wanted answers.
Desperate to escape the situation, Ember blurted out another lie.
"Oh, you're talking about that?" she forced a laugh. "I was just thinking about the new child in my family. He's too cute, and I was trying to come up with a nickname for him."
Emir's gaze remained locked on hers, searching for any sign of truth.
"Really?" he asked, skeptical.
Ember swallowed hard and nodded.
"Yes. I didn't tell you at first because I thought you wouldn't believe me," she explained, her voice carefully composed. "But seeing you doubt me like this… it makes me feel like you think I'm in love with someone else."
Gently, she pulled her wrist free from his grasp. Without another word, she turned on her heel and walked away.
Moments later, she found Mr. Freng and asked him to take her home.
"Sir is not coming with you," he asked her.
Ember glanced toward the set, her heart heavy.
"No. He has more work to do," she replied.
She took a deep breath, then added softly, "Goodbye, Emir."
With that, she climbed into the car, and they drove away, leaving an unspoken tension lingering in the air between them.
Ember rushed home, slamming the door behind her as she stormed into her room. Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions, frustration bubbling over.
"He really doesn't believe me… He assumed I'm in love with someone else so quickly… And what was with him searching the whole room, as if I were hiding something from him?"
She paced back and forth, her heart pounding.
"I've been thinking about him all this time, even in the real world…"
Then, it hit her.
She stopped in her tracks, gripping the edge of her bed as realization sank in.
She loved him.
And yet… he accused her of being with someone else?
A bitter laugh escaped her lips as she muttered, "He's gone too far. What makes him think he's always the center of my world?"
Her voice rose with each passing thought, emotions spilling out in a flurry of words.
Then, a knock at the door.
"Who is it?" she snapped, barely concealing her irritation.
"It's me, Emir," came his voice from the other side.
Her chest tightened at the sound of his name.
"I don't want to talk to anyone right now," she responded coldly.
"Please, let me explain," he pleaded.
Before she could stop herself, she yanked open the door, her eyes blazing with unspoken hurt.
"What are you going to say? That you think I'm having an affair, right?"
Emir stepped inside, closing the door behind him. His expression was conflicted, torn between guilt and stubbornness.
"No! Just imagine… who could possibly be my new boyfriend? Think about who else I spend time with, besides you. I only have one friend in real life, and you."
Ember clenched her fists. Her emotions were all over the place, her heart aching with every word.
"Her name is Sofia, okay?" she admitted, her voice trembling as her hand clutched at her chest.
Emir's brow furrowed.
"Don't tell me you're interested in girls…" he said hesitantly.
Ember's breath caught.
"Emir… You are…"
The rest of her words got stuck in her throat. She couldn't hold it in anymore—her emotions crashed over her like a tidal wave. Tears welled up in her eyes, spilling down her cheeks as she broke down, sobbing like a child.
The sight of her in pain made something in Emir snap. He realized, too late, the gravity of his mistake.
"No, I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice laced with regret.
But Ember shook her head, her vision blurred by tears.
"No! I'm sorry that I've fallen for you," she confessed, her voice cracking. "Do you know what I felt today? Something I've never felt for anyone but you. And yet… you don't trust me. Every relationship needs trust, but you don't even have that in me."
She collapsed onto the bedside, shoulders trembling from the weight of her emotions.
Emir instinctively reached out, his fingers hovering near her before he hesitated—then withdrew.
Her sobs filled the silent room, raw and heartbreaking.
"Just go…" she whispered.
And this time, Emir had no choice but to obey.
Emir left the room with disappointment, his voice barely above a whisper as he muttered, "Okay..." He walked aimlessly down the hallway, his mind clouded with thoughts, before sinking onto the stairs with a heavy sigh.
He replayed Ember's words in his head.
"She said she likes..."
His heart skipped a beat. Did that mean she had feelings for him?
Excitement flickered in his chest, but it quickly faded as reality set in. Ember was angry—really angry. His happiness was short-lived, replaced by anxiety.
What should I do? How can I make her happy?
Before he could come up with an answer, a knock on Ember's door pulled him from his thoughts.
"Who?" Ember's voice came from inside.
"Eat something," Nana's voice called from the other side.
"No, I don't want to," Ember replied, her tone flat.
"It's not good for your health," Nana insisted, her concern evident.
"I'm sorry, but I'm not in the mood," Ember explained.
There was a brief silence before Nana's patience ran out.
"Hey, girl, are you eating or not? It's terrible to waste food," she said, her voice sharper than usual.
Ember blinked. It was the first time she had ever heard Nana raise her voice like that.
With a sigh, she opened the door without making eye contact and stepped into the bathroom, mumbling, "Leave dinner on the table; I'll eat it when I get back."
A moment later, she emerged, drying her face with a towel.
Sensing someone nearby, she assumed it was Nana and softened her tone.
"Nana, I'm sorry for what I did earlier, for making you angry."
She pulled the towel away from her face—only to freeze in shock.
Emir stood in front of her.
Her expression darkened instantly.
"What are you doing here? Just leave, or I will—"
Emir cut her off with a playful smile.
"What are you going to do?"
Her frustration flared.
"Ah! You're irritating me... I'm going back to my house," she snapped.
"How?" Emir challenged, raising a teasing brow.
"By sleeping," she shot back, lifting her chin arrogantly.
Emir sighed, his tone turning serious.
"Just eat something."
Before she could protest, he took her hand and, in one swift motion, pushed her gently against the wall.
Her breath hitched.
"What are you doing?" Ember gasped, her eyes widening in surprise.