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50% When pride meets / Chapter 10: Battle of hearts

Capítulo 10: Battle of hearts

Emily's days at the manor were slowly becoming less overwhelming, but the constant presence of Ethan in her life was another story. It wasn't just the maids bustling around her or the lavish lifestyle that kept her on edge; it was the way Ethan acted as if this marriage was completely natural.

Ethan, on the other hand, seemed unfazed. He had a way of brushing off her discomfort with his casual demeanor, and that only irritated her more.

The morning began with Emily sitting by the large window in their shared bedroom, sipping tea as she gazed out at the sprawling gardens. She was lost in thought when Ethan walked in, his usual confident stride and a faint smirk playing on his lips.

"Daydreaming about me already, Mrs. Carter?" he teased.

Emily rolled her eyes, setting her cup down. "More like figuring out how to survive this marriage."

Ethan chuckled, unbuttoning the cuffs of his shirt as he approached her. "Survive? That's a dramatic choice of words."

"You wouldn't understand," Emily muttered.

He leaned against the windowsill beside her, arms crossed. "Try me."

She looked up at him, surprised. "You really want to know?"

Ethan nodded, his expression unusually serious.

Emily sighed. "I never imagined my life turning out this way. Marrying someone I barely know, living in a house that feels more like a museum than a home, and pretending everything is fine. It's... a lot."

For a moment, Ethan didn't respond. Then he said quietly, "You're not the only one who didn't imagine life this way."

Emily raised an eyebrow. "You? The perfect Ethan Carter didn't plan this out to the last detail?"

Ethan laughed, a short, bitter sound. "Far from it. You think I wanted to get married like this? Trust me, Emily, this wasn't exactly my dream, either."

His honesty caught her off guard. For the first time, she saw a flicker of vulnerability beneath his arrogant facade.

---

A Visit to the Bookstore

Later that day, Ethan decided to surprise Emily by taking her to the bookstore she loved so much. She had mentioned it in passing once, and though he pretended not to care, he remembered every detail.

"Where are we going?" Emily asked as they got into the car.

"You'll see," Ethan replied cryptically.

When they pulled up in front of the small, cozy bookstore, Emily's eyes widened in disbelief.

"You remembered?" she asked softly.

Ethan shrugged. "You talk about this place like it's your sanctuary. I figured it's time I see what the fuss is about."

Emily smiled, a genuine smile that lit up her face. "Thank you."

Inside, the smell of old books and fresh coffee greeted them. Emily immediately felt at ease, wandering through the shelves and running her fingers over the spines of well-worn books. Ethan followed her, watching her with an amused expression.

"You look like a kid in a candy store," he remarked.

Emily shot him a playful glare. "This place is special to me."

"Clearly," Ethan said, picking up a random book and flipping through it.

Anna, who was working behind the counter, noticed them and waved. "Emily! It's so good to see you!"

"Hi, Anna," Emily said, hurrying over to her friend.

Anna's eyes flicked to Ethan, and she raised an eyebrow. "And who's this?"

Emily hesitated, glancing at Ethan. "This is... Ethan. My husband."

Anna's jaw dropped. "Husband? Since when?!"

"It's a long story," Emily said quickly.

Anna didn't look convinced but decided not to press the issue. Instead, she focused her attention on Ethan. "You'd better take good care of her. Emily's the best."

Ethan smirked. "I'm well aware."

---

A Heated Exchange

On the way back to the manor, Emily's mood shifted. She couldn't stop thinking about how much her life had changed in such a short time.

Ethan noticed her silence and frowned. "What's on your mind?"

"Everything," Emily admitted. "I don't understand you, Ethan. One moment you're insufferable, and the next, you do something thoughtful like taking me to the bookstore. Who are you, really?"

Ethan's grip on the steering wheel tightened. "I'm someone who's trying, Emily. Isn't that enough?"

Emily scoffed. "Trying? You mean trying to control everything, including me."

Ethan pulled the car over to the side of the road and turned to face her. "I know I'm not perfect. I know this marriage is far from normal. But I'm doing the best I can."

Emily stared at him, her anger fading as she saw the sincerity in his eyes. "Why?" she asked softly. "Why are you trying so hard?"

Ethan looked away, his jaw tightening. "Because I care about you, Emily. More than I should."

His words left her speechless. She didn't know how to respond, so she simply looked out the window, her thoughts a whirlwind.

---

A Night of Reflection

Back at the manor, Emily retreated to the library, one of her favorite places in the house. She needed time to process everything Ethan had said.

She curled up in a plush armchair, a book in her lap, but her mind kept drifting back to him. Despite his flaws, there was something about Ethan that drew her in, something she couldn't quite put into words.

Ethan, meanwhile, sat in his office, staring at a photo on his desk. It was a picture of them from the wedding, both of them smiling for the camera. But the smiles didn't reach their eyes.

He ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. He had always been in control of his life, but Emily was a wildcard he hadn't anticipated.

For the first time in a long time, Ethan felt unsure of what to do next.

---

A New Beginning?

The next morning, Ethan found Emily in the kitchen, making coffee. She looked up when he entered, her expression guarded.

"Morning," she said.

"Morning," he replied, pouring himself a cup.

They stood in silence for a moment before Ethan spoke. "About yesterday..."

Emily held up a hand. "Don't. Let's just... take things one day at a time."

Ethan nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I can do that."

As they sat down to breakfast, the tension between them began to ease. For the first time, it felt like they were on the same page, however tentative it might be.

And for Emily, that was enough—for now.


next chapter

Capítulo 11: A tough nut to crack

The manor buzzed with activity, but Emily wasn't her usual indifferent self. She had woken up with a peculiar determination—it was Ethan's birthday. Despite her complicated feelings for him, she decided to make an effort.

"It's just one day," she muttered, brushing off any lingering hesitation.

She carefully planned everything in secret. From his favorite meals to a thoughtful gift and elegant decorations, Emily ensured every detail was perfect. Finally, she chose a stunning emerald-green dress, something she hoped would make her look… presentable, if not breathtaking.

By the time evening rolled around, Emily stood in the grand foyer, rehearsing how to greet Ethan. Should she wish him a simple Happy Birthday or try something more? Perhaps a hug? The thought made her heart race, and she shook her head to clear it.

Why am I nervous? she thought, fidgeting with her dress.

---

A Shocking Arrival

The sound of the main door creaking open snapped her out of her thoughts. Emily's gaze immediately locked onto Ethan as he stepped inside. Relief surged through her until she noticed someone else.

A tall, striking brunette entered alongside Ethan, her arm casually draped around his. She laughed softly at something he said, and Emily froze.

Who on earth is she?

Ethan didn't even look in Emily's direction. He walked past her, the woman still attached to his arm, heading toward the sitting room.

Emily's mouth opened to say something, but no words came out.

"Excuse me, who are you?" she finally blurted out, her voice sharper than intended.

The woman turned, her expression amused. "Oh, you must be Emily!" she said cheerfully, her tone slightly patronizing.

Emily's eyes narrowed.

"I'm Rosa," the woman continued, extending a hand. "It's such a pleasure to finally meet you."

Emily didn't move. Her gaze flickered to Ethan, who stood silent, his face unreadable.

"Right," Emily said coldly. Without another word, she turned on her heel and walked briskly toward the staircase.

As she ascended, she could hear Rosa chuckling. "She's a tough nut to crack, isn't she?"

Ethan sighed but said nothing.

---

Flashback: The Plan

A week earlier, Ethan sat in his office, flipping through paperwork while his mind wandered to Emily.

"John," he asked suddenly, "how long do you think it'll take before Emily starts falling for me?"

John, without even glancing up, replied, "She might, if you ever let her breathe."

Ethan scowled. "Helpful as always."

Just then, his phone buzzed. The name "Rosa" flashed on the screen.

"Cousin," Ethan greeted, his tone lighter.

"Cousin? Really? That's what I am to you now?" Rosa's teasing voice came through.

Ethan chuckled. "What do you want?"

"I heard you're married. And you didn't even invite me? Rude. Anyway, open the door."

"What door?"

Before Ethan could make sense of her words, Rosa barged into his office, her usual flair on full display.

"Well, hello to you too," she said, throwing her bag onto his desk.

Ethan stared at her, dumbfounded. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to help," Rosa declared, sitting on his desk.

"Help with what?"

"Your little crush on your wife."

Ethan groaned. "It's not a crush."

"Oh, please," Rosa said, rolling her eyes. "Spare me the denial. Now, do you want my help or not?"

After much persuasion, Ethan finally relented. Rosa proposed pretending to be his "girlfriend" to make Emily jealous, but with one condition: she would handle it her way.

---

Back to the Manor

In her room, Emily paced angrily, the image of Rosa clinging to Ethan burned into her mind.

"Who does she think she is?" Emily muttered, glaring at the floor.

The knock on her door startled her. She stiffened.

"Go away," she called out.

The door didn't open, and she was relieved. But her anger hadn't subsided. Why didn't Ethan say anything? she wondered. He hadn't even bothered to introduce Rosa properly. Was this his way of humiliating her?

---

Rosa's Mischief

Downstairs, Rosa lounged on the couch, looking utterly at home.

"You're going to have to step up your game," she told Ethan, who stood nearby with his arms crossed.

"She's mad," Ethan muttered.

"Good," Rosa said with a grin. "That's progress."

Ethan sighed. "You're enjoying this too much."

Rosa smirked. "Of course I am. But don't worry, she'll come around. Women like Emily don't fall for grand gestures—they fall when you make them realize what they're missing."

"And you think this is the way to do that?" Ethan asked skeptically.

"Trust me, cousin," Rosa said, leaning back. "By the end of this, she'll be eating out of the palm of your hand."

---

A Crack in the Wall

Later that evening, Emily came downstairs, intending to grab a glass of water. She stopped in her tracks when she saw Ethan and Rosa laughing together in the sitting room.

Ethan glanced up and saw her. For a brief moment, their eyes met, and something unspoken passed between them.

But Emily quickly turned away, her walls firmly back in place.

"Emily," Ethan called after her.

She didn't respond.

Rosa watched the exchange with interest. "She's a tough nut to crack, all right," she said, leaning closer to Ethan.

Ethan didn't reply. Instead, his gaze lingered on the empty doorway where Emily had stood.

---

Emily lay awake that night, her mind a whirlwind of emotions.

"Why do I even care?" she whispered to herself. But no matter how much she tried to push the thought of Ethan and Rosa out of her mind, it kept coming back.

Little did she know, Ethan was in his room, thinking the exact same thing about her.


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