Chapter 4 Ethan’s Ex Banter

Cara's eyes narrowed, sweeping over me as though considering something cheap on sale in the plushest shopping mall in the land. With slow steps, she moved deliberately ahead, each one of her high-heeled designer shoes striking with a clear ring of fine marble floor, making them sound a grim echo.

Ethan's masculine hand gently closed over mine with a sudden grip, an easy tug to draw me back within my own personal sphere. "Cara, this is Emma," he announced without any great emotion. "My fiancée.

In a flash, Cara's mask slipped for just an instant. Disbelievingly glinting bright green, her eyes flashed out an astonished statement before she smoothed her features back into a pastel smile. "Fiancée?" Lightly she let out a rippling laugh-y sounded like she forced it out of her mouth, her fake smiles were sharp enough to cut through any object. "

That's… sudden.

Eleanor, sitting regally at the head of the table, intervened with a smile that was both gracious and razor-sharp. “Oh, Cara, you know how life is—full of surprises. We were just getting to know Emma. You should join us.”

Cara’s gaze snapped to me, her smile tightening. “Of course. I’d love to.”

Great. Dinner with Ethan’s family had officially turned into a live episode of *Survivor: The Socialite Edition”. This was beginning to get out of my expectations.

As we all settled into our chairs, Cara was placing herself across from Ethan, her nails-licked-perfect drumming on the wine glass like she was silently drafting out a very dangerous plans that could expose my secret deal with Ethan, The tension was building, and Liam leaned into me, his mouth spreading into a mischievous grin. "Bet you didn't know you signed up for a soap opera, huh?"

I mustered a tight smile.

Dinner opened with Eleanor making polite conversation in my direction, asking me about my photography and my life before Ethan. I did my best to answer without sounding like a complete fraud, all while Cara studied me with the intensity of a hawk eyeing its prey ready to attack at any vulnerable moment.

"So, Emma," Cara said finally, her voice sugary sweet, "how did you two meet? Ethan's usually so. selective and wouldn’t settle for someone like you."

Her tone was heavy with insinuation, and I felt Ethan tense up beside me.

I took a small sip of water, using the moment to steel myself. "It was fate, really. Completely unexpected, but sometimes the best things in life are."

Cara's smile didn't reach her eyes. "How poetic. And here I thought Ethan didn't believe in fate.

Ethan cut in, his tone cold and supportive. “Cara, perhaps you should focus on your own beliefs instead of mine.”

Liam choked on his wine, clearly enjoying the spectacle and banter looking conversation . “You’ve got to admit, Ethan, Emma’s a much better conversationalist than most of your exes.”

Eleanor chuckled softly. “Indeed. Emma brings a fresh perspective to the table and I love it.”

At this point Clara had it all she stared at Eleanor with anger and disgust covered with a smile, Cara's knuckles had gone white on her fork, but then she recovered and her face smoothed into its elegant mask. "Fresh, indeed. Though I can imagine stepping into Ethan's world must be. overwhelming."

"It can be," I said, meeting her gaze straight on. "But Ethan has been very supportive. He has taught me a great deal about handling difficulties, I never knew where the inspiration to speak boldly with Clara came from, Even Ethan became surprised at some point where I gave immediate responses that made it look like we both really have a real relationship going on. My acting skills became more perfect than I expected.

Ethan looked at me with satisfaction, something sparking in his eyes-appreciation, gratitude-and whatever it was, it was real enough that my heart skipped.

"Challenges are part of the Carter way," Liam said, his glass rising. "Welcome to the family, Emma.

Cara's jaw clenched, but before she could let loose another barrage, Eleanor was sweetly intervening with her characteristic aplomb. Eleanor’s intervention was just like a baby buffalo being saved from the den of hungry lions to me

"Now, now, let's not overwhelm poor Emma. She's doing marvelously, and I, for one, am delighted to have her here among the Carter family.”

The rest of the evening passed in a blur of tension and subtle barbs. By dessert, I'd felt like I'd survived a battlefield. As Ethan escorted me to the car, his jaw was tight, his usual stoicism cracking.

"I'm sorry about Cara," he said once we were alone, his voice low.

I shrugged, trying to appear unconcerned. "She's your past. I'm your fake present. It's fine.”

I never knew I was a kind and motivating lady until Ethan’s fake deal brought out so many hidden qualities in me apart from resurrection my acting skills my emotions and motivating qualities became unleashed.

Ethan's hand lingered on the car door as his blue eyes scanned my face. "It's not fine. She had no right to question you."

I stammered, surprised by the real frustration lacing his tone. "It's part of the deal, right? Posing as your fiancée, putting up with your exes, making it through your family. I can handle it.”

Ethan stared at me a moment longer before nodding, his expression unreadable, I couldn’t barely detect if his facial expression was full of lust, surprise or admiration . "You're stronger than I thought, Emma."

“You are performing even more than I expected, maybe I should start giving you tips and bonuses.” He said, his voice masculine and demanding.

As the car gently pulled away from the mansion, I couldn't help but wonder if Ethan's words were just another calculated move—or if there was something more.

I stayed at him with my side eyes as the car gently drove out of the Carters Billion dollar estate, “Everyone things am fine but no one could imagine me moving from my little crib in the urban area to high class apartments and events in the city”, This was the nature of my contract with Ethan.

The next day I never expected to meet the biggest surprises of my life this time not with one of Ethan’s jealous and envious ex-girlfriend but with the people I never expected………….