The Enemy I Hate To Love

CHAPTER 15! The Cold Reality

Emma’s POV

The car ride from the airport to Laila’s house had been a blur of honking cars, flashing city lights, and an uncomfortable silence between Michelle and me. Sophia, always the one to lighten the mood, tried her best to keep the conversation going, but even she couldn’t break through the invisible wall between us.
By the time we reached Laila’s family home, the warmth of her family’s welcome washed over me like a temporary balm to the tension still lingering in the air. Laila’s parents were kind, greeting us with open arms and excited smiles. Laila’s mother hugged me tight, and for a moment, I forgot about the coldness of Michelle’s behavior. Laila introduced us to her siblings and cousins, and the whole house buzzed with laughter, chatter, and the distinct smell of spices filling the air.
“Emma, this is my brother, Sameer. He’ll be around if you need anything,” Laila said with a grin. Sameer gave me a polite smile, and I returned it before glancing over at Michelle, who was already busying himself with his phone, barely acknowledging anyone.
Sophia, naturally, had already made herself at home, chatting away with Laila’s cousins like she had known them for years. Meanwhile, I stood there, feeling a strange sense of unease. It wasn’t the new faces or the unfamiliar surroundings—it was Michelle. The coldness in his eyes, the way he seemed so detached, like I was nothing more than a nuisance to him.
“Okay, so I’ve given Sophia her room, and you two…” Laila’s voice trailed off as she turned to me and Michelle, “you’ll be in the guest room upstairs.”
Both Michelle and I froze at the same time, our eyes locking for a moment. His expression was unreadable, but I could already sense the disagreement brewing.
“Wait, what?” I blurted, feeling my cheeks flush. “I can’t… I mean… I’ll just stay with Sophia.”
Laila shook her head with an apologetic smile. “I would, but there are already seven girls crammed in that room. There’s no space. Plus, I thought you and Michelle might be more comfortable with your own room. He wouldn’t be comfortable sharing with the boys either.”
“Yeah, but—” I started, trying to protest again, but Michelle cut me off, his voice as cold as ever.
“It’s fine,” he said flatly, his gaze not even bothering to meet mine.
I swallowed the lump in my throat, feeling the weight of his indifference pressing down on me. Laila gave me an encouraging nod, and I couldn’t argue any further without making it awkward, so I forced a smile and nodded.
“Okay,” I muttered, my voice quieter than usual.
The room Laila had given us was spacious, with a large bed taking up most of the space, its ornate headboard adding a traditional touch. The air was filled with the scent of jasmine and sandalwood, but the moment Michelle and I stepped inside, the room felt much smaller, the tension thickening between us again.
I walked over to the window, pretending to be fascinated by the view outside, but really, I was just trying to avoid looking at him. I could feel his presence behind me, heavy and cold.
“Michelle…” I finally turned to face him, my voice tentative. “Is something wrong? You’ve been acting so cold lately. I just—” I hesitated, searching for the right words. “I don’t understand why.”
His jaw clenched, and when he finally looked at me, his eyes were icy, devoid of any warmth or the teasing spark I had grown used to. “What do you expect, Emma?” His voice was sharp, each word like a slap. “This is a contract. You’re not my real girlfriend. I’m paying you for this.”
His words hit me like a ton of bricks, and I felt my heart drop to my stomach. Of course, I knew this was all an arrangement, a deal, but hearing him say it so bluntly—so cruelly—made it all the more real. I opened my mouth to say something, anything, but the words got stuck in my throat.
Michelle didn’t wait for a response. He just grabbed a towel and headed to the bathroom, the door shutting behind him with a thud that echoed in the now too-quiet room.
I stood there, frozen, his harsh words replaying in my mind. “I’m paying you for this.” The reminder felt like a punch to the gut. I had known from the start that this was all pretend, but why did it feel so real to me now? Why did I care so much?
Before I knew it, my eyes were stinging with unshed tears. My chest felt tight, and I hated myself for crying. He wasn’t worth my tears, I told myself, but the pain lingered. I sat on the edge of the bed, trying to pull myself together, my mind racing with thoughts I couldn’t control.
When I heard the bathroom door open, I quickly wiped my eyes and stood, pretending to be busy looking through my suitcase. I didn’t want him to see me like this—weak, broken. I couldn’t give him that satisfaction.
But then he walked out, and I nearly forgot how to breathe.
Michelle emerged from the bathroom, his hair wet, water droplets still clinging to his skin, and a towel slung low around his waist. His broad chest glistened under the soft light, and my eyes were drawn to the perfect ridges of his six-pack abs. It was impossible not to stare. I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry, but I quickly turned away, my cheeks burning with embarrassment.
“Are you done staring?” he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he reached for his clothes.
“I wasn’t—” I stammered, immediately looking anywhere but at him, my heart racing.
Sophia barged into the room at that exact moment, completely unaware of the tension that had filled the space just seconds earlier. “You two, get ready! We’re going to see India Gate in thirty minutes! Laila’s giving us the grand tour of Delhi!” she chirped, her energy as infectious as ever.
I exhaled in relief, grateful for the interruption.
“Thirty minutes, got it,” I muttered, not daring to look at Michelle again as I grabbed my clothes and headed for the bathroom.
Sophia’s eyes twinkled with mischief as she followed me out of the room. “What’s going on with you two? That was… intense,” she whispered, nudging me as we walked down the hallway.
“Nothing’s going on,” I mumbled, though my flushed cheeks probably said otherwise.
“Oh, sure. Because nothing is why you look like you’ve been caught doing something you shouldn’t,” she teased, winking.
I shook my head, trying to brush it off, but the truth was, I wasn’t sure what was happening between Michelle and me. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to know.