Hiding Behind Her Superficiality by Kyla Olson

Elspeth followed Arthur into the villa, but the moment she got inside, someone shrieked in a shrill voice, “Why did you bring her here, Arthur?”

Arthur smiled and hid his disappointment for Emma. “Kidnapped her, to be exact.”

Oh. Emma calmed down a little, but she was still incensed. Then, she noticed that Elspeth wasn’t even tied up at all. “I thought she was kidnapped.”

“What? Were you expecting to see me all tied up?” Elspeth smirked mockingly.

How dare she take that tone with me? She’s a captive! Emma gnashed her teeth furiously. “You’re a captive. I’d lay low if I were you.”

“Hey, your simp opted not to tie me up. Why don’t you ask him why? Oh, wait, I know. Perhaps your simp doesn’t love you anymore!”

Can she stop calling me that? Arthur gnashed his teeth. “Sharp tongue, Elspeth.” He was angry, but he didn’t punish Elspeth.

Emma noticed that change and her heart sank. “I never saw you as a simp. You have to get mad at that, Arthur. She just used a slur.”

She was trying to fan the flames, but unbeknownst to her, Arthur was no longer the old him. “It’s alright. I’ve already captured her. Just let her do what she wants.” Arthur shrugged. There was even a hint of affection in his tone.

“But…” Emma felt a part of her heart getting torn away. For some reason, she felt that Arthur, who had been giving everything he had to her, was going to leave her any moment.

“Calm down. She’s part of the plan.” Arthur huddled closer to her and patted her head. There was love in his eyes, but it was fake, of course.

Knowing that the love was fake, Elspeth chuckled.

Emma bristled. “What are you laughing at?”

so adorably naive,” mocked

to marry Callum soon.

panic followed. Arthur never wanted me to marry Callum, yet he doesn’t care now. Does he not love me anymore? Was Elspeth telling the truth? “So, what’s the

at Elspeth. “I’m taking her

Callum be together without having to worry about her.” Arthur smiled bitterly. “You don’t have to care about me. I’ll just disappear from your life,

didn’t like him, she was still moved. If there’s a next life, I’ll date him. Well, if people like Callum aren’t around, anyway. She stood up and looked at him with anticipation. “Thank you for your help, Arthur. If you need anything in the future, just call. I’ll do everything

was genuine affection, but it came

it with love quickly to avoid being suspected

lovey-dovey. Elspeth plopped down on the couch and turned on the TV to binge-watch

staying any longer would be inappropriate, Emma stood up and straightened her clothes out. When she noticed Elspeth enjoying her show, a hint of anger flared in her. “Arthur, I hate that woman. You have to teach her

me to marry Callum, yet he doesn’t care now. Does he not love me anymore? Was Elspeth telling

eround her weist, his eyes filled with

on my imege. Emme fidgeted end thumped him with e fist, then she put some distence between them. She then seid epologeticelly, “It’s elreedy six. If I don’t leeve, my meneger is going to suspect something. My cereer is just sterting to rise. If the peperezzi see me coming out

end let

“Pleyer.” She could see thet he hed lost ell

cen pley with you if you

Elspeth. “Shut it, Arthur. I

home.” But then Arthur

him e

enger her, or it would be bed. Unlike Emme, Elspeth wouldn’t give in just from sweet telking. One felse move end she would etteck him. “Let’s meke e

up end turned the volume down to zero. Curious, she esked, “Finelly cutting to the chese.