Chapter 7 This Is My Wife

Emma rushed to the hotel entrance and spotted a sleek white Maserati parked by the curb. Skyler Moses, Ricky's ever-dutiful assistant, stood beside the car, his posture poised and professional as he waited for her arrival.

The moment Emma approached, Skyler stepped forward, pulling the car door open with practiced ease.

Inside, Ricky sat in the back seat, his black suit immaculate and perfectly tailored.

Emma offered him a tentative smile, but he barely acknowledged her, his gaze flicking to her briefly before returning to his phone.

Feeling a wave of awkwardness, Emma slipped into the car, ensuring she left a slight distance between them.

The car glided smoothly away from the hotel, making its way to a renowned five-star hotel.

When they arrived, Emma followed Ricky out of the vehicle, instinctively maintaining her distance. To her surprise, Ricky extended his hand, gently placing hers on his arm with an air of detached grace. His expression remained neutral as he escorted her toward the hotel. Inside, they took the elevator straight to the floor where the charity gala was underway.

Emma's heart fluttered against her will, even though she reminded herself this was nothing more than a polite gesture.

The event brimmed with prominent figures, including many familiar faces from the entertainment world.

Emma's eyes scanned the room, landing on two familiar figures-Brody and Winifred Scott. Winifred, the lead actress in their current project and a star of unrivaled popularity, sat next to Brody, their presence igniting a flurry of activity among photographers.

The moment Emma stepped in with Ricky, the attention shifted toward them. The rumors tying her to Brody made her arrival a topic of immediate interest.

Ricky, seldom seen at such gatherings, drew equal fascination. As the CEO of Jenner Group, whose investments in the entertainment industry had become legendary, his appearance stirred curiosity among reporters.

The reporters, though itching for details, held back for the time being, waiting for the appropriate moment to pounce.

Emma and Ricky were soon directed to their table, a small round one draped in pristine white cloth. By apparent coincidence-or careful arrangement-they were seated with Brody and Winifred.

Emma found herself across from Brody, a position that made her pulse quicken with discomfort.

Brody's brows rose in faint surprise when his gaze landed on her. He gave her a polite nod.

Emma managed a small smile in return before turning to greet Winifred, seated beside Brody. Winifred barely spared her a glance, responding with a disinterested nod. She shifted her attention back to Brody, resuming a lively conversation about amusing moments from their filming sessions. Not long after, Winifred made an effort to engage Ricky and attempted to draw him into the discussion.

Ricky maintained a stony expression, his gaze firmly avoiding Winifred. Realizing her efforts to engage him were futile, Winifred gave up with a faint look of annoyance.

As the gala officially began, the hall dimmed, leaving the stage and large screen bathed in a soft blue glow that cast an elegant ambience over the hall.

Emma's eyes wandered to the table, noting the array of champagne glasses, red wine, and two dainty plates of pastries-each barely larger than a cookie and only four pieces per plate.

Hunger gnawed at her. She reached for one of the pastries and popped it into her mouth, savoring the sweetness. Seeing that everyone else was focused on the host, she swiftly grabbed two more, eating them in quick succession.

Ricky's brows lifted in silent amusement as he caught her mid-bite. Emma froze under his gaze, her cheeks warming as she quickly swallowed and took a sip of champagne to compose herself. She straightened in her chair, trying to look proper.

"I'll take you to get something to eat later," Ricky said.

Emma blinked, startled. She glanced at him in disbelief, searching his face for traces of mockery, but instead, there was a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

For a fleeting moment, she thought Ricky's smile was genuine, but the moment passed quickly, reminding her it was likely part of an act.

When the gala ended, the lights brightened, and the buzz of the room shifted as reporters prepared for interviews.

Ricky, known for avoiding media interactions, surprised everyone by standing and holding Emma's hand as they walked toward the press area together. When a reporter asked about his relationship with Emma, Ricky looked directly at the cameras and smiled faintly. "This is my wife," he said.

The statement sent shockwaves through the room. For two years, their marriage had been a well-guarded secret, but now, he had acknowledged Emma publicly.

Emma's thoughts spiraled into chaos. Her mind blanked as she stood beside Ricky, trying to play her part during the interview.

She hardly registered how they left the hotel, only remembering Ricky draping his coat over her shoulders as they made their way through the throng of reporters.

His protective stance stirred something deep within her, a memory of their high school days when he had defended her from a group of boys.

Back then, he had cared for her. He had cherished her.

But things had changed. Emma knew that if she hadn't used her chance to save Nicola two years ago to coerce him into marriage, he wouldn't harbor such resentment toward her now.

Once they were back in the car, Ricky's demeanor shifted back to its usual cold distance, his warmth gone as if it had never been there. Still, he hadn't forgotten her earlier hunger.

By the time Skyler found a restaurant still open, it was nearly midnight.

Emma was starving, but her thoughts drifted to her upcoming filming. Worried about how she'd look on camera, she limited herself to ordering vegetarian dishes and stopped eating once she felt halfway full.

Although she hadn't eaten much, it took her over half an hour to finish her meal.

Ricky sat across from her the entire time, offering no indication of impatience. His unexpected calm unsettled her, leaving her unsure of what was running through his mind.

"I'm done eating," Emma finally said, her voice quiet but firm.

"Let's go then," Ricky replied curtly, standing and striding toward the exit without a backward glance.

Emma hurried after him, struggling to keep pace in her ten-centimeter stilettos.

Ricky's brisk steps made it nearly impossible to keep up, and in her rush, her heel caught on the edge of a step. She stumbled and her knee hit the ground, scraping painfully against the concrete.

Ricky turned at the sound. Instead of offering help, he simply continued to the car, his tone icy as he called over his shoulder, "Get in quickly. I'll take you back to the hotel."

The sting of his indifference hit harder than the scrape on her knee. At that moment, Emma realized the act was over. Ricky had shed his fleeting warmth, returning to his usual distant self.

She rose slowly, brushing dirt from her knees and wincing at the pain. Without a word, she tossed her broken heels into a nearby trash can and climbed into the car barefoot.

The ride back was cloaked in silence.

Emma stared out the window, the city lights blurring past, while Ricky's earlier words "This is my wife" echoed in her mind. The memory of his feigned affection churned within her.

What an actor, she thought bitterly.

Her anger simmered, blinding her to the blood slowly trickling from her scraped knee.

The car soon pulled up to the hotel. Emma opened the door and stepped out, slamming it shut behind her. Barefoot and fuming, she strode across the chilly pavement into the lobby.

From his seat, Ricky noticed the slight limp in her step, a clear sign she was more injured than she let on. His brows furrowed as he watched her figure fade into the distance. "Drive," he instructed Skyler tersely, leaning back in his seat.

......

By morning, Twitter was ablaze once more.

The revelation of Emma as Mrs. Jenner dominated the trending topics, joined by another headline-a public statement from Brody's agency confirming that he and Emma were nothing more than friends.

Emma's follower count surged by 200, 000 overnight. The tide shifted as those who had attacked her before began deleting their comments. Some even became her supporters, praising her acting talent and unassuming personality, calling her a hidden gem in the industry.

But for Emma, there was no joy in the sudden attention. She tossed and turned all night, unable to settle her mind. By the time morning arrived, her exhaustion caught up with her, leading to frequent mistakes during filming and drawing the concerned glances of the crew.