As Benjamin Williams saw them coming downstairs, he deliberately raised his voice, making sure everyone in the room could hear. "Brother, sister-in-law, I'm so excited today! But seriously, wearing matching outfits like that? Are you two trying to prove you're a real couple?"
The question hung in the air, and for a split second, both Emma and Liam felt their minds go blank. They exchanged a helpless glance before forcing awkward smiles.
"Just eat your food," Emma shot back, the only person in the Williams family she could actually threaten. "If you're that jealous, go find someone to wear matching clothes with you."
She wouldn't dare provoke the old man. And Liam was off-limits too.
So Benjamin had become her favorite target.
He sighed dramatically. "Well, I can't exactly follow that advice, can I? I mean, sure, I've got plenty of beautiful women around me. But the one I'm actually waiting for... she hasn't shown up yet."
He shrugged. "Life's tough. Sometimes it's better to keep certain lies buried."
Fortunately, the matching outfits had done their job. The elders couldn't doubt what they saw with their own eyes. And with Emma and Liam playing their parts so convincingly, the whole "meeting the parents" act went off without a hitch.
Emma's parents were thrilled to see their daughter so well-treated in the Williams household. More importantly, their son-in-law seemed to excel both in business and at home. They couldn't have asked for more.
Henry Williams wasn't entirely satisfied, but given the circumstances, Liam seemed serious about this relationship. So he couldn't very well voice his objections in front of Emma's parents.
The two families shared a pleasant meal, chatting and laughing. The atmosphere was warm, almost perfect.
Emma's anxious heart finally settled.
It seemed like everything was falling into place for the wedding.
The next morning, Emma was lounging on her bedroom balcony, soaking up the sun, when her phone rang. It was Emilia Clark.
"Sister Emma, I heard you're getting married. Congratulations!" Emilia's voice sounded a bit weak, but her happiness was unmistakable.
"Thank you, Emilia. How are you? When's the surgery scheduled?"
As the doctors had explained during their last hospital visit, Emilia's condition wasn't hopeless. Blood cancer patients with a matching bone marrow donor had a decent chance of survival.
"The doctors say they still haven't found a match yet... but don't worry, I'm being patient." Emilia's heart ached more than anyone could know. If she could just get that surgery, she could finally live like a normal person. She'd suffered enough from her illness as a child, endured countless moments of bone-deep despair. That's why she understood the true meaning of the word "living."
"Emilia, you're so strong. Keep fighting. Everything will work out. I'm relieved to hear you're staying positive. Your mindset is crucial. As long as you have the will to live, I believe nothing can defeat you."
"I know, Sister Emma. You should be happy too. I saw it on TV—your husband is really good to you."
"Is that so? Well, anyway... how's your mother doing? I'm still so sorry about what happened last time. I almost got you killed."
Even now, thinking about that terrifying experience sent chills down Emma's spine. If Liam hadn't arrived in time, she didn't know what would have happened to Emilia.
"My mother's just a little worried. She doesn't blame you... please don't take it to heart."
"That's good to hear. I'll come visit you in a few days. Get some rest."
"Okay, I'll be waiting for you."
Hearing Emma's words, a beautiful smile spread across Emilia's lips. Everything was going according to plan. As long as Emma remembered her, that was the best thing.
Even though she was just a passerby in Emma's life, Emma had started to think of her as a friend, hadn't she?
Emilia placed her phone on the bedside table and glanced at the pills beside her. Honestly, every time she saw those medications, she felt sick. She hated her body. Why was it so weak? Other people lived vibrant, active lives—why did she have to endure such suffering from the moment she was born?
But now, she'd finally figured it out. She would endure anything for this life. She would do whatever it took.
Emma hung up and stretched her arms above her head. She couldn't shake the feeling that she'd known Emilia for much longer than she actually had. In her heart, she'd already come to see this strange girl as a younger sister.
But how could she possibly guess what was going through Emilia's mind at that moment?
After all, the hardest thing to see through is the human heart.
Tomorrow was the wedding. Soon, she'd be a bride. If she said she wasn't nervous, she'd be lying. Everyone gets nervous their first time getting married.
Even though she and Liam had agreed beforehand that this marriage was fake, their relationship was fake...
But the acting was real.
Emma still couldn't understand why she'd been so blind. Why had she volunteered to go with Liam to get the marriage certificate in the first place?
Now, things had spiraled out of control. She was the coldest lady in the city. If she wanted to run, she couldn't.
All she could do was play this role well. One year from now, Emma and Liam would go their separate ways. When she woke up, she'd still be Emma Johnson, with nothing to do with that man named Liam Williams.
At The Waterfront.
When Emma arrived with the wedding invitation, Mia Lewis was in the middle of a staff meeting. So Emma waited outside.
Truth be told, she didn't have much reason to come here. She just wanted to deliver the invitation in person. Besides, even though her relationship with Mia wasn't as close as her bond with Olivia Davis, Mia was still one of the few friends she had in this city.
After waiting for over ten minutes, Mia still hadn't come out. Feeling thirsty, Emma got up and headed to the break room on the second floor.
The Waterfront had a well-stocked break room with free drinks, coffee, and hot water.
But just as Emma pushed open the door, she collided with a man who was coming out.
Her forehead throbbed with pain. "Don't you watch where you're going?" she snapped, rubbing the sore spot. "What's the rush? You heading to reincarnation or something?"
Then she looked up to see who it was.
The face was strangely familiar.
"Emma Johnson?"
"Daniel Taylor!"
Emma couldn't understand it. Every time she ran into this man, it felt like she'd been cursed with bad luck for eight generations.
To put it simply, whenever Daniel Taylor was involved, things always went downhill.