"Of course, my brother's favorite color is purple." Amelia pulled back the curtain, but it was pointless. The light in her room was lavender too.
But...
What had she just said?
Brother? Wasn't she talking about Liam?
Why didn't Emma know that Liam liked purple?
Wasn't everything in their bedroom beige?
Emma stood at the doorway, unsure of what to say.
Just then, Charlotte and the other two maids came up with rags. "Ma'am, aren't you resting? It's so late."
"Soon. You can help Amelia clean up and let her get some rest."
"Understood, ma'am. You should go rest now."
Charlotte said sweetly, then entered the room and began cleaning.
Before she left, Amelia turned back and asked, "Sister-in-law, do you love my brother?"
Emma hadn't expected that question. Her eyes flickered with surprise, but she replied calmly, "We're married. Does it matter if I love him?"
Emma smiled, then turned and walked toward her bedroom.
Leaving Amelia standing there, her face beginning to pale in the purple-tinged light.
"Get out. There's no need to clean." A cold voice rang out in the room.
"But, miss, there's still a lot of dust to sweep away." Charlotte looked at her and whispered.
"Get out. Don't make me say it again."
Before the words had even settled, Charlotte and the other two maids retreated, gently closing the door behind them.
The two maids beside her seemed annoyed. "Now that miss is back, it looks like we're in for a rough time."
"Yeah, she's already angry on her first day. It's only going to get worse."
"I think it's better to serve the young lady. She's beautiful and has a good temper. Charlotte, are you happy serving her?"
"Keep your voice down. If someone hears you, miss will have your head. My young lady treats me well. Jealous?"
Thinking about it, Charlotte felt a little happy.
These maids, working in the Williams household, all wanted to earn more. But who didn't want to avoid getting yelled at?
Emma pushed open the bedroom door and walked a few steps. She saw that Liam had finished his bath and was sitting on the sofa in his bathrobe, carefully looking over some documents.
Didn't he say he was going to the study?
Why was he here?
Hearing the door, he looked up at Emma and said, "Finished so soon?"
"Yeah, Charlotte and the others are still cleaning, so I came back first. What, do you have a lot of work? Am I disturbing you..." Emma said, pointing to the documents in his hand.
"It's fine. I'll finish soon." Liam's tone was light, a little different from when he had just seen Amelia.
Emma had so many questions to ask him.
Why did the Williams family suddenly have an Amelia?
It seemed like she had never heard of her. Was it because she hadn't cared about these things before?
Besides, Benjamin's eyes had been a little strange too.
What was going on?
Emma knew clearly that even if she asked now, Liam wouldn't have time to answer her.
So she went to the bathroom to take a bath.
It was better to go to bed early and keep her energy up.
There would be a big fight tomorrow.
Half an hour later, Emma dried her hair and applied some lotion to her face. Then she lay down on the bed.
Not long after lying down, she heard movement from the sofa.
Liam closed the documents in his hand and walked straight to the bed. Emma didn't look back. She only heard the sound of Liam taking off his clothes.
Immediately, she felt the right side of the bed sink down, and Liam's body was warm.
Then a big hand reached out from her waist. Emma's body shuddered. "Why don't you ask me about Amelia?"
"I want to, but I'm afraid you're too tired. Isn't there a wedding tomorrow?"
Liam's body seemed to stick tightly to her back. At first, she wasn't used to it. But soon, Emma saw that he didn't want to do anything else, and she relaxed a lot.
"Turn around..." His low voice was like a command, but with a little more tenderness.
Emma turned over and lay on her side, facing Liam. "Is she really your own sister?"
"No. She's the daughter of an old man's comrade-in-arms."
It seemed they were used to addressing each other that way. Liam and Benjamin usually didn't call Henry their father much. They called him the old man.
Emma's eyebrows slightly furrowed. The daughter of a comrade-in-arms?
Liam continued in a calm voice. "When I was six, the old man came home with little Amelia. He said her father had suffered a serious gunshot wound trying to save him. After two weeks in the hospital, he died. He left behind a lonely daughter. The old man, feeling responsible, adopted her. That man was his lifesaver, so for all these years, our family has spoiled her. That's why she's become a bit willful now..."
"Then why did she run away from home?" Emma looked confused.
"Run away from home? Well, I don't know why. She was willful. When I went to be a soldier, she didn't want me to go. She cried and wanted to come with me. As a result, the old man locked her up for two days. Later... she left a letter and went abroad."
"I see. Didn't you go after her? After all, it's very dangerous for a little girl to be out there alone."
"Yes, but she didn't want to come back. She said she wanted to see the world. Although Amelia is willful, she's not bad at heart. You can take care of her more in the future."
It seemed Liam had said a lot tonight. His mouth was a little dry. Emma listened to him like she was listening to a story.
About their childhood. About Amelia.
Unexpectedly, as she listened, Emma fell asleep.
Liam pursed his dry lips. Did she take what he said as a bedtime story?
She didn't even say goodnight before falling asleep.
He reached out and gently rubbed her delicate, smooth face.
This woman... After tomorrow, she would be his real wife.
Emma Johnson, if she wasn't the one destined for him, if she had nothing to do with the fox hunt...
Would they not be what they were today?
Maybe they wouldn't know each other. Maybe they wouldn't have crossed paths.
Then this ridiculous marriage would no longer exist.
Liam often thought, if she didn't have so many secrets and lies, maybe... would he still like this type of girl?