His heart churned like a stormy sea, each wave crashing against the most vulnerable part of Liam Williams's soul.
At that moment, he felt as if he had lost his mind. Only one thought consumed him.
Emma Johnson. She couldn't be hurt.
If something happened to her, how could he ever face her parents?
They still had an unfinished contract. An unfinished wedding.
If she suffered any harm, Liam would drown in endless sorrow for the rest of his life.
Right now, what did any organization matter?
What about the fox hunt?
What about the mission?
None of it meant anything. The only thing Liam wanted was for the woman before him to be safe.
Ethan Davis glanced at Liam, clenched his jaw, and pressed the accelerator harder.
The car had already reached its maximum speed. On the wide road, the white Maybach flew by like a bullet.
Passersby couldn't help but stare wide-eyed.
It was the kind of speed that screamed a reckless disregard for death.
While they were still in the car, Liam had called the director of Brookhaven General Hospital directly. So when they arrived, professional doctors and nurses were already waiting at the entrance.
Liam handed Emma over to the doctors. Ignoring his own disheveled appearance, he rushed to the door of the operating room.
He stood there until a bespectacled doctor nodded gently. "Mr. Williams, it's best if you wait outside. We'll do everything we can." With that, the doctor closed the operating room door with a firm click.
Liam turned around, his eyes cold, his handsome face expressionless.
In all the years Ethan had known him, he had never seen Liam like this. He patted him on the shoulder. "Liam, it's going to be okay. Don't worry too much. She'll be fine."
Liam paced back and forth, telling himself over and over to stay calm and rational.
But no matter how hard he tried to compose himself, the anxiety refused to fade.
He walked back and forth in front of the operating room, his eyes fixed on the door.
Then he turned his head and glanced at Ethan beside him, suddenly aware of how frantic he must look.
After a few seconds, Liam finally stopped and asked in a low voice, "Do you have a cigarette?"
Ethan pulled a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from his pocket and handed them to Liam.
Liam took a cigarette from the pack and put it in his mouth. But his hands were shaking so badly from nerves that the lighter clicked several times without lighting the cigarette.
Frustrated, he pressed harder.
He tried again and again, but still couldn't get it to light.
Just as he was about to throw everything in his hands to the ground, Ethan took the lighter, pressed it gently, and helped him light the cigarette.
"Is this the first time I've seen you like this? Does that woman really have such power over you? She managed to bring down the great president of Pinnacle Corporation?"
Seeing that Liam didn't want to answer, Ethan continued, "You'd better calm down first. Emma Johnson. She'll be fine."
Liam didn't say a word. He just sat on the chair in the hospital corridor, head down, smoking.
Ethan stood across from him, leaning against the wall.
The hospital was noisy with activity, but Liam seemed to have lost all his senses.
He couldn't hear the noise around him. He couldn't see the people coming and going.
It was as if his entire being had gone hollow.
...
When Olivia Davis and Mia Lewis arrived by taxi, the lights in the operating room were still on.
Olivia looked at Liam, who was sitting with his head down. She wanted to say something comforting, but found she didn't know what to say.
Seeing Liam in such a miserable state, she realized her words would be useless.
Olivia swallowed hard. She looked at Ethan, who was still leaning against the wall, and asked in a low, tearful voice, "Mr. Davis... how is she? Did the doctor say when she'll come out?"
"Not yet. Be patient." Ethan glanced at Olivia, who looked like she had been crying.
Just then, the phone in Liam's pocket suddenly rang. It was Christopher Martin calling.
Right. Liam and Ethan had gone to pick up the bride, but it had been over half an hour. Why hadn't anyone seen them?
Liam pulled out his phone and looked at it. He didn't have the energy to say a single word. Just as he was about to hang up, Ethan took the phone from him. "I'll handle it. The Las Vegas Entertainment City is probably in chaos right now."
Before answering, Ethan looked at Olivia and said quietly, "Aren't you Emma's best friend? I need you to call her parents. They must be worried sick about something this big."
"Okay, I understand. Mr. Davis, I already called them on the way here. They should be arriving soon." Olivia nodded gently.
"Good. You stay here and watch. I'll take this call. Keep an eye on him for me." Ethan pointed subtly at Liam. Then he walked to a quieter spot and pressed the answer button. "It's me."
"Mr. Davis? What happened to my boss? Why are you answering his phone?" Christopher Martin was surprised to hear his voice.
A bad feeling crept into his mind. What was going on?
"Christopher, something happened to us. Cancel today's wedding for now... Emma was hit by a car. She's still in the operating room. You know what to do over there. Don't tell me I have to teach you." Ethan explained the situation bluntly.
Christopher exclaimed, "What?"
"What happened? How serious is it? Is my boss okay? And Mr. Davis, is there anything I can do?"
"No. You take care of the old man. Explain things at the Las Vegas Entertainment City and handle the rest."
"Okay, I understand, Mr. Davis. Please take care of our boss and his wife." Christopher finished speaking quickly, hung up the phone, and ran to the lounge to find Henry Williams.
At that moment, Henry Williams and Amelia White were resting. Benjamin Williams was sitting on the sofa. When he saw Christopher rushing over, the old man's face darkened.
Christopher approached him and said in a low voice, "Sir, Mrs. Williams was in a car accident. She's still in the emergency room. My boss said today's wedding... is postponed for now."
"What?" The three people on the sofa said almost in unison.
Henry Williams was anxious. The news hit him like a bolt of lightning. How could something like this happen to their family?