The sharp click of Amelia White's heels echoed across the hospital floor. When Emma Johnson saw it was Amelia and Liam Williams walking in, she froze.
Emilia Clark had already fallen asleep. Emma instinctively raised a finger to her lips. "Shh."
Liam noticed the gesture. A pang of bitterness twisted in his chest.
She could show such care for a stranger, yet she remained cold and distant with him, always eager to push him away.
Amelia glanced at Liam and saw that he had actually slowed his pace. The usual coldness on his face had softened into something gentler.
She quietly swallowed her jealousy and matched his slower steps. Walking over with a practiced smile, she placed a bouquet of hyacinths at the head of Emma's bed. "Sister-in-law, you'll be discharged in a couple of days, right? I picked these out for you."
She shot Emma a meaningful look.
Emma recognized the flowers immediately—purple hyacinths. Her heart clenched with unease. Setting aside the question of whether the man's coat draped over Amelia's shoulders belonged to Liam, the purple flowers themselves were a blatant provocation.
"Thank you." Emma kept her voice light, but her eyes never left Liam.
He had already settled into the chair beside her bed. His gaze landed on the empty tiramisu box and the discarded porridge cup in the trash can. His face darkened again. Just as I thought.
Emma had been about to ask if he had forgotten to bring her food while he was busy with his sister. But before she could speak, Liam's voice cut through, laced with sarcasm.
"You seem to be living quite comfortably in this hospital."
He raised an eyebrow, fixing her with a hard stare.
This woman had crossed his boundaries more than once. If it weren't for the fact that he hadn't yet caught the fox she was protecting, he wouldn't have tolerated it.
Every time he thought about the closeness between Emma and Elijah Clark, and how she kept defending Elijah at every turn, the anger inside him burned hotter.
Emma caught the bitter edge in his words. She glared at him. "None of your business."
Did he bring his sister here on purpose just to get under my skin?
As the thought crossed her mind, Emma wrinkled her nose. She caught a faint whiff of alcohol. Was it coming from Liam?
Amelia noticed the tension between them and didn't like it one bit. She laughed lightly, interrupting their silent standoff.
"Sister-in-law, how do you like my dress? Big brother said it looks beautiful on me."
As she spoke, her eyes were clearly filled with challenge. She even twirled around in the middle of the room.
Liam stopped her. "Amelia, don't be childish."
"Sorry..." Amelia pouted.
"It's lovely. It suits your complexion." Emma forced the compliment out, not wanting to give anyone the wrong impression.
Amelia's smile didn't waver. She added sweetly, "Oh, by the way, sister-in-law, my brother and I forgot to bring you anything to eat..."
Before she could finish, Liam shot her a cold look. "Well... isn't that right, brother?"
Emma's face stiffened. She glanced at Liam instinctively and saw him staring right at her. The discomfort grew.
What are you looking at? So what if he forgot to bring food? I waited for him all this time, even gave the things Elijah bought to Emilia. I was starving, waiting for him!
She turned her head away, forcing herself to ask, "If you didn't bring anything, then you didn't. Have you eaten?"
"No," Liam replied flatly.
Emma was startled. She had assumed he and Amelia had already eaten long ago. Had she misunderstood him? Had he come here just to see her, not to mock her?
Her expression softened. She turned back to face him. "Why haven't you eaten? Are you made of iron? Or were you waiting for me to treat you?"
Liam had been brooding, thinking, Emma really knows how to change the subject. Doesn't she have anything to explain to me?
But when he heard her offer to treat him, his anger began to fade, replaced by a flicker of amusement.
"You treat me? How can you treat me when you're stuck in a hospital bed?"
Seeing the brightness in Emma's eyes, Liam held back the reproachful words on the tip of his tongue. He looked at the innocent woman before him, and the images of her dual identities slowly overlapped in his mind.
If she's acting now, she's a master at it.
Emma gave an embarrassed smile. "Well... then you can treat me."
She hadn't brought up the fight between him and Elijah. And right now, Liam didn't seem as angry as before. Maybe she had been overthinking things.
Liam suppressed the urge to confront her about the truth. Holding onto the last shred of his composure, he asked with feigned interest, "What do you feel like eating?"
Emma tilted her head, thinking for a moment. "Wontons."
Amelia couldn't get a word in. She wanted to see if her brother would personally go buy wontons for her sister-in-law. She wanted to see more of Emma's self-righteous, lovesick attitude.
She had hoped her own behavior would provoke Emma into a fight. But it seemed things were turning out differently.
Liam nodded, a faint smile finally appearing on his face. "Alright. Wait for me to come back."
Before leaving, he glanced at Amelia. "Keep Emma company."
Amelia was surprised.
She never expected her cold, arrogant brother to personally go out just to buy wontons for a woman.
After Liam left the room, Amelia looked at Emma with feigned concern. "Sister-in-law, did you and my brother have a fight?"
"Yes, we did."
Emma looked at Amelia and answered without hesitation.
His sister really cares about him, doesn't she?
Amelia's smile stiffened. She could faintly sense the hostility coming from Emma. Women's intuition was sharp—both of them felt it.
"Oh, no wonder big brother seemed in a bad mood when he came home today. He even had some wine," Amelia murmured.
Emma's heart skipped a beat.
What? He was in a bad mood and drinking? Because of me?
She quickly shook off the thought. How could it be because of me?
That man never cared about me. He always misunderstands me for no reason. He's domineering and impossible.
Seeing Emma lost in thought, a flicker of disdain crossed Amelia's lips. She didn't believe a man like her brother would ever fall for a useless woman like Emma Johnson.