"Young master, you broke Miss Amelia's ankle just in time. She's out of serious danger now, but she needs plenty of rest."
Dr. Julian Moore had finished treating Amelia White's sprained ankle. He addressed the room, his voice calm and professional.
"I understand. Thank you, Dr. Moore."
Amelia smiled sweetly at the doctor. Beside her, Benjamin Williams remained silent, his dark eyes filled with nothing but concern for her. He stayed glued to her side, unwilling to leave for even a second.
"Amelia, you should head home for today. You're in no condition to be out and about. It's best you go back early and rest."
Liam Williams, who had been quiet until now, suddenly spoke. Amelia looked startled, as if she hadn't expected him to say that.
"But brother, I just got here. Besides, Dr. Moore said I'll be fine. It's not like I have to stay in bed and never walk again. Just let me stay."
Amelia pleaded with Liam.
"No. Benjamin, take her home now."
Liam's tone was firm, leaving no room for argument.
"Alright, I'll get the car keys."
Benjamin had only come for Amelia's sake anyway. Since she was hurt, he wanted her to rest at home. There was no reason for him to stay here any longer.
His gaze landed on Emma Johnson, who was standing not far away. His face darkened, and he didn't care that Liam was present.
"Even though you married my brother, I hope you understand this now. Everyone in the Williams family loves Amelia. If you have any sense of being a sister-in-law, you'd better remember that."
The warning in Benjamin's words was unmistakable. Emma looked at Liam, but this time, he didn't defend her.
Did he also believe that her presence was the reason for Amelia's injury?
Emma didn't reply to Benjamin. She remained silent. As Benjamin helped Amelia toward the door, Amelia turned her head, her beautiful eyes locking onto Emma. The look in them seemed to say that even if she was leaving, she had already achieved her goal.
"Do you really think it was because of me?"
When only Liam and Emma were left in the living room, she finally couldn't hold back and asked him.
"I don't want to talk about it anymore."
Liam tried to leave the room, but Emma stepped in front of him.
"Liam, what kind of person do you think I am now?"
Emma's voice trembled slightly, but she held herself together, stubbornly keeping her face calm.
"I don't think it matters what kind of person you are. Emma, I just want you to understand that Amelia is my family too."
"But she's not your real sister."
"I've always thought of her as my real sister. And I hope you can think of her the same way."
"Liam, don't forget. We're just fulfilling a contract. We're not really husband and wife. So I have no reason to put up with Amelia's childishness. Because I never considered myself a part of the Williams family."
"Say that again."
Liam's face darkened at her last words. His voice turned cold and terrifying.
"I said I'm not a part of the Williams family. I'm leaving now. I'm going back to my own home. I'm done compromising in your house."
Emma was truly angry now. The feeling of being wronged with no way out was suffocating. Even Daniel Taylor and Isabella Miller had managed to fool her.
She turned to leave, but Liam wouldn't let her. He grabbed her arm and threw her onto the sofa.
"What are you doing, Liam?"
"What am I doing? I'm going to make you my woman right now. I'm going to make you a true lady of the Williams family."
A burning flame flickered in Liam's eyes, but it was a terrifying, dark fire.
Emma was frightened by his expression, but she couldn't stop struggling.
"Mr. President, we—"
Christopher Martin's voice came from not far away. Before Emma could even see him, she felt a chill, and then they were gone from the living room.
"Liam, let me go."
She watched as he roughly tore the button from her blouse. She pushed back against his overwhelming force.
But she was so delicate. How could she possibly fight against Liam, whose muscles were as hard as steel?
No. She couldn't become his woman. Not like this. Not under these circumstances.
Emma spotted the crystal glass on the coffee table beside the sofa. As his cold lips bit down on her collarbone and began to move lower, she smashed the glass against the edge of the table. Then, closing her eyes, she struck him on the back of his hand.
Liam felt a sharp pain in his hand and seemed to snap out of it.
He looked down at the woman beneath him. She was a mess, her face as pale as paper. Her clear eyes were staring at him with resentment. Tears glistened in her eyes, but she held them back, refusing to let them fall.
What had he done?
Was it because of her words about not being part of the Williams family? Or because she said she was leaving, making him feel like she would never come back?
"Emma, I—"
Liam opened his mouth to speak.
"Liam, you bastard."
Emma pushed him away, clutched her torn blouse to her chest, and ran upstairs to her room. She slammed the door shut behind her.
Downstairs, Liam was left alone. He stared at the blood on the shattered crystal fragments, silent for a long time.
The sharp pain in his hand was clear now, but he barely felt it. How could he have hurt Emma like that? What was wrong with him? Why did he lose all the calm he once had whenever he was around her?
Emma opened her closet and pulled out a change of clothes. Her anger hadn't faded, and tears began to fall uncontrollably. She wiped them away and cursed Liam under her breath.
How could he humiliate her like that? As if she were just some random woman he could do whatever he wanted with.
But she was Emma Johnson. She wasn't just any woman. And she wasn't something he could humiliate whenever he pleased.
Emma made up her mind. She would leave Sunrise Manor as soon as possible and go back home. She would never speak to Liam again. To hell with their one-year engagement. She wasn't staying here any longer.