"Excuse me?" Emma Johnson blinked her wide eyes, completely stunned. Did he just say they should get married right now? Was he even more eager than she was?
Seeing her dumbfounded expression, Liam Williams smirked. "What? Changed your mind?"
Ethan Davis furrowed his brow with concern. "Liam, what are you doing..."
"Ethan, stay out of this!" Liam cut him off sharply.
Ethan sighed helplessly, glancing at Emma before shaking his head. "Fine, it's your call."
Emma listened to their exchange, her cheeks burning as realization dawned on her. What had she gotten herself into?
But Liam had no intention of letting her off the hook. He grinned like a cunning fox. "What's on your mind, Miss Johnson? Cat got your tongue?"
"I..." Emma bit her lip, embarrassed. "I was just being impulsive..."
"I disagree. Like you said, I'm quite satisfied with you too!" Liam replied smoothly, turning her own words against her.
"We have a staff meeting this afternoon..."
"I think a meeting can wait compared to a life-changing decision like marriage, don't you?"
Seriously? They'd just decided something this monumental in two sentences?
Liam watched Emma chew her lip, lost in thought, and couldn't help but chuckle. A glint of mischief flickered in his eyes. This woman had opened her mouth earlier—was she having second thoughts now?
Well, too bad. No one who provoked him ever got away!
"What are you thinking about, Miss Johnson? Having regrets? But you were the one who brought it up..." Liam blinked innocently.
Emma gritted her teeth and looked up at him. "I only have my ID with me. My household registry isn't here, so there's no way..."
"No problem. I drove. We can go to your place and pick it up!" Liam interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Emma was speechless. "Fine..."
Finally, she nodded in defeat.
Whatever. Her grandmother adored Daniel Taylor. She talked about him every day. If Emma married Daniel, her grandmother would be thrilled. So be it!
Liam led Emma out, leaving Ethan behind.
Sitting in Liam's luxury Land Rover, Emma was lost in thought. She didn't even notice the special license plate—a black card, the kind reserved for military vehicles.
They drove straight to her family's home in Sunset Community. Her parents weren't there. Emma grabbed her household registry, and Liam drove to the nearest Civil Affairs Bureau.
Parking the car, Emma looked at him in surprise. "Your registry? Do you have it with you?"
"No," Liam shook his head, glancing at his Patek Philippe watch. "Someone's bringing it. Should be here any minute."
As if on cue, a black car pulled into the lot. A middle-aged man rushed over, holding a folder. He bowed respectfully. "Young Master, here's what you requested."
"Good." Liam nodded curtly, then turned to Emma. "Let's go. It's getting late."
Emma blinked, stunned. She looked at the middle-aged man, then hurried after Liam, biting her lip. "Who was that man?"
Liam paused, then laughed, taking her hand. "You'll find out once we're done here."
Emma froze, immediately understanding his implication. Her cheeks flushed as she felt his hand holding hers. It had been so long since she'd felt this way...
When Emma walked out of the Civil Affairs Bureau with a red booklet in her hand, she finally realized something was terribly wrong. She was completely dumbfounded. Oh my God, the name on the marriage certificate wasn't Daniel Taylor.
It was Liam Williams!
Blinking rapidly, Emma stared at the three words in shock. The surname Williams wasn't common in Silverdale, but everyone knew it—because the city's most powerful military family was named Williams. Seven generals had come from that family. They were legendary.
And the name Liam Williams... Emma remembered it well. The city's most notorious playboy was Benjamin Williams, who constantly made tabloid headlines. He had a brother, and that brother was supposedly named Liam Williams.
Young Master... Emma suddenly recalled that the man who delivered the registry had called him "Young Master."
In Silverdale, only one family used that title. And if his name was Liam Williams... No, it couldn't be, could it?
Emma's mind raced. She swallowed hard and looked up at Liam, her eyes filled with horror. "Li-Liam Williams..."
"Yes? What's wrong?" Liam asked with a sly grin, looking like the fox who'd caught the hen.
"You're not Daniel Taylor?" Emma asked instinctively, her thoughts in chaos.
Liam chuckled. "I never said my name was Daniel Taylor."
"But... but..." She was supposed to marry Daniel Taylor. How did she end up with...
Emma choked on her words. "I thought you were Daniel Taylor..."
"Well, better late than never!" Liam smiled. "My dear wife, we're already married. You're not thinking of abandoning me, are you?"
Emma was speechless. How did things turn out like this? And what kind of person was Liam Williams? Was he really from that family?
"So... who's Benjamin Williams?" Emma asked cautiously.
"What do you think? He's my brother. And now he's your brother too. You'll meet him soon."
Emma's heart sank. She didn't want to meet him. Oh God, what had she done?
"I... I..." Tears welled up in Emma's eyes. The red booklet in her hand felt like a hot potato. She just wanted to marry an ordinary guy her grandmother liked. How did she end up married to the heir of Silverdale's most powerful family?
What did he see in her? Could she still back out?
"Is it possible for us to go back in and get another certificate?" Emma asked carefully, watching his reaction.
Liam raised an eyebrow. "You want to become a divorced woman right after getting married?"
Emma fell silent.
"Come on. You said you had a meeting. I have things to handle at my company too." Liam cut off her wishful thinking.
Emma looked up at him. His profile was strikingly handsome, and he seemed so calm, as if nothing she said or did could shake him.
Damn it. Emma bit her lip and nodded.
They parted ways, and she returned to the New York Fashion Magazine office.