Emma Johnson picked up breakfast for Liam Williams and was heading back to the hospital when her phone rang. It was Ava.
"Chief editor, no matter where you are right now, don't come to the office. Turn around and go somewhere else."
Ava's voice was low, almost a whisper, and there was a faint echo in the background.
"Ava, don't tell me you're hiding in the bathroom again."
"Wow, you're amazing, chief editor. Do you have X-ray vision?"
Ava sounded genuinely surprised.
"Alright, tell me what's going on."
Emma already had a sinking feeling in her gut.
"There's a swarm of reporters camped outside our building. They want you to come out and give an interview. They're asking if you've been ignoring Scarlett because you're the wife of the Pinnacle Corporation CEO, and if you used your influence to ruin her endorsement deal with Milan Fashion House. Someone fed them a bunch of twisted information. The boss is handling it now, but please, don't come back."
Emma hung up and scrolled through the entertainment news on her phone. Sure enough, the top story on the entertainment page was a photo from last night. But it wasn't her in the picture. It was Scarlett Martinez, looking pitiful and wronged, with Isabella Miller standing beside her, playing the role of the comforting friend.
The media had twisted everything, making it look like Emma was the bully. Scarlett had clearly fed them this narrative.
After a movie, it's like what you play.
"Emma? What are you doing here?"
Elijah Clark looked surprised to see her walking in with a lunchbox. Wasn't Emilia's surgery scheduled for tomorrow? Emma shouldn't have been here this early.
"Liam is in the hospital. I brought him breakfast."
"What?"
Emma quickly explained what had happened the night before. Elijah listened, his expression darkening. So that was why Adrian had shown up with so many injuries last night.
"You're saying the bullet in Liam's shoulder was meant for you?"
A cold, dangerous glint flickered in Elijah's eyes, though Emma didn't see it.
"Yes. I don't know if that man was angry or what, but he aimed his gun right at me. Liam was quick enough to push me out of the way. I never wanted him to get hurt for me. I just hope we find that blue-eyed man soon."
Emma's voice trembled with fear. The thought of that man still being out there, lurking in the shadows, terrified her.
"Emma, go on ahead. Mayor Reed will be here soon for his appointment. Once I'm done with him, I'll come check on Liam."
"Okay."
Elijah returned to his office, but Mayor Reed hadn't arrived yet. He pulled out his phone and dialed Adrian's number. He needed an explanation, and it had better be a good one.
The phone rang, and Adrian's voice came through.
"What the hell is going on? Don't tell me you came all the way to this city just to kill Emma. If that's the case, I saved you once, but I can just as easily end you."
Elijah's voice was icy, laced with a threat that left no room for doubt. Adrian, sitting in his study, glanced at a photo on the desk—a picture of Elijah and Emma from their youth. He took a breath and replied.
"No. I only saw that photo and realized she was your childhood sweetheart. But last night, I was just trying to save my own skin. The woman you care about didn't end up with anything but a cover-up."
Elijah considered Adrian's words. It was the only explanation that made sense. He warned Adrian to stay low and not go out, because the people watching him were still out there.
Soon after he hung up, Mayor Reed arrived, and Elijah began his consultation. More than two hours later, he finally found time to visit Liam's ward.
By then, Dr. Owen had given Liam the all-clear to leave the hospital, and he was getting ready to check out.
"Emma told me you were shot. I came to see for myself. Doesn't look too serious."
Elijah stood with his hands in the pockets of his white coat, a faint smile on his face as he looked at Liam.
"I was lucky. Maybe the shooter missed on purpose. Either way, I got off easy."
The bandage on Liam's shoulder was hidden beneath his coat, so there was no visible sign of injury.
"Then you're very lucky."
"Indeed. But the shooter might not be so lucky."
Liam's eyes locked onto Elijah's, and a cold, meaningful smile curled his thin lips.
Emma felt the tension in the room spike again. She knew she couldn't leave these two alone in the same space. Most of the time, it made the air around them suffocating.
Not wanting the old man or Amelia to notice anything, especially since Elijah was her friend, Emma stepped in to smooth things over.
The old man had wanted Liam to go back to Sunrise Manor to recover, but Liam refused. Knowing the injury wasn't serious, the old man let it go.
Amelia, however, glared at Emma with undisguised anger, as if she wanted to burn a hole right through her. Emma ignored her completely. She had no time for people she despised.
They parted ways at the hospital entrance. The old man gave Emma a few words of advice before leaving with his cane. Amelia, despite her reluctance, had no choice but to follow.
"Do you think they'll catch that blue-eyed man soon?"
In the car, Emma sat beside Liam, her voice anxious.
"As long as he's still in Silverdale, he'll be caught."
Liam's promise felt like a soothing balm, and Emma relaxed a little.
They went home first. Liam told Emma to take the day off and rest, saying he had to go to the office. But Emma said she had already called in sick, so she didn't need to go to the company today.
Liam thought she just wanted to rest at home and didn't think much of it. It wasn't until he got to the office and heard Christopher's report that he realized Emma was in trouble.
That woman had clearly tried to keep it from him. But now that so many media outlets were involved, Liam had to step in.
"Handle this. And cancel Isabella's trip to the Milano exhibition. Tell her agent not to accept any new projects or endorsements. Only honor the ones already signed."
Liam gave the order to Christopher.