"Good evening, miss. Do you have a reservation?"
As Emma Johnson stepped into the restaurant, a sharply dressed waiter approached her with a polite smile.
"Could you tell me where Mr. Liam Williams is seated?"
Emma met the waiter's gaze.
The waiter gave her a quick once-over. He knew Mr. Williams was already dining with a lady—he'd personally set their table. When had he arranged another guest?
But the woman before him was dressed elegantly, a Chanel bag dangling from her hand. He didn't dare underestimate her. He gave Emma the location.
Following the waiter's directions, Emma found Liam quickly.
It was the same woman from the photo. Her cat-like eyes sparkled with perpetual delight. Her skin wasn't the porcelain white most girls chased—it had a wild, captivating edge. So this was the type Liam liked.
She slowed her steps as she approached them.
Kennedy Taylor spotted Emma first. She studied the woman before her, her sharp memory quickly identifying who she was. A smile curled at the corner of her mouth. She shot Liam a look, tilting her chin toward the figure behind him.
Liam turned. His handsome face showed no trace of panic at being caught. His eyes were deep as a still pool, his voice cool and detached.
"What are you doing here?"
His tone carried displeasure, as if Emma had interrupted a pleasant dinner.
Emma took a moment to compose herself, forcing grace into her posture.
"What a coincidence. I was just having dinner with a friend here. I was about to leave when I saw you. Who's this? Aren't you going to introduce me?"
She smiled, her gaze fixed on Kennedy. Her smile sparkled like a diamond.
Kennedy felt a flicker of wariness. When an exceptional woman meets her equal—or someone even more formidable—her instincts sound an alarm. Her sixth sense told her this Emma Johnson was a rare beauty.
Her features were delicate, soft and clean. Her skin, like a baby's, was the kind Asian men adored.
Word had it she was only twenty-seven, yet she was the editor-in-chief of a famous fashion magazine. A sharp, ambitious woman.
Kennedy returned a polite smile, studying Emma with quiet eyes.
"Kennedy Taylor, the youngest daughter of Oasis Holdings. A doctoral candidate at Harvard Business School."
Liam's voice was slow, deliberate. Emma could hear the admiration in it. Of course. Only the best woman would catch Liam's eye.
The fairy tale of Cinderella and Prince Charming was nothing but a ridiculous joke in real life.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Taylor. I hope we can have dinner together sometime. I'll leave you two to your meal."
Liam didn't introduce Emma to Kennedy. Even without words, Kennedy surely knew who she was. From the clarity in Kennedy's eyes, Emma could tell. Kennedy shook her hand but didn't stand. The challenge in her gaze was buried deep in her smile.
As Emma turned away, she thought she heard her heart shatter. She couldn't help but laugh at herself. It wasn't a glass heart—how could it break so easily? It must have been her imagination.
Back at the apartment, Emma pulled out the agreement she and Liam had signed when they got married. She read it carefully, then picked up a pen and added a new clause.
Then she sat on the sofa, the TV off, waiting for Liam to return.
An hour later, Liam came back earlier than he had in days. She wondered if her appearance had bothered him. When he opened the door and walked in, Emma admired her own ability to smile at him.
"Why are you back so early? Aren't you afraid your girlfriend will be upset?"
"Were you waiting for me?"
Liam didn't answer her question. His deep eyes fixed on her, their light dim.
"Yes. I have something to discuss with you. After that, I can go to sleep."
Her relaxed demeanor made Liam's brows knit tightly. He stared at her face, searching for something.
Emma handed him the agreement from the coffee table.
"This is our original contract. I think it's missing something, so I added a clause. If there's no problem, it's settled."
Liam took the paper from her hand. His eyes scanned to the bottom, where it read: If either Party A or Party B finds a lover, the other party may move out of the residence to give them space and not interfere in their romantic life.
"Is this what you want?" His voice was low and cold. The air in the living room seemed to drop a few degrees.
"It's for your convenience. You can't always eat in restaurants. You could go to a hotel, but that's too expensive. I thought about it and decided it's better to move out of the apartment. It's much better than a hotel, isn't it?"
Emma smiled, as if she were discussing something utterly ordinary. She was being very understanding.
"Where will you go?"
"My parents' place. Don't worry, I have an excuse ready for them. Of course, if you want to end our marriage, I'll cooperate. After all, it's not good to keep Miss Kennedy Taylor waiting too long, right?"
Liam was silent for a moment.
"If that's what you want, then fine."
When Emma thought the silence would stretch forever, Liam finally spoke, his voice faint.
She watched his figure disappear from the living room. If that's what you want, she thought. I just said it for you.
That night, Emma lay in the dark, her eyes wide open, unable to sleep.
The next morning, she got up early and packed her suitcase. She rarely woke up early, so she finally caught a glimpse of Liam.
"Leave the suitcase. When you come home from work tonight, I'll arrange for someone to pick you up."
Before Emma could refuse, Liam was gone. She looked at the silver suitcase she'd packed. It would be hard to convince her parents if she went back in the morning. Anyway, there was a free driver at night—it was worth the wait.