"What? You're signing up for a cooking class?"
Olivia Davis stared, utterly dumbfounded, looking at her friend who was calmly sipping her coffee. She looked as shocked as if she'd just heard that Mars had crashed into Earth or an iceberg had sunk the Atlantic.
"I suddenly got really interested in cooking, so I enrolled in a culinary training course at noon. Two classes every weekend."
Emma Johnson watched Olivia's mouth hang open, wide enough to fit an egg. She turned to Mia Lewis, who was sitting on the bed, and asked, "Is it really that strange for me to learn how to cook?"
Mia shook her head, but the doubt flickering in her eyes gave her away. That stung a little. But then Emma thought about Amelia White's cooking skills—the woman could probably whip up a feast fit for an emperor. Spurred on by that competitive spark, she held firm to her decision.
"Yunwei... I think you've changed," Mia said slowly, breaking the silence.
"Changed?"
"Yeah. You used to put your career first, always. You kept your hands clean from anything domestic. Cooking was something housewives did, not your thing. But now... you're different."
Emma was taken aback. She hadn't realized it until Mia pointed it out. When had she started doing things she would have never considered before?
"This is what marriage does to you. Ah, who would have thought the ultimate workaholic, Emma Johnson, would one day willingly step down from her pedestal? But honestly, I think this change is good. After all, your husband's status isn't exactly shabby. You don't need to spend more time at work, but you can't just..."
Olivia's words made Emma want to argue, but her own actions left her speechless.
She wanted to say, No, that's not me. But the words just wouldn't come out.
...
"Class reunion?"
At dinner, Emma looked across the table at the man opposite her, her voice laced with surprise.
"Tomorrow evening at seven. I'll drive you to work in the morning and pick you up right after. No need to take your own car."
Liam Williams's voice was calm, but Emma was anything but.
"How can you drop something this important on me at the last minute? There's no time!"
She shot up from her chair, nearly knocking it over, and rushed straight to the bedroom. She flung open the closet doors, frantically searching for something suitable to wear tomorrow night.
For the first time, Emma felt like she didn't have enough clothes. She had plenty of work outfits, but none of them were right for a casual party. And with time so tight, she'd be swamped with magazine work during the day. When would she even find a moment to buy something new?
"I've already had an evening dress prepared for you. You can change into it after work. It's just a high school reunion. No need to get so worked up."
Liam had been standing at the bedroom door, watching her frantic search for a while before he finally spoke.
"How can I not be nervous? What if I embarrass you in front of your friends?"
The words slipped out before Emma could stop them. For some reason, Liam seemed to like what she said.
She felt a presence behind her. Before she could turn around, a kiss landed on the top of her head. Then, a pair of strong, long arms wrapped around her. The faint scent of his cologne filled the air, making the atmosphere thick and intoxicating, silently seducing her.
A wave of numbness spread from her scalp down to her entire body.
"Don't worry. I'll handle everything."
Liam's low voice was full of magnetism, and Emma's ears instantly turned bright red. Liam saw the deep heat flickering in his own eyes, and soon, he was guiding her towards the bed.
It all happened so suddenly, yet so naturally. Until late into the night, when Emma, with only the last shred of strength left, was carried to the bathroom by Liam to wash up. She was practically asleep in his arms.
It seemed this man was truly bloodthirsty at his core. When he wanted something, he wanted to devour her whole. Emma thought helplessly. If there was a next life, she would never get involved with a man who came from the special forces.
His stamina and endurance were incredible. She just couldn't keep up.
The reunion was held at the five-star Plaza Hotel, owned by the Pinnacle Corporation. Emma wore a new floral dress and a pair of silver high heels, all custom-ordered by Liam. She looked like a fairy.
The moment she stepped into the hotel lobby, she drew a lot of attention.
She figured Liam must like seeing women dressed up this way, or maybe he just thought this style suited her. Otherwise, he wouldn't keep choosing the same kind of clothes for her. It did make her look much younger, though. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say she could pass for a high school student.
Most of Liam's high school classmates were either wealthy or powerful, with a few rare self-made success stories. In short, it was a gathering of the elite.
Emma felt a little nervous. This was different from the cocktail parties she'd attended with Liam before. These were his old classmates. She felt like she was being examined and graded.
But surprisingly, everyone was very friendly. Several of the women, who were already mothers, even invited her to sit with them. The only problem was the topic of their conversation, which made Emma feel a bit awkward.
Wasn't this supposed to be a gathering of elites? Shouldn't they be talking about careers? Instead, why were they discussing how old their babies were, how much formula they drank every day, and how naughty their kids were that they made the tutors cry?
One of the women might have noticed Emma's discomfort, so she kindly handed her a glass of orange juice. Emma shot her a grateful look. But the woman's next words made her feel like she couldn't sit still.
"I heard you're not pregnant yet, so you'd better stick to orange juice. The preparation period is very important, you know. You should be mindful of what you consume. After all, you'll be carrying the next heir of the Williams family."
As soon as the woman finished speaking, everyone's attention finally focused on Emma.
They all started expressing their concern, kindly bombarding her with advice on how to prepare for pregnancy and all sorts of taboos to avoid. Whether Emma could remember any of it was another matter.
It was all a bit overwhelming for her.
Finally, when they got home that evening, Liam looked at the woman beside him and couldn't help but find it amusing.
"What did they talk to you about? You still look like you've been hit by a truck."
"I learned a lot tonight. A whole new, unknown world has been unveiled to me. It made me realize there are so many profound realms I've never even understood."
"Oh? Like what?"
"Forget it. You're better off not knowing. It's women's talk."