Admitting fault to Liam and dreaming? Not a chance. But the look in her mother's eyes made Emma feel an overwhelming pressure. She realized, deep down, that coming home had been a terrible mistake.
If she were back in her apartment, she'd just give Liam the silent treatment. Ignore him completely. Treat him like he didn't exist.
But here, under her parents' watchful gaze, ignoring Liam wasn't an option. If she dared to, her parents would lecture her from head to toe.
So, Emma chose a middle ground. She wouldn't apologize to Liam—she had done nothing wrong. But in front of her parents, she wouldn't be rude to him either.
At dinner, Liam stayed, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Emma watched her parents treat him like a beloved son-in-law, constantly piling food onto his plate. She felt like an outsider in her own home. Liam, however, seemed oblivious to her resentment. He played the perfect, devoted husband, even putting food on her plate.
Emma watched his flawless smile and wanted to throw her chopsticks right at his face. He was infuriating.
"Stay here tonight. Wei, you're going home with your husband tomorrow, okay? Stop being so stubborn and willful."
Faced with her mother's advice, Emma forced a weak smile. Sophia left the room, satisfied.
The moment the door clicked shut, Emma grabbed a pillow and hurled it at Liam.
But even with all her strength, it barely fazed him. It was like a mosquito bite.
"Liam, since you hate me so much you got me fired, why do you even want me to come back with you? Aren't you afraid we'll just drive each other crazy?"
"I'd rather have you where I can see you than have you running off on your own. You know I hate things I can't control."
Liam reached out and gently lifted her chin, leaning in until his nose almost touched hers.
"You're despicable."
Emma's voice was sharp with anger.
Liam's eyes turned cold. Before she could say another word, his lips crashed down on hers, silencing her.
He kissed her like a wild animal, taking what he wanted without asking. He easily pried open her teeth, his cool tongue sweeping through her mouth, tasting her sweetness. It was like a storm, consuming her completely.
Emma slapped his chest, but he grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head. She was trapped, unable to move.
Her eyes were wide with fury. Why was she always the one at a disadvantage with him?
She hated feeling powerless. So, she bit down hard.
The taste of blood filled her mouth. Liam pulled back, frowning. A thin line of blood, his blood, stained her lips.
He hadn't expected her to be so ruthless.
Just when Emma thought he would let go, a cold smile curled his lips. The next second, he pushed her down onto the bed. He leaned over her, his body covering hers completely.
"Liam, this is my parents' house. They're right outside. If you dare to keep going, I'll make you regret it."
Emma watched him pull off his tie and toss it aside. He unbuttoned his black shirt, one button at a time, revealing his perfect abs and flawless skin.
Liam smiled, a dark glint in his eyes.
"Oh, really? Then go ahead and scream. Do you think my in-laws will think I'm forcing you, or that we're just playing around?"
"Liam, are you even capable of being reasonable?"
Emma had no choice but to retreat. She was pinned to the bed, completely helpless.
Liam laughed softly, his voice low and smooth in her ear.
"With you, I've never wanted to be reasonable."
The next second, his lips were on hers again. He didn't care about the wound on his lip. He forced her mouth open, making her follow his lead.
Then his cold lips moved down, trailing over her collarbone. He nibbled and sucked, making her wince in pain. She was sure he was getting revenge. When he finally pulled away, he ran his finger over the dark mark he'd left on her skin. A satisfied gleam shone in his eyes.
It was like a brand. A mark that belonged only to him.
When she felt his weight lift slightly, she struggled free and scrambled away from him as fast as she could.
Liam didn't seem bothered. Her escape was only temporary. He got up and took off his shirt. The scars from the gunshot on his shoulder blade were still visible. As she watched him walk into the bathroom, a flicker of pain crossed Emma's eyes.
By the time Liam came out, Emma still hadn't managed to sort out her feelings.
"I'll go back to the apartment with you tomorrow. But I won't sleep with you anymore. I'll find a job and support myself. From now on, we keep our distance. When the contract expires in a few months, we'll get a divorce. That's it."
Emma laid out her decision. A flash of anger crossed Liam's eyes, but the smile on his lips was charming. Emma didn't realize that the more charming a cold man seemed, the more dangerous he was.
"You won't find a job."
His tone was light, like a judge passing a sentence.
"I'll prove you wrong."
Emma looked at him defiantly. Even if this man could control the whole city with one hand, he couldn't cover everything. There had to be a loophole.
"How about a bet?"
Liam stepped forward and casually twisted a strand of her hair around his finger. He leaned in and gently kissed her red lips.
"What bet?"
She pulled her hair back, forcing herself to ignore the frantic beating of her heart. She looked at him with wary eyes.
"A week. If you can't find a job, you come work for me at Pinnacle Corporation as my personal assistant. If you can work with me for six months, I'll let you choose any company under Pinnacle to manage yourself. But if you can't last six months, you have to promise me three things. What do you think? Most people would jump at such a good deal."