"Sister-in-law, I know I'm not completely useless. I often feel like a failure. I realize I've lost my memory and have no work experience or skills. But I can learn. I can't just stay at home like this forever."
Amelia's words weren't wrong, but Emma also knew that the three men in the family wouldn't trust her to go out and work right now.
No one could predict if another accident might happen. Besides, Emma wasn't entirely sure herself.
"You could meet up with some old friends and chat. Maybe it'll help you remember something? I recall a friend of yours called a couple of days ago. She was your high school classmate, so you wouldn't feel awkward with her. You haven't kept in touch in recent years, but you could consider seeing her."
Emma offered the suggestion to Amelia.
"I guess that's my only option. I hope I can get my memory back soon, so people will stop treating me like a child."
Amelia pouted, looking distressed.
Emma found her expression amusing. To her, this was exactly how a child behaved.
"Sister-in-law, when will you and big brother come back? The house feels so empty without you."
Amelia dropped the previous topic and asked Emma.
Truthfully, Emma didn't know how to answer. After all, it was Liam's decision.
"The company has been incredibly busy. The apartment is just closer to the office. You can see how tired I've looked lately—it's because I've been swamped with work." Emma made up a casual excuse, the same one the old man had given Amelia. It was hard for Amelia to argue with that.
That evening, Liam drove Emma back. Amelia stood at the doorway, watching the car disappear into the distance. She remained there long after the vehicle was out of sight, until even its shadow was gone.
"Amelia, let's go inside. The weather is getting colder, and you just recovered from a cold. If you relapse, it'll be bad for your health."
Benjamin looked at Amelia's lost expression, his chest tightening. He tried to persuade her with a gentle voice.
Amelia seemed to snap back to reality and turned to look at him.
"Second brother, big brother seems to hate me a little. What should I do?"
Tears glistened in Amelia's eyes. Benjamin couldn't help pulling her into his arms.
"Amelia, is big brother's opinion really that important to you? Isn't it enough that I love you?"
But he didn't notice the flicker of hatred in Amelia's eyes.
"Of course it's wonderful that you care about me, second brother. But I don't want big brother to hate me."
Amelia pulled away from Benjamin's embrace, rubbed her eyes, and turned back toward Sunrise Manor. Watching her slender figure, Benjamin's eyes grew complicated, mixed with deep reluctance.
Even after losing her memory for years, as long as Amelia still remembered her big brother, she would always put him first in her heart. What would he have to do to take big brother's place?
After getting into the car, Emma leaned against the seat and drifted off to sleep, exhausted from the day.
Seeing this, Liam instinctively slowed down. The city was still noisy at night, but inside the car, it felt like a world of its own—a touch of warmth and quiet flowing like a hot spring.
When Emma opened her eyes, she found herself lying in bed in their apartment. It was already past midnight. How had she slept so deeply? She had no idea how Liam had carried her inside; she hadn't felt a thing.
She sat up, pushed back the covers, and noticed her pajamas had been changed. Her cheeks flushed. She got out of bed and walked to the living room. No lights were on, only the moonlight streaming through the window. A sliver of white light escaped from the crack in the study door.
Emma approached the study, glanced at the clock on the wall—it was past eleven. Liam must still be working. She wanted to persuade him to get some rest, but she was afraid of disturbing him. Finally, she decided to turn around and leave.
"Since you're standing there, why don't you come in?"
Liam's voice came from inside the study. She turned the doorknob and pushed the door open.
"Aren't you sleeping yet?" Emma looked at Liam with concern in her eyes.
"Come here."
Liam gazed at Emma in her white nightgown, her delicate collarbones faintly visible. Her graceful figure was subtly revealed, and her just-woken appearance was charming and lovely. Her slightly messy hair added a touch of pure allure.
Time had been unusually kind to this woman. At twenty-seven, she still looked like a high school student. When he had changed her pajamas earlier, his fingertips had brushed against her baby-soft skin, and he couldn't help but recall its silky texture. If not for watching her fall asleep, Liam would never have been so patient.
Now, seeing the little woman at the door, his gaze grew hotter. A surge of desire rushed through him again.
Emma walked over to Liam, thinking he had something to say to her. But as soon as she got close, he suddenly grabbed her slender hand and pulled her onto his lap.
Emma felt his reaction and her cheeks burned. She tried to get up, but he wouldn't allow it.
"Remember when we were in Silverdale?"
Liam's voice was filled with seduction, his eyes shimmering with a light that was addictive.
Hearing his hint, Emma thought of the embarrassing things they had done together at the hotel in Silverdale. She was too shy to find a way out of this situation. How could she possibly answer him?
"It's okay if you've forgotten. I'll give you a good reminder tonight."
As soon as Liam finished speaking, he lifted Emma into his arms. She looked at his handsome face, feeling her cheeks burn red and her heart pound violently, almost bursting. She wanted to refuse, to struggle, but step by step, she fell into the web of passion he had woven for her, unable to escape.
The next day, when Emma went to work, her waist was still sore. As she took the elevator to the conference room with Emilia, she felt a little weak and stumbled for a moment. If Emilia hadn't caught her in time, she might have sprained her wrist.