Emilia Clark was in the bedroom. Her face twisted with worry the moment she spotted Emma Johnson. A sharp cry escaped her lips when she saw Emma's torn clothes.
"I have no idea what happened. Honestly, I don't. One moment I was fine, the next I was in danger. It's nothing serious, just a scratch on my arm."
Emma couldn't make sense of it herself. How could she possibly explain it to Emilia?
"Sister Emma, did you run into a thief? They're everywhere around here. Should we call the police?"
Emilia's face was pale with fear.
"The police probably won't catch them. Let me just change first."
Emma's voice was weak. She walked into the dressing room and swapped her ripped coat and blouse. She couldn't help thinking how disastrous this Milan trip had turned out. She felt like she'd won a lottery ticket to go home. After changing, she remembered she hadn't called Elijah Clark.
She and Elijah had planned to go to the opera tonight. But now, in this state, she was in no mood for it. She had to call him and apologize.
Luckily, he'd be back in China soon. She could make it up to him by treating him to dinner once the winter fashion show was over.
"Hello."
The phone rang for a while before Elijah picked up. His voice sounded tired—probably from operating on Mayor Reed. Emma figured that even if she hadn't been hurt tonight, Elijah should be resting at home anyway.
"Elijah, I need to pack up tonight. I'm so sorry, but I can't make it to the opera. You sound exhausted. Get some rest. We'll meet up when you're back in China."
Emma's voice was filled with apology and concern.
"Alright. You rest too. See you in China."
Elijah seemed genuinely worn out. Normally, he'd chat with her for ages, until she got bored. But today, he not only forgave her for canceling without a fuss, but barely said a word before hanging up.
Emma felt like this Milan trip was full of regrets. She'd catch the opera another time.
"What a coincidence. You're badly wounded, racking your brain to get out of tonight's opera, and Emma calls you on her own. You two are really destined for each other."
On the operating table, Adrian Frost watched the medical team extract the bullet from Elijah's abdomen. He shook his head and spoke to Elijah. He didn't mention what he'd done today.
Despite the anesthetic, the cold instruments against his torn skin made Elijah sweat. He looked like he'd just climbed out of a pool.
He closed his eyes, ignoring Adrian's words. His mind was on what had happened at the secret trading spot today.
He'd been close to signing an arms deal. But in the end, the domestic and Italian armed special police had ruined it. If he hadn't reacted quickly, and if Adrian hadn't arrived in time, he'd have been exposed and arrested. It wouldn't have been just a bullet in the abdomen.
He'd have to stay in Italy for a while to recover.
A fierce determination burned in his heart. He was unwilling to accept this, but he had to admit Adrian was right. He and Emma always seemed to miss the perfect moment. They were truly star-crossed.
But even if fate didn't give him a chance, he'd still fight for it. He'd believed in the cold jungle law since he was a child. You could only rely on yourself. He'd chosen to let go once.
This time, he wouldn't let go, no matter what.
Emma and Emilia returned to China, but Liam Williams didn't send anyone to pick them up. Emma thought he'd forgotten. She figured he was too busy lately, so she didn't call him. Anyway, taking a taxi was cheap and convenient.
She first put Emilia in a taxi and sent her home. Then she took another taxi back to the apartment she shared with Liam.
Liam wasn't home. Emma thought about it and decided to call him to let him know.
Liam's voice sounded cold when he answered. When Emma told him she was back in the city, he just said "I know" flatly.
"Eat dinner on your own tonight. It's late. I'll stay at Sunrise Manor and won't come back."
Liam hung up without waiting for a reply. Emma stood there, stunned, staring at her phone. She couldn't understand why he'd suddenly hung up.
A dull pain throbbed in her arm. For some reason, a wave of grievance washed over her. How could he do this? She'd been on a business trip for the company. He hadn't even prepared dinner for her. It was past eight o'clock. She couldn't go to the market to buy food herself.
Besides, she couldn't cook. And since he was going to Sunrise Manor, why couldn't he let her come too? There were servants there. They could cook. It would be better than buying food outside.
Emma felt a tightness in her chest, but she couldn't figure out why.
She just felt that Liam's temper was like the weather—unpredictable. She couldn't stand it.
At Sunrise Manor, Liam was sitting in the living room watching TV with Amelia White. She'd just heard what he said to Emma.
"Brother, since sister-in-law is back, why don't you let her come home?"
Amelia looked at Liam with her beautiful apricot eyes, confused and puzzled.
"Watch your TV. This isn't something you should ask about."
Liam didn't answer Amelia. His tone was cold. Amelia bit her lip and had to turn back to her Korean drama.
Unable to sit in the living room any longer, Liam went upstairs to his study. He took out a pack of cigarettes and started smoking one after another. The boredom in his heart was almost driving him crazy. Thinking about what Alexander Wilson had told him, he felt that his decision to let Emma go to Milan had been a mistake.
Although Alexander hadn't seen Emma at the scene, Elijah had escaped, and Emma was probably with him. What was he going to do with this woman?
Emma looked at the cold, empty apartment. It felt like it had lost its warmth. But she was starving. She had no choice but to order pizza.
Sitting alone at the dining table in the open living room, Emma ate the pizza. It filled her stomach, but she couldn't taste it at all.