That evening, Emma accidentally bumped her injured arm while bathing. Even though it was wrapped in gauze, the pain still shot through her. She couldn't help recalling how Liam had bathed her before. Back then, she'd tried to avoid him, but he'd been so gentle, never letting a single drop of water splash on her hands.
Yet in just a few days, his attitude had done a complete one-eighty. Who said only women were hard to read? Men's minds were just as complicated. She could try to figure him out, but what was the point?
That night, Emma tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep at all. Her mind simply wouldn't obey her. She couldn't stop wondering what Liam was doing. Was he still busy with work in his study? Or had he already gone to bed?
Finally, her chest ached with frustration. She pulled the covers over her head and forced herself to close her eyes, counting sheep. One sheep, two sheep...
But the more she counted, the more awake she became. Emma felt like her head was about to split open.
Over at Sunrise Manor, Amelia had just finished watching her Korean drama. She went upstairs and stopped outside Liam's study. Light seeped through the crack in the door, along with the heavy smell of cigarette smoke. She wondered how many cigarettes her brother had smoked for the smell to reach all the way into the hallway.
Worried about Liam's health, Amelia went to the kitchen to brew a cup of calming tea. She'd just come out with it when she passed the living room and ran into Benjamin.
"Amelia, were you waiting up for me? And you made me tea?" Benjamin's tired face lit up when he saw her. He seemed to perk up a bit.
"No, it's for Liam. He came home today but he's still busy in his study. There's some left in the kitchen, though. You can have a servant pour you a cup." Amelia smiled sweetly at him.
But her smile stung Benjamin's eyes. So she'd stayed up this late and made calming tea in the kitchen—all for Liam? And he could only have whatever was left over.
Watching Amelia hurry up the stairs, Benjamin laughed bitterly and clenched his hands into tight fists.
"Liam, can I come in?" Amelia knocked softly on the study door. After hearing his reply, she pushed it open happily.
The smoke inside was thicker than she'd expected. Amelia looked at Liam, a half-smoked cigarette dangling from his fingers. The ashtray on the desk was already overflowing.
She couldn't help stepping forward, taking the cigarette from his hand, and stubbing it out in the ashtray.
"Liam, don't you know how bad smoking is for you? I don't remember you liking cigarettes before. Why are you smoking so much now? Even if you don't care about your own health, think about those of us who worry about you. I made you some calming tea. Please drink it, then go back to your room and rest, okay?" Amelia looked at him with concern.
She was wearing a purple pajama set. It wasn't revealing, but it still looked a bit alluring and mysterious. But Liam didn't even glance at her. He just took the tea she'd placed on the table and drank it.
"Alright, I've had the tea. Go back to your room and sleep. Don't worry about things here." Liam said patiently.
Amelia didn't want to leave at all. But seeing the cold look on Liam's face, she knew he was in a bad mood. No matter how nicely she spoke right now, he wouldn't listen.
Finally, she left reluctantly.
The light in the study stayed on all night. It wasn't until morning, when Liam left, that a servant dared to come in and turn it off.
Emma got up early the next morning with dark circles under her eyes. She skipped breakfast and took a taxi straight to the office. She thought she'd arrived early enough, but when she opened the office door, she found Liam already there.
"Make me a cup of coffee." Liam lifted his head, barely glancing at her before speaking in a commanding tone. He didn't ask her a single thing about her two days in Milano.
Emma felt a pang of discomfort, but she didn't say anything. She silently went to make his coffee.
As Emma placed the coffee cup on the table with her left hand, Liam watched her quietly. Then he took a sip and asked casually, "What happened to your right arm?"
Emma instinctively reached out and touched her arm. Then she said in a very indifferent tone, "It's nothing. I just scratched it."
Liam didn't show the concern he used to. But his eyes darkened, as if brewing a storm mixed with hail. So it was Elijah. Her arm was probably bruised from bumping into something while running away with him.
"Fine. Don't let it affect your work. Don't forget about the winter clothing launch in the next couple of days." His words were as cold as a sharp knife.
It sounded like a normal work order, but Emma found it incredibly ironic. Besides being her boss, wasn't he also her husband?
Oh, right. He wasn't really her husband. Even if they'd been intimate several times, they were just a fake couple with a contractual relationship.
What was she thinking? Did she expect Liam to care about her?
She'd been fooled by the illusion of his tenderness. No matter what, she would never be the one in his heart. Why humiliate herself?
"Don't worry. Since you trust me with such an important press conference, I'll definitely give you a satisfactory result." Emma's voice was cold.
"I hope so." Liam's tone was equally icy.
They stared at each other coldly, like a real pair of superiors and subordinates. There was no trace of affection between them.
Then, Emma picked up the planning documents and called Emilia to the Strategic Planning Department for a meeting. She didn't come out until lunchtime. This time, Liam didn't call her to go to lunch together.
Perhaps this was the best state, Liam thought lightly.
It was better than this. When the final moment came, it would be harder for him to let go. Now that some things had been confirmed, he should cut them off without hesitation.
Maybe their marriage had been wrong from the start. They were doomed to have no way forward...