As for the phone call last night, he had only a vague recollection of it ringing in the living room for what felt like an eternity. But at that moment, every ounce of his focus was locked onto Emma Johnson. The woman was a blazing inferno, leaving him with no spare energy to answer Amelia White's call.
Forget Amelia White. Even if some major crisis erupted at the company, it would have to wait until things were settled.
"Then I'm relieved. I was just worried about you, big brother. What time will you be home tonight? I'll have the kitchen prepare all your favorite dishes for dinner."
Amelia's voice was filled with anticipation as she looked at Liam.
"I won't be coming back tonight. And don't bother sending lunch from tomorrow onward. I have client meetings every day at noon for the foreseeable future, so I won't be in the office."
Liam's words hit Amelia like a bucket of ice water, dousing the eager flame in her heart.
Her enthusiasm, so full of hope just moments ago, was instantly extinguished.
"Brother... are you really not coming back?"
Amelia asked, clinging to her last shred of hope.
"Yes. I'll come see you on Sunday."
Liam's words were meant to be a comfort. Though he didn't say it outright, Amelia had already guessed what must have happened last night. It must have eased the tension between her brother and sister-in-law.
Even though she had seen her brother acting coldly toward Emma today, and he hadn't even asked her to stay for lunch in his office, it was still different from before. In the past, he would never have said he wasn't returning to Sunrise Manor for the night.
The secretary entered, picked up the lunchbox, and carried it out. Amelia knew she couldn't stay any longer. Though she was reluctant, she didn't dare test her brother's patience.
As she was about to step into the elevator, the doors slid open, and she came face to face with Emma inside.
"Sister-in-law."
The moment Amelia saw Emma, the smile on her face stiffened slightly. Emma wasn't sure if something was wrong with her eyes, but for a split second, she felt as if Amelia's gaze held a hint of resentment.
But when she looked more closely, Amelia's smile was as sweet as ever.
Maybe I'm just imagining things, Emma thought.
"Sister-in-law, you haven't come home to see me in days. You'll be back this Sunday, right?"
Amelia looked at Emma, her face beaming with a sugary smile.
Emma didn't know how to answer. After all, Liam hadn't said he would go to Sunrise Manor. Besides, maybe Liam would go back tonight. So she just nodded vaguely, managing to brush it off.
As Emma was about to leave work that evening, Olivia Davis called her, hoping to invite her out for dinner. Emma agreed. She wanted to ask what had happened between Olivia and Ethan Davis.
"I'll drive you there."
It seemed Liam was genuinely worried that something might happen to Emma again, which would inevitably cause trouble for him. Emma didn't object. She simply accepted it by default.
After dropping Emma off at The Waterfront, Liam told her to call him after dinner. Anyone who didn't know better would think he was a devoted, twenty-four-hour husband. Only Emma knew that wasn't the case at all.
"Emma, over here."
Olivia was already seated at a table. Since Mia Lewis was out of town, it was just the two of them tonight.
"How were you yesterday? I specifically called Ethan and asked him to pick you up. I was afraid your parents would worry if they saw you in that state."
Emma told Olivia what had happened the day before. After all, Olivia had been half-conscious and half-drunk when she left.
"No wonder I woke up at Ethan's place."
Olivia said quietly. Emma's eyes widened. That wasn't what she had intended. She had thought Ethan would take Olivia to a hotel to rest for the night. She never expected Mr. Dawson to bring her straight home.
"He didn't do anything to you, did he?"
At the time, Emma had thought that the person who tied the bell should be the one to untie it, so she had called Ethan. But if Ethan had taken advantage of the situation and done something to Olivia, she would have felt truly guilty.
"For a woman who was hungover and unconscious, if he dared to do anything, do you think I'd be sitting here so calmly in front of you right now?"
Olivia said to Emma, her tone flat.
"That's good. I was really worried."
"Don't worry. He wouldn't dare touch me."
Olivia's words made Emma feel as if she had caught a hint of something more.
"Honestly, how did he offend you yesterday? What made you so angry?"
Emma finally gave in to her curiosity and asked Olivia.
"It was just a misunderstanding. It's nothing. I'm sorry for dragging you into it. I heard from Ethan. I never expected that KTV to be run by your husband's nemesis. Just thinking about the danger we could have been in last night makes me break out in a cold sweat. Luckily, your husband arrived in time. Otherwise, we'd both be done for." Olivia patted her chest, speaking with a hint of lingering fear.
Emma also thought it was terrifying. Thinking back to that moment, even if she had called Elijah Clark, as a doctor, he probably wouldn't have been able to calm things down so quickly. Although she and Liam had had a fierce fight, Emma really didn't have much confidence that Elijah could match Liam's ability to take down five or six men in that room in the shortest possible time.
And in such a brutal way.
"It's all over now. I'd better not think about it anymore. Anyway, that KTV has been shut down, and those people are in prison."
Emma comforted Olivia.
"But I heard Ethan say that the mastermind behind it all, William Thompson, might still get out. It's really infuriating. Ethan said he would never let William Thompson off the hook."
Thinking about the way Ethan had said that to her at the time, Olivia felt he had never seemed so charming.
"He's always been black and white. He's been in prison twice before. It just goes to show that some people aren't so easy to break. I just hope that God has a long memory and lets him get his comeuppance soon."
Emma knew that recently, Liam had been teaching William Thompson a lesson.
"Well, I can only hope so."
After dinner, Emma called Liam. He told her to wait at the door; he would drive over soon.
"Your husband is very considerate of you, Emma. You're really lucky."
Olivia said to Emma, her voice full of envy. Faced with her friend's admiration, Emma could only smile. She wondered if Olivia would be crying with her after she and Liam divorced next year.