No one knew about the two people deep in conversation inside the study. At that moment, Amelia White stood frozen at the doorway, biting her lower lip so hard it turned white. Her hands clenched into tight fists, and one of her perfectly manicured nails snapped, leaving deep, crescent-shaped marks across her palm. She was so close—just a little more pressure, and the thin skin would have broken, drawing blood.
Emma Johnson, you're impossible to get rid of.
Her beautiful almond-shaped eyes flickered with a venomous light.
Late into the night, Emma Johnson sat at the dining table in the living room, organizing the acquisition process for New York Fashion Magazine on her laptop. But her thoughts kept drifting. She stared at the screen, yet her mind replayed the image of meeting Liam Williams at the entrance of Sunset Community just before dinner.
She kept telling herself it was nothing more than a terrible nightmare. But that ridiculous excuse crumbled within seconds.
"Mommy, why aren't you asleep yet?"
A soft voice broke through her daze. Emma looked up and saw a little boy in cheerful pajamas rubbing his eyes, standing at the bedroom door. His voice was gentle and sleepy—he had woken up and come looking for her.
She couldn't help but walk over, taking Charlie's hand and leading him back to the room. She tucked him into bed, then wrapped her arms around him, trying to coax him back to sleep.
"Mommy, don't you want to be with Daddy?"
Charlie suddenly spoke from within her embrace.
Emma's entire body stiffened. After a long pause, she let out a faint hum.
"Mommy won't be with him. But if you want to see him, Mommy will arrange it regularly. You like him a lot, don't you?"
Her voice was a little hoarse. She knew children were innocent. She couldn't keep Charlie from seeing Liam just because of her own pain. This was the conclusion she had reached after thinking all night. She would allow Liam to see his son occasionally—but never take him away permanently. That was the most she could tolerate. And it was also because she worried about Charlie's feelings.
"Charlie doesn't hate him."
Charlie leaned against his mother's warm, fragrant arms and closed his eyes. In his heart, he wanted to keep her close. But the boy, wise beyond his years, said nothing more to Emma. He simply lay in her arms and soon fell asleep.
Emma looked down at the sleeping child. She could see that Charlie truly liked Liam. Blood was thicker than water—how could that natural bond ever be denied? What a sensible child, still trying to protect her feelings by saying such things.
The more she thought about it, the more her heart ached for her son. Even if she held a grudge against Liam, she shouldn't let it affect her child.
Earlier that evening, after dinner, her father had spoken to her privately. He had advised her that Charlie was, after all, Liam's son. If Liam truly wanted to acknowledge his son, they couldn't really refuse.
Even though James Johnson had been shot by Liam—and would have died on the spot if the bullet hadn't missed—he didn't hold much of a grudge. He no longer recognized Liam as his son-in-law, but from another perspective, he understood Liam's actions back then. Besides, Liam had later taken a bullet for him. James felt that evened things out.
Emma's heart was tangled with conflicting emotions. Finally, she nodded silently in her father's heart. She had made her biggest concession.
The next morning, Henry Williams couldn't wait to visit Emma's house in person. Emma's parents didn't stop him from seeing Charlie. Watching the old man hold Charlie in his arms with such excitement, Emma felt a mix of emotions. She didn't know what to say.
"Can we talk?"
Emma looked at Liam and gestured for him to follow her into the room.
"I'll let you acknowledge your son. But he was born in October, so I'll send him to you only two days a week. The rest of the time, Charlie stays with me. If you don't agree, we'll have to settle this in court."
When Emma repeated these words to Liam, her voice trembled with nervousness. She knew this man too well. Whatever he wanted, he always got. If Liam refused, even taking him to court might not work in her favor. And in the end, she might have to take Charlie somewhere far away.
Liam looked at the guarded woman before him and felt a helpless smile rise in his heart. Was he really such a monster?
"Fine."
Without a second's hesitation, Liam nodded slowly. From the moment Emma allowed him and his father into the house, he had already known—even if she hated him, she would still let their son see him. He understood how hard that decision was for her. And he was grateful that, at least, it was a good start. He had already acknowledged his son. Could she really hate him forever?
"My precious grandson—I never thought you'd grow up so big."
The old man had never been so emotional. His eyes turned red. He thought of all the years he had waited, the disappointments he had endured from his eldest son. Finally, God had given him some comfort. But his grandson was already five years old. He had missed so many years of his life.
"Charlie, this is your grandfather. Call him Grandpa."
Compared to Sophia Johnson, who turned her head coldly to the side, James Johnson was generous enough to let Charlie acknowledge his grandfather. It had been a few years since they last met. His in-laws looked older now, with more gray at their temples. James felt a pang of pity.
"Grandpa."
Charlie called out obediently.
"Oh, oh..."
The old man's voice trembled with excitement. If his old comrades-in-arms had seen him now, they would have doubted whether this was still Henry Williams. After all, he had never been this emotional even with his own son.
Emma, who had just finished her agreement with Liam, walked out and looked at the old man with mixed feelings. No matter what Liam had done to her, the old man had always treated her well. So when it came to his grandson, Emma didn't feel much resistance.
After the acknowledgment, Emma agreed to let the old man take Charlie back to stay for a few days. This was also agreed upon by James Johnson. Sophia Johnson opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end, she swallowed her words.
"Grandma, Charlie is going to Grandpa's house for a few days. When Charlie comes back, Grandma will make delicious food for Charlie, right?"
Charlie slipped on his little slippers, padded over to Sophia, placed his small hand on her knee, and said softly. Sophia finally managed a faint smile.