A sweet smile spread across Charlie's face as he looked at Olivia. His eyes sparkled like tiny stars. "Auntie really did cook for us. It's not as good as Mom's cooking, but it's still pretty good. And Auntie didn't ride the carousel with us earlier. She must be feeling down. I'll just stop talking about her."
Olivia let out a quiet sigh of relief. Seeing that Charlie had already started making excuses for her, she felt a bit better, realizing she had completely won over the little guy.
When Liam walked over and saw Olivia and Ethan together, he didn't look surprised at all. Perhaps because of Charlie, Ethan noticed for the first time that the usual sharp, cold light in Liam's eyes had faded, replaced by something much gentler.
"Well, well," Ethan said teasingly. "Looks like love and family are really working their magic on you."
Olivia shot Ethan a glare. "What are you talking about? Her getting back together with Liam? Absolutely impossible. I'll bet my entire year's salary on it. As for Charlie, Emma only sent him over because she felt sorry for Liam. It's just temporary, a little consolation."
Hearing Olivia's words, a hint of amusement flickered in Liam's eyes. He smiled lightly but didn't think it was that simple. He knew winning Emma back would be incredibly difficult, but as long as he put in the effort, he was confident he could succeed. "Since Miss Olivia is so certain, why don't we make a bet?"
"Bet on what?" Olivia looked at Liam as if just standing there talking to him was already doing him a huge favor.
"If I can get back together with Emma..."
"You mean you dare to call her Emma? Have you forgotten what you put her through before? Wanting to get back together with her is nothing but a fantasy." Olivia was trying hard to control her emotions, but hearing Liam mention Emma made her furious.
"You're so sure. So what if we make a bet?" Liam's expression was calm, almost smug.
"Fine, let's bet. I'll bet all the money in my bank account. Why don't you show some real sincerity?" Olivia smiled smugly. There was no way Emma would change her mind, so she might as well make some easy money.
"Name your terms, Miss Olivia. I'll bet half of Pinnacle Corporation's shares," Liam said calmly.
"Whoa! Are you out of your mind?"
Ethan shouted in surprise when he heard Liam's words. He knew Emma's personality—she was as stubborn as a mule, and her pride was everything. She had suffered so much at Sunrise Manor before, tricked by Liam into marrying him. There was no way she would ever come back. Half of Pinnacle's shares couldn't just be transferred without causing a massive shock.
On the other side, Amelia's beautiful eyes widened, her heart burning with jealousy and hatred. She had thought her brother would just get over it eventually. If he couldn't win Emma back, he would give up soon enough. But now it seemed he was dead set on winning that woman.
Once the bet was made, either she would have to hand her brother over to someone else, or she would have to watch half of Pinnacle's shares fall into that woman's hands. The fire in Amelia's heart burned hotter.
"Brother, I think you should be more careful. Half of Pinnacle's shares—how can you just throw them away like that?" Amelia tried to reason with him.
"I've made up my mind." Liam's eyes were cold and resolute.
"But... what will Father say?" Amelia played her last card, using Henry to remind Liam of the consequences.
"Do you think I can't win Emma back?" Liam's voice was icy, so oppressive that even Amelia, stubborn as she was, dared not speak another word.
Half the shares, fine. In the end, she could find a way to get them back. Even if they were really lost, it wouldn't matter to her.
Amelia's hands clenched tightly behind her back. Her brother was so determined. It seemed she would have to do something.
There was absolutely no way that woman Emma was stepping foot into the Williams family again!
Listening to Liam's words, Olivia was stunned. She hadn't expected such a big bet. She just wanted to humiliate Liam, to teach him a lesson about overconfidence. But she never thought she would cut half of Pinnacle Corporation with one stroke. It made her feel a little giddy.
But such a heavy bet... in the end, she didn't dare. Maybe she should change the terms.
"How long do we have?"
Liam thought for a moment. "Until I give up."
"How can that be? That's cheating," Olivia said, frowning at him. "If you never admit defeat for the rest of your life, you'll never give up."
"Liam isn't the type to cheat. Trust him," Ethan spoke up for his friend. After all, they had been brothers for years. He still hoped Liam could find his own happiness. If possible, Emma getting back together with him would be far better than those women who were only after the Williams family's money and fame.
But the road ahead was long and bumpy.
Ethan shook his head secretly. He didn't know if Emma and Liam could cross that barrier.
Just as Olivia and Ethan were about to leave, Olivia reluctantly put the little boy in her arms down on the ground. Then she heard a sentence that hit her like a thunderbolt.
Charlie, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly whispered in Olivia's ear, "Auntie Olivia, you're going to have to pay up."
Olivia's face turned black as she stared down at the little devil on the ground.
Emma had been busy at New York Fashion Magazine all day. She had just taken over, and there was so much to do. She was so exhausted she could barely stand. When she finally dragged herself home, she found that Liam hadn't sent Charlie back yet. Her heart felt empty.
Thinking about Charlie, Emma had no appetite at all. She grabbed a few random excuses about having things to do and went straight to her room. Her parents really missed Charlie too. They knew their daughter wasn't used to being without him—Charlie had never been away for five years, and suddenly he was gone.
After washing the dishes, Sophia knocked on the door and walked into Emma's room. "Sweetheart, two days have passed. It's eight o'clock in the evening now. When is Liam sending Charlie back?"
Emma shook her head. She didn't know when Liam would send Charlie back, and she didn't want to call him to ask.
But at the other end of Sunrise Manor, Henry thought Liam had already sent Charlie back. Instead, Charlie was still happily watching TV on the sofa at home, so cheerful it made Henry worried. He asked Liam, "It's so late. Wouldn't it be bad if you don't send Charlie back?"
After all, this was the first time Charlie had come home. What if Emma wasn't happy and didn't let Charlie come again?
On the other side, Liam was delighted, a hidden smile in his eyes.