After dinner, under the elders' urging, Emma Johnson didn't know how to refuse without being rude, so she walked out to see Liam Williams off. Charlie, being clever, didn't follow.
They walked in silence the whole way. Emma's mind wandered, and she found herself counting the trees along the path.
"Emma."
"Yes?" Startled by Liam's sudden voice, she looked up at him. If she hadn't just been caught doing it, she wouldn't have believed she'd stoop to such a boring thing at her age.
"If you're free tomorrow, bring Charlie and let's go hiking." Liam suggested.
Emma's smile was light as a cloud, elusive and impossible to grasp.
"We just took over New York Fashion Magazine. There's still a lot to handle at the company. We've already delayed too much today. We have to rush back to the office tomorrow."
"Alright. But you don't look well. Make sure you get some rest."
Liam's words made Emma uncomfortable. She wanted to use the chance to turn back.
As they reached the entrance of Sunset Community, Emma felt something was off.
"Didn't you drive here?"
Liam pursed his lips awkwardly. "I asked Christopher to drive the car back."
Emma was speechless. So he'd planned this all along.
"But I don't have a car either."
Liam froze.
"Where's yours?"
"The tire must have been slashed."
"How?"
"Right outside Ethan Davis's private mansion. Ask him yourself."
"There should be surveillance footage. Let him check it later."
"No need. It's already slashed. Can I slash it back?"
"But we should at least find out who did it."
They chatted as they walked, and somehow they'd already reached the distant bridge.
"Let's rest a moment." Liam noticed the sweat on Emma's forehead and suggested they stop.
Emma paused, leaning on the bridge railing. She felt the wind from the river and savored it. She couldn't remember the last time she'd enjoyed something so simple. The city was still dazzling in the darkness.
This pause made her realize she'd walked this far with him without even noticing. Alarmed, she straightened up from the railing.
"You must have things to do. Better take a car back, or have Christopher pick you up. I'll head back first."
With that, Emma turned to leave.
"Emma."
"Yes?" She looked back at him, puzzled.
"Goodbye."
"Oh. You too." She answered hastily, turning away.
Staring at the bright lights, Emma felt dazed. How had she walked such a distance with him, chatting the whole way?
It had gone against her original intentions without her even realizing it.
She'd just consider it a small reward for him saving her today. Emma thought this as she slowly made her way home.
But she still couldn't figure out who had called the gang that deliberately kidnapped her today.
Luckily, Liam had happened to pass by. Otherwise, she couldn't imagine what her situation would be now.
Walking alone, the road felt long. Emma didn't know when she finally got home.
Sophia and James Johnson were watching TV in the living room. Emma went straight to find Charlie.
"Charlie." She called as she pushed the door open.
Charlie was sitting by the computer, his hands moving quickly over the keyboard. The moment he heard the door and Emma's voice, the lines of code on the screen vanished instantly. The black background disappeared too, replaced by a cartoon playing.
"Watching cartoons? Why don't you go watch with your grandparents in the living room?" Emma approached and asked.
So close!
Charlie's small brow furrowed slightly. He bit his lip for a moment, then let out a relieved breath.
Good thing she didn't find out, or he'd be in trouble.
When Charlie turned his head, his face shifted from a panicked expression to a shallow, charming smile. The dimples on his cheeks were warm enough to melt a heart.
"Grandma and Grandpa were watching the news. Charlie didn't want to disturb them, so he came in here."
"Good boy." Emma ruffled Charlie's hair and sat down to watch with him.
"How did it go with Dad?" Charlie couldn't help but ask, tilting his head with a gossipy grin. His smile grew wider as he studied Emma.
Emma froze, not expecting Charlie to ask her such a question.
"Nothing much. I walked him a bit and came back."
Charlie curled his lips, clearly not buying it.
"You can fool kids with that, but not me. If something's up, you're not telling me."
Emma looked at Charlie in surprise. "You are a kid."
"I'm not anymore." Charlie argued.
"Where do you get these ideas, you little devil?" Emma gently patted Charlie's head, not hard, her touch full of affection.
Charlie rubbed his head discontentedly. "If nothing was up, why would he come back so late?"
Emma had no choice but to give in to the little rascal in front of her.
She didn't know if it was genetics or if she'd taught him wrong from the start. This little devil had been different from other kids ever since he started babbling.
She couldn't tell if he was just smart, or if his IQ was something else entirely—almost abnormal.
...
In the blink of an eye, Charlie was back at Sunrise Manor. In the morning, Emma went to New York Fashion Magazine to handle things after Liam picked Charlie up.
Just as Emma was swamped with work, her phone suddenly rang.
Liam?
Thinking Charlie was still at Sunrise Manor, she wondered why Liam was calling. With a headache, Emma picked up the phone and answered.
"Hello, what's up?"
"Emma, Charlie and I are on the mountain in the suburbs. Would you like to join us?"
Hearing his extremely gentle but magnetic voice, along with the whistling wind, Emma couldn't help but shiver. But she wasn't going to be fooled by this man again.
"There's a lot to do at the company. You two have fun. I won't come." She replied simply, then hung up and put the phone aside.
"Chairman, this is the information you asked me to organize." Matthew Cole knocked three times, as per Emma's rules, and pushed the door open.
"Put it there. I'll look at it later." Emma was still studying a document in her hand. She didn't have time for Matthew. She didn't even lift her head, just answered casually and continued.
Matthew didn't say much. He simply withdrew from the office.