After spending some time in the office, Matthew Cole realized that the punishment Emma Johnson had given him wasn't a punishment at all. It felt more like a reward. It was a massive opportunity, a chance for him to thrive. At least now he could have a fresh start doing the work that truly suited him, the work he actually wanted to do.
He had no idea how Emma had figured out he was perfect for this job during their brief time together that day. She hadn't blamed him for his mistakes. Instead, she had handed him this incredible opportunity. Matthew felt nothing but gratitude and deep admiration for her.
Just as Emma finished reading the materials in her hand and picked up the documents Matthew had brought, her phone rang again.
The moment she saw the caller ID, her face darkened completely.
"Hello, what is it now?" she answered, only to realize after speaking that she had been so flustered she hadn't even pressed the answer button.
After fumbling for a moment, she gave up and tossed the phone aside.
When it rang again, she hit the mute button without a second thought.
"Du..." After a few seconds of silence, her desk phone started ringing.
Emma had long since memorized Liam Williams's number. Seeing it flash on the screen, she frowned and yanked the cord out of the wall.
Why had she never noticed Liam had the potential to be a serial caller?
Just as she finally relaxed a little and finished her work, stretching comfortably in her chair, a knock came at the door.
"Come in." Her voice was calm but tired as she leaned back.
"Chairman, the front desk called for you. They said the young master was injured and asked you to call back."
Injured?
Emma's heart dropped.
Who was calling?
"They said it was Liam Williams. They tried to transfer the call, but couldn't get through, so they came up to deliver the message."
Emma suddenly remembered she had just unplugged the phone line.
Without a second thought, she grabbed her phone and rushed out.
As she walked through the lobby toward the parking lot, she dialed Liam's number while starting the car.
"Liam, where are you now?"
"How did Charlie get hurt?"
"Is it serious?"
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" She frowned, gripping the steering wheel. Thinking about how she hadn't answered her phone earlier, she bit her lower lip in frustration. "You should have texted me."
When Liam said he had sent a message, Emma realized she had turned her phone to silent. She bit her lip harder, annoyed at herself. "I know. I'm coming now. Wait for me."
When Emma finally arrived, out of breath, she stared at the father and son sitting in the health clinic at the foot of the mountain in the suburbs. They had their legs crossed, eating sunflower seeds, looking completely relaxed.
She felt utterly bewildered.
The so-called "injured" little boy was squinting happily, enjoying the sunshine, humming a tune.
Liam was staring at his phone. Neither of them noticed Emma approaching.
The old, stammering doctor who ran the clinic saw Emma and immediately recognized from her expression that she wasn't here for a visit—she was here for revenge. He quickly warned, "Mi... Miss, you..."
Before he could finish, Emma was already standing in front of them.
Feeling the sunlight blocked, Charlie frowned discontentedly and opened his eyes.
When he saw Emma standing there, radiating anger, he froze. His eyes went wide as saucers. "Mom... Mom, how... how can you..."
Hearing Charlie's voice, Liam immediately looked up.
"Fell off the mountain road?" Emma stared at them.
"Seriously injured?" She pursed her lips, her eyes curving like crescent moons, but there was a dark glint in them.
"Getting dressed at the clinic at the foot of the mountain?" Her smile grew sharper, her gaze sweeping over them without any warmth.
"Is your calf swollen like a dumpling?"
"Mommy, don't be angry, we..."
"You played me for a fool, didn't you? You think it's funny to joke about something like this?" Emma couldn't hold it in anymore. She exploded. Hearing that Charlie was injured, she had been so frantic she had left everything behind and run red lights all the way here. And now she saw this.
Charlie tugged at her dress, his voice small. "Mommy, I'm sorry. It was my idea. I wanted you to come, but you weren't answering your phone. So I asked Daddy to call and trick the receptionist into putting us through."
"Don't ever joke about something like this again! Do you understand?" Emma said sternly.
"Yes, Mommy. I understand. I promise I won't do it again." Charlie raised his little hand, showing four fingers. "I swear. Never again."
Seeing his tiny figure trying to look serious, Emma couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, I'll forgive you for now. But I don't want there to be a next time."
"No, never. Absolutely not." Charlie's face immediately brightened, his smile like sunshine, reflecting a golden glow as he looked at Emma. As if the pitiful, wronged expression from a second ago had all been an act.
But Emma knew better. He was always pretending to be wronged.
"You two play. I'm going back to the company." With that, she turned to leave.
"Emma, since you're here, why don't we take a walk together?" Liam, who had been silent for a while, finally spoke.
"Yeah, yeah! Stay with Charlie and Daddy." Blood was thicker than water. Charlie had liked Liam from the very first moment. After just a few times together, the two of them got along like they had known each other forever.
Charlie had always hoped Emma would find someone new and be together with his father again. It would be the perfect choice.
Since Mommy and Daddy used to be together, they must have liked each other. And he liked Daddy too. The three of them would be so happy together.
Emma looked at them awkwardly. Charlie was clinging to her arm, tears streaming down his face, sniffling and crying, begging her to stay.
Emma used two fingers to poke his head away.
"Alright, alright. I'll stay. Stop acting. Be good."