Emma patted some moisturizer onto her face, then reached into her bag for her phone. As usual, she cautiously stretched her hand to the far left side of the bed.
This bed was enormous. Liam lay right in the middle. When Emma climbed in, she hadn't touched a single inch of him.
She pulled the blanket over herself, turned her back to Liam, and took out her phone. The moment she powered it on, a text message from an unknown number popped up:
[Hey sweet Emma, you asleep? Long time no see. ;)]
Emma's face scrunched in confusion. Who was texting her?
Sweet?
Long time no see?
The only person she knew who would call her that intimately was Elijah.
But how did he get her number?
She hesitated, then typed back:
[Elijah? Is that you?]
A moment later, her phone buzzed with his reply:
[Yeah, sweetheart. You're so smart. I'll pick you up at your office gate tomorrow afternoon. Miss you. ;)]
Emma frowned, about to respond, when Liam's irritated voice cut through the silence. "Who's texting you so late?"
"Huh? Oh... just a friend." She answered guiltily.
"A man? I think you're getting bolder, chatting with other men on the phone I gave you?"
Was he... jealous?
Emma ignored him and kept typing, trying to figure out how to reply to Elijah's message.
Suddenly, Liam's hand shot out and snatched the phone from her grasp.
He glanced at the screen, and his eyes narrowed. What the hell?
Sweetheart?
Liam curled his lips, barely holding onto his patience, forcing down the rage building inside him.
Someone was calling his wife sweetheart right in front of him?
Did they think he was a fool?
"Hey, Liam, you thief, give it back!" Emma scrambled to grab it, but she was too slow.
Before she could react, Liam hurled her phone onto the plush carpet a few feet away from the bed.
Seeing Emma about to climb out of bed to retrieve it, he grabbed her wrist and growled, "If you insist on getting that phone, I won't be responsible for what happens next."
Emma whipped her head around, staring at him in shock. "What do you mean, you won't be responsible? What are you planning to do? Don't think I'm scared of you, Liam."
"Not scared? Then go get it. I'd love to see you make me angry. I've been meaning to teach you a lesson for a while anyway. Hmph. Go on, get it." Liam stared at her, challenging.
He was certain that if the little woman took one more step, he'd pin her down.
As for what would happen next? That was anyone's guess.
Hearing his words, Emma felt a chill run down her spine. Every time, Liam would find some ridiculous excuse to take advantage of her.
This time, if she wasn't careful, she'd really piss him off.
Seeing her freeze, Liam let out a deliberate sigh and drawled lazily, "Ah... honey, didn't you just take a rose bath? Let me have a taste later and see if the rose is fragrant or not... I can hardly wait. Besides, the soundproofing in my room is top-notch. You can scream all you want."
Emma was still hesitating. But when he said that, she panicked. It was better not to provoke Liam.
Otherwise, if he actually did something... this was his territory. Even if she cried, it wouldn't do any good, right?
Emma decided to play it smart. She turned around, plastered a smile on her face, and flattered him, "Actually... I think sleeping is the best thing to do. Why play with a phone, right? Honey... well, let's sleep!"
Seeing her obedience, Liam smirked and patted his right hand, signaling for her to lie down. "That's more like it. Come here, wife."
Emma gently lay down beside him like a lamb. She wanted to turn her back to him, but she couldn't find an excuse. So she curled up, facing his chest, and closed her eyes.
Liam raised his hand, pulled the blanket over them, and glanced down. Emma was motionless, her eyes shut tight.
The faint scent of roses drifted to his nose. At this moment, every inch of Emma's body seemed to radiate an irresistible fragrance.
Liam reached out and gently touched her chin. She didn't even flutter her eyelids.
Her pretending-to-sleep technique had improved. Liam stared at her face, just two centimeters from his. Her long lashes rested against her cheeks. Her nose, though small, was straight. The scar on her face was almost healed—it would probably be gone in a couple of days. Luckily, Emma's skin had a natural healing ability, so the small injury wouldn't leave a mark.
Liam reached for the remote on the bedside table and dimmed the lights.
The night was as dark as ink. Through the off-white curtains, he could still vaguely see the stars hanging in the sky outside the window.
Liam closed his eyes and dozed off for a while.
Until he heard Emma's steady breathing, signaling she was asleep.
Then, he quietly got up, slipped out of bed, picked up her phone from the floor, and headed to his study.
Half an hour later, Liam returned, placing the phone back in its original spot. He glanced at Emma sleeping in the darkness, then turned, grabbed a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from the coffee table, and pushed open the glass door to the balcony.
Liam half-lay on the couch on the balcony, pulled out his phone, and dialed Alexander.
When the call connected, Alexander's tired voice came through. "Captain, give me a minute. I'm getting dressed. It's not convenient to talk right now."
Alexander glanced at the woman beside him, quickly dressed, and found a quiet corner. "Colonel, what can I do for you?"
"Alexander, tell the organization tomorrow that the operation has started. We have to catch Fox Hunter this time. Also, find some sharp soldiers and have them come to the city on standby." Liam took a hard drag of his cigarette, the intense sting in his lungs clearing his mind for a moment.
"Yes, Colonel. We'll leave as soon as the organization approves."
"Good. That's all." After a few more words, Liam hung up.
Originally, Liam hadn't planned to involve the organization. But ever since Emma was kidnapped last time, he felt things were far more complicated than he'd thought.
Just in case Emma was innocent, he'd send Alexander to protect her, wouldn't he?
Fox Hunter?
Every time Liam thought of that name, he felt uneasy.
He turned his head to look at Emma lying on the bed, and his frown deepened. Why did it have to be her?