Liam's face was tight, his dark eyes fixed on her. "Can't you just be quiet for once?"
Had Liam's infamous temper finally run out of patience?
Ever since she got in the car, she'd been picking fights. First, complaining about the cigarette smell. Then, arguing over the music. Now, she wanted to get out again.
Was she deliberately trying to push him over the edge?
Emma stared right back at him, unflinching. "Quiet? Is that what you think this is? Liam, are you blaming me for being unreasonable?"
When Emma got angry, she had a habit of biting her lower lip. Her usually soft, steady voice would turn sharp and rushed.
"I just wanted you to come home early. Is that so hard? Am I wrong for that too?" Liam's tone grew sharper.
"Of course you think you're right! Who are you? The great Liam Williams, President of Pinnacle Corporation. How could you ever be wrong? Everything you do is perfect. No one in the world would dare say otherwise! But I will! I'm getting out of this car right now!" Emma turned to face Matthew, the driver. "If you don't stop, I swear I'll jump."
A moment passed, and she realized Liam still hadn't ordered the driver to stop. Panic rising, Emma reached for the door handle.
The car was less than a hundred yards from Sunrise Manor. Matthew had intended to drive straight home, but he hadn't expected Emma to be so determined.
A sharp screech of brakes cut through the air, and the car came to a sudden halt.
Emma threw open the door. Her pale face was flushed with anger. Without even grabbing her bag, she stepped out of the car.
Matthew looked helplessly at Liam. His face was unreadable, but he looked ready to explode. Matthew opened his mouth, but no words came out.
"Go back first." Liam's cold voice echoed in the car. Matthew nodded. After a moment, he started the engine and drove past Emma with a whoosh.
Emma watched the car disappear. She assumed Liam had gone back with the driver, which only made her angrier. This wasn't how it worked in the TV dramas. At this point, the hero was supposed to get out of the car, run after the heroine, and then cry and apologize sincerely.
She looked up. It was getting dark now. She stared at the brightly lit luxury villa of the Williams family in the distance. Did she really want to go back to that house? She didn't want to.
She lowered her head and muttered, "Liam is such a jerk... completely unreasonable..." Even though she was furious, she couldn't help but feel a little better when she turned around and saw the scenery.
The neat, spectacular sea of Phalaenopsis orchids bloomed in the dim evening light.
After walking a few steps, Emma suddenly heard a noise behind her. She thought it was a stray cat or dog. Just as she was about to turn around, she was pulled into a strong embrace.
Liam?
How could Liam be here? Didn't he go back in the car just now?
Startled, Emma took a step back, trying to break free from his grip. But Liam pulled her closer. She raised her hands and pushed against his chest as hard as she could. Frowning, she shouted, "What do you think you're doing?"
"What am I doing? Just what you think..." Liam's lukewarm voice rang in her ears. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her even closer.
He stared at her with narrowed eyes for a moment, then lowered his head. His warm breath brushed against her cheek as he leaned in to kiss her lips.
Emma tried to struggle, but Liam's strength was too great. She couldn't move at all. She could only turn her head away. His thin lips landed on her ear, hidden beneath her long hair.
Liam wasn't angry. He kissed her earlobe intimately through her hair, sending a shiver down her spine. It was ticklish and uncomfortable.
How could this be? At this rate, was she going to be humiliated again?
She couldn't take it anymore!
She lifted her left foot and stomped hard on Liam's expensive shoe.
Liam's face darkened. His brow furrowed slightly as he took a step back.
She had stepped on him with her high heels?
The thin heel digging into his foot was an incredibly painful sensation.
Emma's petite body shrank back. She nimbly slipped out of his arms and ran into the flower field.
But after a few steps, she realized she had made a very serious mistake.
Her heel had gotten tangled in the root of a Phalaenopsis orchid. Her whole body lunged forward, but her foot was stuck. She was completely off balance. In a flash, accompanied by a scream, Emma fell into the sea of flowers.
Damn it! Of all times, why did she have to run into the flower field instead of staying on the road?
Emma was baffled by her own stupidity.
The more critical the moment, the less sense she seemed to make.
Was she losing her mind?
Just as Liam was about to chase after her, he heard a scream.
He looked up at the source of the sound. The scene before him was...
How did she manage to throw herself down like that? Was she that talented?
Emma, you silly woman. Did you get your brain pinched by the car door when you got out just now?
He was both angry and amused. But just a moment ago, he had been filled with frustration. Now, after her embarrassing fall, a wicked smile finally appeared on Liam's face.
Emma sat up, humiliated. She was about to pick up her shoe when a pair of shiny black shoes appeared in front of her. Liam's long legs stood upright before her.
Emma looked up slightly. Liam had his hands in his pockets, a bad smile on his lips. He was looking down at her, gloating.
Emma glared at him angrily and continued to reach for the root that had trapped her heel. But no matter how hard she tried, the shoe was still stuck there. It wouldn't come out.
"Let me help you, you stupid woman..." Liam crouched down and said softly.
He successfully freed her deeply entangled shoe.
Why was it that when she tried her best to do something she couldn't manage, Liam could do it so easily, without even batting an eye?
Liam held the shoe in his hand and shook it in front of Emma. She thought he was going to give it to her, so she reached out her hand.