This breathtaking view, paired with an equally stunning man, was a moment countless girls dreamed of. At twenty-seven, Emma Johnson had made it a reality. The thought still sent a little thrill through her.
Even more incredible was the fact that the tall, powerful, handsome man beside her was also a billionaire.
If she hadn't known he could be so temperamental, marrying a man this close to perfection would have felt like a dream she'd be afraid to wake up from.
Suddenly, Liam Williams caught her admiring gaze, and a ripple stirred in his chest.
At that moment, the words he had once spoken to Emma echoed in his mind: If she doesn't fall in love with me within a year, we'll get a divorce.
A face flashed through his thoughts, and a wave of anger surged within him.
He constantly reminded himself of his true purpose for getting close to Emma.
But whenever his temper flared, he forgot his original intentions and did something astonishing.
Just as Liam was lost in his thoughts, a soft warmth touched his fingertips.
Emma had taken the initiative to reach out and hold his right hand. His cold, slender fingers met the warmth of her palm, and a shiver ran through him.
Liam looked down at the delicate hand holding his. His gaze lifted to meet Emma's clear eyes.
Emma blushed, offering him an embarrassed smile. "Didn't you tell me to play the part of the young mistress of the Williams family? I just wanted to try..."
As she spoke, her fingers began to pull away, but she had only retracted them halfway when Liam firmly grasped her hand. "Since you agreed, let's see it through to the end."
What? To the end?
What did Liam mean by that?
Did he mean the end of the year? Or...
Emma didn't speak, didn't dare to think further. She sighed softly, her fingers gently brushing the gauze over Liam's wound.
Her nose stung, and an ache she couldn't stop spread through her heart.
After all, he had done so much for her, sacrificed so much.
"Tomorrow is the weekend. If you're free, let's go home. My mother... she said she wanted to see you."
Emma was still a little nervous. She had called Liam about it yesterday, and his answer had been a noncommittal if she had time.
She didn't know if he would be free tomorrow.
"Alright. I'll arrange it for tomorrow. You just rest well."
If Emma got sick again, he would feel guilty.
Liam held her hand, noticing it felt cold. Afraid she might catch a chill, he gently slipped both her hand and his own into the pocket of his windbreaker.
Emma was startled by his gesture. A wave of warmth spread from her palm, sweeter than the candy she had eaten that morning.
At Brookhaven General Hospital.
Isabella Miller had been keeping vigil by the bedside all day. It had been hard to wake Noah Taylor up, and the first word out of his mouth was, "Emma."
Isabella froze for a moment, pretending she hadn't heard. She swallowed the grievance and discomfort in her heart, taking his hand as if nothing had happened. "Noah, how do you feel now that you're finally awake? Does it still hurt?"
"Why am I here? And why are you here?" Noah's mood soured the moment he saw Isabella.
Isabella didn't answer. She picked up the chicken soup from the table and sat down beside him, her voice gentle. "Have something to eat first. It'll help you recover faster."
But Noah didn't appreciate it at all. With a wave of his left hand, he knocked the bowl and spoon out of her hand. "I don't want it. Are you satisfied seeing me like this? Isabella, if it weren't for you, how could Emma and I have ended up like this? Get out of here."
Noah was furious, remembering everything that had happened. He hated himself for not controlling his desires back then, for doing such a dirty thing with Isabella.
He also hated that if it weren't for Isabella, he and Emma would be so happy right now.
Unfortunately, life was too cruel. There was no going back, and there weren't so many what ifs.
"Noah, I know you blame me. But please, have something to eat. You haven't eaten all day. How can your body take it?" Isabella gave him all her patience and good temper. No matter what he said, she could accept it. She just needed the man in front of her to be okay.
She didn't even expect Noah to fall in love with her, to pity her. She wanted nothing...
But Noah, after seeing Emma at the hotel that day, realized just how much he loved her. He had been deceiving himself for the past two years.
He had even had that absurd idea: if he could have Emma's body, wouldn't her heart naturally follow? In the end, Liam had woken him up. He knew that he and Emma could never go back.
You couldn't force someone to stay if their heart wasn't with you. It was like trying to wake someone who was pretending to sleep.
No. If you forced love, it would only backfire.
Noah closed his eyes in pain, slowly forcing out a sentence. "Go. Let me live or die. My life is already like this anyway."
"Noah, don't be like this, okay? The doctor said your condition is still serious. You have to cheer up so your injuries can heal. There's still hope in life." Isabella's heart broke seeing him like this. If she could, she would rather be the one lying in the bed.
Seeing the person she loved in such misery, only one thought filled Isabella's mind.
She would do whatever it took to make Noah cheer up.
Looking at Noah lying on the bed without a word, Isabella picked up her bag and walked out in her high heels, her face full of sorrow.
Sunset Community.
Emma said she wanted to go home. Liam had ordered the housekeeper to buy a lot of things early in the morning, intending to give them to James and Sophia Johnson.
So, that night, when he and Emma walked into the Johnson house carrying bags and bags of gifts, Sophia couldn't stop smiling.
She had been waiting for her busy son-in-law, looking forward to seeing him.
Emma had just reached the door when she noticed a pair of shoes. Was it so hard to be a guest in her own home?
"Mom, do we have guests today?" Emma looked at the black shoes, a little puzzled.