Emma Johnson's figure disappeared from sight.
Liam Williams glanced at the spot where she had stood, then shoved his hands into his pockets and turned toward the car waiting in front of him.
"What exactly are you trying to do?" Elijah Clark's low voice came from behind.
Just as expected. He couldn't hold back.
"I was about to ask you the same thing." Liam stopped and turned around, a sharp glint flashing in his dark eyes. "What are you trying to do?"
"Why do you want to marry her? As far as I know, you've only known each other for less than a month..."
So Elijah had done his homework, huh?
Liam let out a cold laugh. "Why are you so interested in my wife?"
Elijah's body stiffened at his words, as if his secret thoughts had been ripped open for everyone to see.
Why?
He just wanted Emma to be happy.
He just wanted her to find a gentle, caring husband.
But it was obvious that Liam Williams could never give her a happy, stable life. The only thing Elijah couldn't figure out was why Liam had chosen Emma in the first place.
"Emma doesn't love you. Don't you already know that?" Elijah said, each word deliberate and sharp.
Liam frowned. Did that even matter? From the very beginning, he had approached Emma with ulterior motives. He had even agreed to marry her just to uncover the masked fox behind everything.
Did Liam care who Emma loved?
"Does she love you? Ha." Liam raised an eyebrow, his tone dripping with provocation. "What would you do if I told you that one day, she would fall in love with me?"
"Impossible, Liam. If you don't truly intend to treat her well, sooner or later, I'll take her away from you."
"Then I'll be waiting to see what you can do. But maybe you haven't had the chance to taste how sweet Emma is yet..." Liam's voice was lazy and casual, but his words were deliberately provocative.
He just wanted to see how much Elijah cared about the woman around him.
Hearing those words, Elijah looked like he was about to lose his mind. His eyes burned with a blazing fury. He stepped forward, grabbed Liam by the collar with both hands, and warned him through gritted teeth, "Liam Williams, if you dare to hurt her, I'll make you pay."
Liam let out a sneer. Just as he had expected. Every reaction was predictable.
"She's my wife. Why would I hurt her? Or you could ask Emma herself how good I am to her, how gentle I am." He seemed to know exactly where to strike Elijah's weak spot. A few words were enough to make Elijah furious.
"Keep your mouth clean, Liam. You'd better not provoke me." Elijah tightened his grip, his eyes ferocious as if he wanted to tear Liam apart.
But Liam didn't get angry. A faint smile curled at the corner of his mouth. His hands remained in his pockets, his eyes so deep and unreadable that it felt like he was laughing at Elijah's helplessness.
Emma had gone upstairs to grab her phone and hurried back down, afraid the two men would start another fight.
She hadn't taken more than a few steps out of the elevator when she saw Elijah holding Liam by the collar. Both of them looked furious.
"Hey, Elijah! What are you doing?" Emma jogged over and slapped his hand. "Let go! Let go, do you hear me?"
Elijah saw her come down and yell at him. He slowly released his grip, looking at Emma with sorrowful eyes. His fists clenched slowly, but he didn't say a word. He turned around, walked to his red sports car, started the engine, and sped away.
"I don't know what got into him... Are you okay, Liam?" She looked up at him, her expression thoughtful.
"It's nothing." Liam raised a hand to straighten his collar, rolled his neck as if nothing had happened, then wrapped an arm around Emma and guided her into the car.
"What did you say to Elijah? He's not usually like this..." She still couldn't figure it out. She couldn't understand Elijah's temper anymore. He was always so cheerful, as if nothing could ever make him angry.
"Nothing."
It was so obvious. Emma just couldn't see it. Elijah liked her. Otherwise, why would he get so easily provoked by Liam?
"Oh... By the way, Liam, I've been thinking. Maybe we don't need to have a wedding..."
After all, it was all just an act. There was no need to make it so serious, right?
Besides, planning a wedding took time, energy, and money. It was too much trouble.
They didn't love each other. They were going to divorce in a year anyway. So why go through all this trouble?
Unless... Liam couldn't wait to hold a wedding because he actually liked her?
Remembering everything he had done to her...
Every kiss, every hug—they made Emma start to have delusions.
Liam, don't you really like me?
Emma looked at him and sighed. Sometimes she really couldn't figure out what Liam was thinking.
"Of course we can't cancel it. I have a reputation in this city. If I don't pay proper attention to something as important as marriage, people will start to suspect something. It's all part of the act, don't you think... Wife?"
When he said that, his voice was flat and emotionless, just like when he explained a mission to his subordinates. No warmth. No feeling.
And what did he say?
All part of the act?
Wasn't that clear enough?
Liam didn't like her either. And she didn't love her so-called "husband."
Emma finally understood the question that had been bothering her. But she couldn't feel happy about it.
Well, in a year, they would both be free. The title of "Mrs. Williams" would eventually fade away.
"Alright, I'll listen to you."
After hesitating for a long time, Emma finally managed to say those words.
Then, as if she had thought of something else, she added, "It's fine if we have the wedding. But I have one request. Can we sign a contract? That way... we can cooperate smoothly, can't we?"
A contract?
Liam's grip on the steering wheel tightened involuntarily.
So this was what she was thinking about? How to protect her innocence? She wanted him to sign a contract so he wouldn't touch her?
It seemed that what Elijah said was right. The person Emma loved was not him after all.
Liam paused for a moment, then let out a cold snort.
Sign a contract? Fine.
No one could stop Liam Williams from doing what he wanted anyway. Let alone a small piece of paper.
Emma had been with him for so long, but she still hadn't learned. Who was Liam? He was a cunning man. How could he be so easily fooled?