Chapter 28

In the opulent, exotic study of Icovine Estate, Liam sat at his desk, staring at emails displaying photographs. His expression was far from pleased.

"Mr. Hall," Levi's voice was cautious. "Mrs. Hall did well on the cruise; she even placed second in the Vark Invitational Mathematics Examination, but…"

"Speak!" Liam urged.

Levi relayed everything, including Emma's private conversation with Vere on deck and Vere giving her his phone number. Liam's large hand crushed a glass, his eyes bloodshot, blood trickling onto his desk. On the screen were unretouched, compromising photographs of Emma.

Rage consumed Liam. He cursed inwardly, "Emma, how many secrets are you keeping from me?"

At a discreet internet café on the city's outskirts, Aria rapidly sent an email and fled. Having lost her child and her connection to the Taylor family—Elijah being the primary culprit—Sebastian had bailed her out, yet she remained trapped in his sadistic control. Her life was a torment, fueling her hatred for Emma. "Emma! When Liam sees what a cheap, loose woman you are, you'll suffer far worse than I have!" she thought viciously.

Meanwhile, Emma returned to Icovine Estate late that night, only to find Liam absent.

"Wilmot, where's Mr. Hall?" she asked a maid still awake.

"Mr. Hall went out," Wilmot Mallin replied. "I'm unsure where. Would you like to call him, ma'am?"

"I will," Emma said, dialing his number.

"Ma'am…" Wilmot hesitated.

"Yes?"

Wilmot, observing Emma's face, added, "Mr. Hall seemed very angry when he left the study, and his hand was bleeding."

After a brief silence, Emma replied, "I understand."

Upstairs, Emma found Liam's study. The computer was off; shattered glass and blood stained the desk. She called Levi.

"Hello, Miss Wilson?" Levi answered.

"Do you know where Mr. Hall is?" Emma asked.

Sensing Levi's hesitation, she pressed, "Given his limited mobility, are you comfortable with him being out alone at this hour?"

Understanding Liam's solitary nature, she anticipated his response. After a pause, Levi said, "Mr. Hall is at Watery Garden."

Emma's heart clenched. Memories of her past life—her and Liam's deaths in Watery Garden's warehouse—flooded back: the charred bodies, the smell of burning. Her hand trembled, but she steeled herself, "Don't be afraid, Emma! This time will be different."

She drove to Watery Garden, a luxurious villa a half-hour away. She'd been unaware it belonged to the Hall family. In her past life, she'd been lured to a burning Watery Garden by Elijah and Aria.

Recalling Liam's death and the searing pain, a premonition washed over Emma, almost causing her to crash. Then, Levi called.

"Mrs. Hall, have you left the estate?"

"Yes," she replied.

Levi, torn between Liam's wishes and Emma's actions, said hesitantly, "Alright then, drive carefully."

Emma hung up.

Thirty minutes later, she arrived at Watery Garden. The familiar pain and despair returned. She entered the courtyard, her nails digging into her palms. A light shone from the second floor. "Liam must be there," she thought.

She rang the doorbell. "Liam, it's me!"

The door opened. Hesitating briefly, she entered. The opulent villa was eerily silent, devoid of servants.

As she moved, she sensed danger. Before she could react, two men seized her. A syringe plunged into her vein. "Who are you?" she cried.

"Miss Wilson, we apologize," one man replied.

Suddenly, everything clicked. Levi always called her Mrs. Hall; these men called her Miss Wilson. Worried about Liam and Watery Garden, she'd overlooked that the initial caller hadn't been Levi—a voice changer and call redirection had been used.

Her face hardened. These were hostile, murderous intentions. The anesthetic's effects began.

However, her body was unusually resistant. She used an army knife to prick a highly sensitive nerve in her palm, sharpening her awareness. She struck the men, escaping into the courtyard—now swarming with a dozen black-clad assassins.

She recognized them as top-tier professionals, far superior to someone like Ruby. "You clearly think highly of me, luring me here with a fake call and this ambush. One at a time, or all at once?"

The assassins lunged. Emma sensed their murderous intent; this was not an abduction or intimidation; it was an assassination attempt.