Chapter 39

Emma squinted, lifting a hand to hook his chin. "Making me jealous is your fault."

Liam grasped her fingers, guiding her hand. "It's my bad. I promise I won't make you jealous again."

"Hmph, that's…" Before Emma could finish, Liam kissed her. One hand held her fingers, the other cupped the back of her neck, warming her skin.

Emma's mind blanked. Looking at Liam's handsome face, she saw his eyelashes tremble; her heartbeat accelerated.

After a short, tantalizing kiss, Liam pulled back. "Kiss away your jealousy. Are you still upset?"

"I can't believe I've gotten used to his sudden intimacy," Emma puffed out her cheeks. "What do you think?"

Recent events had left Emma exhausted. She lay in the bathtub, eyes closed. The steam made her lightheaded, and she fell asleep.

"Knock, knock, knock."

Even the knocking failed to rouse her. Liam frowned and opened the bathroom door.

Warm steam hit him, but the sight inside made his blood surge. Emma lay naked in the luxurious white tub, her skin smooth and flawless, her dark hair piled high, revealing her slender neck.

Liam suppressed his desire, lifting her from the tub and wrapping her in a towel. She'd fallen asleep in the bath. He'd averted a potential suffocation risk.

That night, Emma dreamt a soft feather brushed against her body, tickling and shivering her uncontrollably. She tried to catch it, but it was too agile. It tantalized her fiercely.

She struggled, opening her eyes to find the feather had transformed into Liam. He kissed her hair, caressing her face, neck, and then lower…

In the dream, Liam's legs were healed, and they were intimate.

Emma awoke utterly drained. Frowning, she thought, "I must have fallen asleep in the bathtub. Did Liam carry me to bed?"

Just then, Liam, dressed in a suit, appeared beside her bed in a wheelchair. "Good morning, Mrs. Hall."

He was impeccably dressed, his black hair neatly combed, radiating energy. Yet, Emma felt very tired.

"How does he look even more spirited than usual?" she murmured. "Morning… I seemed to feel someone in bed last night…"

"It was me," Liam answered before she could finish. "What's wrong?"

Emma wanted to ask what he'd done, but swallowed her words. "Nothing."

Liam smiled. "Did you dream of something last night?"

Emma blushed. "No…"

"For real?" Liam's tone was teasing.

Recalling the dream made her blush even more. "I didn't dream of anything. You get out now. I need to get up and change clothes."

Liam chuckled softly, his expression unreadable.

Only after he left did Emma manage to freshen up. While brushing her teeth, she saw her neck in the mirror and gasped. Red marks covered her neck and décolletage. Even without experience, Emma knew what they meant. "Liam?"

She wanted to confront him, but he was gone. Emma fumed in silence.

Josiah's voice came over the phone. "Don't be mad. I've found the information you requested. Why are you so irritable?"

Emma replied, "It's your slow work. Have you found anything? Was it Aria?"

"Yes, only Aria," Josiah replied quickly.

Emma remained unsatisfied. "What about the rest of the Wilson family? And Elijah?"

"This time, only Aria was involved. After bail, she didn't return to the family. Elijah's imprisonment is secure; the Taylors aren't involved," Josiah explained.

"Hmph, Aria still has tricks. She even used Kate against me." Emma had discovered Kate's recent meetings with Aria. Aria, having failed with photos of Liam, had targeted Emma through Kate.

Emma leaned back, massaging her forehead. "Aria, relying on Sebastian, is still struggling. I'm losing patience. You know what to do, right?"

Besides Aria, Emma had other matters to handle—Kate, Brad, and her attempted assassin.

A knock came at the door.

"Mrs. Hall," the butler's voice. "The Wilson family is at the entrance, demanding to see you. Mr. Hall instructed us to turn them away."

Liam's orders kept people out of Icovine Estate.

However, Emma changed her mind. "Let them in. It's been a while, and I have questions for them."

Emma barely recognized Mateo and Nora. After the Wilson Group's bankruptcy, they were deeply in debt; Zoe feigned illness; Mateo hid from creditors with Nora.

"Get to the point. I don't have much time," Emma stated.

After exchanging glances, Nora spoke. "Emma, Liam's house is luxurious. He treats you well, doesn't he? You must be happy."

Emma glanced at her watch. "You have four minutes and fifty-one seconds left."

Mateo's face reddened. "Emma, I am still your father. You haven't shown any sympathy for our troubles."

"So, it's about money?" Emma sneered. "Banks won't lend to you? My interest rate is even higher."

"You…" Mateo was furious, but Nora stopped him. They'd come to ask for money.