Chapter 82

At the Halls Group branch office, Brad sat in his general manager's chair, consumed by anxiety. Since Liam had assumed control of the Hall family, Brad's power had steadily eroded. After the board meeting concluded, he contacted several trusted aides, but they ignored his calls. Attempts to schedule meetings were met with excuses.

Brad immediately suspected foul play and instructed his assistant, "Investigate what transpired at the board meeting."

The assistant returned, visibly flustered. "Mr. Hall, the secretary said Mr. Liam stood during the meeting."

"What?" Brad's disbelief was palpable.

The assistant continued cautiously, "Mr. Liam's legs are fine. He even mentioned he had evidence that you framed him for the plane crash…"

Brad's face drained of color. Liam couldn't be recovered; he'd been tampering with Liam's food at Icovine Estate. He couldn't believe Liam had recovered. Perhaps it was Emma.

His features contorted in anger. "Tell our people to act now and proceed with the second plan," he ordered.

It had to be Emma. Her capabilities were such that even Rafael's family had assisted her. She must be the reason for Liam's recovery. Brad wouldn't let Liam return. He simply couldn't.

Meanwhile, at Halls Group headquarters, Liam exited the conference room and approached Emma. Joy welled up in her heart. As he drew near, she embraced him. "This is wonderful," she exclaimed. She could finally stand beside him openly, a day she'd long awaited.

Chapter 5

"Come with me to the office," Liam said.

"Sure," Emma replied.

Hand in hand, they returned to the CEO's office. Secretaries and assistants were astonished. "Mr. Hall, your legs…" they gasped, covering their mouths. Liam's ability to walk after the meeting stunned them.

"They've recovered," Liam stated calmly. "Thank you for your concern."

"Congratulations, Mr. Hall!" they chorused, their excitement evident. Liam's disability wasn't permanent.

Everyone then noticed the woman beside him. Her high ponytail and dark blue suit presented a clean, neat appearance. Her oval face, delicate and fair, possessed striking dark eyebrows and full lips accentuated with red lipstick. A captivating blend of dash and charm made her instantly recognizable.

Despite standing beside Liam, she commanded attention. Speculation arose about her being his rumored girlfriend. She was undoubtedly beautiful and striking.

Liam's discerning secretaries and assistants lined up, bowing.

"Mrs. Hall," they greeted.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Hall," another added.

Emma chuckled. As an undergraduate, she was the youngest by far, finding the polite greetings from people a decade her senior oddly amusing.

Her sparkling eyes met Liam's, a mixture of happiness and shyness in their depths.

Liam gazed at her gently. "Alright, everyone, back to work. Mrs. Hall and I will go in first."

His words prompted another laugh from Emma.

As he intertwined their fingers and led her to his office, the group enthusiastically called out, "Bye, Mr. and Mrs. Hall!"

"The boss has great news. I hope they have a child soon," one added.

Chapter 82

Emma laughed at this. "Liam, your employees are mischievous."

"It's the only mischief in ten years. I understand," Liam replied.

Emma's laughter rang out as they walked hand in hand. Looking up at his profile, she was still adjusting to his height; she had to tilt her head to meet his gaze. The feeling was wonderful.

Once inside the office, Emma's usual quiet demeanor vanished. She perched on Liam's lap, tugging at his tie. "You lied. Your legs recovered long ago, didn't they?"

"Yes," Liam admitted, stroking her ponytail. "I'm sorry. I made you suffer."

"Hmph. Make it up to me," Emma demanded.

"Definitely," he said, kissing her chin. Then, he added, "Were you satisfied last night?"

Emma initially assumed he meant the gathering. As she started to say "yes," the inexplicable soreness in her body sparked suspicion. "What happened after I got drunk? Why do I feel so strange?"

A knowing smile played on Liam's lips. "What do you think?"

Her guess was confirmed. The thought of what transpired sent a blush to her cheeks. She couldn't believe he'd done it while she was intoxicated. "You're too much. I was unconscious…"

"But I was satisfied," Liam murmured, kissing her again. She'd been too drunk to remember, but he hadn't forgotten. Smart, capable, and full of surprises, Emma was perfect.

A knock interrupted their intimacy. "Mr. Hall, bad news," the assistant announced.

Liam, slightly annoyed, held Emma close. "What is it?"

"Our new system is under a hacker attack. We can't hold them off much longer."

Liam frowned. "Where's the technical department?"

"They're trying to patch the gaps, but it's slow. Continued attacks will cause huge losses," the assistant replied.

Halls Group headquarters had network security specialists, most recruited by Brad. Liam wasn't entirely sure of their capabilities. With his own team, such an attack wouldn't have been so easily launched.

As Liam pondered, Emma smiled, playfully tugging his tie. "Shall I try, Mr. Hall?"