Chapter 41

Emma felt the footsteps behind her closing in. Liam was less than six feet away, almost close enough to tear off her mask. Leaping onto the rusted steel building was her only chance to escape, but its dilapidated state made her doubt its ability to withstand the impact. A fall could crush her, causing internal bleeding and a gruesome death.

“Still not talking?” Liam pressed closer. “I’ll ask once more. Who sent you here?”

He clearly believed she'd come to rescue Aria, and anyone who stumbled upon his deeds faced a fate worse than death. “You have three seconds. Three, two, one.”

As he reached for her, she leaped. Determined to escape, even if it meant death, she couldn't let him discover her deception. He was sinister and suspicious, deeply distrustful of lies and betrayal. Trust was a rare luxury for him, and he'd given all of his to her. If he discovered her deceit, their relationship would be over. That couldn't happen.

Before she jumped, a flicker of despair and resolute sorrow crossed her eyes. Liam's pupils violently dilated upon seeing it, whether due to a telepathic connection or not. That familiar feeling and expression…unique to my Emma, he thought.

Instinctively, he reached out and grasped her wrist, just as he had in the Watery Garden when she'd almost fallen from the cliff. Then, he'd shouted, “Hold on to me!” But this time, Emma bit his hand, forcing him to release her.

She landed on the ground with a thud. It was the second floor—not a great height—but her awkward landing caused a burning pain in her spine. Liam watched her disappear into the night.

Two figures approached, his subordinates ready to pursue her, but he stopped them. “No need to follow.”

His subordinate started to protest, but Liam cut him off. His gaze swept coldly over his men. “They’ve already positioned people around us; haven’t you noticed?”

The subordinates fell silent, ashamed of their oversight. Liam had a suspect in mind, but he wasn't certain. “Let’s go back to Icovine Estate now.”

“What about the woman in the villa?” his subordinate reminded him.

Liam's expression turned cold at the mention of Aria. “Watch her. Don’t let her be taken away.”

“Okay.”

Liam hurried back to Icovine Estate to confirm his suspicions. A secret passage connected the abandoned villa to Icovine Estate, a ten-minute journey. If it was Emma, she couldn't have reached home before him. Her absence would confirm his suspicions.

At the estate's entrance, Liam sat in his wheelchair, straightened his collar, and took a deep breath.

He pushed open the door, greeted by the old maid, Wilmot. It was late; everyone else was asleep, but she was preparing breakfast. “Hi, Mr. Hall,” she said warmly.

“Is Emma back?” Liam asked.

“Hmm, Mrs. Hall has been home all along. Has she gone out?” Wilmot was puzzled.

Liam’s brows furrowed as he wheeled himself to the second floor. The bedroom door was closed, and without knocking, he pushed it open. The bed was empty.

His mood grew complex as the evidence mounted against Emma…

“Mr. Hall?” Emma’s soft voice came from the room.

Liam relaxed. “Emma? Are you taking a shower?”

“Yes,” she replied, her voice normal. “I was so tired from homework today that I couldn’t sleep until now.”

“I’m coming in.” His suspicious nature demanded he see for himself.

“What? Okay, let me just wrap myself in a towel…” Emma hadn't finished when Liam entered, finding her naked in the bathtub.

She looked displeased. “What’s wrong? Couldn’t you wait for me to finish speaking?”

Liam scanned the bathroom before smiling calmly. “I haven’t seen you all evening and was afraid you might have sneaked out.”

Emma raised an eyebrow. “Now you’ve seen me, satisfied?”

He saw her caution mirroring his own. Tonight’s events were thrilling. She didn't know how much he suspected or why he'd saved her. “You’ve seen me now. I’ve finished my bath, so I’m going to change. Why don’t you go out first?”

Liam gave a faint smile. “Go ahead and change.”

Emma curled her lip provocatively. “What? Do you want to watch me change?” She licked her hair and climbed from the tub, her arms smooth and flawless. Leaning against the edge, she said, “Be careful, or I might just eat you up here.”

Emma in the bathtub was breathtaking—hair in a bun, a delicate face, her body tantalizingly hidden by the towel.

Liam bent down, close to her nose, lifting her chin. “My dear,” he said enigmatically, “you forgot to close the window.”

Emma's heart skipped a beat, but her face remained impassive. He'd noticed the usually closed bathroom window was wide open, the curtains billowing in the wind.

“Your bathroom is too good; I almost passed out from lack of oxygen last time. Today, since you weren’t home and no one was watching me, I deliberately left it open.” Her lie was flawless, and Liam merely smiled, wheeling over to close the window.

Emma’s heart pounded. What is he thinking? Has he let his guard down, or does he suspect me even more?

Liam's next words kept her awake all night. “Remember to close the windows in the future. Although there are no other residential buildings around here, we can’t avoid helicopters passing overhead.”

She tossed and turned. She'd entered through the bathroom window and forgotten to close it. She'd arrived by helicopter, landing some distance from the estate, unseen by the servants. But did his remark imply he knew everything?