Chapter 42

Emma was lost in thought when Liam moved behind her. His warm hand circled her waist, slipping beneath her nightgown to trace her flat belly, his fingers applying gentle pressure. He moved upward, his touch eliciting a tickle, but she remained still, pretending sleep, allowing his hand to roam.

She concentrated on maintaining a steady breath and heartbeat until Liam's kisses began. She knew Liam was capable and virile; his leg had healed, and his physical presence spoke volumes. The realization of what he might do sent her heart racing. Then, Liam's tongue parted her lips.

Initially, it seemed like a normal kiss, until she felt his tongue deliberately trace her front teeth. A thought struck her—she'd left a bite mark on his hand, and he was confirming the shape of her teeth. Her heart pounded; while she could control her breathing and demeanor, her racing pulse was harder to manage. Liam sensed her nervousness, his voice muffled. "Awake?"

"Well… How am I supposed to sleep when you're kissing me like that?" Emma replied.

"I thought you were pretending to be asleep," Liam said, his teasing tone masking his true feelings. "To avoid me making out with you."

"It's not like we can't make out," Emma maintained her composure. "Mr. Hall. Do you want to?"

"Very much so." Liam's unspoken thoughts were, "I've been fantasizing about this since you moved in. My mind has been filled with images like this." He'd restrained himself, pushing his willpower to its limit. He mused, "You don't want me to know your secret, but it's fine if I tell you mine."

Feeling Liam's breathing quicken, Emma felt anxious. Just as he was about to roll over and pin her, she burrowed into his arms, hugging his waist and turning him onto his side. "Don't worry. We have a long life ahead of us to make out."

Her sudden action surprised him, creating a moment of silence. Their bodies were pressed together, the rhythm of their breaths palpable. His hand stilled. After a moment, he returned her embrace, gently patting her shoulder.

Emma reflected on the previous night's events during her morning class. If she hadn't intervened, Liam might have discovered the secret of his leg. It wasn't that she didn't want him to be honest, but her own secret would make her feel guilty if he was open about his. "Just wait a little longer," she thought.

The classroom atmosphere felt strange. Students whispered, pointedly avoiding her. After the first class, her homeroom teacher summoned her to the office. Two uniformed police officers were waiting. She glanced at her teacher.

"We've received a call that your sister has been missing for three days. Have you seen her, or do you have any information?" an officer asked.

"No," Emma replied, her gaze unwavering.

"Think carefully. Really nothing?" the officer pressed. Given their history, it was natural for them to question her.

"Hasn't she been arrested? How could she be missing?" Emma asked.

"Your sister was released on bail. Didn't you know?" the officer replied.

"I heard something, but dismissed it as a rumor. Seeing is believing," Emma explained. She hadn't seen Aria at the abandoned villa; it was conjecture based on information she'd gathered. Liam and his men had interrupted her before she could enter.

"Alright, you can go back to class. We'll continue the search," the officer said.

After they left, the homeroom teacher sighed. "It's a pity about Aria. She was an excellent student, but scandal after scandal eroded trust. The officers mentioned the possibility of foul play."

"Really?" Emma asked casually. "Did they say who they suspect?"

"I'm not sure," the teacher replied. "But be prepared for public scrutiny. The innocent will be exonerated; focus on your studies."

"Thank you. I'll head back to class," Emma said, her expression unchanged.

The teacher stopped her. "Emma, do you know how to fix computers? You excelled in the last exam, right?"

Emma wanted to explain her computer skills were theoretical, but the teacher, distressed, said, "I have an open class, but my teaching materials won't copy."

"I'll check it," Emma offered. She quickly diagnosed the problem—a simple system configuration issue. In less than a minute, the computer was working. "Save your materials regularly; don't store everything on one computer."

"Wow, your skills are amazing! Are you planning to be a programmer?" the teacher asked, impressed.

Emma smiled, half-jokingly. "Yes, in fact, I am the famous hacker, Stox."

The teacher's expression froze, then broke into laughter. "You're too funny! When you're Stox, don't forget my autograph. I'll tell everyone Stox fixed my computer…"

Seeing the teacher's disbelief, Emma laughed. After she left, the teacher, rebooting the computer, chuckled. "I thought Emma was a loner, but she has a sense of humor. The rumors about Stox attending our school are absurd. No wonder Emma joked about it. It's hilarious."