Chapter 67

When Liam was ten, Elsie locked him in the basement, leaving him to despair. “I can’t go back in time to save him,” Emma thought. “But today, I won’t let him face this alone!”

“Liam, I’m coming,” she said.

Weakened by the thick smoke, she found him and carried him from the room, her strength failing. “I’ll save you,” she said. “This time, we’ll be fine.”

Driven by faith, Emma carried Liam toward the villa's exit. As they neared, a burning main beam crashed down.

“Oh no!” Levi cried. “Watch out, Mrs. Hall!”

Terror etched his pale face. Instinctively, he lunged, pushing Emma and Liam clear. A tremendous force propelled them from the villa as the beam collapsed with a thunderous crash onto Levi.

Darkness followed. Emma awoke from a long, dreamlike nightmare—a burning maze she couldn’t escape. “No… Liam, go! Don’t save me… Ah!” she screamed before snapping awake.

She was in a familiar masculine master bedroom at Icovine Estate, surrounded by upscale furnishings. The last image in her mind was the gas explosion and Levi's life-saving intervention, the beam falling onto him.

“You’re up?” a familiar voice startled her.

“Li—Liam?” Emma exclaimed, overjoyed. “You’re awake! That’s wonderful!” She looked at the neatly dressed man in the wheelchair. He seemed to have only superficial wounds from the car accident—scars that, she thought, only added to his devilish allure.

“How long was I asleep?” she asked.

“I regained consciousness the day before yesterday,” Liam replied. “The doctor said you were unconscious for five days.”

“Five days!” Emma thought. The fire's impact had been severe; she’d inhaled dangerous gases and nearly perished. Waking up was a miracle.

Liam gently leaned down and hugged her. “You worried me terribly, Emma,” he said, his thoughts revealing his unspoken anxiety during her unconsciousness. It was a rare emotion for him, but the fear mirrored the helplessness he'd felt at ten years old. He’d feared losing her, too.

Emma hugged him back, her hand gently stroking his. “It’s all right now. It’s over. You’re awake, and so am I… By the way, where’s Levi?”

Liam’s expression sobered. “He’s badly injured.”

Emma sighed. She reflected that Liam’s near-death experience stemmed from Levi's negligence, yet Levi had ultimately redeemed himself by sacrificing his own life. "He pushed us out," she said, her gaze meeting Liam's. "Without him, we wouldn't have survived."

He understood instantly. His handsome face drew closer, his fingers tracing her lips. “You almost died, and you’re still worried about another man?”

“You’re the one I worry about most,” she retorted, poking his cheek. “You have no idea how hard I fought to save you, and you're jealous of my concern for him?”

Her coquettish displeasure melted Liam's heart. “Okay,” he said, “I won’t be jealous. I apologize.”

The apology was surprising, even to her. Her face flushed. Liam brushed hair from her neck with a warm, rough touch before gently kissing her—a tender, pure kiss, devoid of lust, as if he were revering a precious treasure. Their kisses deepened.

Before waking, Liam had learned of Elsie and Brad’s hospital visit and Emma's clever intervention with Vere, averting a potential disaster for the Halls Group. He knew she had stormed the Hall villa, single-handedly subduing bodyguards and injuring Elsie. Emma, my powerful wife! he thought.

His kiss grew dominant and passionate. His lips grazed her ear; a soft whisper followed: “Emma, after this…”

Dazed, she missed his words. “Huh?”

Lost in intimacy, he didn’t answer, prompting her to ask again.

His warm breath swept across her hair as he kissed it. "I said, after this, I want to have a baby with you."

Emma blushed. A baby! I hadn't even considered it!

His own arousal intensified at the sight of her adorable blush. He untied her nightgown. He was gentle, careful not to overexert her.

At the climax, she clung to him, enveloped in a profound sense of trust and security. Their intimacy was lingering and pleasurable. Afterwards, they embraced, falling into the most peaceful sleep they’d enjoyed in years.

The next day, Liam summoned his confidants. "How's Elsie?" he asked.

"Her mouth is severely injured. She dares not complain to Mr. Simon. Brad’s company is just stabilizing; he might try again."

"The police?" Liam asked.

Another confidant produced documents. "They believe the car accident was drunk driving; the perpetrator is arrested. But we found something suspicious in Elsie's private account. Please see, Mr. Hall."

"Okay," Liam replied, thoughts turning to the sports car in the tunnel, the deliberate choice to 'fall' for Elsie's scheme, a calculated risk to end her threats once and for all.