Chapter 15 Registering the Marriage
After breakfast, Emma wandered around the first floor to stretch her legs.
Her phone buzzed.
Ryan: \[Just climbed sixteen flights of stairs. My legs are dead.\]
Emma: \[Why didn’t you take the elevator?\]
Ryan: \[We tried, but your call came in right after it went up. Boss was worried about you, so we…\]
They actually ran up all sixteen floors?
She was still staring at the screen when Liam appeared at her side.
“Let’s go.”
She startled slightly. “Okay.”
They got into the car; the divider rose slowly.
They sat in the back, both upright, a polite distance between them.
“If I’m not pregnant…” Emma began, then faltered.
“If you’re not,” he said evenly, “we’ll try again next time. Don’t worry.”
Try again… oh my God.
Her face burned.
“Did you bring your documents?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said, nodding.
At the hospital, Liam collected the pre-printed forms at the nurses’ station and walked straight toward the examination rooms.
Emma trailed after him until she reached the bed in the ultrasound room.
“Can you step out for a bit?” she asked the doctor, embarrassed.
“No need. It’ll be over quickly. Please remove your trousers,” the doctor said with a professional smile.
Emma gripped the hem of her skirt, cheeks blazing. “Liam, go outside…”
“Okay.”
He stepped out.
When she emerged, he was waiting in the hallway and immediately led her to Amelia’s office.
Amelia smiled as she brought up the records. “I heard you came by for Grandpa’s birthday the other day but didn’t go upstairs. What a pity.”
Emma gave an awkward smile.
So the whole family knows about that disaster at the gate. Great.
“You’re not pregnant,” Amelia said, frowning at the screen. “Emma, your eating schedule is a mess. Have you been skipping meals?”
Emma froze, then felt the weight lift from her chest all at once.
“Remember to eat regularly and cut down on junk food. When you upset your stomach, it protests. Nausea isn’t unusual,” Amelia added.
“Got it,” Emma said, nodding.
Liam rested his hands on her shoulders and patted them gently.
“Start taking folic acid before you two try for a baby,” Amelia went on, completely matter-of-fact. “You’re only twenty-two, so there’s no rush. Take it for a month or two before you start trying.”
Out in the corridor again, Emma finally exhaled a long breath.
“Haven’t been eating properly?” Liam asked, taking her hand.
“Sorting out my personal life killed my appetite,” she admitted, trying to pull away. His grip only tightened slightly.
“Hm.” He didn’t push the subject.
“Ben is my ex, but…” she began, lowering her head.
“There’s no need to dwell on the past,” he cut in, fingers sliding through her hair in a soothing stroke. “I only care about our future.”
She lifted her gaze and gave him a small smile.
“Stop overthinking, my girl. Let’s eat,” he said, smiling back as he led her outside.
…
At The Oak Room.
They ended up at the same window seat as last time.
“Who was the woman you had dinner with that night?” she asked.
“My ex-girlfriend.”
“Huh?”
After placing their order, Liam glanced up at her.
“She just came back from overseas. I invited her to dinner,” he said calmly. “But you can relax. There’s zero chance of anything between us.”
“Then how did you get home that night?” she pressed.
“I wasn’t drunk,” he replied, still cool, as if stating a fact.
She took a sip of water and looked away, guilt creeping in.
So he was pretending to be drunk.
He must have heard me cursing him.
I’m so dead.
“Liam,” Emma called softly.
“Yes?” He turned to her.
“Could we… keep our relationship private at work for now? It might affect your career.” The words tumbled out, and she regretted them almost instantly.
He paused, then nodded. “All right.”
It was obvious he wasn’t thrilled, but he wasn’t going to argue either.
“So what do you need from me?” she asked quickly, changing the subject.
“Just don’t do anything illegal.”
“…”
After lunch, she casually mentioned that her outfit was too casual to take decent wedding photos. Liam immediately diverted the car to a private boutique and handed her over to the staff for makeup and a change of clothes.
Two hours later, they walked out of the registry office as husband and wife.
On the drive back, she sat in the backseat, staring at the marriage certificate in her hands, a strange, weightless feeling drifting up in her chest.
She had never once imagined she would marry a powerful CEO.
Will you regret this, Emma?
At some point exhaustion pulled her under. She didn’t know when her head had tipped onto his shoulder.
“We’re home,” Liam said quietly, glancing down at her sleeping face.
Her long lashes fluttered as she woke. “Sorry…” She quickly rubbed at the smudged foundation on his shoulder.
He watched her flustered expression and couldn’t help a faint smile. “You must be exhausted.”
“No.” She curved her lips. “I’m fine.”
Back at the villa, it was still early, not yet dinnertime. She stood in the living room, fingers twisting together, nerves finally catching up to her.
“I have a dinner engagement tonight. Don’t wait up,” he said, changing his shoes.
“Okay.” She nodded.
He left with his usual composed stride.
She slumped into the sofa, closed her eyes, and muttered, “That was intense…”
After resting a while, she went upstairs.
In the study, she turned slowly in a circle, taking in the space that was unmistakably his.
After a few minutes of thought, she opened WhatsApp and saw he was online.
Her lips curved.
Emma: \[Dear Mr. Hayes, I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you.\]
There was a pause, then:
Liam: \[Dear Ms. Carter, your wishes will be my commands.\]
Is that his attempt at sweet talk? Where on earth did he learn that?
Truth was, he’d had no idea how to answer and had bullied the line out of Ryan.
Emma: \[Can I use the table in the middle?\]
Liam: \[Of course, Mrs. Hayes.\]
She smiled at the screen, her heart softening.