Chapter 43 She Calls Him Her Husband
“Who are you…?” she asked; her expression darkened.
“I’m Emma Carter.” Emma glanced at Liam and interlaced her fingers with his.
“You two… You and Liam…” Rosalind stammered.
“As you can see,” Emma said with a smile, lifting their clasped hands slightly.
She gazed into Liam’s eyes, holding his hand tighter.
Just then, Ben and Chloe arrived.
“Ben, you’re here, and Chloe, welcome!” Rosalind hurried over to greet them.
“Congratulations, Rosalind.” Chloe stepped forward and took her hand.
“This is Liam Hayes, our childhood friend—the one I mentioned before, whose family are all politicians. This is Emma Carter,” Rosalind said.
“We’ve met,” Liam said, his gaze drifting indifferently over them.
“Hello,” Emma said.
The two both stiffened.
The memory of being pinned to the floor and beaten by Liam still lingered in Ben’s mind.
He’d never expected that Liam’s background was so formidable.
“Heh, yes, we know each other.” Ben seemed a bit flustered.
“Huh? You know each other?” Rosalind was surprised.
As more guests arrived, she excused herself to greet them.
“Ben.” Liam turned his head slightly toward Ben.
“It’s you…” Ben clenched his fists until they cracked.
He recalled the time at the hospital when a man picked up Emma’s phone.
This voice, this tone…
It is him! Liam Hayes!
Was Emma already living with him back then?
Liam sneered coldly and led Emma away without another glance.
Ben clenched his teeth in rage.
“Ben…” Chloe cautiously reached for his hand, but he violently shook her off.
“What’s wrong with you? You lose your temper at me instead of her? Ben!” she snapped angrily.
He stopped, turned, and snapped. “We agreed to stay out of each other’s business. Forgot? If you want to break up with me, just tell me!”
Her fingers tugged at the slightly wrinkled hem of her skirt, seething with fury.
…
Liam and Emma sat on the living room chairs.
“What did you do to Ben?” she asked.
“No big deal. It’s between men.”
“Judging by his reaction, you must have scared him pretty badly.”
“That night in S-Country, when I kissed you, he called. I didn’t hang up,” he said with a hint of smugness.
“I thought you wanted to…” She shyly looked away.
“I did.”
“…”
“Are you upset?” he asked, leaning back in the chair.
“No, not at all.”
“What do you want to eat?” He changed the subject.
“Anything is fine.”
“Steak?”
She nodded softly.
“Wait here for me.” Liam stood up and walked toward the nearby open steak station.
“I’ll go to the restroom and be right back,” Emma said before he left.
Before she could reach it, a hand yanked her into an empty side room.
Wearing high heels, Emma stumbled and nearly lost her footing.
It was Ben.
He slammed the door shut and leaned against it, blocking her exit.
She sat down on a nearby chair and rubbed her foot.
“Dragging me in here like this isn’t exactly appropriate, is it, Ben?” she asked calmly.
“Do you hate me that much? Emma.”
“No, I don’t.”
“You still love me, right? You’re angry because I slept with Chloe. That’s why you’re sleeping with random guys, just to make me jealous.” His voice grew increasingly heated.
“Stop, Ben. Let it go. This is pointless,” she said calmly. She felt pain for the love she had once misplaced, not for him.
“How much did Liam pay you to be his mistress?” he pressed.
Mistress?
Emma was stunned. She laughed bitterly, momentarily speechless.
“I can offer you that too, Emma. A hundred thousand dollars a month—is that enough?” he asked.
“You want me to be your mistress?”
“Liam can do it. Why can’t I?” he demanded furiously.
“Because you’re filthy,” she said slowly. “And you’ve never truly cared about me. You’re afraid of everything—except losing me.”
She stood up, ready to leave.
“Fifteen thousand dollars,” he ground out through clenched teeth.
Is this some kind of bidding war?
“Don’t make me despise you, Ben,” she warned, staring him down.
“Two hundred thousand dollars!” he shouted.
“Stop talking nonsense. You don’t even qualify as an ex-boyfriend to me, Ben,” she laughed coldly.
She walked straight to the door, pulled him aside, and opened it.
But Ben grabbed her hand and yanked her back.
“Ah!”
She stumbled, her high heel twisting with a sharp click.
She braced herself against the table, her face contorting as sharp pain shot through her ankle.
“How can I make you come back to me, Emma?”
“Stop pestering me! You’re nothing but an incompetent man. Every cent you spend comes from your father’s card,” she snapped.
She hadn’t meant to be so harsh, but his twisted affection felt suffocating.
She sat down carefully to ease the pain in her foot.
Ben froze in place.
She has changed.
This must be connected to Liam!
They’ve definitely slept together!
No!
Rosalind, seated in the neighbouring booth, eavesdropped on their exchange.
So Emma is Liam’s mistress.
Ben gritted his teeth, his eyes gleaming with savage intensity.
Emma didn’t want to provoke him further. She could only secretly send Liam her location.
“Are you calling him?” He stepped forward and snatched her phone.
She immediately turned off the screen.
“Liam and I are married, Ben. Don’t bother me anymore,” she said calmly, taking her phone back.
He froze, disbelief etched across his face.
“Please wait for me, Emma. Once my father gives me the position in the Transportation Department, I’ll have money then.”
He crouched before her and looked up pleadingly.
“I’ve already signed the agreement. After Chloe and I get married, she won’t interfere in our affairs…”
Emma: “…”
She had never expected Chloe to stoop so low for Ben.
“Once I have the money and Liam grows tired of you…” Ben continued.
“You really have some nerve, Ben.”
Under the dim lighting, the door creaked open.
A pair of piercing eyes swept over Ben, who was kneeling on the floor.
Ben jumped to his feet in fright.
“Honey.” Emma turned toward Liam, her flushed face still streaked with tears.
Ben’s gaze fell on her pitiful expression.
Honey?
“Do I need to teach you another lesson, Ben?” Liam asked as he strode toward Emma.
Ben stiffened, swallowing hard.
“I just wanted to chat with Emma, Mr. Hayes.”
“Oh?” Liam’s cold gaze fell on him, heavy and oppressive.
“Sorry.” Ben glanced at Emma, then turned and fled the room.