Chapter 56 I’ll Do as You Say
In the parking lot:
Liam sat in the car with a cigarette resting between his fingers, his arm hooked lazily over the window frame. The wind scattered a small pile of ash.
Emma opened the passenger door and slid in.
She placed the insulated box on the back seat and handed him the coat she’d been holding.
“Put this on,” she said. “Don’t catch a cold.”
He stubbed out the cigarette, took the coat, and slipped it on.
“Can I drive?” she asked.
“Yeah.”
She got out and walked around to the driver’s side.
He shifted smoothly into the passenger seat.
The moment she sat down, nerves crept in. She’d never driven this car before.
She tapped the steering wheel, bit her lip, and fumbled for the ignition.
Before she could figure it out, he took her right hand and studied the plain band on her ring finger.
Colour crept up her cheeks. She pulled her hand back.
“Buckle up,” she said, pretending calm, before starting the car.
⸻
The car headed back toward the villa.
“Busy these next couple of days?” Emma asked.
“Nothing,” Liam replied quietly.
“Then wait for me in the car.”
“…”
He frowned, clearly confused.
⸻
When she came back, she was dragging a suitcase.
She loaded it into the boot and returned to the driver’s seat.
“Where are we going?” he asked.
“Taking you on a business trip.”
She fastened her seatbelt, took the phone from his hand, and powered it off.
A business trip?
Is this to avoid Celeste?
He leaned back in the seat, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
…
⸻
The car pulled up at the entrance to Blue Ridge Manor.
It was a sprawling estate, a playground for the ultra-wealthy.
An outdoor lawn ceremony was underway.
Liam frowned and turned to her sharply.
“You brought me to your ex-boyfriend’s wedding?” he asked.
Emma froze.
Only then did she recognise the signage at the entrance.
“I—I didn’t know either,” she stammered. “Do you believe me?”
“I do.”
He answered without hesitation.
Then, casually,
“So what now? Ruin their wedding… or put on a show and steal the groom?”
“…”
“Or get him back?” he added flatly.
“Let’s go somewhere else,” she said quickly, turning the key.
“No need.” He unbuckled his seatbelt.
“Aren’t you afraid I’ll actually get back together with him?”
“Afraid?” His voice dropped. “I could ruin his wedding in under a minute.”
“…”
“That would bother him.”
“…”
“Let’s find somewhere else,” she insisted.
“You don’t want to be seen with me?”
he asked coolly.
She shook her head.
“Then get out,” he said, irritation bleeding through.
⸻
“Don’t hit him,” she whispered.
“I’ll listen to you,”
Liam replied with a soft chuckle.
“Huh? Really?”
“Mhm.”
She smiled faintly and stepped out of the car.
…
⸻
Liam pulled the suitcase while Emma walked beside him.
They looked like a pair of teenagers sneaking off to a hotel together.
At the front desk, they were told there were no available rooms.
Her heart sank.
He glanced at her, passed her the suitcase, and gestured toward the sofa.
“Wait here.”
She sat obediently on the lobby sofa.
He spoke quietly with the clerk. The woman’s expression shifted—then brightened into a professional smile.
Minutes later, she handed him a room key.
He walked back toward Emma.
“Aren’t there no rooms?” she asked.
“There are.”
“Then how—”
“You still don’t know me well enough,”
he said lightly.
Emma followed without another word.
⸻
Their room was near the lakeside lawn, surrounded by metasequoia trees.
The detached suites were designed like glass houses, spaced roughly twenty metres apart, each costing tens of thousands per night.
They boarded one of the estate’s private shuttles.
Halfway there, the shuttle stopped.
Ben’s group was just ahead.
The air turned strange—heavy, silent.
“Sabotage it?” Liam asked quietly.
Emma shook her head and leaned closer into his embrace.
“Use your hands to make money,” she whispered.
“Don’t dirty them.”
He smiled.
“Alright.”
The driver grew impatient. The photographer urged everyone aboard.
Liam and Emma took the back row as the others crowded into the front.
No greetings were exchanged.
The shuttle pulled away.
⸻
“What did Lily say to you today?” Emma asked.
“She said she still likes me. Wants to chase me again.”
“Oh?”
“And what did you say?”
“What do you think I should’ve said?”
As he lowered his head, he caught Ben’s gaze in the rear-view mirror.
“Would you waver?” Emma asked quietly.
“Why ask?” Liam chuckled.
“Was last night not enough for you?”
The scene from last night replayed vividly in Emma’s mind—she had been unusually bold under the influence of alcohol, even daring to suggest measuring him with a ruler.
She tried to explain, but his kiss cut her off.
No—this is outside. In public!
She pushed at him, but he only held her tighter.
Bit by bit, she forgot where they were, her body betraying her as she began to respond.
He chuckled and abruptly ended the teasing kiss.
Feeling played, she quickly covered her mouth and shifted to the seat beside him.
Ben had witnessed the entire exchange through the rearview mirror.
He tugged at his tie and swallowed hard.
⸻
The car pulled up near their room.
Liam stepped out first, dragging the suitcase. Emma followed, slipping her hand into his without hesitation.
Every eye turned toward them—except Chloe’s, which remained fixed on Ben.
“Is that Emma? Hooking up with some rich guy right after breaking up with Ben?”
“How did they even manage to book a room here? This place isn’t just about money.”
“Is that guy really that powerful?”
Soft, malicious laughter rippled through the crowd.
Ben suppressed the rage boiling in his chest.
Chloe, however, appeared perfectly calm beside him.
⸻
Liam glanced at Emma, who looked completely at ease.
“Did you take my hand just to show him?” he asked.
“Would you be upset if I said yes?”
He didn’t answer, his mood clearly cooling.
“You probably don’t know yourself well enough, Liam,” she continued.
“Oh?”
“You should be more confident. You’re more handsome, taller, and richer than he is.”
Satisfied, he slowed his pace slightly.
“Do you like me?”