Chapter 68 Isn't Emma Your Mistress?
“Did you see him?” Eleanor asked.
“Who?” Emma asked.
“You’re my daughter. How could I not know what’s on your mind?” Eleanor said calmly.
Emma pressed her lips together; she hadn’t expected her to find out so quickly.
“Mom, what do you think?” she asked.
“Nothing much. Being alone is fine.”
“He’s also alone,” Emma said.
“If you want me to be happy, don’t mention me to him. Otherwise, don’t come looking for me in the future,” Eleanor warned.
Emma hummed in agreement.
The moment the call ended, a hurried figure collided with her.
She stumbled and fell into the lake.
The lake wasn’t deep; the water rose to her chest.
Failing to stand, she gulped down two mouthfuls of water.
The icy cold made her body stiffen.
Combined with the fact that she was on her period, she began to shiver violently.
Just as she was about to panic, a large hand seized her arm and pulled her out.
She curled into herself, trembling.
He peeled off her coat, revealing pink stains beneath her white knit dress.
He hurriedly wrapped her in his coat and lifted her.
Emma pressed against his scorching chest and tilted her head slightly.
Charles?!
She tried to break free, but the cold robbed her of her strength.
“Put me down…” she murmured.
Ignoring her, Charles walked straight toward the back rooms.
Celeste witnessed the scene with her friends.
“Charles is such a respectable man, yet here he is, carrying a woman in public!”
“Did you see? That woman is wearing Charles’s coat!”
“Isn’t that the woman who’s always with Liam?”
Celeste clenched her fists and hurriedly called Liam.
“A man in the backyard carried Emma away,” she said.
Liam had just finished seeing off the last guests with Lawrence.
Upon receiving the call, he rushed over.
“Where is she?”
He hurried toward them.
Celeste quickly led him up the stairs in the backyard.
“It seems to be here,” she said.
“Yes, right here. We just saw Charles carry a girl inside,” one of her friends added.
Liam looked down and saw droplets of water on the floor, trailing toward the door.
Lawrence rushed over.
He glanced at the gathered crowd and knocked on the door.
There was no response.
He knocked again.
The door slowly opened.
Everyone outside froze.
Charles stood there, wearing a pink scarf tied around his waist. Droplets still clung to his hair.
“Came to catch me cheating?” he smirked, glancing at the group outside.
“Charles? It really is you!” someone exclaimed.
Liam stared through the half-open door, his intense gaze fixed on Charles.
“Charles, what are you doing in my sister’s room?” Lawrence demanded.
Charles glanced at Celeste, then looked at Liam.
“What are you all doing here?” he countered.
Ignoring him, Liam pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Just as he entered, Dawn peeked out from under Charles’s arm.
Her pale shoulders were exposed, and her hair was still damp.
“Hi,” she smiled.
Everyone froze.
Dawn?
How could it be her?
Where is Emma?
Charles swallowed hard and reached out to push Dawn’s head back inside.
“Anything else?” he asked in a hoarse voice.
Lawrence quickly shut the door.
“Everyone, leave!” he ordered.
Liam turned to look at Celeste.
She took several steps back, then explained,
“Liam, I really saw it! They both saw it too. I called you because I was worried about my sister-in-law!”
“Sister-in-law?” Lawrence’s gaze fixed on Liam.
“Isn’t Emma your mistress?” he asked.
Liam’s expression darkened.
Mistress?
Who started that rumor?
"I'm sorry, Liam..." Celeste stammered before scrambling away.
Liam's face remained cold as he picked up his phone and opened the wedding photo.
"Look closely! She's my lawful wife. Who told you she was my mistress? Huh?" he shouted.
Lawrence's jaw dropped.
Then why had they pretended not to know each other at the company's annual meeting?
Is this a secret marriage?
"I'm sorry, Mr. Hayes! I genuinely didn't know!" Lawrence apologized hurriedly.
Liam took out his phone, pushed him aside, and called Emma.
Her phone remained switched off.
Just then, Dawn called Lawrence.
"Okay, got it," Lawrence said before hanging up.
"Emma's in my sister's room." He turned to Liam.
——
In Dawn's room.
There were two bedrooms, a living room, and a private bathroom in the suite.
Charles was currently changing in one of the bedrooms.
Emma sat on the sofa with her hair half-dried and wrapped in a blanket.
She sipped coffee with a pale face.
Dawn and Lawrence sat on another sofa.
Emma lowered her gaze, unsure what to say.
Liam sat beside her and pulled her into his embrace.
"Are you okay?" he asked, concerned.
Blushing, she nodded softly and took a big gulp of coffee.
Uneasy, Lawrence's hands clutched at the hem of his shirt.
"Emma isn't his mistress, you know?" he asked.
"Of course I know," Dawn chuckled.
"I've never heard anyone say that Mr. Hayes is married..." he whispered.
Dawn was too lazy to argue with Lawrence.
She turned to Liam and said, "Charles brought her back. I happened to be returning to my room when they arrived. Nothing happened between them."
Charles emerged from his room and ran his hand through his hair.
"Emma, I need to apologize for my earlier behavior," he said.
"It's fine. I should be thanking you," Emma said with a smile.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Hayes." Charles turned to Liam.
"Thank you." Liam glanced at him.
"You're welcome," Charles said. "It was Celeste's maid who pushed Mrs. Hayes. I just happened to be passing by."
"Your issue is resolved, but what about Charles and me?" Dawn pursed her lips.
"You two might as well just get together right here. You're quite well-matched," Lawrence chuckled.
SMACK!
Dawn slapped Lawrence squarely on the head.
"I'll handle this," Liam said.