Chapter 88 A Crisis of Trust
As Liam dragged Emma to the hospital lobby, they ran into Ryan and several bodyguards.
"Mr. and Mrs. Hayes." Ryan greeted.
The two slid into the backseat with stern expressions.
The car drove straight to the police station.
Emma went inside to give a statement to the police while Ryan and Liam stayed in the car.
"Did you find anything?" Liam asked.
"Yes," Ryan replied, pulling up a timeline of gas usage records on his tablet.
It showed that the gas had been turned on before Giselle called Liam and turned it off about ten minutes later.
Giselle had clearly lied.
Why would she lie?
Liam's expression darkened.
"Hand the evidence over to the police." He rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"Understood."
"Do you know David?" he asked.
"Yes, we're college alumni." Ryan answered honestly, then added, "He was also Professor Grayson's student, and he's always been close with Emma."
"How close?"
"Just like Emma and I."
Ryan didn't dare mention that David had had a crush on Emma back in college.
"Give me his detailed background," Liam instructed.
"He's the founder of Monolo Men's Haute Couture and has previously collaborated with federal agencies."
Liam furrowed his brow.
——
By the time Emma left the police station, it was 2:00 p.m.
Once in the car, neither of them spoke.
Ryan sat in the passenger seat, uneasy.
"Ryan, why are you dressed like that?" Emma asked, breaking the silence.
"My grandma bought it. She insisted I wear it until the holidays are over. She says it'll bring good luck." Ryan smiled.
"You actually believe that?" Liam asked.
"Mr. Hayes, there are some things money can't buy. Money isn't everything." Emma sneered.
Liam was momentarily at a loss for words.
Ryan lowered his head, shoveling food into his mouth.
After dinner, he found an excuse to leave early.
In the quiet car, an awkward silence hung over the remaining two.
Liam's long fingers rested on the steering wheel.
Emma turned her head toward the window, her hands folded in her lap.
He opened his mouth, wondering how to smooth things over.
His phone rang.
It was Giselle calling.
He glanced at the name flashing on the screen, then looked at the angry woman beside him.
He picked it up and put it on speaker.
"Liam, I'm sorry. I don't have your wife's contact information, so I had to call you." Giselle's voice echoed from the other line.
"What's the matter?" Liam asked, pulling the car over to the side of the road.
His gaze was fixed on Emma's sharply defined profile.
"I haven't had a chance to thank you properly yet, and now this misunderstanding has happened. I'm truly sorry for the trouble Mrs. Hayes went through," Giselle continued.
Emma froze for a moment but quickly regained her composure.
"And then?" he asked.
"I just realized that I turned on the gas myself. I was planning to cook something. I apologized to her for today's misunderstanding. Don't let this strain your relationship."
Liam gently pinched Emma's cheek.
"Got it," he said flatly before hanging up.
——
In the ward——
"Why did you just let it go like that? It was such a great opportunity!" Ronald said angrily.
Gripping her phone tightly, Giselle gritted her teeth and said, "Liam has already submitted the time-stamped evidence of gas usage. It's the best time to end it."
"Why not just forget about this guy? My sweetie, you're brilliant! You can find someone better than Liam," Betty advised, frowning.
"They haven't even signed the marriage registration papers yet. Even if they did, they could still get divorced. I still have a chance." Giselle lowered her eyes.
"Do you really have to marry him?" Ronald frowned.
"Yes, absolutely." Giselle lay back, staring at the white ceiling.
——
"Honey." Liam unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned toward the passenger seat.
Emma turned her head irritably and met his eyes. "Do you know why I'm angry?"
"The matter has been cleared up, and I told you I'd handle it." He reached out and gently stroked her cheek.
"Handled?" Her brow furrowed tighter.
His expression darkened as he explained, "You know I didn't mean it that way."
"Liam, you said you could handle it. If you really thought I did it back then, how were you going to handle it?" she asked, looking at him intently.
His expression faltered.
"I'm sorry. I should have trusted you," he murmured.
Emma continued, "If I really wanted to get back at her, there are plenty of ways. There's absolutely no need to put myself in danger."
"I was wrong." He stretched out his long arm and pulled her into his embrace.
She slowly raised her hand and wrapped it around his firm waist. "Thank you for always protecting me."
"This time, I'm the one who caused you trouble." Liam felt deeply guilty.
"Do you know what a 'pick-me girl' is?" she asked, pushing him away.
"What? I don't understand." He frowned.
"Giselle is exactly that kind of pick-me girl. Liam, I hope you…"
Before she could finish, he kissed her firmly.
He took her breath away, kissing her forcefully until her whole body went limp.
When their lips parted slightly, he gently traced her swollen lips with his thumb.
"I'll keep my distance from her. I'll listen to whatever you say, and I'll consult you first if anything comes up. Please don't be angry, okay?"
"Okay." Emma had lost all her resolve from his kiss.
He pulled her into his arms.