Chapter 35 He Changed Her Clothes
“Your wife is really something, Liam,” John said, showing his slightly scraped arm and waist. “You called me, and I rushed right over. I tried to ask her what was going on, but she just threw me to the floor.”
“He said he’d give me twenty thousand dollars a month…” Emma mumbled, pointing at John.
Liam’s expression darkened, his eyes turning grim.
“I didn’t do this! Liam!” John stumbled back two steps.
“Go back and find out what happened. If you don’t have results in ten minutes, you’ll be getting a wheelchair tomorrow,” Liam warned, his tone icy.
“Understood!” John hurried away.
Liam glanced at the high heels on the bench, then bent to pick them up.
He reached for the bag in her hands, but she clutched it tightly.
“Let go, sweetheart. I’ll take it for you,” he said, deliberately softening his voice.
“No, it’s his. You can’t take it.” She hugged the bag close, burying herself against his chest and breathing in his familiar, steady scent.
His? Whose?
He said nothing, simply tightening his hold as he carried her toward the car.
…
By the time he gently laid her on the bed, she was already asleep.
He set the bag aside. Then he carefully removed her makeup, wiping away the lipstick smeared along her neck.
Only then did he notice the diamond necklace and earrings she wore—heirlooms from the Hayes family matriarch, reserved exclusively for the family’s mistress.
His fingers paused for a fraction of a second.
Then he removed the jewelry with meticulous care.
…
The next day, she crawled out of bed around ten, feeling groggy and disoriented.
She had no memory of how she’d gotten back.
After showering, she took her phone downstairs.
“I’d like steak for lunch, thanks, Zoe.” She leaned against the table, squinting.
A hangover cure slid across the tabletop.
Without thinking, she gulped it down.
“Thanks.” She hesitated, then asked, “Hasn’t he come back?”
The words barely left her mouth when a sandwich was pushed toward her.
Warm breath, carrying a faint pine scent, brushed close.
“Who?”
She turned her head—and found Liam standing right in front of her, his piercing gaze fixed on her face.
Her heart skipped. Heat rushed to her cheeks, and a vague sense of danger crept in.
“Did you bring me home last night?” she asked.
“Yes.” His hands rested flat on the table as he studied her intently.
“Did you change my clothes?”
“Yes.”
She looked at him awkwardly, bit her lip, and asked, “Did we…?”
The question trailed off, unfinished.
“You mean, did we have sex?”
“…”
“So,” he continued softly, leaning closer, his voice dropping, “do you wish it had happened, or—”
His breath brushed her ear. She quickly covered his mouth with her hand and pushed him back. “I don’t know…”
He smiled faintly, took her hand, and pressed a light kiss to the back of it. “Don’t worry. I won’t force you.”
Emma immediately withdrew her hand.
Catching her evasive gaze, he let out a low chuckle and turned away. “Zoe took a week off. The fridge is pretty empty. Let’s go grocery shopping together later.”
“Okay.” She took a bite of her sandwich, her reply barely audible.
Feeling awkward, she picked up her phone and noticed a message from Ryan sent late the night before.
Ryan: \[You’re the first one who ever dared to yell at the boss.\]
She bit her lip and replied.
Emma: \[Did I go too far last night?\]
Ryan replied quickly.
Ryan: \[You’ve been doing great. We worked nonstop for half a month and finally get to rest.\]
“Has the company been busy lately?” Emma asked, breaking the silence.
“There’ve been some financial issues,” Liam replied, pulling a steak from the freezer to thaw. “And we still haven’t found a designer.”
Designer… Was he looking for Muse?
“Will it go bankrupt? Do you need help?” she asked.
“Bankrupt?” He chuckled.
“If we did,” he added casually, wiping the table, “would you run away?”
“We could run together.” She finished her milk in one gulp.
Liam laughed quietly and shook his head.
After breakfast, she carried her plate toward the sink.
“Let me.” Liam took the plate and cup from her hands without thinking.
Such a small gesture—and yet her heart raced.
“Thanks.”
“My necklace…” Emma murmured, touching her neck.
“It’s in the nightstand,” Liam said.
“Okay.” She nodded and hurried upstairs.
Back in the room, she opened the top drawer of the nightstand.
Startled, she slammed the drawer shut.
Color crept onto her cheeks.
So many condoms…
When does he buy these?
He’d been prepared all along, so why did he refuse me?
She swallowed hard and nervously opened the second drawer.
Inside, a diamond necklace and earrings lay in a small box, with another box beside it.
Curious, she opened it and found a tulip brooch.
She examined it closely. It was a rare design, a handmade piece only available through private commission. It refracted a rainbow of colors.
“Do you like it?” He leaned against the doorframe.
“!”
When has he been standing there?
What is he asking about?
“Yes.” Emma’s ears burned crimson. Her hands clenched as she hurriedly stood up.
“Glad you do.” He gave a slight smile.
“Thank you.”
She pushed the drawer shut and quickly changed the subject.
“I also got you something.” She walked to the bedside, opened the bag, and took out the two shirts and the suit that she had made for him.
Liam sauntered over in his slippers, looking languid.
As she watched him approach with a smile on his lips, her heart pounded fiercely, and her palms burned hot.
“Try them on yourself…” She hurriedly shoved the clothes into his arms and dashed past him.
“I’ll wait for you downstairs,” she added.
He curved his lips upward as his long fingers traced the fabric.
About ten minutes later, Liam came downstairs, carrying a tie.
“Did you make this?” he asked with a smile as he approached her on the sofa.
Emma scrambled to her feet, gave a soft nod, and carefully appraised him.
“The top button won’t fasten.” He slowly sat down on the sofa and tugged at his collar as he looked at her.