Chapter 4

The driver opened the back seat door and bowed politely as I entered. I thanked him as I settled in, and Liam joined me soon after. I was finally discharged and going back home.

The drive was long, and Liam stayed quiet for most of the journey. I tried striking up a conversation with him, but his replies were brief. I grew tired and eventually dozed off.

I woke up when the car passed through the gates of a massive estate. My eyes widened as I stared at the imposing mansion before us. Several men in black suits stood outside, bowing as Liam exited the car.

"Do we really live here?" I asked, taking Liam's hand as he helped me out.

He nodded, but I couldn't stop staring. What the hell did he do for a living? The number of men guarding the mansion told me Liam was no ordinary man.

We walked toward the entrance, and the men parted to let us through.

"Welcome home, sir," one of them said.

Liam nodded, his eyes scanning the area as if searching for something. We stepped inside, and I gasped. Marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and lavish finishes surrounded me. I felt out of place.

"Welcome home," a soft voice said behind us.

I turned to see a kind-looking woman in a perfectly styled black dress. Without thinking, I rushed forward and hugged her tightly.

"Oh... you must be his mother!" I exclaimed.

She stiffened slightly, glancing at Liam, who sighed. "Emma, that's not—"

"I'm so glad to meet you!" I interrupted, pulling back with an apologetic smile. "You just seem so warm. I bet you're the reason this place feels so welcoming."

The woman's eyes flicked to Liam, who pinched the bridge of his nose. She smiled gently and patted my arm. "I'm not his mother, dear. My name is Mrs. Keller. I'm the housekeeper."

I froze. "Oh... I'm so sorry!" I stammered.

"It's fine," Mrs. Keller said kindly, glancing at Liam, who seemed to be suppressing a smile. "You've had a long day. I'll prepare something for you to eat and have your room readied."

"My room?" I glanced at Liam. "You mean our room, right? I mean... we're married, aren't we?"

Mrs. Keller's expression froze, but Liam quickly stepped in. "She's just tired. Don't worry about it." He guided me forward. "Emma, let's get you settled."

I leaned toward him. "Why do I get the feeling she didn't believe me?"

"She doesn't need to," Liam replied, his voice tight.

We reached the grand staircase, and I paused. "Wait... we're not sharing a room?"

He ran a hand through his hair. "Emma, I thought it might be better for you to have your own space for now. You've been through a lot, and—"

"But we are married!" I protested without realizing I was raising my voice. "Why would I sleep alone?"

Liam looked uncomfortable, his jaw clenched. "It's just temporary. You need time to recover, and I want you to feel comfortable."

I crossed my arms. "If you're implying I don't feel comfortable with my husband, then maybe I'm the one who should be asking questions."

Liam's expression hardened, and I saw a flicker of panic in his eyes. "Emma..."

Before he could say more, Mrs. Keller returned. "Your room is ready, ma'am."

I huffed and followed her upstairs, shooting Liam a pointed look. Behind me, I heard him mutter, "This is going to be harder than I thought."

I barely noticed my exhaustion until I stepped into the room Mrs. Keller had prepared. The bed was big, the sheets pristine, and the faint scent of lavender filled the air. It was beautiful, but it felt... off.

"Let me know if you need anything, ma'am," Mrs. Keller said before leaving.

I sat at the edge of the bed, my mind racing. Why wouldn't Liam let us share a room? Married couples slept together. Was there something wrong between us? My stomach twisted at the thought.

Just as I was about to lie down, a soft knock startled me. "Come in," I called.

Liam stepped inside and leaned against the doorframe. "Are you settling in okay?"

"It's fine," I said, sitting up.

"You look upset," he said softly, studying me closely.

"I'm not upset."

"Emma—"

"I don't get it," I said, gripping the blanket. "We're supposed to be married, but everything feels off. Why won't you tell me what's really going on?"

Liam stiffened, as though deciding whether to say something. Then he shook his head. "You're tired. Get some rest. We'll talk tomorrow."

"Liam—"

"Goodnight, Emma."

I stared at the closed door, now certain he was hiding something.

The next morning, I woke up early and made my way downstairs. I wanted to explore the rest of the house since I hadn't had a chance the day before.

I was admiring a painting when I noticed a small head peeking from behind a door. A little girl with curly brown hair was watching me.

"Hello," I said softly, but she immediately hid herself.

I took a cautious step forward. "It's okay, you don't have to hide."

The little girl peeked out again, clutching a stuffed bunny tightly to her chest. She didn't say anything.

"Hi, I'm Emma. What's your name?"

She didn't respond, but her eyes shifted to me and then back to her stuffed toy.

"Do you like your bunny?" I asked, nodding toward the toy. "He's very cute. Does he have a name?"

She glanced at me but remained silent.

"Emma," Liam's voice interrupted from behind me.

The little girl immediately darted behind the door.

"Wait!" I called, but she was already gone. I turned to Liam. "Who is she?"

Liam's jaw tightened. "That's Lila... my... I mean, our daughter."