Chapter 236

Emily Smith lowered her head, focusing on cutting the steak on her plate. The clinking of silverware against porcelain filled the air. The gaze from across the table burned too intensely—so nakedly predatory it made her fingers tighten around the knife.

She abruptly looked up and met William Johnson's deep, ink-black eyes. Her heart skipped a beat, her throat constricting.

Suppressing her erratic breathing, Emily continued eating as if nothing had happened. Only when her stomach felt full did she gracefully set down her utensils.

"Thank you for the meal." She dabbed her lips with a napkin before standing, the hem of her dress sweeping in a graceful arc. "I'll be leaving now."

The sharp click of her heels against the marble floor echoed urgently. Then, William's low voice reached her from behind. "Emily, this time I mean it."

Her steps faltered almost imperceptibly.

"I'll wait for your answer."

Clutching her handbag, Emily pushed through the restaurant's glass door without looking back. The night breeze brushed against her flushed ears.

Sam Wilson respectfully opened the car door for her. "Miss Smith, please."

She didn't refuse. After all, walking from Jinzhou Bay to Sky City would mean crossing three streets.

The next morning, Emily's throat had finally stopped swelling. Her phone rang abruptly, the hospital's number flashing on the screen.

"A consultation at ten?" Her voice trembled slightly with excitement. "I'll be there on time."

In the hospital corridor, her fingers shook as she shook hands with Professor Schievink. When she described her sister's condition in flawless American English, the elderly professor raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Have you lived in the States?"

"No, I just graduated from Jinzhou University's English department." She smiled faintly and shook her head.

The consultation room was packed. Emily sat in a corner, occasionally jotting down notes or listening intently. When asked about her sister's medical history, her concise and precise answers drew sidelong glances from the attending doctors.

Suddenly, a chill ran down her spine. Emily turned her head and met William's scorching gaze. Flustered, she looked away, her pen leaving a small ink blot on the paper.

The consultation lasted until dusk. Only when the meeting adjourned did the others notice William's presence, and muffled gasps rippled through the room.

"Miss Smith," Professor Schievink suddenly took her hand and winked playfully, "your boyfriend donated over a hundred million dollars in research equipment just to get me here."

Emily froze. The number hit her like a hammer, leaving her dizzy.

Suppressed exclamations rose around her. Mechanically, she turned to William, but he was already engaged in a casual conversation with the professor, as if he'd merely commented on the weather.

The surgical plan was finalized, though the exact date would depend on her sister's health indicators.

Emily fled back to the hospital room. Before long, familiar footsteps paused outside the door. Staring at her sister's pale face, she didn't dare turn around.

The air was thick with the scent of disinfectant and something else—something indescribable.