Chapter 26

Outside the hospital, traffic streamed by endlessly. Emily Smith stood across the street, fiddling with her phone. She had just saved William Johnson's number when she heard a familiar voice call her name.

"Emily."

Daniel Chen's car pulled up slowly in front of her. The window rolled down, revealing his warm smile.

Emily's eyes brightened. "Daniel!"

"Get in." He tilted his head toward the passenger seat.

She opened the door and slid inside, completely unaware of the dark gaze following them from a black Range Rover parked near the hospital entrance.

The restaurant was tucked inside an elegant old mansion. Two seasoned anchors were already waiting when Daniel escorted Emily inside. They greeted her warmly and gestured for her to join them.

"So this is the talented junior you mentioned?" one of the female anchors asked, studying Emily with a smile.

Emily nodded shyly. For the next three hours, she listened intently as the veterans shared their experiences, occasionally jotting down key points in her phone's notes app.

"That's enough for today," Daniel said, checking the time. "Let me drive you back."

"No need, we'll take a cab," the two anchors declined politely.

After seeing them off, Daniel turned to Emily. "I'll take you home."

"It's fine, I can take the subway," Emily insisted, waving her hands.

Daniel had already opened the passenger door. "It's late. I wouldn't feel right letting you go alone."

When she hesitated, he teased lightly, "What, afraid I'll bite?"

Reluctantly, Emily got in. But she couldn't let Daniel know she lived in Jinzhou Bay, so she gave him the address for Xiawei Village instead.

The car stopped in front of a rundown apartment building. Emily thanked him and was about to leave when Daniel suddenly called out, "Let me know when your voice recovers."

"Okay. Drive safe," she said with a wave, watching his car disappear before hurrying toward the subway station.

It was nearly midnight by the time she returned to Jinzhou Bay. She paused at the door to steady her breathing before pushing it open quietly.

The apartment was brightly lit but eerily silent. A untouched dinner sat on the dining table, long gone cold.

Snap.

The sound of a laptop closing made her jump. William lounged on the sofa, his gaze icy. "Ten-thirty. How early."

Emily swallowed hard and headed for the kitchen. "I'll heat up the food for you."

She could feel his scorching stare burning into her back. A few minutes later, she brought the reheated dishes to the table. "It's ready."

"Come here." His voice was sharp as frost.

Emily shuffled over slowly, like a guilty child.

"Where were you?" He narrowed his eyes.

"Dinner with friends." She kept her head down, fingers twisting together.

William scoffed. "I waited for you. Didn't even eat."

"Then... do you want me to eat with you now?" she asked cautiously.

"Too late." He yanked her into his arms, his warm breath brushing her ear. "You'll have to make it up to me another way."