Chapter 292

Emily Smith stood on tiptoe, trying to read the fortune slip in William Johnson's hand.

William abruptly shoved the paper back into the bamboo cylinder.

She opened her mouth to speak but swallowed her questions when she saw the sudden darkness in his expression.

The temple abbot glimpsed the fortune's content and was about to offer comfort when William coldly excused himself.

Their planned vegetarian meal was canceled.

On the mountain path, William's brow remained furrowed.

"William," Emily gently tugged his sleeve. "You already have so much. You can't expect Buddha to grant your every wish."

He suddenly laughed, pinching the tip of her nose. "Are you comforting me or trying to provoke me?"

"See? You're smiling." She stopped walking, gazing into his eyes. "That means it worked."

"Emily..." William abruptly pulled her into a tight embrace, his grip almost painful. His voice muffled against her hair: "You won't leave me, right?"

Her heart trembled. Without hesitation, she answered: "I'll always be here whenever you need me."

In this moment, William seemed like a child afraid of abandonment, making her chest ache. He buried his face in her neck, whispering: "If you dare run away, I'll chase you to the ends of the earth and drag you back."

Emily could only laugh helplessly.

"Hungry?" He suddenly released her, changing topics abruptly.

"A little." She admitted honestly. She hadn't eaten much at noon, and evening had already fallen.

William magically produced a green apple lollipop. "Something to tide you over."

"Where did you get this?" She accepted it in surprise.

"Mia gave it to me." He smiled, unwrapping the candy.

Emily popped the lollipop in her mouth and started walking, only to be swept up into his arms. "I can walk by myself," she protested.

"Save your energy," he murmured in her ear. "You'll need it tonight."

When they returned to the villa, everyone had been waiting for some time. Emily noticed Vivian Lu and Olivia Davis were absent.

"Them?" Mia scoffed. "Their mouths were too foul, so I kicked them out."

Apparently, when Mia returned that afternoon, she'd overheard the two gossiping behind Emily's back again and nearly came to blows.

"Don't mind people like that, sis," Ethan Zheng apologized. "They think their family status makes them superior."

Daniel Chen agreed: "Yeah sis, don't let them ruin your mood."

Emily smiled and nodded. "I didn't pay them any mind at all."

Under the table, William squeezed her hand. He knew she must have heard those nasty comments when she went upstairs earlier. He'd planned to deal with those two upon returning, but now he'd need another approach.