Chapter 6 - Drama arrives

After Liam had driven Emma and Claire back home, he made sure her inhaler was on her bedside table. He bought two—keeping the other in his room just in case. 

“If she needs anything that isn't at home, call me or send the driver to get it,” he told the maid.

 “Yes, sir,” She replied. 

He went upstairs to shower. His first stop? The Greysons’. Liam is dressed in a black suit—he never cared for flashy ones. When he got downstairs, he saw Richard by the kitchen counter. 

“Richard?”

 “Yes, sir,” he answered, quickly standing up. “Stay outside her room. If she needs anything, let Claire know,” he said, and walked out without waiting for a reply. 

The driver came out and took Liam’s bag. “Take me to the Graysons’.” Liam demanded.“Sir— their home or their company?” The driver asked nervously. 

Liam just gave him a sharp stare. The driver quickly opened the car door, put his bag inside, and waited for Liam to get in. Liam couldn’t stop thinking about what happened that morning… he knew he’d need to come home early today. 

Liam pulled up at Emma’s parent’s house. He saw her Dad talking to the driver, and when their eyes locked, Mr. Greyson looked surprised—more like worried—to see Liam. Liam got out of the car and walked straight toward him. 

“Is Emma alright?” asked Mr. Greyson, his voice thick with concern. 

“We need to talk inside. Now,"Liam said firmly.

 Liam had never been to their house before, but he carried that quiet authority that always got him what he wanted. Mr. Greyson told the driver to call his wife and led Liam to the lounge. Through the glass, Liam spotted a small pool with a chair beside it—and Sophia, in the water. 

“Get out of there, Sophia!” her father called out. 

“Dad, I’m not done yet,” Sophia grumbled. 

“Get out, Sophia—can’t you see we have a guest?” Her mother’s voice came sharply from behind. 

Sophia was out of the pool in a flash. Liam took a seat and waited for the Greysons to sit down across from him. 

“Why wasn’t I told?” Liam said sharply.

 “Told what?” Mr. Greyson asked, looking thoroughly confused. 

“My father doesn't know, does he?” Liam said, turning to look at his wife instead. 

Mrs. Greyson looked completely lost, trying to figure out what was going on. 

“Since you’re all acting like you don’t know, let me spell it out simple,” Liam said, his voice tight with frustration. “Emma had an asthma attack this morning… and I only just found out about it at the hospital. Why was I never told?” His eyes burned with anger—he was genuinely furious.

 “What? Why didn’t you call us right away?” Mr. Greyson asked, alarmed.

 “That doesn’t answer my question, does it?” Liam shot back. 

Mrs. Greyson went quiet.

 “It wasn’t necessary.” 

“It wasn’t necessary? So you knew if my father had any knowledge of this, he wouldn’t have invested…”

 “Look, Liam–” 

“Mr. Smith,” Liam corrected sharply. 

“Mr Smith. Emma hasn’t had that attack since she was eleven. We thought if she avoided things that would trigger it, it would stay that way— and it did. We’d even forgotten about it. That’s why Emma stopped carrying her inhaler.” 

“That’s one lame excuse… All you ever cared about was the money. I don’t even like your daughter, and now I have to keep her watched like a bloody invalid.” Liam didn’t even give them a chance to speak. “Listen—either you tell my father, or I will.” He stood up abruptly. And with that, he walked out. He was furious—and now he was late for his meeting, too.  

Meanwhile, back at home, Emma tried to get out of bed. She still smelled like the hospital—and she hated hospitals. She’d been in and out of them ever since she was a teenager. She showered and headed to the living room, hoping one of her favorite shows would help pass the time.

Her phone rang. The caller ID showed it was her dad. She was surprised they were calling. 

“Hey, Dad…”

 “Hey, sweetie. How are you? Liam came over this morning,” her dad said.

 What? Liam went to her parents’ house? probably just to tell them what happened. What was wrong with him? Acting like he cared all of a sudden?

 “I’m fine, dad.” 

Before her father could reply, she heard her mother on the other end. “Emma, if we lose our money and company, I swear to God—”

 She couldn’t believe it. That was all her mother cared about— the company. It wasn’t even hers; it was her dad’s, yet she was so obsessed with it. Emma hung up. She couldn’t take it anymore. Her parents had always treated her like some kind of sacrifice. Instead of being independent, she was married to a man who wouldn’t let her work—all because of some stupid reputation she didn’t care about at all.

She changed the channel, looking for something to lift her mood— and there it was. The news. Her father’s assistant on the screen. The headline read: HE BLACKMAILED THE GREYSONS’ DAUGHTER — CLAIMING HE SLEPT WITH HER IN EXCHANGE FOR ACCESS TO THE COMPANY’S FUNDS.

She couldn’t believe it. She grabbed her phone and tried calling her sister — no answer. Emma panicked. How could this be happening? How did anyone find out? Without stopping to think or even get changed properly, She rushed to the front door and told Charles to drive her to her parents’ house. The news said the police would be there in fifteen minutes. 

“I’m sorry, ma’am, i can’t do that.” 

“What do you mean you can’t? I need to get to my sister, and your’re talking nonsense!” Emma snapped back. 

“I have strict orders from Mr. Smith not to let you leave the house, ma’am,” the driver said firmly. 

“You’ve got to be kidding.” Surely he was just teasing? But it was clear he wasn’t moving an inch. Emma’s mid raced — she’d just run past him, out the gate, and find a taxi herself. But he seemed to read her thoughts. The moment she made a dash for it, Charles caught her gently but firmly, and guided her back inside. 

“I’m going to kill him,” Emma muttered through gritted teeth.

 Two hours later, Liam walked in. He was surprised to find her standing right by the door, like she’d been waiting for him the whole time. And honestly? She had been.

“Look, Emma, I don’t have time for this.”

 “But you have time to give orders to keep me locked up here!”

 “I was protecting you,” Liam said.

 “From what? From seeing my own sister? She’s in trouble, Liam!”

 “So what would you have done? Pretended none of this is true? If you’d gone out there, you’d be in handcuffs right alongside your sister.” 

Emma stared at him, stunned. “Sophia’s been arrested?”

 “What if she’s innocent?” Emma said, her voice rising. 

“She isn’t, Emma. The truth is already out there.” Liam looked away, turning to leave.

 Emma stepped in his path, blocking him. “How do you know she isn’t innocent? Tell me!”

“She accidentally leaked a chat between herself and… this guy she was seeing.” 

“She was dating Ethan?”

 “No. It turns out… every time they were together, they recorded it. He threatened to post the footage online if she didn’t hand over money. When she tried to get Ethan to help, he told her she’d have to sleep with him first — in exchange for accessing the company accounts.” 

Emma sank to the floor, sobbing. “No…No, no, no!” 

Liam just stood there, watching her. 

“You’ll be brought in for questioning tomorrow. I’ll have my lawyer ready,” Liam said. Then he stepped past her and went upstairs.