Emergency

Back at the office, Ava stayed busy until late in the evening.

Liam loosened his tie with one hand, his gaze sharp and unreadable. Turning to his assistant, he asked in a low voice, "Did you find out what I asked for?"

"Mr. Carter, they've known each other since childhood. Their parents were close friends."

The coldness in Liam's eyes eased slightly, as if everything was within his expectations.

Ethan was someone buried deep in Ava's heart. Before the divorce was finalized, she wouldn't meet him alone.

She was young, but she had always known where to draw the line.

Liam pushed back his chair and stood up, buttoning his jacket with one hand. "Cancel my dinner with Mr. Huo tonight. Something came up."

"Understood, Mr. Carter." The assistant began tidying up the files on the desk.

Leaving Carter Tower, Liam drove straight to the Arts District.

The sun dipped below the horizon, and dusk settled over the city.

He sat in his car and called Ava. "I'm outside your gallery. Come out."

Ava sounded slightly surprised. "We're out for dinner—a team gathering."

"Who's there?"

"Everyone from the gallery."

"Ethan too?"

"Yes, he's part-owner."

Recalling how easily they had laughed together at lunch, an irritation stirred in Liam's chest. Still, his voice remained steady. "Call me when you're done. I'll pick you up."

"Thanks." Her tone was polite but distant, keeping a deliberate boundary between them.

Liam didn't like how that felt. His fingers tightened slightly around his phone.

After hanging up, he dialed David. "Let's get a drink."

"Bro, it's barely evening, and you already need a drink?" David's voice was lazy, like he had just woken up.

Liam was firm. "Bring the contract. Half an hour. Don't be late."

David sobered up immediately. "Got it! I'll be there!"

Hudson Lounge, 30 Minutes Later

The place buzzed with conversation. The contract was signed, papers were processed, and funds were transferred—all without a hitch.

Once business was settled, everyone left, leaving only Liam and David.

David, sharp-featured with a lazy charm, lounged in his seat, one arm draped over the chair. He narrowed his eyes at Liam. "Rough day?"

Liam took a slow sip of his drink. "I'm fine."

His fingers, long and elegant, wrapped around the glass, the ice clinking softly.

David scoffed. "You, drowning your mood in whiskey? Most guys deal with stress by hitting a club. You? You just buy real estate. Man, your coping mechanisms are next-level. Let me know next time—you can buy some of my dad's property too."

Liam shot him a glance. "This deal was already planned. I just closed it a week early."

David picked up the ceramic sake bottle and poured himself a drink. "I heard Sophia's back in town. You two seem to be hanging out a lot."

Liam raised an eyebrow. "Just say what's on your mind."

David leaned forward slightly, for once sounding serious. "Ava's a good woman. Don't screw this up."

Liam tapped his fingers against the table, then chuckled. "Weren't you the one who thought she wasn't good enough for me? Now you've changed your mind?"

"Back then, I thought she was just after your money. But I was wrong. She actually cares about you. If she were just in it for the cash, she'd have taken the check and walked. Instead, she stayed, practically playing housekeeper for you all these years."

Liam's gaze darkened. "She is a good woman."

"Then why—"

Liam looked down at his drink, his voice barely above a whisper. "She's brilliant. Five years ago, she married me because her family needed the money. She never said it outright, but I know it wasn't what she wanted. I put her in that situation. I don't want to keep her trapped there."

David stared at him. "That's why you're divorcing her?"

"More or less."

David sighed, shaking his head. "You sure you can let her go?"

Liam didn't answer. Instead, he drained his glass.

The whiskey burned as it went down, sharp and unforgiving, settling like a slow fire in his chest.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

David barely looked up. "Come in."

The door swung open, revealing a tall, slender woman.

She was stunning—high cheekbones, delicate features, wearing a white puff-sleeve blouse paired with a sleek knee-length skirt. Cartier jewelry glinted at her wrists, a Hermès ostrich-leather handbag hanging effortlessly from her arm, and a Chanel coat draped over her shoulders.

Sophia.

Liam's expression cooled. "What are you doing here?"

Sophia swayed her hips as she walked in, resting an elbow on the back of Liam's chair and leaning close to his ear. Her voice was soft, carrying a trace of playful warmth. "Heard you were here, thought I'd stop by and say hi."

Liam turned his head slightly, keeping his distance. Seeing that she wasn't planning to leave, he said, "Sit down."

"Thanks, Liam." Sophia smiled sweetly, pulling out a chair and settling in. She casually tossed her coat over the chair.

A waiter arrived with fresh tableware.

Liam pushed the menu toward her. "Order whatever you want."

Sophia glanced at the table, already covered with dishes, and pushed the menu aside with a laugh. "No need. Anything you like, I like too."

David shivered and rubbed his arms.

Sophia slid a plate of Arctic sweet shrimp in front of her, batting her big, doe-like eyes at Liam. "Liam, I want shrimp."

David scoffed. "You don't have hands?"

Sophia pouted, her voice dripping with fake innocence. "I've never peeled shrimp in my life. At home, my parents always did it for me. And when I ate out with Liam before, he peeled them for me too."

She grabbed Liam's arm, leaning in with a sugary whine. "Liam, peel them for me? Pretty please?"

Liam shot her a sideways glance, pulled his arm away, slipped on a disposable glove, and started peeling a shrimp.

For some reason, an image of Ava peeling shrimp for him flashed through his mind.

Her fingers were quick and precise, always managing to slip the shell off in one clean motion.

He had tried before, but it never came out as perfect as hers.

After peeling one, he picked up the shrimp and was about to place it on Sophia's plate.

But before he could, she dipped her head and caught it straight from his fingers—along with his finger.

Her tongue flicked over his fingertip before she lightly sucked on it.

She gazed up at him, her eyes shimmering with something sultry.

Then, she let go of his finger, flashed a coy smile, took a slow bite of the shrimp, and purred, "Mmm… shrimp tastes even better when you peel it for me, Liam."

Liam's expression stiffened. He wasn't sure what to feel—annoyed, disgusted, or just plain uncomfortable.

He peeled off the glove, tossed it aside, then grabbed a disinfectant wipe and scrubbed the finger she had just sucked on.

David cringed so hard he felt his soul leave his body. He had the overwhelming urge to slap Sophia.

Liam wasn't even divorced yet, and she was already pulling this? Seriously?

Did she think he was invisible?

David yanked out his phone and shot Ava a text: "Ava, your husband is wasted, acting like a lunatic. Come get him ASAP. We're at Hudson Lounge."

Meanwhile, Ava was having dinner with her coworkers at The Grand Oak Steakhouse when the message popped up. She immediately dialed David, wanting to know what the hell was going on.

Because as far as she knew, Liam could hold his liquor. She had never seen him lose control before.

The call rang once before David declined it.

Ava frowned, pulled up Liam's number, and was about to call him instead.

Before she could, another text from David popped up: "Ava, hurry! Get here NOW. It's serious!"

Ava's stomach dropped.