Chapter166Kidnapped
William’svoiceturnedslightlycold.“JaydenorderedallthespecialtydishesfromWimstourCity.They’reheavyonondspice.Canyouhandlethat?”N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.
nellecouldn’thandleit,whichwaswhyshebarelytouchedherfood.Butwhywashesoconcernedanyway?
Winwastednotimeandmade<b>a</b><b>call</b>.“Sendsomelighterdishes to<b>private</b>room888.We’llneedthemintenminutes.”
Emeliecouldn’t<b>help</b><b>but</b>stareathim.Washedeliberatelyarrangingfoodforher?
<b>“</b>Mr.Middleton,youtrulyknowhowtosurpriseme,”she said.Hewasevenmoreunpredictablethanshehadimagined.
Aftertheirargumenstnight,it<b>was</b>unexpectedforhimto<b>suddenly</b>showconcernaboutwhethershecouldeatornot.
Wimshotherance.“Noneedtobesurprised.Youhavetostayalivetoanswermyquestions.”
Itbecameclearthattherewasamotivebehindhisactions.
Emellecouldn’tmove,soshegaveupandsatatthetablewhileholdingherstomach.
Theprivatediningroominthehigh–endhotelexudedanindescribableyetdelightfulfragrance.
Williamdidn’twasteanytime.Regardlessofwhethershe<b>had</b>recoveredornot,thequestionskeping.“Howdidthemiscarriagehappen?”
“Andherewegoagain,”thoughtEmelie.
Quirkingherlips,sheasked,“Mr.Middleton,areyousuddenlychoosingtobelievemenow?
“DidIgiveyoupermissiontointerrogateme?Williamshotback
Emelielookedupathim.Afterafewseconds,<b>she</b>gave himadubiousexnation.“Iwaskidnapped.”
Williamfrownedquickly.“What?”
“Iwaskidnapped.Thekidnapperswantedransom.Itriedcallingyou,Mr.Middleton,butyouhunguponme.So,theypushedmeontotheread,and1gothitbyacar.”
Williamhesitatedvisibly.Then,hisexpressiongrewcoldashestaredatEmelie’snkface.
Aftera<b>moment</b>,hespokeagain,<b>his</b>voicecolder,“That’simpossible.Ineverhunguponyourcall
Emellefoundhisstatementabsurd.“Mr.Middleton,don’tactlikeI’msospecialtoyou.”
“I’mtellingyouthatIneverhunguponyourcalls,”<b>William</b>insistedfirmly
Emelieletoutasigh.”yousayso,fine”
<b>To</b>William,Emeliewaslikeathornontherose.Thoughseeminglyobedient,everywoodshespokewaslikeaprick
Williamwalkeduptoher.“Emele,you’re<b>ying</b>gameswithme”
Hedidn’t<b>bellow</b>her.
“Whatnow?Areyoutryingtoshiftthemeforthemergeontome,hopingtoguilt–tripme?
“Thetenminutesareup.Itlookslikeyoumandsaren’taseffectiveasyouthought,Mr.Middleton,”Emelieremarkedasthefoodhadn’tarrivedyet.
<b>But</b>justasshefinished speaking,therewasaknockatthedoor.Thefoodindeedcamerightontime
Awaiterwheeled<b>in</b><b>a</b>cartwithdishes–chickennoodle<b>soup</b><b>,</b><b>a</b>sdwithvinaigrettedressing,andassortedfruitslices,alllightandsuitableforsomeonewithgastricpain“Mr.Middleton,areyoueating?”sheaskedcasually,justas anafterthoughtEmeliegrabbedher<b>spoon</b>anddugin
Shewasreallyhungry,andhergastricpainwasactingup<b>.</b><b>But</b><b>she</b>feltbetterafterhavingsomethingwarm.
SamuelsentheravoicemessageonWhatsApp.Emelleclickedonitabsentmindedly,forgettingherphone’svolume,soitredout<b>loud</b>.
“Emelle,I’vnded.Totallyforgottoremindyou<b>,</b><b>but</b><b>don’t</b>forgettoeatthree<b>meals</b>aday,nomatterhowhecticthingsgetTakecareofyourself.It’dbeashameformetogoallthewaytomybrother’sforthoseherbalremediesifyou’renotlookingafteryourself”
Emelierepliedwithaquick,“Gotit”
“SeemslikeMr.Swanson<b>is</b>quiteclingy.Areyouokaywithcheckingin<b>with</b>himlikethat?Williamchuckled softly, “Can’tsayIrememberyouupdatingmelikethatbefore.”Emeliesetherphonedown.“Well,maybeIwasn’tcrgenoughtoyou,Mr.Middleton,soIdidn’tmeetyourexpectations.Mybad.”
Williamalmostinstantlyunderstoodwhatshemeant.Asmirkcurvedatthecornerof<b>his</b>lips,buthismockerywascolderthanmereindifference.“Ididn’t neglectyoubecauseyouweren’tclingyenough.”
Emebedidn’tsayanything else.Earlier,shewasfeelingunwell,whichmadeherabitshort–tempered.Butaftersomefood,shewasbacktoherusualself.
Shefinishedabowlofchickennoodlesoupandlefteverythingelseuntouched.“I haveworkthis<b>afternoon</b>,”shesaid,gettingup“SoIneedtogobackandprepare.Mr.Middleton
Williamseemedevenlessinterestedinspendingtimewithher.Beforeshecouldfinish,hehadalreadylefttheprivateroom.
Emelie’sexpressionremaineasshewalkedbacktoherroomtoretrieveherthings.
Intheelevator,shetookabouttosecondstothink
Wasitreallybecauseshewasn’tclingyenoughthathehadbedistantandsoughtoutDaphne?Whatelsewastherebetweenthem?