Emma held her breath until she finally sat down with the couple.
"How was your night, baby?" Smith asked, smiling with the kind of warmth that could melt anyone's heart.
"Fine, Daddy," Emma replied.
Inside, however, everything felt twisted. The word didn't fit her tongue, but it was how Olivia always answered their questions.
Emma had nearly forgotten how it feels to have a father, a complete family.
She sat within Laura's reach, and the woman immediately brushed gentle fingers through her hair, smiling softly.
There was pride in her eyes, quiet, full, and unrestrained.
Her daughter and her husband were her whole world.
Emma knew this for a fact, especially after the memory of the truth about the couple's love story that they had shared with their daughter.
The affection warmed Emma's chest unexpectedly as Smith placed plates in front of them. The two maids stood by with their heads bowed.
"Thank you," Emma said the moment Smith placed the dishes down.
Laura's hand froze in mid-stroke.
Smith didn't even make it back to his seat.
Both stared at Emma, she wasn't shocked, she wasn't embarrassed, and it wasn't an accident.
She was here to improve Olivia's world, and this was where it began.
Olivia usually pouted, crossed her arms, and accepted whatever service came her way, but Emma… Emma had been raised to appreciate kindness. Every little act deserved gratitude.
She smiled at Smith, reached for a plate, and gently placed it in front of him.
His eyes shot to Laura.
Laura looked right back.
They understood nothing, but they assumed everything.
Their daughter had danced with Max yesterday… and today she was suddenly soft, polite, glowing.
It had to be love at first sight.
What else could make Olivia change this way?
After they finally relaxed, the maids stepped in to fill their plates. Laura exchanged a hopeful glance with her husband.
She had been planning to convince Olivia to forget yesterday's event before discussing Max…
but now, it seems unnecessary.
"Baby, do you like Max?" Laura asked.
What?! Emma screamed inside her head.
Her face twisted, her heart hammered wildly.
Did they already know her intentions?
Did they see something? Hear something?
Her thoughts spiraled so fast she blinked repeatedly, unable to respond.
But the couple only felt joy.
They were right.
Their daughter's behavior, her sudden sweetness was all because of Max Walker.
And honestly, they couldn't blame her. Max was stunning. Most girls couldn't resist him; the fact that Olivia had resisted was exactly why Max found her so strange.
"We will talk after eating. Don't disturb my baby," Smith said, though his voice couldn't hide his excitement.
He kept smiling as he picked up his cutlery and began eating. They had always worried about Olivia's love life, she had never dated, never showed interest.
While that was a relief at first to Richard Smith, who isn't willing to let men mess with his baby girl, Olivia had grown up now and could use a man by her side. A powerful man who values family and relations. A man like Maximillian Walker.
Today felt like a miracle.
She had found someone to care about.
Emma mentally thanked the heavens when they dropped the topic.
The breakfast table held nearly twenty dishes, far more than anything she had seen in her own world. The sight alone made her chest ache with longing.
She began to eat, feeling their eyes linger on her the entire time.
When they finally finished, Emma dabbed her lips with a kerchief and stood.
"I'll head to my room now," she said, then abruptly paused.
Laura and Smith were just about to ask her to stay since they wanted to discuss something important. But when she turned back sharply, they held their tongues.
"About the number I asked," Emma said.
"We were about to talk to you about Max. Do you want to talk now?" Laura asked gently.
"Whenever you're comfortable, baby. I can give you the number right now," Smith added. "You can decide when you want to hear us out."
"I'd like the number first… and talk in the evening," Emma replied, still uncertain of their intentions.
Her courage to call Max was fragile; she didn't want anything to weaken it.
"You can head to your room. I'll forward it to Via," Smith said.
Via, Olivia's bot.
Emma nodded and walked out slowly, copying Olivia's lazy pace…
but the moment she cleared the dining room—
she sprinted.
"See? I told you," Smith said, and Laura nodded proudly.
Their daughter was maturing.
She even bowed her head.
They were stunned and thrilled.
Even the maids had something to whisper to the others later.
Olivia had always ordered them to bow and avoid eye contact.
They couldn't remember the last time they looked at her properly.
She always found something to complain about; appearance, food, anything.
Everything had to match her standards.
But today…
Today she said "thank you."
…
Emma burst back into her room and clutched her chest.
"Did I make a mistake?" she asked Honey breathlessly.
"No, you did not," Honey assured her.
"Oh my God. I was so scared… My heart wouldn't stop racing. Did they know something? What do they want to talk about?" Emma asked shakily.
"Host, you will find out when they speak with you," Honey replied.
"Apologies for the silly question…" Emma sighed, approaching the configured device.
As promised, Max's number was displayed.
"Miss Smith, your father sent you a phone number. Should I read it out loud?" Via asked.
Emma quickly grabbed Olivia's phone.
Act first. Think later.
"Yes, please," she said.
She typed the digits carefully, her palms sweaty and pressed call.
Two rings.
Then
"Hello?" Max's deep, sleepy voice answered. He sounded like she'd woken him up, it was the weekend, after all.
And Emma…
went completely mute.
She didn't know where to star