Chapter 4
"All right." Gavin Davis hesitated for only a brief second on the other end of the phone before agreeing.
Emily carefully tucked Michael's business card into her wallet.
She planned to return to her small apartment, but on the way, her phone rang with a call from her aunt.
"Emily, come to our house right away," Susan Price commanded, her icy tone carrying an unmistakable air of authority.
Emily took a deep breath.
She could guess without even closing her eyes that her aunt was summoning her for a confrontation.
Her uncle's somewhat weak voice came through from the background. "Emmy, please just come over, okay?"
Emily's eyes reflected complex emotions. "Fine."
For her uncle Richard Harrison —the only person who hadn't abandoned her when their family fortunes collapsed, the only one who had shown her kindness—Emily softened her resolve.
As soon as Emily knocked on the door, she was greeted with a barrage of accusations.
"What did you do to Robert?" Susan stood before her, hands on hips, radiating hostility.
So that fat, disgusting man was named Robert?
Emily stared at her coldly, saying nothing.
Her uncle and cousin Olivia Harrison sat on the sofa—Richard looking uncomfortable, Olivia gleefully enjoying the spectacle.
"Robert is a successful business owner worth millions! When he heard about you, he immediately offered a generous sum. That shows how much he likes you!" Susan jabbed a finger at Emily. "But instead of going home with him properly, you attacked him!"
"Do you know Robert is in the hospital now because of you?!"
Emily frowned. Had Michael been that... thorough?
Actually, it sounded rather satisfying.
Olivia chimed in with feigned concern, "Emily, how could you be so violent? You're a girl—who's going to marry you after this?"
"Robert seemed quite suitable for you. You're not exactly a Harrison heiress anymore, you know. You should take what you can get while someone still wants you." Olivia's voice dripped with mockery.
Richard glared at his daughter. "Olivia, don't talk about Emily that way!"
"But I'm just telling the truth!" Olivia protested.
Emily's lips curved into a cold smile, her voice sharp as ice. "You're so worried about my marriage prospects—why don't you marry him yourself?"
"Why would I marry someone like.." Olivia began, then caught Emily's contemptuous gaze.
"What? You find him unsuitable for yourself but perfectly fine to push onto me?" Emily's words hit their mark.
Olivia and Susan could only bully her behind closed doors, never daring to show their true colors publicly.
After all, they had claimed a significant portion of the Harrison assets by pretending to "take care" of Emily.
"Aunt Susan, you told the family elders you would look after me, which is how you secured that portion of the estate. I wonder what they would think if they knew how you're really 'taking care' of me?" Emily asked pointedly.
Although the elders of the Harrison Family weren't really helping Emily, they were just afraid she would end up homeless, which would further damage the reputation of the entire Harrison Family.
Hearing that, Susan's face paled instantly.
That portion of the estate had been hard-won, and she certainly didn't want it taken back!
"Olivia, be quiet," Susan snapped at her daughter, who pouted in displeasure.
"Anyway, you assaulted Robert, and I won't take responsibility for that. You're coming with me to the hospital to apologize properly!"
"Once Robert forgives you, you'll marry him as planned."
Susan wore a pained expression. "I'm running around trying to fix your mistakes. Everything I do is for your own good!"
Emily's lips curled in contempt. "For my good? Or afraid you'll lose the cash payment you were promised?"
"You!" Susan was furious, already calculating how to force Emily to comply.
But then her phone rang.
Susan held her phone, repeatedly looking between it and Emily with an increasingly strange expression.
When she finished the call, the hostility in her eyes had vanished.
"Emily, why didn't you tell me that... that it was Michael who dealt with Robert!"
"What?" Olivia jumped up from the sofa instantly.
"Mom, what did you say? Michael! The heir of the Wilson family!"
Susan's face suddenly lit up with delight as she grabbed Emily's hand affectionately. "Emily dear, did you get his contact information?"
Emily lowered her eyes, her face expressionless, radiating a distant coldness. "No contact information?"
Susan looked utterly disappointed. "Emily, what were you thinking! When opportunity knocks like this, you should grab it—if not for yourself, at least think of Olivia!"
So that was their game.
Olivia's cheeks flushed with excitement. She had already begun fantasizing about life as Michael's wife.
Michael—the sole ruler of the Wilson financial empire.
She stepped forward and took Emily's arm. "Emily, my mom just wants you to introduce me to Mr. Wilson. Help us make the connection."
"Exactly, exactly." Susan nodded enthusiastically. "With such a perfect opportunity, you should help Olivia meet him."
Emily found the whole situation darkly amusing.
Without hesitation, she refused. "Not possible."
Her three cold words instantly wiped the smiles from the women's faces.
"You won't help?" Susan's expression hardened. "In that case, some things don't need to take up space in this house anymore."
She showed Emily her phone, and Emily's face instantly changed.
The screen displayed a photo of her father's antique bracelet.
She had searched everywhere for that bracelet after her father's death.
"Give me back my bracelet." Emily struggled to keep her voice steady, her eyes flashing with anger. "You told me you'd never seen this bracelet!"
Richard stood up in shock. "Susan, you... you took Emily's heirloom?"
Susan dismissed her husband with contempt. "It's not worth much anyway. Emily, if you help introduce Olivia to Mr. Wilson, I'll return it to you. If not, don't expect to ever see this bracelet again."
Emily's knuckles turned pale from clenching her fists.
Her father had told her the bracelet would protect her throughout life, but now it had become her aunt's leverage.
She knew Susan's character—once she made a threat, she would follow through. If Emily refused today, her only keepsake from her father would likely disappear forever.
"Fine."
Her voice sounded as lifeless as stagnant water. Susan immediately relaxed, her face wrinkling with delight. "That's more like it! Why make things difficult?"
Emily kept her eyes fixed on Susan's pocket. "Can I have my bracelet now?"
"What's the rush?" Susan stepped back. "After you arrange for Olivia to meet Mr. Wilson, I'll give it to you naturally."
Emily lowered her eyes, hiding the cold flash in them.
She turned toward the door, her back straight as an arrow, like a wild grass stubbornly growing in harsh winter.
Standing at the roadside, after a moment's hesitation, she sent a message to the number on the business card.
Emily: [Mr. Wilson, I still have your jacket. When would be convenient for me to return it to you?]