Chapter 4
Compared to the harsh tone Charles had used when questioning Wayne and Bianca earlier, his response to Emily was noticeably gentler.
Emily breathed a sigh of relief.
With this powerful ally on her side, those women still trapped and suffering would have a much better chance of being rescued.
Emily moistened her dry lips and looked at the man in the crisp uniform standing across from her, her eyes filled with even deeper respect.
Though she hadn't known him long, the sense of justice that radiated from him was enough to earn Emily's complete admiration.
"Officer Howard, on behalf of everyone still trapped out there, thank you again."
Emily bowed her head slightly, her tone earnest and sincere.
The small movement tugged at the wounds on her neck, causing Emily to furrow her brow momentarily, though her expression remained unchanged.
No one could tell that she had just been rescued from that suffocating prison.
Charles looked down at her.
He certainly didn't need her thanks.
Eliminating criminal forces and rescuing innocent lives was simply what he pursued.
Even if Emily had endured such inhuman tortures, she still maintained such a pure heart.
Charles raised an eyebrow slightly, his gaze warming with approval.
The surrounding guests weren't sure what to make of the situation anymore. They'd come expecting drama, but Charles's unexpected appearance had changed everything.
And he was clearly on Emily's side.
Since Charles had vouched for her, continuing to question her reputation would be like going against the heir of the Howard family.
They weren't foolish enough for that, so they gradually retreated to a distance.
With the drama finally over, Emily could breathe a little easier. Ignoring the dirt on her dress, she turned back to Charles.
This time her voice carried urgency.
"Officer Howard, every day those criminals remain free puts the victims in greater danger."
"We should leave as soon as possible."
Emily's emotions were running high. She knew better than anyone how hopeless it felt to be trapped in those sunless places, how agonizing the daily torture was.
She wanted to rescue those people immediately.
Charles considered for only a moment before nodding and heading toward his car. Emily stepped forward to follow.
Just as they took their first step, a sharp female voice cut through the quiet.
Laura shouted, "Emily, you're being incredibly thoughtless."
Emily instinctively paused.
"Officer Howard is your lifesaver, which makes him the Windsor family's lifesaver, too. How can you let our benefactor leave without even offering him a cup of tea?"
Laura wore a sweet smile as she walked over to Wayne, playfully shaking his arm like a spoiled child.
"Dad, you've always emphasized proper manners with us kids. Maybe Emily forgot her etiquette after being away for a year, but we can't abandon our standards."
She gave Wayne a meaningful look.
Wayne immediately caught on.
They rarely even got to see Charles, and here was a golden opportunity to build a relationship with him.
Getting on Charles's good side could only benefit them.
Laura was thinking ahead, as always.
Wayne's eyes gleamed as his gaze lingered on Emily, who stood a few steps behind. His expression flashed with barely concealed disgust.
Emily was so eager to stick close to Charles, yet she wasn't creating any opportunities for the family to network.
'What a useless daughter! Only knows how to cause trouble, unlike Laura, who knows how to create opportunities for the family.'
"Officer Howard, Laura's right. As Emily's family, we'd like the chance to properly thank you for saving her life. Emily doesn't know any better, not even inviting you inside."
Wayne stepped forward obsequiously, with Bianca and Laura close behind.
"Besides, Emily was kidnapped, and we don't know what kind of abuse and torture she endured. Any parent would be heartbroken. My wife and I spent a year praying for her safe return. Officer Howard, that's all thanks to you."
Wayne pretended to wipe away tears, sighing deeply.
Laura looked at Wayne with sympathy, her voice mournful. "Officer Howard, we don't have any ulterior motives. We just want to show our gratitude properly."
With that, she looked up at Charles with red-rimmed eyes, her pitiful appearance tugging at everyone's heartstrings.
Anyone else would have been completely taken in by her performance.
Emily glanced over, her lips unconsciously twitching.
In the past, she definitely would have believed Laura genuinely wanted to thank her benefactor.
But now, she couldn't trust Laura's fake sincerity no matter what.
"Laura really knows how to handle things properly. Even though she's the younger sister, she's the one making sure we thank our lifesaver."
"Honestly, Laura acts more like the older sister. As for Emily..."
The implication was clear to everyone.
Emily's hands clenched and unclenched at her sides as she laughed coldly.
Laura's little performance was truly masterful.
In just a few words, she'd managed to put Emily back in the spotlight.
The guests' murmurs weren't loud, but the hushed chatter was even more uncomfortable to hear. Charles frowned with obvious irritation, his hand resting lightly on the car door handle.
He turned to look at them, his annoyance evident.
"If you people put as much effort into actually working hard as you do into sucking up, the Windsor family wouldn't have taken decades just to make a name for itself in this city."
He paused, the natural sharpness in his voice cutting through the air and bringing an uncomfortable quiet.
Despite his youth, Charles commanded more respect than business veterans with decades of experience.
"Staying for tea? I don't have that kind of time to waste on nonsense."
Without another word, he efficiently opened the driver's side door and got in, the door slamming shut with finality.
Emily stood there, looking through the car window to meet Charles's sharp, attractive eyes. He tilted his head slightly, indicating she should get in.
Without further hesitation, Emily nodded and got into the car.
The engine started, and Laura stood not far from the car, staring in shock at the scene unfolding before her.
She could hardly believe what she'd just heard and witnessed.
Charles hadn't even given her a second glance, and he'd called staying at the Windsor family a waste of time.
Laura bit her lip hard, her clenched fists sending sharp pain through her palms.
She was the second daughter of the Windsor family; no one had ever dared ignore her so blatantly!
Especially with so many people watching, Charles hadn't given her any respect, practically inviting everyone to laugh at her.
Laura was so embarrassed that she wanted to crawl into a hole.
At this point, the guests felt uncomfortable continuing to watch the spectacle and found their way back to their seats.
But Laura remained standing there, watching the direction the Maybach had gone, grinding her teeth.
On the steps, Lucas watched the two figures disappear, a strange feeling gradually spreading through his chest.