Chapter 4

Leon drove while Emily sat in the back seat without saying a word, staring out the window the whole time.

Leon said, "Emily, it's only seven days. Once they're over, I'll come get you. Wait for me on the mountain. I know you feel wronged, but this is because you enjoyed the wealth and privilege meant for Sophia for twenty-four years. You owe her this.

"So be reasonable, okay? I still love you. We've known each other since we were kids. We've loved each other for so long. There's no way I could let you go like that."

At the foot of the mountain, Leon gently lifted Emily's face and stared into her eyes.

"Trust me. Once I use the Rivers family to become the real power in Harbor City, I promise you'll still be my one and only wife." He said softly.

Leon pulled her lightly into his arms and spoke to her in a low, intimate voice by her ear.

Emily froze, then grabbed his hand in sudden hope, "Leon, I knew you couldn't stop loving me. Please let me go, okay? I really can't take this anymore!"

Emily trembled all over, her eyes red and brimming with grievance.

Leon gently wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and shook his head.

Leon said, "I can't let you go. Besides, the Rivers family would never allow it. Just stay by my side and get along with Sophia for now, okay?"

Emily's hands dropped weakly at her sides, and the light in her eyes died instantly.

Leon frowned slightly, annoyance creeping onto his face.

Leon asked, "Do you have to act like this? It's not like I've starved you. Don't start thinking you're really some rich heiress just because you played one all these years. Without the Rivers family, what are you, exactly?"

Emily wiped her tears hard, gave him one long look, then turned and left without a word.

Leon stared at her back in a daze, then smiled and shook his head. He knew Emily couldn't leave him. She had nothing left. The Rivers family didn't want her, she had no parents, and he was all she had.

Emily walked forward numbly, like a soul had been stripped out of her. She had grown up in the Rivers family without a care in the world. She'd once believed she had loving parents and a man who truly adored her.

She never imagined it had all been fake.

One of the church attendants grew annoyed by her slow pace and shoved her hard. "Move. You still think you are the Rivers heiress? Mr. and Mrs. Rivers ordered you to kneel before the chapel altar for seven days."

Emily was shoved straight to the ground. Tears fell without warning as she clenched her fists hard.

She wasn't at a dead end yet. She still had a chance to get away. The second turn was right ahead.

Emily got up and pretended she had twisted her ankle, limping forward.

She was almost at the turn. Her palms were damp with sweat, and in one hand she was gripping a small bottle of pepper spray.

The two church attendants behind her chatted casually, unaware of her tension.

Then, in one smooth move, Emily whipped around and sprayed the pepper spray straight into their eyes.

Caught off guard, the two attendants clutched their eyes and screamed.

Emily immediately ran to the right, not daring to look back for even a second.

The overgrown path stretched ahead while the attendants shouted and cursed behind her.

She just kept running and running until her hair was a mess and branches had scratched up her face, but she still didn't dare stop, and she couldn't stop.

Finally, she saw Lucy waiting for her ahead. Joy instantly spread across her face.

"Emily! Quick, come with me. I'll hide you first. There's a side path here that leads to the main road, and my car is parked there!"

Panting hard, Emily grabbed Lucy's hand like it was the last lifeline she had.

Lucy immediately led her onto a hidden trail, and soon they made it to the main road without trouble.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Emily covered her eyes and finally smiled. She had finally escaped that suffocating, helpless place. For three whole months, she had endured endless insults and misery in the Sterling house.

She had even thought about ending it all.

And now, she had finally made it out.

She took huge breaths of free air, her eyes full of laughter.

"Lucy, how did you know they were sending me up the mountain today?" Emily asked.

Lucy paused for a second, anger creeping into her voice. "The Rivers family announced in the papers that you would be sent to a hilltop chapel to pray for their daughter. They even planned to livestream your humiliation."

Emily froze for a moment, then let out a mocking smile.

No wonder the attendants had sneered at her.

At the thought of it, Emily's heart still ached all over. Those were the people she'd called Mom and Dad for twenty-four years.

Lucy said, "Emily, I bought you a ferry ticket. Once we get to the dock, take your luggage and go as far away as you can."

A weight lifted from Emily's chest after hearing that. She looked out the window.

So what if it all happened? She was never going to see the Rivers family or Leon again anyway.

"What about you, Lucy? Where are you going after this?" Emily asked.

Lucy replied, "Me? My teacher recommended me to the Global Dance Ensemble. In a few days, I'll be going overseas with them. Don't worry about me, Emily. If it weren't for you, I'd probably still be washing dishes somewhere."

Lucy smiled, and her cute little fang showed.

Emily smiled too when she saw it. She turned to the window, her face full of light again.

She thought, 'At last I can leave that suffocating place.'