Chapter 6

Leon threatened, "You're the one who helped Emily run, right? Then you can leave your legs behind!"

The second she saw the iron rod swinging down, Emily ran out in panic.

"Stop!" Emily cried out.

Just before the blow landed, the rod stopped in midair.

Emily shoved the man away and threw herself in front of Lucy, shielding her behind her back.

When she looked at Leon, her face was completely drained of life. "Let Lucy go. I'll come back with you."

Lucy clutched her hand tightly. "Emily, why did you come out?

"You were supposed to run!"

The moment Emily appeared, a smile spread across Leon's face.

He walked up to her and clamped a hand hard around her chin.

One brow lifted, and he let out a laugh. "You're still just as soft-hearted. I knew it. If you were on this ship, you'd show yourself."

Emily glared at him with hatred. "Why... why can't you just let me go?"

Hot tears fell onto the back of Leon's hand, and he froze.

He turned away and let out a sigh. "This is what you owe the Rivers family.

"Until you've paid back what they did raising you, you are not allowed to leave."

Emily collapsed to the ground. It felt like a mountain was crushing her so hard she couldn't breathe.

Leon frowned slightly.

He stepped forward, brushed the tears from Emily's face, and a trace of pain flashed in his eyes. "Em, stay by my side and I'll make sure you're taken care of."

Emily got to her feet like a walking corpse and let him hold her hand. She didn't resist anymore.

But the moment she turned around, a heart-ripping scream came from behind her.

Emily whipped her head around and stared at the scene in disbelief.

Lucy had collapsed to the ground, clutching her badly mangled legs.

Emily rushed over without thinking and gathered Lucy into her arms. "Leon! Why? Why would you hurt her?"

She frantically begged everyone around for help, screaming for a doctor like she had lost her mind. But no one stepped forward.

Holding Lucy, who had passed out from pain, Emily broke down and cried like her heart was being torn apart.

She crawled to Leon's feet and clutched his pant leg with both hands. "Please, please save Lucy, okay? I won't run again. I swear. Please! She still has to dance!"

Leon crouched down and stroked Emily's cheek with one hand. By then, all the color had drained from her face, and her eyes were starting to lose focus.

Leon said, "This is your punishment. If you dare run again, next time I'll ruin her hands too.

"Take Emily home."

Emily desperately grabbed Leon's hand, forcing a pleading smile onto her face. "I'll go back. I'll come back with you. Just save Lucy, okay?"

Lucy opened her eyes and weakly tugged at the edge of Emily's clothes. "I'm okay, Emily. Don't cry."

Emily held her and burst into loud sobs.

At last, Leon spoke. "Take her to the hospital. Get the best doctor there is."

Only then did Emily loosen her hold on Lucy.

Leon stepped forward, scooped Emily into his arms, and carried her into the car.

Emily leaned against Leon's chest, her eyes empty.

Then suddenly, a phone call came in.

It's Sophia. "Leon, where are you? Mom and Dad said Emily disappeared."

Leon let out an indulgent laugh, one hand still stroking Emily's tear-streaked face.

He answered happily, "I found Emily. I'm taking her back up the mountain so she can keep praying for you."

Emily's body stiffened and then started trembling again.

She thought, 'I believed he came because he could not let me go. Did he only chase me down to force me back to the chapel for Sophia?'