Chapter 3
Downtown, the swankiest hotel was buzzing with guests. Henry was hosting a lavish graduation party for Sophia.
One of the thugs called him in a panic, saying, "Mr. Lawson, Emily tore up her acceptance letter! She says she's not going to college anymore!"
Henry never gave a damn about whether I went to college. He demanded, "What about proof she cheated? Did you get anything out of her?"
"No, that girl's slick. We couldn't get a thing out of her," one of the thugs replied.
"Then put some pressure on her. Make her suffer—I don't believe she won't crack," Henry snapped.
"We even busted her leg, but she still wouldn't spill. I think she's onto us. What do we do now?" one of the thugs stammered.
With all those people around, Henry had to keep his cool. He gritted his teeth and hissed, "Useless idiots, can't even handle a brat? What about Grace?"
"She wasn't home when we showed up, Mr. Lawson. You think that girl's gonna rat us out to the cops?" the thug muttered, sounding uneasy.
"I'm her father. If she dares call the cops, I'll make sure she never walks again!" Henry spat.
Henry pinched the bridge of his nose, rage simmering beneath the surface. Anything involving Grace and me always drove him up the wall.
All he wanted was for us to just drop dead in some freak accident, so he could finally have some peace.
Rebecca sensed his mood shift and slipped her arms around his neck, her voice sweet and teasing. "Who's got my handsome man all worked up? Want me to go teach them a lesson?"
Her breath tickled his skin, making his heart race and his irritation vanish in an instant. He sighed, kneading her soft waist as he pulled her closer. "It's those two pathetic women again, always making my life miserable.
"Bad news—I had those idiots interrogate her, but they couldn't get anything. So I told them to let her go," he said, frustration clear in his voice.
Rebecca's face fell. "How could you just let her go? If she won't talk, then beat her until she gives in! Or just fake some evidence and force her to sign it.
"She's going to end up at the same college as Sophia, and you know how soft Sophia is. Emily will make her life hell," Rebecca added, her voice trembling with worry.
Henry shot her a surprised look.
Rebecca quickly changed her tune. "Well, that's one reason, but honestly, I'm mostly worried about you, my handsome man.
"Emily goes to that crappy school—if even one kid from there makes it to college, it's a miracle. Getting into Northbridge University? That's a total pipe dream. People are bound to get suspicious, and if anything shady comes out, they'll come after you, too.
"You worked so hard to become chairman, babe. We can't let her mess it all up. That's why we need to get the evidence first. If you play the hero and expose her yourself, everyone will call you a hero," Rebecca said, her voice soft but insistent.
Henry frowned and let out a sigh. "But she's already been let go. What do we do now?"
"It's fine, I'll come up with another way to get the evidence," Rebecca said, her voice full of reassurance.
Henry was genuinely touched. "Rebecca, you always look out for me."
*****
The two thugs dumped me right at the hospital entrance, tossing out Henry's name as a warning. "Don't get any ideas, or Mr. Lawson will make you pay."
The security guard saw me crawling on the ground and, feeling sorry for me, grabbed a wheelchair and wheeled me straight to ortho.
The doctor checked out the X-ray and frowned. "Emily, your knee's got multiple fractures. You'll need a total knee replacement. Where are your parents? Can you get them here to sign the consent form?"
"They can't. My mom's gone. Can I sign it myself?" I asked, my voice barely steady.
"No can do. You're still under eighteen—you need a guardian to sign," he said, not budging.
Right then, my phone lit up—Henry again, barking at me, "Where's Grace? I've called her a dozen times, and she's not picking up. Did she drop dead or something?"
"I told you two days ago, Mom was on her last legs. Now she's gone. Happy now? This is what you wanted?" I snapped, my voice trembling with rage.
Henry roared, "Emily, is this how Grace raised you to talk to your own father?
"With your attitude? You think you could get into Northbridge University? Who'd ever buy that?
"I'll dig up exactly how you and your mom pulled off that cheating stunt, and I'll make damn sure you both rot in jail!"
The doctor was taken aback, pausing before saying, "Emily's father, Emily's knee is badly injured, and she needs surgery. Are you able to come to the hospital right now?"
"Do I look like I have time for this? And you've got the wrong person—I'm not her guardian," Henry replied coldly.
"But Emily said..." The doctor hesitated.
"She said her mom died, right? Doctor, let me tell you, those two do nothing but waste money and lie through their teeth. I'd advise you not to believe a word."
Then Henry turned on me, his voice full of contempt. "Emily, you think you can scheme your way into making me feel guilty? Dream on. Even if you and your mom dropped dead right in front of me, I wouldn't bat an eye."
With that, he hung up, and the doctor could only let out a weary sigh.
"Doctor, just consider me as having no parents at all," I said, my voice flat.
Having given up on getting the signature from my guardian, he arranged a surgery for me the next day.
After the operation, the doctor told me, "Emily, once you're all healed up, you'll walk just fine like everyone else. But listen, no more intense workouts from now on, got it?"
Not a hint of regret crossed my mind.
After all, there was finally something new within me, no longer solely shaped by what he'd bestowed.