Chapter 2

"Emily, I told you a long time ago, you're not good enough for me," he folded his arms, his tone icy. "But for old times' sake, if you kneel and beg me, I'll help you pay off that 1.7 million dollars. How about that?"

Those words were like a knife driven straight into Emily's heart. Her body swayed, her face turning even paler. Her lips trembled, but no words came out.

The crowd watching nearby started whispering and pointing at Emily.

Someone said, "Damn, that's rough. One second she's a rich girl, the next she's broke."

Another echoed, "Even her fiance dumped her. That's brutal."

Someone else chimed in, "Brutal? She had it coming. She stole someone else's life."

I couldn't take it anymore. At that moment, none of our history mattered, not the rivalry, not the grudges, none of it.

I shoved through the crowd, strode up to Emily, and grabbed her hand. "You're coming with me."

Everyone froze, including Emily.

She turned to me, staring in disbelief, completely lost. "Olivia? You..."

Chloe was the first to snap out of it. She pointed at me and screamed, "Who the hell are you to stick your nose into the James family's business?"

I let out a cold laugh and looked her up and down. "You don't even know who I am? Guess staying in the sticks really did keep you from seeing the world. I'm Olivia Quinn. As in Quinn Enterprises."

Lily's expression changed instantly.

Quinn Enterprises was James Holdings' biggest raw materials supplier. If they pissed me off, life for the James family wasn't going to be easy.

Lily quickly forced a smile. "So it's Miss Quinn. This is a family matter, so we won't trouble you with it."

"A family matter?" I raised a brow. "Since when does forcing someone to sign a sky-high IOU and kicking them while they're down count as a family matter? Lily, I'm taking Emily with me today. Got a problem with that?"

The eight bodyguards behind me immediately stepped forward, glaring at the James family.

Frank and Lily exchanged a look, furious but not daring to say a word.

Ethan frowned at me. "Olivia, I'd advise you not to meddle. This has nothing to do with you."

I rolled my eyes so hard it almost hurt. "Ethan, where were you when humanity evolved? How did we end up with something like you? Emily's been engaged to you for years.

"You spent her money, used her connections, leaned on her to do your homework so you could play genius, and now that she's down, you not only refuse to help, you kick her even harder. Have some shame."

Ethan's face instantly turned dark red. He pointed at me, but couldn't get a single word out.

I couldn't be bothered with him anymore. I took Emily's hand and headed for my car.

"Olivia, wait," Emily stopped and looked at the things scattered on the ground. "My stuff..."

"Forget it," I said flatly. "My house has plenty. Whatever you need, I'll buy you new stuff."

I pulled her into the car and shut the door, cutting off all the gossip and pointing fingers outside.

The car was quiet. Emily sat in the passenger seat with her head lowered, her shoulders trembling slightly.

I looked at her swollen cheek and pale face, and something in my chest felt off. I'd known her for years, but I'd never seen her this wrecked.

She was always the girl in perfect dresses with neat hair, always first in class, always untouchable, like some proud white swan.

But now she looked like a little bird caught in the rain, so fragile she might break if someone touched her.

"Hey, don't cry," I awkwardly handed her a tissue. "You got kicked out, that's all. It's not the end of the world. A dump like the James family isn't worth staying in anyway."

Emily took the tissue but didn't wipe her tears. She clenched it tightly in her hand. Then she looked up at me, eyes red. "Olivia, why did you help me? Aren't we supposed to be enemies?"

I cleared my throat and turned to stare out the window. "Who said I helped you? I couldn't stand watching them bully someone. Besides, if they bullied you to death, who'd compete with me for first place? I'd be bored out of my mind."

Emily looked at me, then suddenly smiled. "Thank you, Olivia." It was the first time I'd ever seen her smile that sincerely, like ice melting and spring finally arriving.

Something in me stirred, and my face got a little hot. I hurriedly changed the subject. "Alright, enough already. We're going to my place first. I can't exactly let you sleep on the street."

The car drove smoothly down the road, and I stole a glance at Emily from the corner of my eye. She leaned against the window, watching the scenery race by. The emptiness in her eyes was gone, replaced by a hint of confusion.

I sighed quietly to myself. Emily, don't be scared. I've got you from now on. No one's ever going to bully you again.