Chapter 4
The dining table fell into an instant, heavy silence. Rachel's face went as white as a sheet.
She yelled, "No way. You totally made that up. You just can't stand that Mom and Dad always take my side, so you want me gone."
Emily cocked her head, flashing an innocent smile.
She replied, "Rachel, what are you even saying? That's your real parents' voices, isn't it? How could it possibly be fake? Ever since I came back, when did I ever say I didn't like you? But you?
"You've been acting all pitiful, always trying to hog the spotlight in the family."
William demanded, "Emily, turn it off. I said turn it off right now," He slammed his hand on the table, shooting to his feet.
But instead of turning it off, Emily cranked the volume all the way up.
She sneered, "I've got tons more recordings like this. Are you sure you don't want to hear? Listen to how slick they were pulling off the daughter swap, and how they made you look like fools."
"Emily, we know you've been wronged. But Rachel is innocent," Olivia said, her eyes pleading.
But the recording just kept playing.
Alex snatched the phone and smashed it into pieces.
He snapped, "Don't even think about using this against Rachel or any of us."
Emily just watched Alex lose his cool, totally unfazed.
She said, "Smash it if you want; it doesn't matter. The cops have backups of all these recordings anyway. These tapes are exactly what landed Rachel's parents in prison for ten years."
Seeing their faces go grim, Emily spoke up again.
She taunted, "So, what do you think will happen if these recordings get out? Will the Summers family still have any reputation left? Will Rachel even be able to survive in your high-class circles?"
William's hand shook as he pointed at her. He asked, "What exactly are you after?"
Emily flashed a sweet smile and said, "Just so you know.
"I'm not here to beg.
"I'm here to collect what's owed to me."
That night, the Summers residence was lit up like a Christmas tree.
Emily could faintly hear William and Olivia arguing heatedly in the study.
"Just how much evidence does that girl really have?" William demanded.
Olivia snapped, "Who knows? But there's no way we can let it get out."
Emily lay in bed, her eyes tracing the cracks that spidered across the ceiling.
This was just the beginning.
After that day, things changed in the Summers family.
At breakfast, Olivia gently slid a glass of milk over to Emily.
She said, "Emily, drink up. Milk's good for you."
The look of motherly love in her eyes was almost convincing. If Emily hadn't already seen through her icy side, she might've actually bought it.
William cleared his throat, avoiding Emily's gaze, his eyes flickering with guilt.
He said, "That's right, Emily, eat as much as you like. If you don't care for this, just let the kitchen know, and they'll whip up something else for you."
Emily played the obedient daughter, nodding and sipping her milk, but inside, she was laughing coldly at their act.
They weren't suddenly having a change of heart, and they definitely weren't feeling sorry for how they'd treated her.
They were scared: scared of the evidence she held, scared that those recordings and diaries might get out.
They were terrified she'd really go through with it and trash the Summers family's reputation for good.
And they were petrified that Rachel, the precious daughter they'd spent sixteen years raising, would have her name dragged through the mud.
Rachel suddenly put on a friendly face for Emily.
She said, "Emily, you're heading to St. Eden Academy today, right? Want me to show you around? After all, the students there are pretty particular."
She deliberately stressed the word "particular," the disdain in her eyes almost impossible to miss.
Alex chimed in, still showing his usual bias toward Rachel.
He said, "Rachel's right. Don't go making the Summers family look bad. This isn't some hick school out in the sticks like you used to attend, so you'd better behave yourself and act properly."
Emily was ready to let it go, but they just had to poke the bear.
She set her glass down and looked straight at William.
She demanded, "Dad, I remember you said yesterday that both Rachel and I are your daughters, right?"
William's face went stiff. He replied, "Of course."
"Good," Emily replied, a faint smile playing on her lips.
She said, "During those sixteen years I was gone, you spoiled Rachel with luxury handbags, designer clothes, private lessons in horseback riding, piano, and painting, plus all that pricey jewelry."
She paused deliberately, watching as Rachel's face drained of color, then continued, her tone calm and icy.
She said, "I've been doing my homework on how much all that stuff costs these past few days. By my rough count, it adds up to at least ten million, maybe even more. Since we're both your daughters, shouldn't I get the same treatment?"