Chapter 210 Raina Might Be a Dangerous Person
York noticed Emily's pale face and couldn't help but ask out of concern, "Hey, Ms. Johnson, you okay?"
Emily shook her head. "Yeah, I'm good."
She got into the car and closed her eyes, clearly not in the mood to chat.
Seeing this, York wisely decided to drop the subject.
After dropping Emily off at home, he wasted no time. He had someone pull the restaurant's surveillance footage. He found out that Emily had met with Eli, and though they signed something, the vibe was tense.
York forwarded the video to me, Daniel.
Emily had already entered the house when she unexpectedly ran into Raina.
Raina looked nervous, glancing around like she was afraid someone might see her talking to Emily. Once she confirmed they were alone, she pulled Emily toward a nearby gazebo.
"Sorry, I was worried Veda might see us, so I dragged you away without warning. Hope that's cool!"
Raina's apology came late, but her gentle and sincere demeanor made it hard to be upset with her.
Emily smiled, took Raina's hand, and patted the back of it, then casually played with it. "I get it. Life at the Smith Villa isn't a walk in the park for you. Veda is spoiled and arrogant. It's smart of you to avoid her to keep yourself safe."
Raina's gentle smile faltered, and her eyes reddened at Emily's words.
"Did I say something wrong?" Emily asked, lowering her eyes with a self-reproachful look. Her gaze quickly swept over Raina's ten fingers, especially the nail beds.
Raina shook her head hurriedly, her voice choked with emotion. "No, it's not your fault. I'm just touched and happy. I didn't expect you to be the first person to understand me. No wonder I felt close to you right away. That's why I warned you last time that Veda might cause you trouble!"
Emily couldn't tell if Raina was being sincere or just putting on a good act. Some people are so good at pretending that it's hard to tell the difference.
Emily could only investigate through details. She smiled and looked up to meet Raina's eyes. "I feel a connection with you too. Compared to Veda, I naturally feel closer to you. If you ever need anything, you can talk to me. We're friends now, right?"
A flash of surprise passed through Raina's eyes. Could it be this easy to gain Emily's trust?
Emily had been neglected at the Johnson Villa and had a poor reputation. Before returning to the Johnson Villa, she was scavenging in the trash. She shouldn't have such deep schemes, right?
Understanding this, Raina's smile became even more genuine. She held Emily's hand in return. "Yes, we're friends! Actually, you don't need to confront Veda head-on. She's just spoiled and a bit of an airhead. You need to focus on two things: winning over Daniel, who rarely shows interest. Once he's interested, he won't let you suffer. And winning over Grandpa, who values tradition and antiques."
Emily was puzzled by Raina's advice. But when someone deliberately approaches another, every word they say must have a reason.
"But I'm not good at this stuff. And Daniel? He's so cold and intimidating. I might act brave in front of Veda, but honestly, Daniel scares me. As for Grandpa, I wouldn't know how to impress him. I can't afford antiques, and I know nothing about traditional culture. You know my background with James. I wasn't even a good match for him, let alone having the means to buy antiques or knowledge of traditional culture."
The more Emily spoke, the more inadequate she felt.
Raina quickly reassured her, "Don't worry. Even though I'm not highly favored at the Smith Villa, I have enough resources to help you with what you need."
Emily looked surprised and a bit embarrassed. "Wouldn't that be too much trouble for you? How can you help me?"
Raina thought for a moment. "With Daniel, I can teach you ways to make a man like you more. You'll have to practice yourself. But you can also give Daniel gifts. He likes you, so gifts will make him happy."
"What kind of gift would be suitable? He seems to have everything!" Emily frowned with worry.
Her concern was valid. Someone of Daniel's status could get anything with a word.
Raina chuckled. "I've prepared something for you. I'll give it to you later."
Emily's eyes flashed with suspicion, feeling that Raina's gift might have hidden intentions. She nodded calmly. "Thank you. What about Grandpa?"
Raina thought for a moment. "Giving Grandpa antiques right away might seem like you're trying too hard. It's better to wait a bit. But you can impress him with traditional paintings or calligraphy. If he sees you have talent, he'll naturally change his opinion."
She assumed Emily had no artistic skills, given her background and lack of opportunities for systematic learning. But Bianca, pampered by the Johnson family, had exposure to these refined courses.
"I can teach you painting. I have all the tools. You can come to my room anytime to learn. Once you master it, you'll impress everyone!"
Emily wondered why Raina was going to such lengths to teach her painting. She wanted to probe further but heard approaching footsteps.
Emily was facing away from the direction of the footsteps, so Raina saw the person first. She instinctively showed a flash of panic and quickly stood up. She then said to Emily, "Daniel seems to really care about you. Remember to come to me later for the gift. I have to go now."
Emily could see that Raina feared Daniel more than she respected him. Raina was almost invisible in Daniel's presence. So she hurriedly got up and left, lowering her head and softly saying, "Daniel!" as she passed him. Then she quickly disappeared from Daniel's sight.
"What did Raina want with you? Did she do anything to you?" Daniel asked, his eyes narrowing.
After all, Emily suspected Raina among others. If the poison was related to her, someone who mastered invisible killing methods was extremely dangerous.
"Did you forget that I know poison and medicine? Among everyone living here, I'm actually the safest!" Emily said confidently, her boldness evident.
She had the skills to back it up.
"But I did make some discoveries. Let's go back and talk. Tonight's room investigation is a must!"