Chapter 143
Chapter 143
Just then, William spoke up, his voice cold: "Let them go back for now."
Taking her cue, Delilah turned to Daniel and the others and said bluntly, "We've decided not to stay at the villa after all. You can head back."
Daniel was furious.
Were they being played?
They'd clearly agreed this afternoon that Daniel's family would move out tonight. He'd spent half the day rushing around, finally got everything packed, and now they were being told to turn around and go home with a single sentence!
Juniper couldn't hold back. "Emily, what are you and William trying to pull? You think we're just pushovers? We're your parents! This afternoon you were in such a rush to get us out, and we went along with it. Now that we've finally hauled everything to your doorstep, you just wave us off with a casual 'go back'? What kind of nonsense is this?"
Noticing Delilah's expression shift, Daniel quickly tugged at Juniper's sleeve to shut her up, then put on a smile. "Ms. Roberts, please don't be upset. That's just how my wife is. The thing is, we agreed this afternoon about moving to the villa, and Father already knows about it. If you don't come, he's bound to blame us."
Delilah said plainly, "I'll call Aiden and explain. Now please go."
With that, she shut the door without a second thought.
Emily's head was buzzing. Being shut out had been a regular occurrence during her years with the Taylor family. But she never imagined that one day she'd be the one shutting them out.
It felt a little unreasonable, she had to admit—but she couldn't deny it felt good.
"Sir, shall we have dinner?" Delilah asked, turning to William after closing the door.
William caught Emily still standing frozen by the door and said quietly, "Emily, if you feel like you should, go out and say something to them."
William wasn't unreasonable. Emily was still Juniper and Daniel's daughter, and having her parents turned away at her own door wasn't a good look for her.
Emily had been thinking the same thing. She nodded. "Alright, I'll go say a few words."
She quickly opened the door.
Daniel, Juniper, and Layla were still standing there, dazed.
The moment Emily stepped out, Juniper lashed out without thinking. "You little bitch, you've really gotten bold, haven't you? I'll—"
Inside, William gave Delilah a look. "Tell them to watch how they talk to Emily."
Delilah understood immediately. She strode to the door and fixed Juniper and Daniel with a sharp, unwavering stare. "Let me make this clear—from now on, you speak to Ms. Taylor with respect. If I hear anyone say another ugly word to her, I won't care what your relationship is."
Delilah's words hit like a bucket of cold water, instantly killing whatever anger Juniper and Daniel had left.
Juniper licked her dry lips and forced a smile. "Of course, Ms. Roberts. It won't happen again."
Daniel snapped back to his senses and quickly gave Emily an apologetic smile. "Emily, go ahead and eat. Your mom and I will head back. Kian's still in the hospital—I'll stop by and see him tonight. And if staying here gets too inconvenient, just come home. Home will always be your safe haven."
That last line hit Emily like a punch to the chest.
Safe haven?
After eight years, she knew exactly what their so-called safe haven felt like.
As the door closed again, Emily raised her hand to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes, then quickly pulled herself together. Walking toward the dining table, she reached out and took Delilah's hand, smiling. "Ms. Roberts, come on—let's go eat. Sorry you had to see all that."
The moment Emily took her hand, something stirred inside Delilah. Back in Bloody Prison, she'd always been above everyone else, yet she'd never once felt the warmth of a family. But right now, it felt like she'd actually come home.
---
While William and his family sat down together for dinner, outside Heights Apartments, Daniel slammed his foot into the car door like a man losing his mind.
"Bitch! Bastards! Damn them all! I'll make sure they die without a grave to their name!"
Wiping her tears, Juniper said, "What's the point of saying that now? I told you years ago—we should've just gotten rid of Emily and those two little bastards when we had the chance. But you couldn't bring yourself to do it!"
It was only then that Daniel let the truth spill out. His eyes were bloodshot, his voice seething. "Couldn't bring myself to? You really think that's why? It was Jace! Jace had someone contact me privately—the Garcia family told me to keep that woman alive!"
Juniper's expression froze. "What? The Garcia family? Jace? Didn't they disappear from Novaria?"
Daniel clenched his fists and let out a long breath. "Yes, they disappeared. But after what happened back then, I was ready to get rid of her. Then when I found out she was pregnant, Jace came to me first. He passed along a message from the Garcia family—keep her alive for now, and let her have the two kids. I asked Jace why later, but he just told me not to ask questions."
Cold sweat broke out on Juniper's forehead. As she calmed down, her eyes went wide. "Wait—are you saying the Garcia family was behind the attempt on William's life all those years ago? They told us to keep Emily and the kids alive so they could draw William back out?"
The pieces clicked for Daniel, but new questions immediately rushed in. "William's back now—so where's the Garcia family? Why were they wiped out?"
Juniper said under her breath, "They were wiped out because they crossed Mr. Sanchez. But I think there's someone else behind the Garcia family."
Daniel muttered, completely lost. "Someone else? But who could possibly be behind the Garcia family?" He shook his head. "God, how did the Taylor family end up with someone like her? Look at how much trouble she's brought us all these years."