Chapter 64
Emily raised her head, staring in disbelief at the man before her.
Daniel glared at her with the intensity reserved for mortal enemies, his grip on her wrist showing no sign of loosening.
"You..."
With one powerful motion, Daniel flung Emily aside and turned to Sophie, his expression instantly softening. "Sophie, are you okay? Don't worry, if she dares to touch even a hair on your head, I'll teach her a proper lesson."
The unexpected force sent Emily crashing to the ground. Her knees hit the hard floor with a sickening impact, pain shooting through her body as tears sprang to her eyes.
But the physical pain was nothing compared to the agony in her heart.
The brother who had protected her for over a decade was now manhandling her for the sake of a homewrecker—a woman who had stolen her research.
Emily closed her eyes briefly, forcing back her tears.
She wiped the moisture from her face and struggled to her feet, fighting through the pain.
"I'm fine," Sophie said, resuming her innocent facade, though her eyes betrayed uncertainty. "Ms. Ward probably saw me with Alexander and misunderstood the situation."
"What is there to misunderstand?"
At the mention of Alexander's name, Daniel's anger visibly intensified. "Emily, I've told you already—Sophie has nothing to do with Alexander! He's the one who keeps pursuing her. Why won't you believe that?"
Emily didn't know who was pursuing whom, nor did she care. But she knew certain things were impossible to accomplish alone.
"Is this your reason for laying hands on me?" Emily's voice still carried the tremor of tears, her beautiful eyes rimmed with red. Her dress was now stained with dirt, making her look pitiful yet defiant as she straightened her back.
Daniel faltered at the question, opening his mouth to explain but finding no words.
Sophie clutched his arm and let out a soft whimper. "I think I twisted my ankle just now."
Her timing for ankle injuries was remarkably convenient.
Emily glanced at Sophie's ankle, a mocking smile curving her lips.
"Emily, look at what you've become!" Daniel noticed her expression and immediately launched into a tirade. "Jealous and vindictive—what happened to the kind-hearted girl you used to be?"
So she was pushed down with an injured knee and labeled jealous and vindictive, while Sophie—who had repeatedly tormented her—was painted as innocent.
The Daniel she once knew would never have been so blind to right and wrong, nor would he have laid hands on her.
Everything had changed.
The emotion drained from Emily's face piece by piece. "I'll move out as soon as possible."
With those words, she turned to leave. Daniel felt a pang in his heart and stepped forward to block her path, though his expression remained stern. "What? Can't I even criticize you anymore? After what you've done, you should be grateful I only scolded you. I'd be justified in hitting you!"
In that moment, her heart turned to ice.
She let out a cold laugh and stepped down from the hotel entrance, wading through the rain-soaked pavement.
Daniel moved to stop her, but paused when he saw Sophie. "Are you sure you're alright? Let me take you home."
"No need." She shook her head with a smile. "My driver is coming to pick me up. You should go after her. She didn't mean any harm—she just loves Alexander too much."
Sophie lowered her voice conspiratorially. "She came to the party today because of Alexander. She mentioned having a new research breakthrough that she wants to collaborate with him on. Do you think they might rekindle their relationship?"
Her words ignited the fury in Daniel's heart.
"That won't happen," He said coldly. "I won't allow it."
Taking a deep breath, his expression softened again. "Are you absolutely sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine. It's just her research paper..."
"Don't worry. It will be yours, I promise."
Emily walked through the downpour, feeling chilled to the bone.
In the heavy rain, even taxis were scarce.
She stood beneath an awning like a homeless waif, rain mingling with her tears to preserve what little dignity she had left.
Then her phone chimed with a message from Sophie: [Alexander was worried about the heavy rain and sent James to pick me up. He even prepared ginger tea.]
[You call yourself his wife? I'm the one who went looking for you?]
[He only married you because your face resembles mine.]
The final message included a selfie of Sophie in Alexander's car, smiling radiantly while holding a thermos—the very one Emily had bought for him with her first paycheck.
Emily felt too numb even to cry. Everyone she cared about had taken Sophie's side, while she remained just a substitute living in the shadows.
The sound of brakes pierced the rain, and a Maybach stopped before her. The window lowered to reveal Alexander's impossibly handsome face.
"Get in," He commanded.
His tone was lofty and condescending—the attitude that had defined their three-year marriage.
Now he wanted her research results and still treated her this way?
Emily suddenly didn't want to pretend anymore. Through the curtain of rain, she looked at him. "What? Finished dropping Sophie off?"
Her hoarse voice carried unmistakable hurt, causing him to furrow his brow.
"What nonsense are you talking about? Get in now." He pushed open the door, rain immediately soaking his expensive shoes as he strode toward her, grabbing her arm to pull her toward the car.
"How is it nonsense?" She resisted his touch. "If everyone thinks she's kind and gentle while I'm cruel and petty, why bother with me at all?"
"What? Seeing Daniel care for her bothers you that much?"
Her struggle suddenly ceased as she stared at him, eyes vacant. "What did you say?"
"I said, does it bother you so much that Daniel is protecting her?" He gripped her waist with startling force, his expression darkening as he shoved her into the car without allowing further protest.
The car's heater was on full blast, yet Emily couldn't stop shivering. "You saw everything?"
"Yes."
The man she'd considered as a family for over a decade, had manhandled her, while her husband had stood by watching—because they both shared a common priority: Sophie.
Despair washed over her completely, grief etched across her face. The sight made Alexander's expression turn murderous.
He had already left, but concerned about the heavy rain, he'd instructed his driver to return.
When he arrived, everyone had gone, and Emily was nowhere to be seen.
Alexander had checked the security footage. He couldn't hear what was said, but he'd seen her being pushed down, leaving with tears in her eyes.
Anger and something like concern flooded through him.
'Daniel—does he really matter that much to her?' Alexander thought.
His hand tightened on his knee, his gaze and voice equally frigid. "Move back home. From now on, you are forbidden from having any contact with Daniel."
If his tone hadn't been so cold, she might have believed he actually cared about her pain.
Indeed, he only wanted her research.
Hatred suddenly surged through her. Her voice hoarse, she cast out her bait, "I can't. I need to go back and collect my things. I have crucial research data on my laptop there—I have to get it back!"