Chapter 16 Out of Character
“Oh my God!”
“Christ!”
“How could she?”
“What kind of person was that girl?”
Emma couldn’t believe the memories that just appeared in her head were real. She didn’t know how Honey and Darling did it, but the whole place had turned blurry, and her body, along with Olivia’s, began to vanish.
When she regained her senses, a fresh wave of manly cologne filled her nose. A hand rested on her back, and a tall man stood very close in front of her. Her body…. no, Olivia’s body, which she was now inside, was being moved about by the man holding her.
Memories of how Olivia had been rude to Max and his family flashed in her mind. The realization made Emma’s mouth fall open in shock. The man she was supposed to make sure he falls in love with was this very man holding her now. But those words he’d said…
He had wanted Olivia out of his sight. He clearly disliked her. What was Emma supposed to do now? How long will it take her to change his mind about herself?
‘That girl seriously had a problem with her mouth. She needed a brain check-up.’ She thought in dismay.
Emma wasn’t the type to get angry easily, but she was so upset that Max could probably feel it. To make things worse, the system had dropped her right back into the moment before Olivia was shot, meaning she had just finished cursing Max out.
How great would it be if she was back at the moment Max and his family had just arrived at their table. She would have greeted his parents respectfully and made good impressions.
Emma’s chest rose and fell in frustration. Honey stayed quiet in her subconscious, knowing Emma’s current reaction was expected.
Max, however, remained calm. He simply used his strength to keep leading her through the dance until the music finally stopped.
Applause filled the hall once again.
Max let go of her hand, and Emma stood frozen like a statue, not knowing what to do next. Everything felt like a dream.
She wondered what her life would become now.
Her family…. would she ever see them again?
And how on earth was she supposed to make Max like her?
She wasn’t experienced in any of this. Looking down at what she was wearing, she felt uncomfortable. Her cleavage was showing, and the outfit screamed money.
“Miss Smith?” someone called.
Emma stiffened. She wasn’t a Smith, she was Emma William.
Max had already returned to his seat, fuming quietly. Olivia had called him a dickhead, animal, fool, and tall for nothing. He wondered why she, well, Emma now suddenly refused to leave the dance floor.
“What’s wrong with her?” Emily asked, giving her brother a questioning look. “Brother?”
“Hm?” Max replied without looking away from Emma. His cold eyes stayed on her as she stood motionless under the lights.
“Did you say something harsh to her?” Emily asked.
Max shook his head. “She was actually the one who was harsh to me.”
“You should go and help her,” Max’s father suggested.
“She doesn’t look sick to me,” Max said flatly, finally averting his gaze from her. “Perhaps she just wants everyone who hasn’t seen her beauty yet to have a clearer look,” he added.
“Brother…” Emily sighed. Her brother rarely got angry, but when he did, he wasn’t one to shout. Still, the frown on his face said enough, he truly disliked that woman.
“Miss Smith?” the banquet host called again, drawing everyone’s attention toward Emma.
“Host, you’re acting weird,” Honey’s voice suddenly echoed in Emma’s head, snapping her out of her trance.
Olivia’s parents were already walking toward her. They never took anything lightly when it came to their daughter.
“Are you okay?” Honey asked.
Emma saw dozens of eyes on her and felt like a drop of water lost in the ocean. She glanced left and right, her heart thudding wildly. The more she looked at the crowd, the more familiar names and company logos appeared in her mind.
She hadn’t known any of these people seconds ago, but now she did.
Everything felt unreal. She was losing her mind. This is real, she is actually inside someone else’s body.
“Baby, are you okay?” a woman’s gentle voice asked. Emma felt a hand on her shoulder, it was Olivia’s mother.
She instinctively took a step back, her body trembling.
“Host, calm down,” Honey whispered. “You can’t act out of character. You need to behave like the previous owner of the body. No one can find out about your transmigration.”
Emma forced herself to take a deep breath and composed her expression.
Laura looked worried as she studied her daughter’s strange behavior. She began to wonder if she and her husband had pushed Olivia too hard to bond with Max.
“Sweetheart, are you alright?” President Smith asked gently.
Emma nodded and forced a smile. It only deepened their concern, but they still supported her, walking her back toward their seats.
People began to glance at Max now, whispering. They wondered what he had done to her. Max, however, didn’t seem to care. He was now busy with something on his phone.
“Baby, I’m sorry,” President Smith said softly. “If you don’t like him, we won’t make you meet him again.”
Laura nodded in agreement. The couple didn’t want their daughter to suffer in any way. If she disliked Max so much that she reacted like this, then today would be the last time they’d ever force their meeting. They would find another way to secure her future.
“No, sir,” Emma blurted out before realizing what she’d said.
President Smith froze, startled. Was this her way of rebelling against him?
“Baby, I’m sorry. We were wrong,” He hadn’t finished when the door to the hall suddenly burst open.
Everyone stood immediately as the sound of gunfire echoed faintly through the thick, soundproof doors.
Max’s eyes sharpened. He rose at once and signaled for Emily to move closer to their parents.
“Don’t panic. Stay calm,” he said firmly. His mother and Emily nodded, while his father’s expression darkened with focus.
“What’s going on?” Max asked, pressing his Bluetooth earpiece.
“Attempted assassination on the Smiths,” came the reply.
Max’s gaze darted toward Emma. One of the guards was already whispering into President Smith’s ear, and the man’s face went pale. He immediately understood, someone had found out about his alliance with Max’s family.
“We’re leaving now,” Max said to his family. They nodded.
Fear rippled through the room. Guests looked around, terrified.
“President Smith, please wait,” Max called out, stepping toward Emma and her parents, who were about to exit.
“Follow me. We’ll take another way out,” he said.
They didn’t hesitate to agree.
Emma looked at him, but he didn’t spare her a glance.
It’s all because of that rude girl, Emma thought bitterly.
And Honey couldn’t agree more.