Chapter 202 Emma is Ms. White
A vivid image slammed into Emma’s mind without the slightest warning, jolting her heartbeat into a frantic rhythm.
A towering oak desk, impossibly high.
A tiny girl in a fluffy pastel-colored princess dress clumsily attempted to climb up, her soft legs wobbling as she kicked and pushed.
Her tiny fingers plunged straight into a tray of cool, silky paints, the slippery pigment startling her before it made her giggle.
After scrambling onto the desk, she wobbled unsteadily, her little feet also stepping into the paint box before printing onto the pristine canvas below.
Overjoyed by her discovery, she crouched down and smacked her paint-covered palms onto the paper, each slap producing a messy, cheerful imprint.
Just then, a stunning woman rushed into the room.
To Emma’s surprise, the woman didn’t yell. Instead, she scooped the paint-smeared child into her arms, her soft laughter filled with pure affection.
"Oh my, you little troublemaker," she giggled, giving the child a kiss. "Here you are again, turning Grandpa’s study into your personal playground. Look at you, you’ve turned into a pint-sized rainbow monster."
The vision dissolved in an instant, vanishing as quickly as it had appeared.
But something inside Emma twisted sharply. Her chest tightened painfully, a suffocating ache spreading until even her fingertips tingled.
Almost unconsciously, she reached forward and traced the two delicate words engraved on the glass frame.
"Beloved."
Her eyes instantly burned, stinging with unshed tears that made her vision blur.
Behind her, a warm and refined voice suddenly interrupted the silence.
"Have you... seen this painting before?"
Emma spun around, and a single tear rolled down her cheek without warning...
Louis watched her composure shatter, and something in his heart clenched as he quickly pressed her.
"Did this trigger a memory?"
Emma swiped her tears away, forcing her breathing to steady.
"It just... feels very familiar."
But her trembling lashes and fragile expression betrayed her completely.
Louis felt a surge of excitement, pointing at the painting.
"This is Mr. Johnson's work. Those little footprints belong to his missing granddaughter."
Mr. Johnson?
Emma immediately remembered what Leon had mentioned earlier, about a respected elderly man.
But Louis didn’t stop there. His next revelation hit even harder.
“Yes, Mr. Johnson is Mrs. White’s father. Those little footprints? They were left by Olivia when she was young and mischievous. After she disappeared, he was devastated. The old man almost didn’t make it… but eventually recovered. He named this painting 'Beloved.' It's been hanging here ever since."
Emma stumbled back a couple of steps, as though the ground beneath her had suddenly tilted.
At that moment, thunderous applause erupted from the ballroom as the crowd swarmed toward the grand spiral staircase.
Luna descended gracefully, escorting Zoe by the arm.
Zoe wore an exquisite blue haute couture gown, the bodice adorned with countless tiny diamonds that refracted brilliant light under the crystal chandelier. She was resplendent and breathtaking.
Her chin was tilted ever so slightly upward, reveling in the admiration directed at her. She carried herself like a regal queen stepping into her court, a dazzling centerpiece of the entire evening.
Guests immediately flocked around her, their compliments pouring out like a tide.
Luna wore a polished smile.
"We're still waiting for a few more distinguished guests. Please, everyone, make yourselves comfortable. The formal ceremony will begin shortly."
Despite her words, the guests continued to orbit around Zoe like moths around a flame.
“Mr. Windsor, aren’t you going over to congratulate Ms. White?” Emma teased lightly, withdrawing her gaze.
Louis remained aloof, glancing in Zoe’s direction with indifferent coldness.
"She doesn't interest me."
Emma blinked in surprise.
Just then, Evelyn came racing over, leaning close to whisper something rapidly in her ear.
Louis noticed the sudden shift and tactfully stepped aside.
"Mr. Johnson has arrived," someone called out from the crowd, and Luna immediately led Zoe forward to greet him.
Zoe instantly shed her haughty demeanor, becoming docile and gentle—the very picture of a well-bred socialite.
Soon after, Oliver White, the family patriarch, took the stage.
Standing on the steps in an impeccably tailored gray suit, his handsome features carried the gravitas of accumulated years, his commanding presence filling the space.
It was evident that the White family possessed undeniably striking genes.
Oliver took the microphone, and his calm, authoritative voice resonated through every corner of the majestic hall.
"Thank you all for gracing White Mansion with your presence tonight for my daughter's recognition ceremony."
He extended his hand toward the staircase, and Zoe immediately lifted her skirts, walking over with undisguised joy.
Oliver's large hand enveloped her smaller one, his voice trembling with barely contained emotion.
"Tonight marks the fulfillment of the White family's eighteen-year dream! Our precious daughter, lost and now found, has finally come home! This is Heaven's greatest gift—the White family's ultimate blessing! “We have prepared this celebration to share our joy with all of you. Thank you for witnessing our reunion.”
Servers emerged with champagne towers, crystal flutes glittering as they were passed around.
He handed one glass to his daughter and kept another for himself.
“As parents, we also hope that our daughter will someday find a loving partner, someone who will walk alongside her. Her happiness remains our deepest wish.”
“This toast expresses our heartfelt gratitude. May tonight’s joy remain with all of us. Please, enjoy yourselves!"
A wave of applause swept through the hall as Oliver initiated the first toast.
Emma and Evelyn stood quietly in a corner, watching Zoe bask under golden light, each of them feeling an inexplicable heaviness.
“A real-life Cinderella tale,” Evelyn murmured with a sardonic smirk. “But every fairy tale has its midnight.”
Before the final notes of celebration faded, a jarring chorus of phone notifications erupted across the hall.
One after another.
Almost simultaneously, guests received the same message. Those who opened it froze in place.
It contained a video.
A highly explicit, scandalous video showing Zoe with three muscular men. Although the bodies were blurred, her face was unmistakably clear, and the scenes were shockingly graphic.
The hall erupted into chaos, buzzing with shocked whispers.
“What on earth, Is that Ms. White? This is… vile!”
“This can’t be real! My God!”
“How could she film something like this? It’s beyond shameful!”
“Please, don’t show me more, I’m going to be sick! Who would have imagined Ms. White was like this?”
"The White family's reputation is ruined now."
Meanwhile, Nicholas’s car glided through the estate gates. His phone also pinged.
After one glance at the video, his expression turned pitch-black. The air around him tightened ominously.
This woman was utterly shameless.
The butler stumbled up the stage stairs, face drained of color, whispering hurriedly to Oliver while discreetly showing him the video.
Oliver took a single look and rage shot through him. His temples throbbed violently as he hissed: "Absolutely disgraceful!"
Without another word, he stormed off the stage.
Luna rushed toward Zoe, sensing disaster.
"What's going on?"
When Zoe finally saw the video on the phone, she was struck speechless.
How… how could this exist?
Her face drained entirely of color. She seized Luna’s hand in panic and screamed at the top of her lungs.
“This video is fake! It’s edited! Someone set me up! It’s not me! That woman isn’t me!”
Nearby, Milan Johnson trembled with humiliation, Zoe had dragged the family name through the mud.
Then Zoe snapped completely. Her eyes locked on Emma and Evelyn like a predator spotting prey. She shoved through the crowd and lunged toward them.
“It was you! You two scheming witches did this! You leaked that video!”
Evelyn stood with arms elegantly crossed, smiling with chilling amusement.
“As they say, if you don’t want others to see it, don’t film it. Who knew you had such a… spectacular figure, Ms. White?”
"Evelyn!" Zoe shrieked like she’d lost her mind, dignity forgotten entirely. "How dare you slander me at an event like this? Mother! Have her arrested immediately! She's framing me!"
Luna stormed over, fury radiating from her icy gaze.
"Did you release that video?"
Evelyn laughed. "Mrs. White, do you have any evidence?"
Luna’s tone darkened, dripping with threat.
“Miss Jackson, you need to get on that stage right now and explain yourself. Otherwise, you won’t be leaving White Mansion tonight.”
"Mother, please don't panic." Luke appeared from nowhere, surveying the chaos before addressing his mother. "Mr. Harrison will be here shortly. Let's wait for him."
Upon hearing this, Zoe completely lost her mind.
"Brother! Nicholas can't see that video! Make them delete it immediately! Arrest this woman—she's trying to destroy me! She's ruining the White family's reputation!"
But Luke completely ignored her.
Zoe lost control entirely and grabbed Evelyn, trying to drag her toward the stage.
That was when Luke struck like lightning.
He wrapped an arm protectively around Evelyn’s waist and snatched Zoe’s wrist with a grip so sharp she gasped in agony.
"Ah!"
Zoe shrieked in pain, forced to release Evelyn.
Luke's eyes were ice-cold as he warned, “Know your place. In this family, you don’t get to cause a scene.”
Evelyn straightened from his hold, gently removing his hand from her waist, and said lightly: "Well, since I'm already here, I might as well take this opportunity to say a few words on stage."
She smoothed her skirts and headed calmly toward the stage.
Her presence commanded attention instantly, the hall fell silent as she took the microphone.
"I'm honored to attend Ms. White's recognition ceremony. I never expected to stumble upon such juicy gossip."
She paused, scanning the entire crowd.
"I hope everyone will listen carefully to what I'm about to say, because I'll only say this once."
Below the stage, Luke watched her with burning intensity, unsure of what she planned—but ready for anything.
But he remained alert, his gaze locked on her, ready to intervene if anything went wrong.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this Ms. White standing before you is not only beautiful and an excellent actress, but there's something very important that I'm sure you don't know about her."
Evelyn’s tone sharpened.
"She shamelessly stole someone else's credit, impersonated Mr. Harrison's lifesaver, enjoyed four years of undeserved gratitude, and then had the audacity to interfere in someone else's marriage. Her behavior is absolutely despicable! That's all I have to say. Thank you."
Evelyn smiled graciously, gave a slight bow to the crowd below, then walked off the stage with perfect composure.
After a moment of stunned silence, the crowd erupted in even more intense discussion than before.
"My God, I had no idea Ms. White was that kind of person—how terrible!"
"She actually stole someone else's credit and impersonated the billionaire's savior?"
"A woman like that is a disgrace to the White family. I certainly wouldn't want to marry her."
Just then, the crowd automatically parted to form a pathway.
Nicholas was walking down that path, tall and imposing, each step seeming to land directly on the hearts of everyone in the hall.
The pressure radiating from him was terrifying, his handsome face cold enough to freeze the atmosphere.
He had obviously heard everything.
The moment Zoe saw him, her smugness instantly solidified into sheer panic.
She lifted her skirts and stumbled toward him.
"Nicholas!" She grabbed his arm, trembling uncontrollably. "Everything Evelyn said is a lie! Don't believe her—she's talking nonsense! In Novaria that year, I was the one who saved you! It was really me! Everyone saw it!"
Nicholas's gaze passed right over her, not even bothering to spare her a glance.
He simply flexed his arm, shaking off her grip without mercy.
Zoe staggered, nearly falling.
Emma stood nearby, watching this scene unfold, her heart clenching painfully.
Who would he believe?
Luna also hurried over, her face wreathed in an ingratiating smile.
"Mr. Harrison, please don't believe these baseless rumors. We know exactly what kind of person our Olivia is. She could never do such things."
But Nicholas ignored her completely.
He walked straight onto the stage and took the microphone.
With just that single movement, the entire ballroom fell into absolute silence.
His cold gaze swept across the crowd.
"From this moment onward..."
His voice carried clearly through the sound system to every ear in the room.
"If I hear even one more word of gossip about Ms. White, I won't show mercy."
Complete silence.
Everyone's hearts sank—they didn't dare speak carelessly now. Mr. Harrison was clearly going to protect his own.
It seemed the alliance between the Harrison and White families was set in stone.
Nicholas continued speaking, his voice emotionless yet carrying undeniable authority.
"Ms. White is noble. I will not tolerate anyone, by any means, slandering or gossiping about her."
Hearing this, Zoe's desperate heart reignited with hope.
Nicholas was defending her!
He still believed her!
He would still marry her!
She looked at that tall, imposing figure on the stage—her protector—and instantly felt secure.
But Emma, hearing those words, felt all color drain from her face.
So in his heart, Ms. White was so precious. Then what was she?
She couldn't stay another moment. Turning around, she wanted only to escape this suffocating place.
But the instant she turned, a figure leaped down from the stage.
Nicholas's burning grip seized her ice-cold wrist.
His hold was so firm she couldn't break free.
He pulled her around to face everyone, speaking into the microphone to finish the rest of his sentence.
"However, the person you see before you, Miss Perez, is not the real Ms. White."
He paused, each word falling like blows from a hammer.
"The real Ms. White is her—Emma. She is the moon in the sky, pure and spotless, without a single blemish. And she is the goddess in my heart."
Those words struck like thunder, completely stunning the entire ballroom.
Everyone was speechless, including Emma, whose wrist he held in his grip.
Countless gazes—stunned, confused, searching—focused simultaneously on Emma's beautiful, pale face.
Luna and Oliver looked absolutely incredulous.
Evelyn gasped in surprise, covering her mouth with her hands.