Emily was almost beaten to death by Raphael.
When Xavier arrived, he saw Raphael grabbing Emily's head and smashing it against the wall, muttering under his breath.
"Bitch, weren't you so arrogant just now? Why are you begging for mercy now?"
Raphael looked at the wailing woman in his hands with a vicious expression.
At this moment, Emily had lost all her previous arrogance and was in a sorry state.
Her forehead was bruised and bleeding slightly.
She clutched Raphael's wrist tightly, tears blurring her vision as she pleaded, "Raphael, I was wrong. Please let me go. I really was wrong."
Just a moment ago, she thought Raphael would kill her.
"Shut up, you bitch. How dare you beg for mercy? If I wasn't smart enough, the Howard family would have been ruined by you."
Raphael shouted and yanked Emily closer to him.
Their eyes met, and Emily trembled uncontrollably at the sight of the man's crazed expression.
Just when she thought she was going to die tonight, a cold voice sounded above them.
"Enough. If you scare her to death, I won't be able to explain it to Mr. Mercer."
Xavier stood nearby, frowning as he glanced at the bloodstains on the wall, increasingly displeased with Raphael.
Although Raphael was reluctant to let Emily go, he eventually released her.
Emily stumbled back a few steps, looking at Raphael with a face full of fear and wariness.
Raphael didn't care, letting out a cold laugh. "Don't think you're safe just because I'm letting you go now. After Lance finishes interrogating you, you'll be back in my hands. I'll make sure you understand the consequences of betraying me!"
With that, he glanced at Xavier and then left without another word.
Half an hour later, Xavier brought Emily and Raphael to their gray area operations base.
Lance was already waiting in the living room.
Seeing them enter without the expected person, he frowned.
Before he could ask, Xavier reported, "They escaped. The other side set up two lines of defense in the bar. When we broke in, they fled through the back door. But I've already ordered an investigation of the surveillance footage along the route. We should soon know their direction."
Lance nodded slightly and turned his gaze to Emily.
His eyes were as cold as death, making Emily shudder.
"I don't know anything. Please let me go. I promise never to target Deanna again and will stay far away from you."
She pleaded with a sobbing voice.
Lance looked down at her coldly. "If you want to leave here alive, tell us what you know."
"I really don't know anything. I'm just a puppet," Emily tried to defend herself.
But Lance didn't believe a word she said. "It seems you're unwilling to talk."
"Xavier." Lance didn't need to say more; Xavier understood.
"Mr. Mercer, don't worry. I'll get the information."
He signaled to one of his men.
The subordinate nodded and walked towards Emily.
Seeing the man approaching, Emily was terrified and pleaded repeatedly, "I really don't know anything. You can't torture me... It's illegal!"
But no matter how much she screamed, she couldn't stop being taken away.
Soon, the living room returned to silence.
Lance and Raphael exchanged glances.
Before Lance could speak, Raphael took out the prepared share transfer documents.
"Mr. Mercer, we'll give the Howard family's assets in Cloudmere to you. We just hope you will keep your promise and spare us."
"I always keep my word," Lance responded solemnly and wrote Deanna's name on the document.
Raphael's expression changed, his eyes full of complexity. "Mr. Mercer, don't you want the Howard family's assets?"
"What's Deanna's is mine, and this is what you owe Deanna."
Lance signed all the documents and indicated for Raphael to complete the rest.
Raphael took a deep breath, picked up a pen with trembling hands, and slowly signed his name on the documents.
In less than three minutes, all the documents were signed. He put down the pen with red-rimmed eyes and found his voice after a long time. "Three days later, I will leave Cloudmere with my parents. At that time, I hope you will hand Emily over to me. I have scores to settle with her."
"Agreed."
Lance nodded coldly and signaled Xavier to escort them out.
After sending Raphael away, Xavier returned to the living room with some confusion. "Mr. Mercer, why let him go? What if he comes back for revenge?"
"Letting him go was my promise. I don't break my word. But what happens after he leaves is beyond my control."