As the two were playfully arguing and about to enter the door, they saw Raphael standing outside.
He was dressed in an expensive black suit, his posture upright, but his face looked grim.
Upon seeing him, Deanna's expression immediately darkened.
Julia muttered under her breath, "Jerk!"
The two tacitly decided to ignore him and walked past.
Raphael noticed and realized he was being ignored, his handsome face turning dark.
"Deanna, stop right there!"
He stepped forward to block their way, his voice filled with anger. "Didn't you see I was here?"
Deanna wanted to laugh. "I saw you, so what? Don't think I don't know you're here because of Emily. Let me tell you straight, there's no way I'm letting Emily off. Don't waste your effort!"
Raphael's anger flared instantly upon hearing this.
"Deanna, you've already taken the money. Why won't you let it go? Do you know how much being detained will stain Emily's life?!"
Deanna felt nothing but disgust at the man trying to morally accuse her.
She sneered, "What does it have to do with me? She brought this on herself. Didn't the Jones family teach her that doing bad things has consequences? She's old enough to know that, isn't she?"
Raphael was left speechless, glaring at Deanna in anger.
Deanna didn't care and coldly warned, "I hope you and Emily never show up around my home again. Seeing you makes me sick!"
"Deanna, do you have to be so ruthless?!" Raphael asked in anger and shame.
Before Deanna could respond, Julia couldn't help but speak up for her friend. "Raphael, get it straight. It's not Deanna being ruthless; it's Emily who pushed her to the edge. What, only Emily can bully Deanna, and Deanna can't fight back? Do you have any shame?"
Raphael was once again left without a retort.
Even so, Julia continued, "You have time to come after Deanna, but why didn't you educate Emily properly before? She harmed Deanna first and now wants Deanna's forgiveness. You should ask the police if they agree first! Deanna, let's go!"
With that, she angrily pulled Deanna away.
Raphael stood there, watching them leave, his eyes darkening.
He made a mental note of this grudge.
Back home, Deanna found herself surprisingly calm.
Julia, on the other hand, was still fuming, which made Deanna both amused and touched.
"Alright, don't be angry. It's not worth it to get angry over such scum," she softly comforted her friend.
Julia gradually calmed down but couldn't help worrying for her friend. "Since Raphael found this place, he must know you live here. He and Emily are two of a kind and will definitely harm you. We haven't figured out the last incident yet, but I'm sure it was Emily's doing. You must be careful."
"Don't worry. When I moved in, I had surveillance installed at the door. If they dare come again, I'll make sure they rot in jail!"
Deanna's eyes were sharp as she spoke; clearly she was not joking. But Raphael didn't know this.
After leaving, he went to the Jones family.
Seeing him enter, Mia hurriedly asked, "Raphael, how did it go? Did Deanna agree to release Emily?"
"Sorry."
Raphael looked at her apologetically.
Mia's face turned terrible immediately.
Garrett sat on the sofa, his expression no better. "What? Even with you going, Deanna didn't agree to let Emily go?"
Hearing this, Raphael thought of the woman who had become increasingly sharp-tongued and hostile towards him. His eyes darkened.
"Dad, today's Deanna is no longer her old self. She has become heartless and holds a grudge against us."
Mia couldn't hold back her anger anymore. "That little witch is truly cruel-hearted. Back then, she did such disgraceful things. We only kicked her out; we didn't do anything else to her. Why does she hate us!"
After speaking, she turned to Garrett and began pleading.
"Honey, think of another way. We must get Emily out."
"I know. I'll pull some strings."
Garrett nodded. He didn't want Emily to stay in detention too long because the longer she stayed, the worse it would be for both the Jones family and the Howard family. It might even make the Howard family more dissatisfied.
After all, the Howard family had been very dissatisfied with Emily because of what had happened before. He must do something so as not to let Emily ruin the cooperation between the two families.
Hearing their conversation, Raphael frowned and said, "Pulling strings might not work. I've already investigated; Mercer Group is putting pressure on the police. No one dares to go against Mercer Group. We can only wait for Emily to be released when her time is up."
Garrett refused to believe it.
"No matter what, we have to try."