Chapter 23: The Song Family, I Don't Want It Anymore
"You actually came back. Thought you were gonna die out there!" Eli snapped as soon as he saw Emily, even though he'd promised to stay calm.
It wasn't entirely his fault. Emily just had a knack for getting under his skin.
Emily strolled in, her words sharp enough to provoke, "Sorry to disappoint, but I'm still kicking."
"You..."
"Dad, you said you'd stay calm!" Bianca quickly jumped in, blinking innocently at Eli.
Eli took a deep breath, trying to keep his anger in check.
Cleo stood up right away, speaking softly, "Emily, don't blame your dad. He's just looking out for you. Your reputation is already bad, and ticking off the Reyes family will only make it worse. Plus, our families' businesses are tied together. Even if you haven't been around to get it, you should know we can't risk those partnerships."
Emily looked at Cleo's hypocritical face, remembering her cold words from her past life. The memory of that bone-chilling coldness made her shiver.
"You all know damn well how my reputation came about!" Emily shot back sarcastically.
"Of course, it's 'cause you were always so reckless and constantly targeting Bianca. That's why your reputation is what it is. Are you blaming Bianca and everyone else now?" Hayden's anger flared, especially seeing Bianca's sad expression.
Emily couldn't be bothered with Hayden. After all, she didn't want to waste her breath on someone who was practically dead to her.
Emily looked coldly at Eli, "Just tell me what you want."
She was here to find out about Elijah's grandson, after all.
Eli was ticked off by Emily's coldness and ordered, "You've really messed up this time. Take the gifts we've prepared and go apologize to Byron at the Reyes Villa. Unless he forgives you, the Johnson family will disown you!"
He added a threat, one he'd never needed to vocalize before. In the past, a mere look of disappointment or anger from him would have made Emily, desperate for family affection, immediately cave.
But this time, Eli was gonna be disappointed.
"Apologizing is out of the question. I don't believe you know the truth and still think I'm in the wrong!" Emily said coldly.
"If you don't apologize, then get out of the Johnson family. You're no daughter of mine," Eli declared harshly, determined to scare Emily into submission.
Bianca tried to play the good person, "Emily, no! Please apologize to Dad. He's just speaking out of anger. Please agree to apologize to Byron!"
Emily suddenly looked at Bianca and spoke softly, "Wouldn't my leaving the Johnson family suit you just fine? Why are you pretending?"
"Emily, how can you think that of me? I..."
Bianca looked heartbroken, as if she might faint from the distress.
"Bianca..." The Johnson family members immediately surrounded her, offering comfort and concern.
Cleo glared at Emily, her eyes cold and resentful.
Emily clenched her fists, her expression indifferent. This was Cleo's true nature. She had never wanted Emily to be born. If it weren't for the umbilical cord blood, she wouldn't have survived the difficult birth.
Now, just a few words of truth, and Bianca's act of falling ill made Cleo hate her.
Cleo suddenly stepped forward and slapped Emily across the face.
Emily could have dodged, but she didn't. In her past life, she had repaid Cleo. This slap was just the final severing of any remaining blood ties in this life.
"This slap is to repay the last bit of familial bond. I don't need this Johnson family!" Emily declared firmly.
Cleo met Emily's gaze, a strange tremor in her heart. She was her mother, how could Emily say such heartless words? Bianca was definitely more affectionate.
Eli sneered, "Repay? Do you think you can repay enough? Let's not even talk about the debt of being born. Just the fact that you've lived in the Johnson family, eating and using our resources. If you truly have backbone, repay all that first, then talk about leaving the Johnson family."
Emily met Eli's gaze without a hint of guilt, "What exactly has the Johnson family given me all these years, Father? Can you list it out? If you can, I'll repay it."
"Then let me list it. Each child in the Johnson family gets a monthly allowance of ten thousand dollars until they turn eighteen..."
"I didn't get that!" Emily interrupted Eli.
She knew Bianca had that money, and more. When Emily returned to the Johnson family, Aiden was already an adult, and Bianca received extra monthly allowances ranging from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars. Then there was Chase, Hayden, and Finn... but not her.
She didn't care about their money, only about family affection. Having a safe harbor was enough for her, so she never minded or cared about it. But later, even her tuition and other expenses were never covered. She earned them through scholarships, competitions, and programming work.
Otherwise, how could she have so many skills?
"How could you not? Don't lie." Eli sneered, turning to Cleo, "Didn't you transfer Emily's allowance? Show the records."
Cleo's eyes flickered, "I thought you gave it to her, so I didn't transfer anything."
Eli's confident expression faltered, turning to Aiden and then Hayden. Both shook their heads.
Eli was about to call for the accountant when Emily spoke up, "No need to ask, because there was nothing. Not even my tuition or other expenses were covered. I earned it all through scholarships and competitions. As for the place I lived in, a studio, do you want to charge me for that too? If so, I don't mind calculating the losses I incurred for Bianca..."
"Emily, don't drag Bianca into everything. Even if you didn't get the allowance, you still grew up in the Johnson Villa, not freezing or starving outside," Aiden interrupted, worried about Bianca's fragile health.
Emily couldn't be bothered to argue with them. She coldly asked, "Are you sure you won't tell me about Elijah's grandson?"
"You think you can get that information without apologizing? Dream on! If you don't want the Johnson family, then leave now. Without our protection, let's see how the Reyes family deals with you. Don't come crying later!" Eli's anger flared as he issued his ultimatum.
"Fine! But the ones who'll regret it won't be me!" Emily glanced coldly at everyone, then turned and walked out without hesitation.
Her final words were not a threat, but a warning.
Eli snorted, not taking Emily's words seriously. But soon after Emily left, Isaac and Sabrina arrived at the Johnson Villa, carrying Byron.
Isaac spoke up immediately, "Eli, Byron is in this state because of Emily. You need to give us an explanation. Where is she? Bring her out!"