Chapter 4 She Gradually Tears Apart Song Wanwan's Disguise
"James, what are you looking at?" Bianca's voice trembled, barely above a whisper.
James's intense gaze softened immediately. "Nothing, thought I saw Emily."
Hayden's voice cut in, "James, you're seeing things. Emily's at home asleep. No way she's here at the hospital."
Emily wasn't surprised by Hayden's mocking tone.
Bianca said something that made Hayden and James immediately focus on comforting her.
The three of them moved farther away until they disappeared from Emily’s sight. Emily felt a tight, suppressed pain in her chest.
So, even back then, James already had eyes for Bianca.
She pushed her emotions aside and went to settle her hospital bill and check out.
"Isn't this Emily, the one the Johnson family picked up from the streets? I remember Bianca’s family already took her home. What's your deal? Did they forget you at the hospital?"
It was Sophia Brown from the Brown family speaking.
Sophia, also a pampered daughter, was often compared to Bianca in their social circle. She didn't like Bianca and looked down on Emily, who was adopted from the streets. Her words were meant to provoke Emily into causing trouble with Bianca.
Emily ignored her and walked past.
"Hey, Sophia’s talking to you! Typical street rat, no manners."
Sophia’s sidekick blocked Emily, sneering.
Emily stopped, her gaze cold as she looked at Sophia.
Sophia was startled.
How could a weak, self-conscious girl have such a commanding look now?
She must be faking it.
Sophia lifted her chin, proudly meeting Emily’s eyes. "Don't glare at me like that. Go glare at the people who harassed Bianca. Aren't you her loyal follower, always defending her?"
"Do you have evidence?"
Emily’s eyes glinted as she suddenly spoke.
"What?" Sophia was caught off guard, her eyes wide with confusion.
Emily patiently turned back, "If you don't have evidence, then it’s slander against Bianca’s reputation."
"I, of course, have evidence! Wait, isn’t your main concern supposed to be avenging Bianca by going after those who harassed her?"
Sophia frowned, unable to understand Emily’s motive.
Emily always defended Bianca immediately. What was going on this time?
"Good, as long as you have evidence."
A fleeting smile crossed Emily’s lips, then quickly vanished, replaced by a murmur.
Sophia didn’t quite catch it.
Half an hour later.
Sophia sat in the police station with a sullen face, next to Emily.
Emily had reported that someone threatened Bianca and pushed her into the water, attempting murder. And Sophia was the witness.
Since Sophia claimed to have evidence, Emily let the police handle it. If those people were actually hired by Bianca, then Bianca would have to prove her innocence.
The case was assigned to a female officer who had a lot of empathy and felt particularly sympathetic towards Emily and Bianca.
The group of harassers was already being hunted down, and naturally, Bianca and her family needed to be informed.
Meanwhile, the Johnson family had returned to the Johnson Villa and discovered Emily wasn’t home.
Everyone was upset.
"Emily is so heartless. Bianca got scared because of her, and instead of going to the hospital to check on Bianca, she’s out having fun. She really needs some discipline," Hayden couldn’t help but criticize.
Bianca quickly intervened, "Hayden, don’t blame Emily. She’s young and playful. I don’t hold it against her."
Eli looked at Bianca with relief but was even more displeased with Emily. "We’ve spoiled her too much, that’s why she’s like this…"
Before Eli could finish his rant, his phone rang. His expression turned serious.
"Hello, is this Mr. Johnson? Your daughter is at the police station, and we need—"
"Another scam call. My daughter is home..." Eli interrupted, only recognizing Bianca as his daughter and assuming it was a scam.
The female officer, momentarily speechless, added, "It's your younger daughter, Emily. Also, we need your elder daughter, Bianca, to come to the station as well. This case involves her too."
"What? Bianca’s involved? What did she do to get mixed up in this? Such a daughter should just be left out there; we’re not dealing with her."
Eli was furious upon hearing Bianca was implicated.
The officer frowned, shocked at a father’s words about his own daughter.
She sternly explained the situation, insisting Eli bring Bianca to the station.
After hanging up, she glanced at Emily with sympathy, telling her colleague, "What kind of father is this? His daughter almost went insane, just got out of the hospital, and now she’s standing up for her sister. Instead of showing concern, he tells her to die."
Emily couldn’t hear the phone conversation, but knowing Eli’s cold attitude, she didn’t expect anything good.
However, since it involved Bianca, she knew they would all come.
Sure enough, within twenty minutes, Eli, Bianca, and the rest of the Johnson family, including James, arrived at the station in a large group.
Sophia saw Bianca being surrounded and mocked Emily, “See? You’re trash, and everyone hates you. Look how much they care about Bianca!”
Emily remained calm, her face expressionless.
"Emily...!"
Eli was the first to spot Emily inside the station.
But no one expected his first action to be slapping Emily across the face, right in front of the police.
Sophia, though mocking Emily’s lack of favor, was still shocked by Eli’s blatant disdain.
“I wondered why you gave up your spot so easily. Turns out you were up to no good, dragging Bianca into this. Do you know she just started to recover? How can you be so malicious?”
Eli didn’t even know the details but immediately blamed Emily.
“Mr. Johnson, please calm down. This is the police station, and this isn’t Emily’s fault.”
The female officer quickly stepped in, defending Emily.
Emily, having been reborn, no longer cared about the Johnson family’s affection. She hadn’t shed a tear.
Unexpectedly, the first person to stand up for her was this officer she had met only once.
Her eyes suddenly welled up.
“Dad, how can you accuse me without asking questions? Am I really your daughter? Did you keep looking for me out of love?”
Emily stepped closer, her eyes red as she confronted him.
Eli’s eyes flickered with guilt, then he felt challenged by Emily’s defiance. He snorted, “Do I need to ask? Bianca has always been good to you, and you caused her to get sick. Now you drag her into this. If that’s not malicious, what is?”
Bianca quickly stepped forward, trying to hold Emily’s hand, but Emily avoided her.
Bianca was momentarily stunned, then put on a hurt expression. “Emily, don’t blame Dad. He’s worried about me, and you too. We came home and couldn’t find you, then got a call saying you were at the police station. Dad’s just concerned.”
“So, it’s my fault?” Emily stepped closer, whispering in Bianca’s ear, “But I was helping you. Those people dared to harass you, and with Ms. Brown as a witness, I reported it to the police.”
“Who asked you to call the police?”
Bianca panicked, forgetting to maintain her facade, and shouted angrily.