Chapter 196: Haunting Remains
Chapter 196: Haunting Remains
Emily didn't stop. She raised her hand, signaling her staff to bring up the evidence. "What you're about to see is the official police report, including Lonnie's full confession, his signed and notarized statement, and copies of key evidence from when he committed these crimes."
The large screen displayed each piece of evidence clearly, the red official seals particularly striking.
Emily looked at the evidence, her eyes blazing with determination. "I'm not just standing here today for my father. I'm standing here for the integrity and dignity that every entrepreneur deserves—for everyone who's been falsely accused, with nowhere to turn.
The law has given him justice. Now I'm asking society to give him the fair judgment he deserves."
Her voice rose, carrying years of pent-up anger and hope. "My father lived his entire life with honor and integrity. He never wronged his business partners or society. He is innocent!"
She practically shouted that last sentence, her voice cracking, choked with emotion. Her eyes quickly reddened, and hot tears streamed down her pale cheeks.
She could barely keep herself upright. Her body swayed, but her assistant was there to steady her.
The room went dead silent. Then, after a few seconds, thunderous applause erupted!
Countless cameras captured the moment—
Michael stood below the stage, watching Emily, his eyes filled with love, admiration, and pain.
Reporters' hands shot up with questions, flashbulbs firing continuously, freezing Emily's tears and determination forever.
As the press conference wound down, Emily bowed deeply once more and left the venue, escorted by Michael's bodyguards.
Emily slid into the car, shutting out the chaos outside. Only then did her carefully maintained composure completely shatter. She leaned back against the seat, letting her tears flow freely.
These weren't tears of grief—they were emotions that had been bottled up for far too long, finally released.
She could almost see Ulysses standing nearby, his face wearing a comforting smile, gently saying to her, "Emily, Dad's name is finally cleared."
She reached out, wanting to touch his phantom figure, but her fingertips only passed through empty air.
But she knew that wherever Ulysses's spirit was now, he must have found peace.
Her path of vengeance, the crushing burden she'd carried for years, was finally... completely over.
The press conference ended smoothly. Michael got held up by several business partners and told Emily to head down to his reserved spot in the underground garage. He'd catch up shortly.
"I'll have the bodyguards go with you."
Michael insisted, worried, his hand caressing her cheek, his eyes full of concern.
Emily shook her head, smiling to reassure him. "That's not necessary. The garage is busy this time of day, and it's right downstairs. I'll be fine on my own. Go take care of business. I'll wait for you in the car."
She didn't want Michael distracted on her account, and after the emotional release of the press conference, she just wanted to find somewhere quiet to pull herself together.
Michael still hesitated, but seeing Emily's determined expression, he finally nodded. "All right. But be careful. Text me when you get there. I'll be right down."
"Okay." Emily agreed, grabbed her bag, and headed toward the elevator.
The underground garage was dimly lit, rows of fluorescent lights humming and flickering, casting uneven shadows across the ground.
The air reeked faintly of gasoline and dust, with a trace of mustiness that made the atmosphere feel oppressive.
Emily followed the signs toward the reserved parking section.
Her spot was tucked away in a corner of the garage—relatively quiet.
Just then, the faint sound of footsteps echoed from the shadows behind a row of cars!
The footsteps were soft, as if deliberately muffled, but in the silent garage, they couldn't escape Emily's ears.
Having survived multiple dangerous encounters before, she'd developed an almost instinctive sense for this kind of threatening approach.
Almost reflexively, Emily jumped up and quickly dodged to the side!
A figure in an oversized black hoodie, wearing a face mask and baseball cap, emerged from the shadows like a ghost, holding what looked like a small spray canister, and viciously sprayed it toward where Emily had just been standing!
A pungent white mist spread out, landing on the concrete and leaving a wet trail.
Emily immediately noticed the spray's smell was somewhat familiar—like some kind of powerful sedative. If she'd been hit, the consequences would've been unthinkable!
Fortunately, she'd dodged in time, and only a tiny amount of spray had gotten on her sleeve.
The smell made her nauseous, and she couldn't help but grimace.
The figure was clearly stunned by the missed attack, apparently not expecting Emily to react so fast.
But immediately, even more insane hatred flared in their eyes, and with a muffled voice, they lunged at Emily again!
Emily's heart hammered wildly, as if a drum was beating continuously in her chest, making her eardrums ache.
But survival instinct kept her razor-sharp focused.
She knew that being pregnant, she absolutely couldn't fight head-on with the attacker. She had to break free quickly and find somewhere safe.
The instant the person raised the spray again, instead of backing away, Emily took advantage of the gap in their movement and suddenly stepped forward, her hand shooting out like lightning to grab the wrist holding the spray!
Her movement was swift and precise, her fingers clamping down on the attacker's wrist with all her strength.
The attacker clearly hadn't expected her to fight back, and their wrist hurt from the grip. They tried to struggle, but Emily held on tight.
Without hesitation, Emily's other hand yanked upward!
The mask's strap snapped, and the mask slipped down, revealing a face that was both familiar and unrecognizable to Emily.
It was Caitlin!
The Caitlin before her was nothing like the socialite Emily remembered, who was always impeccably dressed and playing at elegance!
Her hair was greasy and disheveled, plastered to her forehead and cheeks. Her face was sallow, covered in haggard lines. Her eye sockets were sunken, with heavy dark circles if she hadn't slept in days. Her eyes were bloodshot, filled with twisted malice.
The black hoodie she wore looked filthy and worn, covered in unidentifiable stains. She radiated an aura of desperation and madness—like a rat crawling out of a sewer.
"Emily! You bitch! This is all your fault! You're the one who ruined everything for me!"
Caitlin's eyes were bloodshot, her voice hoarse and shrill, filled with hysterical hatred.
She'd clearly lost her mind completely, blaming Emily for all the misfortunes that had befallen her and her family.
In her twisted view, if Emily hadn't shown up, Michael would've married her, and the Rand family wouldn't have ended up in ruins for crossing Michael.
Seeing the spray was useless, Caitlin suddenly pulled a gleaming, sharp kitchen knife from her pocket!
The knife was about six inches long, its blade reflecting cold light in the dim fluorescents, sending chills down one's spine.
Without any hesitation, she thrust it toward Emily's chest! Her stance made it clear she wanted Emily dead—didn't even care about the baby in her womb!
"You're insane!" Emily was both shocked and furious. She twisted sideways, barely avoiding the blade. The knife grazed her arm, tearing through her sleeve and bringing a cold sensation.
She could feel her skin had been cut with a shallow wound, a slight sting radiating out, but she couldn't worry about that now. She could only desperately dodge.
Using her relatively nimble body to her advantage, she used the nearby cars as cover, constantly circling around them to evade Caitlin's crazed attacks.