Chapter 33
Emily slowly turned her head, her eyes darkening, her voice ice-cold and piercing. "What do you mean by that?"
Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried a chilling coldness that made people's blood run cold.
James felt inexplicably guilty under her gaze, but thinking of the leverage he held, he straightened his back again, his face showing that disgusting smug expression.
"What do I mean? Emily, don't play dumb. Funshine Preschool is a top elite school in Emerald City, not just any trash can get in."
His words revealed contempt for the two children.
Emily just stared at him coldly.
James, thinking his words had the desired effect, softened his tone.
"Emily, although I don't know what tricks you used to get those two kids qualified for admission, that's not the final step." He paused deliberately, lowering his voice as if revealing some shocking secret.
"I heard the person in charge of the final review is the father of one of my employees. What do you think would happen if I 'accidentally' mentioned to him that your private life is messy, that your kids don't even know who their father is, and that you have questionable relationships with men..."
James paused again, but the threatening meaning was crystal clear.
"If that happens, do you think those two bastards can still get in?"
Every word was a dagger to the heart.
Emily's face instantly turned pale, her fingers gripping the e-bike handlebar so tightly that her knuckles turned pale from the pressure.
Although she didn't understand why Willow personally delivered admission spots to the two children, this was still a unique opportunity for them.
Emily had thought that without the Johnson family interfering, the children's schooling wouldn't be a problem, but she didn't expect there would still be so many complications.
Moreover, James was clearly implying that if Emily didn't agree to his demands, he would definitely sabotage this!
This was James's method - despicable, dirty, specifically targeting her weak spots.
"James," Emily took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice steady, "what exactly do you want?"
James keenly detected the panic beneath Emily's calm facade, and satisfaction instantly overflowed in his heart.
He walked around to the front of Emily's bike, crossing his arms and looking down at her condescendingly.
"It's simple, I just need you to keep me company for a month," James said this lightly, as naturally as if he were buying something.
Emily's hands clenched into fists, hatred surging in her eyes.
What did James think she was?
A plaything to be summoned and dismissed at will?
But she never was, and fundamentally, the two of them had no relationship at all.
Yet he had grabbed Emily's weak spot, using the children as leverage.
Seeing Emily remain silent, James directly reached out to lift her chin, his eyes carrying the coldness of watching a joke.
"Don't worry, as long as you behave well during this month, I'll naturally help you solve the children's admission issue. Not only that, I can also buy you a house so you and the kids can live well. See how good I am to you." James even seemed moved by his own words as he spoke.
"Dream on!" Emily didn't even think before refusing directly.
Although she didn't know why James was now pestering her relentlessly, Emily could never forget how she had knelt in front of the car begging them to save her mother, while James and Sophia mocked her coldly.
"Emily, my patience is limited." James's face darkened, his tone becoming sinister. "Do you think you still have a choice? Besides me, who would want a woman with two kids? If the children can't get into this preschool, with your current situation, you probably can't find any other preschool either."
Clearly, he had investigated what the Johnson family had been doing behind the scenes and knew about the conflict between Emily and Sophia.
"Moreover, if you miss this opportunity, even if the two children can go to another preschool, it would just be an ordinary one. Can you bear to let your children lose at the starting line?" He said word by word, a cold smile on his lips.
James was convinced in his heart that Emily would compromise for these two children.
But Emily's answer was beyond his expectations.
"That's none of your concern." Emily's eyes were cold. "No matter where my children go, they won't sink."
She said this with great confidence.
Don't be fooled by Oscar's composure and Nina's liveliness - both children were smart and clever.
They just had their own personalities, which didn't mean they lacked ability.
Emily didn't want to keep arguing with James about this, so she simply pushed the bike hard, trying to go around him and leave.
Seeing her unmoved by either soft or hard tactics, and being pushed by her suddenly, James stumbled.
He instantly became furious and grabbed Emily's wrist, with such force as if trying to crush her bones.
"Stop right there! Emily."
The sharp pain from her wrist made Emily frown.
She struggled hard, "Let go of me!"
Facing her resistance, James only held her wrist tighter, his face twisted.
"If you don't agree today, don't think about leaving here. I have all the time in the world to wait you out, but I wonder if your children at home can afford to wait?"
"What do you mean by that?" Emily's heart skipped a beat, shock and anger rolling in her eyes.
Had the Johnson family gone after the two children again?
Or was it James who made the move this time?
Her thoughts were in chaos, and she couldn't be bothered to argue with him anymore. She simply bent down and bit his wrist.
Emily bit down hard, showing no mercy.
James suddenly felt pain and instinctively let go.
Before he could react, Emily got on her e-bike and rode away.
"Damn it!" James cursed, one hand still clutching his injured wrist.
With his wrist injured, he couldn't drive.
Left with no choice, James had to call and have a subordinate pick him up.
But somehow the news of his injury reached Sophia's ears.
James went to the hospital to treat the wound, and the injured area on his wrist was wrapped in gauze.
To avoid infection, he specifically stayed in the hospital for a few days.
It was during this time that Sophia walked in carrying a thermos. "James, are you okay?"