Chapter 35
The smell of disinfectant in the hospital hadn't completely faded when a black Maybach slowly pulled out through the gates of the inpatient department.
James, sitting in the back seat, still had gauze wrapped around his wrist.
He leaned back against the leather seat, his face dark as a storm cloud.
These past few days, while he'd been recovering in the hospital, Emily hadn't shown the slightest bit of remorse. Instead, Sophia had been coming every day, which only irritated him more.
"Did you find out? How exactly did those two kids of hers get into that kindergarten?" James asked with his eyes closed, his voice cold as ice.
The driver, who also served as his bodyguard, answered respectfully from the front seat, "Mr. Smith, we've been looking into it, but we haven't found anything yet. Whoever's behind this seems to have erased all traces of their existence."
Hearing this, James frowned deeply.
When did Emily get to know someone this powerful?
Even his own people couldn't find out who this person was.
"Keep digging. I need answers." James said stubbornly. The bodyguard nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
He pulled out his phone and found Emily's number. His finger hovered for a moment, but instead of calling, he sent her a text message: [Emily, I'm giving you one last chance. Tomorrow morning at eight, I'll be waiting at your door. If you want those two kids to stay in kindergarten, you'll do what I say.]
The message was sent successfully. James put away his phone with satisfaction.
He knew Emily too well. Those two kids were her weak spot.
At that moment, Emily was leaning back on her sofa, gripping her phone tightly.
The text from James on her screen—every word felt like a knife stabbing into her heart.
"Mommy, what's wrong?" Aiden had walked over without her noticing, his little brow furrowed, his eyes showing concern beyond his years.
Emily's hand trembled. She quickly locked her phone screen and forced a smile. "Nothing, I was just looking at work emails. It's getting late; you and Nina should go to bed."
Aiden didn't move. He just stared at her steadily.
After spending more time with Emily, he could tell when she was being sincere and when she wasn't.
"Sweetie, trust me." Emily knew what Aiden was worried about, but she could only swallow the bitterness in her heart, pull Aiden into her arms, and comfort him gently.
"Mommy, but you look really..." Aiden couldn't find the right words, but his eyes were still full of worry.
"It's okay, everything will work out." Emily didn't want to say more, and Aiden could only go along with what she said.
That night, Emily didn't sleep at all.
She thought of countless ways to handle the situation.
Call the police? But someone like James had plenty of ways to cover things up, or even turn it around on her.
Ask the Johnson family for help? That was even more impossible.
Brian, Sophia, and Harper were all in cahoots, each one wanting to destroy her. How could they possibly help?
Should she really agree to his shameless demand?
Emily shook her head hard. She crushed that thought the moment it appeared.
She would never cross that line.
The next day, Emily got up very early.
She deliberately put on a sharp business suit and light makeup, trying to hide the exhaustion in her eyes.
She knew clearly that James would come, and she had to face him.
Running away wouldn't solve anything—it might even make things worse.
She had two children depending on her.
Even if she didn't think about herself, Emily wouldn't let them face any threats.
Besides, James right now was like a bomb ready to explode at any moment. If she avoided the problem now, who knew what would happen when things finally blew up?
But she had already made up her mind.
No matter what, she would never give in.
At exactly eight o'clock, the sound of a car engine came from outside the yard.
Emily took a deep breath, comforted Aiden and Nina, then grabbed her bag and walked out the door.
The black Maybach was parked arrogantly at the entrance. James rolled down the window. Behind his sunglasses, his expression was unreadable, but the slight upturn of his lips revealed a hint of smug confidence.
"Get in." His words were brief, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Emily stood outside the car, looking at him coldly. "Whatever you have to say, say it here."
James laughed mockingly and pushed open the car door to step out.
Today, he wore a well-tailored dark gray suit. The gauze on his wrist was particularly glaring in the sunlight.
He walked toward Emily step by step, the oppressive aura he gave off deepening her psychological trauma.
"Say it here?" James raised an eyebrow, his gaze brazenly sweeping over her.
"Are you sure you want to talk here? Or would you prefer I ask you in front of those two kids whose father really is?" He paused, lowering his voice with a threatening edge. "If that's not enough, I could always go ask at the funeral home."
"You wouldn't dare!" Emily was shaking with anger. She raised her hand to slap him, but James caught her wrist with quick reflexes.
His palm was hot and invasive, making Emily feel sick.
She yanked her hand away forcefully, not caring about the risk of dislocating her wrist.
"What wouldn't I dare?" James deliberately brought his face very close, his warm breath falling on her ear.
"Emily, I've already given you a chance. Don't push me. Get in the car now and have breakfast with me. If you behave well today, maybe I'll consider leaving those two kids alone for now."
Seeing the undisguised malice and determination in his eyes, Emily's heart sank bit by bit.
She knew that if she didn't go with him today, he would absolutely follow through on his threats.
For the sake of her children, she had to go.
Emily took a deep breath, suppressed the humiliation and anger in her heart, straightened her slightly disheveled collar, and said coldly, "I'll go with you, but I'm warning you—if you try anything, I'll make sure you regret it even if it costs me my life."
James raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised by her "toughness," which then turned into a contemptuous smile. "Don't worry, I'm not about to force you in broad daylight."
With that, he turned and got in the car.
Emily bit her lip and bent down to get into the passenger seat.
The car was filled with a faint fragrance that made Emily's stomach churn.
The car pulled away smoothly, heading toward the city center.
The car was deathly quiet. Neither of them spoke.
Emily watched the street scenes flying backward outside the window, her mind in complete chaos.
She was thinking about how to escape from James, or at least find something to use against him.