Chapter 176: What If Self-Rescue Fails?
Ember's face turned even paler when she heard this.
"What nonsense are you talking about? I'm his real mother. How could I hit him? You can't just make things up!"
Mindful of William Smith's status, she didn't dare say anything too harsh, but her guilty expression betrayed her anxiety.
Michael pouted. "I'm not making it up. I saw it myself. Juan's arms are covered in wounds and burns. He's always sick. He's so tall but so weak—he passes out all the time."
Otherwise, Michael wouldn't have been able to beat Juan in a fight.
When Michael mentioned that Juan "passes out all the time," William frowned slightly, feeling a strange sense of familiarity.
Ember gripped Juan's arm tightly, afraid someone might discover the secrets hidden beneath his clothes. The pointed toe of her high heel kicked his shin as she lowered her voice to warn him not to say anything.
Juan lowered his head and said sadly, "Michael hit me first."
Ember's lips curved with satisfaction, but then she heard Juan's next words.
"But it's true that I provoked Michael first."
He looked up at Michael. "So we're even."
Michael glanced at him, somewhat speechless.
It was bad enough that Juan couldn't beat him, but he couldn't even beat his not-yet-two-year-old sister. Did his parents not feed him? How else could he be so weak?
Thinking about it, Michael felt a little sympathy for Juan.
Although his parents were divorced, they were both good to him and James. Juan's parents weren't divorced, but his father was never home, and his mother often hit him.
By comparison, Michael realized he was already very fortunate.
He looked at William, whose large hand ruffled his hair, and heard William's reassuring words.
"Michael, what do you want to do?"
In William's heart, although Michael was playful, he was kind, and he was willing to protect that kindness.
"Dad, can we have Jeremy look at Juan's wounds? He looks really pitiful."
"Once, I even saw him crying from the pain."
Hearing this, Juan's ears turned red with embarrassment as he quickly explained, "I didn't cry! You saw wrong!"
Michael nodded. "Right, you didn't cry. You just had tears streaming down your face on a cold day. Happy now?"
Juan fell silent.
William positioned James and Michael behind him, had them sit in chairs, and said he would handle the matter.
Ember's eyes lit up when she saw him approach. "Mr. Smith, about my son..."
Peace Group also owned private hospitals.
William stated clearly that he would cover all of Juan's medical expenses until all his injuries were fully healed.
But the condition was that Juan needed to have his injuries examined and documented first.
Ember immediately panicked and said flusteredly, "There's no need for that, right? Juan has his own doctor. I'll take him to get treated right away."
"Mr. Smith, why don't you just give some financial compensation instead?" Her eyes flashed with greed for money, looking nothing like a wealthy lady.
While they were talking, Juan picked up the candy from the floor and carefully tucked it into his pocket.
When he looked up, he met Emily's eyes. She was sitting beside Sophia. He looked away, somewhat embarrassed, but then saw her smile at him.
Juan envied Michael even more.
Michael not only had such good parents but also such a cute sister. Unlike him, no one in his family liked him.
Emily had seen Juan's wrist when he picked up the candy. It was in red marks. She quietly glanced at Michael.
So everything Michael said was true?
His mother really was like the big bad wolf from fairy tales.
Emily quickly ran to Juan's side and, under his surprised gaze, rolled up his sleeves. The dense red marks and pinch bruises left her stunned.
Juan stood there blankly, watching her roll up both his sleeves. Then saw Emily's eyes widen.
Then he saw something even more unexpected
Emily gently blew on his wounds. "A little blow and it won't hurt anymore."
A warm current flowed through Juan's heart. Just then, from the corner of his eye, he caught sight of an angry Ember. When she reached out to grab Emily, he quickly picked her up and ran toward William.
"Emily!"
James and Michael rushed over to check on her.
Sophia and Lucas had been watching Emily the whole time. Only after confirming she was safe did they remain where they were, though their impression of Juan's mother had already become terrible.
Sophia stood up and walked in front of Ember, speaking seriously. "Financial compensation is naturally no problem."
Seeing Sophia speak, William wisely remained silent.
"However, all compensation will go directly to the child. You won't receive a single penny."
Ember's eyes turned bloodshot with rage at her words.
Then Ember saw Juan being taken away by the police. Panic surged through her, and she rushed forward, trying to stop them.
But the police blocked her.
When Juan removed his outer clothes, revealing a body covered in whip marks and cigarette burns, even the police were shocked.
Juan's grandmother, Rowan Stewart, arrived, supported by the butler.
The police explained Juan's situation to Rowan. In the entire Stewart family, she was the only one with some humanity left.
However, Rowan had been staying at the church for many years and hadn't returned to the Stewart Villa.
"Ember, you evil woman! How dare you do this to your own son!"
Ember's actions already constituted a crime. Knowing the outcome, she simply gave up resisting.
"How dare I?" Ember sneered. "It's all because your son forced me to! He has dozens of mistresses now! If he doesn't care, why should I? Is Juan only my child?"
"Just because I'm Juan's mother, I deserve to endure all this?"
"I used to love Juan so much. But what about Juan? He'd rather be close to those sluts his father keeps outside!"
At this, Ember laughed maniacally.
She turned her gaze to Sophia, her voice filled with confusion and incomprehension.
"Didn't you also choose divorce because William and your son were close to that Alice? Why are you forgiving the child now?"
"We gave them life. Shouldn't they naturally love their mothers?"
"Tell me, why is that?"
By this point, Ember's tears were flowing uncontrollably, her eyes full of confusion and bewilderment.
She had been strict with Juan in the past, but wasn't it all so his future would be easier? But what about him?
Juan thought she wasn't as gentle as those other women. He thought she didn't love him at all.
"Now I've just become the mother who doesn't love him, according to him."
"What right does he have to blame me? What right do any of you have to blame me?"
"Before I married into the Stewart family, I was a bright and cheerful woman. You people, ruined me!"
Ember collapsed into a chair, crying and laughing, looking completely insane.
And the words she screamed out made James and Michael's faces turn pale. They didn't dare look into Sophia's eyes.
Because their past behavior was no different from Juan's.
Even the well-behaved James had done nothing to stop Michael when he grew close to Alice back then, even though he knew it was wrong.
And Michael?