Chapter 4

“Don't call my name again.”

Emily's deadly eyes focused on Jessica.

Jessica was dumbfounded; she couldn't believe Emily just slapped her, and she didn't hold back at all. She fell into Mason's embrace and started crying.

“I was just trying to help. I was just trying to help my sister.”

Mason holds Jessica in his embrace and points at Emily.

“How dare you do such a thing to your cousin? Now go on your knees and apologize to Jessica, or I won't forgive you!”

Emily's mouth vibrate seeing the way Mason was holding Jessica; he hasn't held her like that before, and it feels like this is not the first time. She faces Mason.

“You know about her plans, don't you? You two have planned this all along.”

Mason's eyebrows were pushed to his eyes.

“What are you saying, Emily? Go on your knees, or I will get angry.” Emily utters immediately; her voice was shaking.

“You know I don't drink, but you forced me, and you left immediately; I should've known all along. All these while, you never cared about me; you treated me like some kind of robot that was meant to follow your every command like you were my master!”

Mason's heart rate increased for some unknown reasons, but he quickly regained his composure.

“You are insane, Emily, but I am giving you one minute to apologize to Jessica, or I will get angry, and I won't forgive you.”

Emily couldn't help but chuckle out loudly. She burst out laughing immediately.

Mason and Jessica were dumbfounded by her crazy performance.

Emily finally stopped laughing; she faced Mason.

“If you like hit your head on the wall, I don't care, and please keep your forgiveness to yourself. I don't care, either.

It's over between us.”

Emily's eyes moved to Jessica.

“You can have fun with this bitch; I bet you already know how she tastes. Thank goodness I slept with a stranger yesterday; I would've regretted this my whole life.”

Emily removed the engagement ring from her hand and dropped it on the floor.

“You should give it to her immediately.”

She turned, walking to the exit. Mason's fist hardened. How dare Emily insult him this way? Does she have any idea what she is doing?

“Emily, come back here!!? Where do you think you are going? If you take one more step, I swear, I won't forgive you anymore.”

“Emily!!!!”

Emily comes out of the hotel, her cheeks raised to her eyes immediately.

This is the first time she is feeling the air in the surroundings freely, and it feels really good. She has not felt so relaxed before. All her life, she has been trying to please everybody around her, but now it seems the chains holding her to the ground have suddenly vanished. She feels more like herself now. Emily decides to walk to her bank. She has some money in her account; she should use it wisely, but it's impossible to raise such an amount in five years.

She stopped and faced the art gallery store at her side. The place was beautiful, and she could see some artwork inside the building. Emily focused her attention on the art building.

The breeze gently vibrates her clothes. She once had a dream of becoming an artist, but all that crumbled because of her father incident, and she was forced to do all the house chores in the house.

She had no time with her then, but she is finally free now. Should she follow her dreams, would she make a lot of money from selling her paintings? Emily's fist hardened; from now on, she was only going to be do the thing she loved doing which is painting. She would do it wholeheartedly and be successful she will make sure they all regret what they did to her.

cold tears drops from her eyes

*

Five years later, when Emily comes out of the airport, she is battling with the three bags she is carrying.

“Mom, why are we here?”

Mia faces her mother; she is holding a mini bag that contains her snacks. Emily faces Mia with a smile.

“Don't worry, darling, we will be leaving soon.”

Mia nodded twice at her mom's words.

“So why are we here? Are we here to see Dad?”

She faces Emily with a smile. Emily stammered.

“No, not at all.”

She wished she could tell Mia that her father is dead; it would be better if she told her that, but she couldn't bring herself to say it, so she lied, saying that her father is busy and very irresponsible; he isn't concerned about Mia at all; he only cares about his job and his reputation.

With this, she believes Mia will grow up hating her father; that is what she wants; that man left her in the hotel when he found out he slept with a stranger, and who knows if he is married already; she doesn't want anything to do with the asshole; and she certainly doesn't want Mia to think about him.

Emily gazed forward when she heard the car horn sound.

“Hey Mia, it's Auntie Gianna.”

Mia gazed forward with excitement.

“Auntie!!”

She rushed forward to the middle-aged woman who came out of the car. Emily's cheeks moved, seeing Mia rush to hug Auntie Gianna.

Among all her relatives, Auntie Gianna is the only person she keeps in touch with, and that is because Auntie Gianna is the nicest among them. She took care of her when her parents passed away; she is the one who paid her school fees and her expenses; she can't thank Gianna fully; her words are what kept pushing her to strive forward; she won't forget aunt Gianna so easily.

Auntie Gianna opened the boot for Emily.

“So, are you still planning to leave after this?”

“Yes.”

Emily loads the three box of luggage inside the boot, then she shuts it closed.

“Mia doesn't like the atmosphere here.”

Gianna nods repeatedly at Emily's words. Emily faces Mia.

“I should get going; I am almost late.”

She stepped closer to Mia and touched her hair.

“Mia, Mom has something to do now. I will be back in an hour, so be good to Auntie Gianna before I come back.”

Mia nodded repeatedly at her words, and she rushed to Gianna.

“Auntie Gianna is the best.”

Mia stands gallantly in front of her as she holds the large chocolate box Gianna just gave her. Emily was happy to see her reaction; she waved Auntie Gianna off before she called for a taxi.

The deadline date is fast approaching. She has become a renowned artist, but she still can't provide the whole money. Emily stopped at an art gallery building, paid the taxi driver, and walked inside slowly.

She built this place three years ago, and it has been growing higher every month. All her art is available here, as are some popular artists works. She entered the building, and a woman approached her.

“Mrs. Emily, he is waiting in the guest room.”

“Send him to my office.”

Emily walks straight to her office; she has no choice but to sell her gallery. Her buyer is willing to pay a hundred million dollars straight away; he is a top customer. When he heard she was selling the place, he contacted her immediately. She sits on a chair; she really doesn't want to sell this place; it's her legacy of what she has accomplished over the five years that she has been in exile from her family.

Emily covered her face with her palms; she had no choice but to sell it. The door opened, and a tall, elegant man was directed inside; his appearance seemed to have seized the air in the office.

He cast a glance at both corners of the office before he faced Emily. He stopped when his eyes met Emily. Emily stepped closer to him, and she extended her hand for a handshake.

“I am Emily Logan, the owner of Brown Art Gallery.”

The man didn't budge from his position; his blue eyes continued to penetrate Emily's eyes.

Lucas uttered.

“I have been searching for you.”