Chapter 7

"Miss Sanders, Mrs. Phantom asked for you."

At that moment, the butler of the Phantom family walked over.

Emily didn't look at Luke again and followed the butler.

As soon as she entered the room, she got slapped. A red mark appeared on her cheek.

Jake’s mother, Linda White, was a refined woman. Even though she disliked Emily and had even hit her, she still maintained her elegant demeanor and lectured her.

"Emily, you have really disappointed me. I thought you were different from the others, that at least you could control my son."

"Look at today, he brought someone back home and said something absurd like getting married."

"The Phantom family can never accept a woman from such a family."

Emily understood. For families like the Phantom family, what mattered most was their lineage.

So, Linda's dislike for Helen and Emily didn't surprise her.

She calmly said, "Mrs. Phantom, my relationship with Jake is over."

Linda's expression instantly darkened. She snorted coldly. "Over? If it's over, then I'll pull out the investment. From now on, you won’t get a single penny from the Phantom family. Think carefully."

Emily lowered her eyes. Since she had agreed to Linda's proposal, she knew this day would come.

The Phantom family was considered an affluent family in Oceanfield, but Linda wanted her son to pursue a career in politics, which was much harder than inheriting the family business—at least three generations with a clean background.

Jake had been rebellious since childhood, and his private life was chaotic. As an adult, several women came to the family, claiming to be pregnant and demanding responsibility.

Linda was strong-willed and liked to keep up appearances. She didn't want to play the villain in front of her son.

So when she found out that Emily and her son were together, she had someone investigate Emily.

Although her son was unruly and hard to control, strangely enough, he listened to Emily.

Because of this, Linda allowed Emily to stay with Jake.

At the beginning, Linda was direct.

Emily didn't deserve to enter the Phantom family.

The only reason she allowed Emily to stay with Jake was that she had one request: Keeping him from doing anything that would ruin his future.

In return, she would offer a partnership to Emily's family’s company, which was on the verge of collapse.

Emily agreed.

She knew Jake didn't like her, so, in her eyes, this was a deal that benefited her.

But what she didn't expect was that Linda secretly told Jake that the reason Emily was with him was for their family's money and advised him not to get too involved.

Emily understood Linda's intentions. It was just a worry that one day her son would only want to marry Emily.

Emily felt that Linda's worry was unnecessary, there was no future for her and Jake, so even when Jake's attitude towards her became more hostile, she didn't voice it.

Thankfully, although Jake was rebellious, he didn't do anything illegal, and Linda didn't hold her responsible.

This time, Jake brought Helen home and declared he would marry her. How could Linda agree?

If she couldn't control her son, at least she could reprimand Emily.

"Mrs. Phantom, Jake really cares about that girl. This time, it's different from before, and you know he doesn't like me."

Linda sneered. "At least you know your place."

Emily fell silent.

Linda continued, "I've investigated Helen’s background. She's not suitable for my son."

"I'll help..."

Before Emily could finish her sentence, Linda spoke again, "I know an overseas neurology expert."

Emily lowered her eyes.

Linda knew how to manipulate her.

At that moment, Emily felt conflicted.

On one hand, she never wanted to have anything to do with Jake again, but on the other hand, as a daughter, she couldn't be so selfish.

Liam followed Luke out of the Phantom family's house, and the sky was already dark.

A gust of cold wind blew, and Liam shivered, muttering and complaining.

"Damn, it's so cold, it's probably going to snow," said Liam, but noticed that Luke didn't respond.

He turned around and looked at Luke. "Luke, what are you daydreaming about?"

Luke didn't answer. His heavy gaze was fixed on a girl sitting on a bus stop bench not far away.

He opened his mouth. "Take off your jacket."

Liam was stunned for a moment, thinking he had misheard.

"What did you say?"

Luke finally looked at him and coldly repeated, "The jacket, take it off."

Liam immediately grabbed his suit, looking at Luke warily.

"Luke, I—I'm a straight man. I’m warning you, don't have any funny ideas. Although you're handsome, tall, with abs, I like girls with slim waists and long legs..."

Liam rambled, but Luke seemed to ignore him and began to take off his suit jacket.

Liam quickly took a few steps back. "I—I'm warning you, don't do anything, I really..."

Luke didn't listen. He reached out and started taking Liam's clothes off.

Liam's resistance gradually turned into reluctant compliance.

"The jacket, this is my last bottom line. Also, can we check into a hotel first?"

Luke then realized what Liam was hesitating about. He kicked him with a disdainful look. "What's wrong with you? I just want you to give the clothes to someone else."

Saying this, he threw his coat at Liam.

Liam looked at the jacket in his hands, so embarrassed he wanted to bite his tongue out.

Just now, he had actually complied.

‘Damn it, if this gets out, how am I going to show my face in the world?’

Luke impatiently urged, "Did you hear me? Take the clothes to her."

Liam followed Luke's gaze and finally saw the girl sitting alone at the bus stop.

He didn't say anything more and walked toward Emily, holding Luke's coat.

When Emily saw him, she instinctively stood up, wanting to leave.

"Emily, wait."

Emily stopped and looked at Liam.

Liam handed her the coat. "It's going to snow, don't catch a cold. Wear this."

Emily looked at the coat in his hands and paused for a moment. "Will it give me an infection?"

Liam, confused, asked, "What?"

"Will wearing your jacket infect me?"

Liam was rendered speechless.

‘Damn it, Luke really ruined my reputation.’

He was actually being looked down upon.

He fumed, "That's just Luke's nonsense. I'm a good guy. I still have my virginity."

Emily was a bit shocked, clearly showing an expression of "I don't believe you."

Seeing this, Liam directly threw the jacket into her arms. "Take it, I'm leaving, no need to thank me."

Without waiting for her response, he turned and left.

Emily was about to refuse, but the bus arrived just then.

She had no choice but to board the bus with the coat.

After Emily left on the bus, Liam turned back toward Luke's car.

He knocked on the car window.

The window was rolled down.

Luke threw his clothes back at him.

Liam reached out to grab it and then opened the passenger side door to get in the car.

"Luke, if you want to care for Emily, just give her a lift back. Why beat around the bush like this?"

As he spoke, he looked at Luke with disdain. "Luke, acting like this when pursuing women. I look down upon you man."

"She's mad at me."

Luke started the car, driving on the road and catching up with the bus ahead.