Emily's eyelid twitched; today seemed bizarre as if everyone was targeting her.
Lydia Sander was the alias she used for her card registration here. It couldn't be such a coincidence.
She cast a sidelong glance at Ronald Richardson, who showed no reaction.
"This is the place."
A young man with a face full of fleshy folds, his head tilted and eye askew, blocked the doorway like a small mountain, peering into the room.
Upon seeing Emily, he bellowed, "Sis, I've found that vixen!"
Ronald Richardson's words to tell someone off were on the tip of his tongue, but the scene suddenly piqued his interest.
Pointing at Emily, he asked the man, "Is she Lydia Sander? The vixen?"
Holding his phone, the man compared the image, his chubby finger tapping the screen, "Are you blind? Isn't t
As the words were spoken, everyone on the phone and at the scene, except for Emily, fell stunned.Caroline, incredulous, turned to Ronald Richardson and stuttered, "You're a Richardson?"Ronald Richardson leaned back on the sofa, arms casually draped over the back, a picture of relaxed confidence. "Exactly," he said with an easy smile. With a swift motion, he pulled Emily to his side. "Why would she fancy your family's old geezer when she's got me as a boyfriend?"Emily couldn't help but shoot him a sideways glare, even as he put on an act.Caroline's spirit deflated. She looked from Ronald Richardson, tall, handsome, and clearly talented, to Emily, a young and beautiful lady. It made no sense for Emily to reject such a charming young man for an old man.But the anonymous email that had tipped her off, with its recordings and photos, was irrefutably real.Tho
Emily exited the building and went to the small park where Sandy had previously waited for her. Finding a bench by the lake, she prepared to call Sandy.Before she could dial, Sandy's call came through. "Boyce Holt is heading to see Nora Frank."After a moment of thought, Emily instructed, "Organize the recordings you've saved, and whatever he says to Nora Frank today, package it all and send it to me.""Okay."After hanging up, Emily sat on the bench, mulling over the day's events.Ronald Richardson's appearance was unexpected; he must have been seeking revenge and followed her there.Nora Frank manipulated Caroline. No wonder Nora had been so persistent in talking to her that day, trying to extract information.Then, using the recorded conversation, Nora used Caroline to indirectly attack Emily. This also suggested that Nora didn't want
Emily returned to school and found Sandy waiting in the dorm room.Together, they pieced together the day's events, clearly discerning that Nora Frank had cunningly used them as pawns in her game.Having been with Boyce Holt for years, even the most discreet affairs eventually come to light.Caroline must have long suspected Boyce of having an affair but lacked the evidence to confront him.Aware of Emily's role as the "other woman," Nora, envious yet unwilling to leave Boyce, schemed to use Caroline to eliminate Emily.She sent Emily's recordings and photos to Caroline, who, convinced of their authenticity, hastily moved to catch the mistress.Sandy opened a file on the computer, revealing Boyce Holt discussing how to launder embezzled funds safely."The money will go through my nephew's account, then to a Swiss bank... Part of it will b
Haley Bertie swiftly approached Jean Harry, deftly retrieving her phone from her pocket and handing it to her. Jean, phone in hand, stepped aside to take the call.Stacey Zechariah, noticing Murray's entrance, naturally moved to his side, draping her arm around his. With a hint of discontent, she urged, "You really need to keep a tighter leash on your bro." Ronald was eager to see Jean, hoping for a chance to mend their relationship. But that pesky Haley Bertie always tags along.Watching Haley Bertie and Jean Harry's overly affectionate demeanor, he felt a surge of irritation. When Jean returned from her phone call with Harry, Ronald pulled Emily into his arms. "Let me introduce you all to my girlfriend, Emily Rockefeller," he declared suddenly. Caught off guard and still pondering over how to act now that Murray had arrived, Emily found herself suddenly claimed by Ronald Richardson as his girlfriend, struggling to react in time.There she was, encircled in Ronald's arms, becomin
Ronald Richardson sat beside Murray, feigning nonchalance as he glanced to his left, where Haley Bertie was asking Jean Harry if she wanted some cake.Jean agreed, and Haley stood to fetch a slice from the table. Just as his hand reached for a piece of red velvet cake, Ronald abruptly stood up, stretched out his arm, and snatched the slice Haley was eyeing.In front of everyone, he offered it to Emily, "Try this? The best cake in Sandviken."Emily internally scoffed at his childishness but accepted the cake without a change in expression. Having only eaten lunch that day, she was famished and didn't care whose cake it was.Besides, she was a stranger to this group and unlikely to cross paths with them again, so she wasn't bothered.She tasted the cake, finding it delightfully soft and sweet but not cloying, perhaps the best red velvet she'd ever had.Undeterred by Ronald's public slight, Haley Bertie even smiled at Emily, asking warmly, "Do you like it?"Emily's eyes widened in surpri
Ronald Richardson fumed inwardly, his shots shaky, further marred by the poor angles of his initial attempts. After several strokes, the triangle formation remained unbroken."Damn it!" He cursed under his breath, shedding his carefree and rakish demeanor to focus on finding the right angle.With a series of sharp and precise shots, "thud, thud, thud," Jean stood firm and unshaken.Ronald was pleased. Straightening up, he began calculating: just three more shots and victory was his.Murray Gibson, rusty from years without play, was no match for him, and Haley Bertie, barely able to hold a cue, was not worth considering.This game was as good as won.A confident smile spread across his face. With two more strokes, only two balls remained under the wooden plank. One final shot and the game would be over.Bending over for his shot, Jean's foot shifted slightly, disrupting the balance. The board tilted, and she tumbled off the pool table.Fortunately, Haley Bertie, standing by, caught Jea
Suppressing the tumultuous anger brewing within her, Emily steadied her emotion.Having spent a year by Murray's side, she had studied ways to appeal to him. Although most attempts backfired, there was one tactic that never failed: showing vulnerability.Emily lowered her gaze to compose herself, then looked up again with a façade of frailty and helplessness, her doe-like eyes pleadingly fixed on him.Murray let out a faint chuckle, discarded his cigarette, and with three swift strokes, Emily found herself safely on the table. The night's victor was Murray.The crowd, led by Beau Acheson, began to cheer. "Gibson is unbeatable in everything he does, a source of envy for ordinary folks."Baird Brooke added fuel to the fire, "Murray has to treat us to late-night snacks tonight."Murray, discarding his cue, nonchalantly agreed, "Whatever."
Emily's blunt tone caught Stacey off guard. "Go ahead," she urged, perplexed.Emily didn't mince words. "Focus on yourself and mind your own business, thank you."Stacey, accustomed to a life of smooth sailing and rarely hearing a harsh word, was taken aback by such a direct rebuke from a younger woman, especially when she believed she was offering well-intended advice.Caught off balance, Stacey remained silent, relieved when a car horn indicated Murray's arrival.Without another word, Stacey headed straight for the car, following Emily.Once in the car, Emily instinctively sat in the back seat while Stacey took the front passenger seat.Upon noticing Stacey's sullen demeanor, Murray inquired, "Upset about waiting?"Stacey forced a smile. "What kept you so long?"As Murray maneuvered the car, he replied, "Had to take