Chapter 36

The night was deep, and moonlight spilled like water across the ground.

Emily Johnson lay in bed, wide awake. Her slender fingers traced the stun gun beside her pillow, her gaze sharp as a blade. The anger from dealing with Patricia Stone still simmered inside her.

"Hmph. If anyone dares to come tonight..." A cold smirk curled her lips.

Peter Wilson crept toward the Stone family's courtyard wall. He had already scouted the place—Michael Stone had gone to town to deliver goods tonight. The thought of Emily's graceful figure made him swallow hard.

"Sweetheart, let big brother take good care of you tonight..." He snickered, skillfully prying open the door latch.

The door creaked open.

Darkness swallowed the room as Peter took two steps inside—then his whole body jerked violently.

"Ahh!" He shrieked, convulsing as if struck by lightning.

Emily pressed the stun gun harder, her voice icy. "Breaking into my house in the dead of night—looking to die?"

Before Peter could react, a flurry of blows rained down on him.

"Stop—stop hitting me!" He cowered, scrambling backward. "Sophia Green sent me!"

Emily paused, her eyes glinting with frost. "Sophia?"

Just then, shouts erupted outside. "Fire! Fire! Hurry!"

Villagers jolted awake, grabbing buckets and rushing out.

Seizing the chaos, Peter yelled, "Emily! Be gentle!"

Her foot slammed onto his chest. "Trying to frame me?"

The villagers burst in—only to find Emily standing tall, her boot planted firmly on a trembling man.

"This thief tried to rob me," she said calmly.

"Lies!" Peter wheezed. "You invited me here!"

Emily scoffed. "You?" She pressed down harder. "My man is a hundred times better-looking than you. Can you get me back to the city?"

The villagers exchanged uneasy glances.

"Emily, this—"

Bathed in moonlight, Emily stood unshaken. She had seen through the scheme from the start.

Tonight's drama was only beginning.