Chapter 18

"Really? You sure you wanna stop us now?" Emily's smile was cold and unyielding.

Sophia admired Emily's courage, but the odds were against them.and the other side had the numbers...

She reached out and tugged at Emily's sleeve, as if to remind her.

But Emily ignored her completely.

Instead, she nodded at Katya

Katya immediately understood and nodded back.

Sophia was speechless.

What were they doing? Byron seemed to have forgotten his recent embarrassment, thinking it was just Emily catching him off guard and being a bit stronger.

Now, hearing Emily's words, he laughed, a bloodthirsty glint in his eyes. "I'm not just gonna stop you; I'm gonna make sure you don't leave here in one píece."

Bianca was anxious. "Emily, apologize to Byron quickly. Whatever grudge you have, you can take it out on me later..."

"Bianca, don't bother. Let this be a lesson for her arrogance!"shouted two others, trying to make their presence known.

Emily didn't even glance at them.

Byron waved his hand. "Everyone, get her! Teach this Emily a lesson!"

"Yes!" Byron's lackeys charged forward.

As for Byron, he thought dealing with a few girls didn't require his

personal involvement.

He stood back to enjoy the show.

However, cries of pain echoed one after another.

In almost an instant, the group was all on the ground, groaning in pain.

Byron's expression turned serious, his attitude becoming more earnest.

"Alright, I didn't expect you to have some skills. Now I'll give you a proper welcome!" Byron gritted his teeth, his eyes darkening as he swung a punch at Emily.

"Emily, watch out!" Sophia was extremely nervous.

She could tell Emily was quite capable. But Byron seemed to have some combat training.

No one believed Emily could win.

Sophia even nudged Katya, urging her to call for help.

But strangely, Katya just stared intently, not moving an inch.

"Fuck! My hand... my foot... It'sbroken! You bitch, you hurt me! I won't let you get away with this!"

In almost an instant, Byron's screams filled the air, his threats mingled with cries of pain.

Emily's foot was planted firmly on Byron's chest.

"Shut up!" Emily warned disdainfully, applying a bit more pressure with her foot. Byron actually shut his mouth. Bianca and Hayden were both stunned.

Emily dusted off her hands after the fight and turned to the equally stunned Sophia and Katya. "Let's go!"

She had other matters to attend to.

And she needed to catch up on some sleep.

Sophia and Katya,realizing what had happened, quickly followed her lead.

"Emily, you're amazing. Where are you headed? I'l have the driver take you."

Sophia smiled happily

Emily thought for a moment. She was indeed tired, so she agreed.

When Emily mentioned Serenity Grove, Sophia was initially surprised.

"Is that your house?" For some reason, she felt it must be EmiIy's.

The more she got to know Emily, the more she realized how impressive she was.

After the initial surprise, Sophia thought it made sense for someone as capable as Emily to own such a house.

Just.a few days ago, it seemed like she was living in a rundown place, and now she had a mansion. Her ability to make money was astonishing.

Before Emily could answer her question, Sophia suddenly grabbed Emily's hand, her eyes shining. "Emily, from now on, I'm sticking with you. You have to protect me."

Suddenly, she had a new admirer.

Emily found it quíte nice. Despite the danger earlier, Sophia had been scared to death but hadn't thought of abandoning her. She wasa friend worth having.

Emily thought for a moment and nodded. "We'll see how you do."

That was a hopeful sign.

Sophia immediately saluted. "I'll do my best, Emily. Just watch."

Soon, the car arrived at the mansion's gate.

Emily scanned her face,and the car was allowed to drive in.

This indirectly confirmed her ownership of the place.

Katya had been quiet the whole time, but she was secretly amazed.

When they reached the mansion's entrance, Emily got out of the car and said to Katya, "Remember to send me you know what!" Then she coolly walked into the house.

Sophia,still in the car, started "interrogating" Katya about what secrets she had with Emily.

Back home, Emily first checked the IP addresses of those who had slandered her on the forum, saved the information, and then slept until the next day.

The next day, the principal's office called.

Emily was puzzled. She hadn't even prepared her transfer materials yet. The principal couldn't be calling about that, right?

Could it be Byron's family?

She certainly dlidn't think it was Byron himself. He was probably bedridden by now.

"Mr. Principal, you wanted to see me?" Emily knocked politely and entered.

As soon as she stepped in, a large hand grabbed her impatiently.

The principal stepped aside, giving them space to handle the matter.

After all, theJohnson family had donated a building to the school,and Emily was still considered part of the Johnson family. The principal naturally gave them face.

"You're not staying in the dorms or returning to the Johnson Villa.

Where are you staying at night?" The person gripping her hand started with an aggressive question.

Emily saw it was the upright and elegant Aiden and was momentarily surprised.

She quickly composed herself and shook off Aiden's hand.

"Is this why you came to see me? I've been away from home for days, and now you care? Isn't it a bit late?" Emily retorted sarcastically.

If Cleo was like poison wrapped in honey, Aiden was a more complex figure in her heart.

He was dutiful and seemed fair most of the time.

And it was he who had personally driven her back and taken her to the hospital, preventing her fromn freezing to death that winter.

She should be grateful to him.

But in her past life, when she was sick and needed to donate bone marrow to Bianca, the Johnson family was under Aiden's control.

So,it was he who made the decision.

He played a significant role in pushing her into the abyss.

Aiden was momentarily speechless, his face showing a hint of guilt. But he quickly masked it with the purpose of his visit.

"So, you're holding a grudge against the family, deliberately staying out and provoking Byron!" Aiden frowned, accusing her.

Emily's face turned cold.

Whenever it involved Bianca, they didn't even bother to ask for the full story. It was always her fault.

"So,you're here to point fingers! Who told you this, Hayden or Bianca?"

Her expression was icy. ′′Let me guess, Bianca must have said, 'It's all my fault. If it weren't for me, Emily wouldn't have acted out or angered Byron. If I could, I'd apologize to Byron on Emily's behalf.but I'm afraid the Reyes family wouldn't accept it."

Aiden's brow twitched.

Emily had hit the nail on the head. If she knew how much Bianca was troubled and worried for her.why did she still act this way?

Hayden said Emily had changed, becoming more malicious and uncontrollable.

Aiden didn't believe it at first.

But now he could see that Emily was no longer the obedient girl she used to be.

If Emily knew this, she would probably curse Hayden with all she could.

Just because she didn't follow their wishes and act like a puppet,they thought she was disobedient.

It only showed that the Johnson family was full of control freaks.

"Since you know, I won't waste words. You're coming with me to the Reyes Villa to apologize to Byron. I'll do my best to speak on your behalf. The Reyes family might go easy on you for my sake."

Aiden said, reaching out to grab Emily's hand again.