Officer Matthew looked at her with pity and confusion. Emma stayed in the cell for three more days.
Three days later, James finally came for her.
Seeing her looking so weak, he frowned and wrapped his coat around her. "What happened to you?" he asked.
He held her mangled, bleeding fingers with a tender look. "I’m so sorry you suffered. I was busy with urgent business in Norvanya and only saw the news today."
In the past, this kindness would have worked, but Emma just pulled her hand away.
"Let’s go," she said. Her heart felt more numb than her fingertips.
On the way home, James tried to comfort her. He told the driver to go slowly and offered her a thermos of her favorite tea.
The warmth of the tea vanished the moment she entered the villa. Charlotte was there, dressed in a maid’s outfit, kneeling on the floor.
Emma froze. "Is the 'cleaning lady' act not enough? Does she really need a costume too?"
James pulled Emma close and explained softly, "She feels bad that you were arrested because of her. She wants to work as a maid to make it up to you. If you don’t want her here, I’ll send her away tomorrow."
Emma was exhausted by his constant excuses. She pulled away and went upstairs.
That afternoon, Charlotte brought in tea. As she set down the tray, she "accidentally" knocked over a photo frame, shattering the glass.
Emma’s heart stopped. It was the only photo she had of her, James and Michael together. It was ruined.
Charlotte cried out and reached for it.
"Don't touch it!" Emma screamed. She knelt down, her heart breaking as she traced Michael’s smiling face in the photo.
Emma stood up and slapped Charlotte hard. James heard the noise and came running. Seeing the mess and the mark on Charlotte’s face, he pulled Emma into his arms to "calm" her.
"Don't be angry, Emma. It was my fault for leaving it there. I have the film; I’ll have it fixed tomorrow, okay?"
Emma leaned against him, but she felt nothing.
That night, Charlotte sent her a message: [Mrs. Nicholas, James has been in my room comforting me. He even applied my medicine himself.]
She attached a photo of James kneeling to tend to Charlotte's face.
Emma remembered that James—always so proud—had only ever knelt for her when he proposed.
Now, he was doing it for Charlotte. Emma replied coldly: [Does a maid even deserve a phone? James is too soft on you.]
Then she blocked her.
The next day, James took Emma to a private auction to make up for the drama. He spent a fortune bidding on jewelry for her without a second thought.
"Our final item is from Mrs. Nicholas!" the announcer shouted.
The curtain rose to show a tank full of piranhas with a cage hanging over it. Inside the cage was Charlotte, wearing a thin white dress.
"Mrs. Nicholas has ordered that if no one buys this 'item' before the timer ends, the cage opens," the announcer said.
James went stiff. He looked at Emma with deep disappointment. "Emma, stop this. Even if you hate her, this is going too far."
Emma felt like ice. The trick was so obvious, yet James immediately blamed her.
"Do you really think I'm that evil? Fine. Watch what happens to your lover then!"
James didn't hesitate. He bid $2.9 million immediately.
As soon as he won, he ran onto the stage to save Charlotte, leaving Emma behind. Emma sat alone as people whispered about her.
Then, two men in black approached. "Mrs. Nicholas, our rule is 'one for one.' Since that girl is gone, you will be the next item for auction."
