Cole had never been threatened like this before and he was on the verge of snapping when the man’s voice cut through the tension. "Think carefully. They’re still in our hands."
The two men opened their mouths, but no words came out.
The silence stretched for what felt like an eternity, suffocating Emma, pressing down on her chest like a boulder.
She didn’t need to hear their response; she already knew the outcome. Still, her heart pounded, erratic and uncontrollable.
And sure enough, after a moment, Theo raised his hand, pointing toward Juliet. His voice was as cold as ice. "We choose her."
Even as they left with Juliet, their eyes never strayed toward Emma.
In that instant, her body froze. Her heart, which had been racing, seemed to stop entirely. A dull ache bloomed in her throat.
She had to face the truth: after all these years, she had never truly known them.
Now, she was on her own.
Emma scanned her surroundings cautiously and soon spotted a blade lying in the corner.
As the men closed in, she moved with all her strength, rolling to her side. She kicked the blade into the air, grabbing it in one swift motion.
With a slash, she cut through the ropes, binding her wrists and raising the knife in a threatening stance. “Anyone who gets closer, I’ll take you down with me.”
The blade found its mark, slashing across the leader’s arm. Blood spurted out in a rush.
The man cursed, “You bitch!”
They hadn’t intended to truly harm the Callahan Family’s daughter, but now, the consequences could be dire.
Not expecting her to draw blood, some of the men faltered. “Boss, how about we just leave her here to rot? This place is in the middle of nowhere. It’ll drop below freezing tonight. Whether she lives or dies, it’s up to fate.”
The leader spat in frustration, then motioned for his men to leave.
As the door slammed shut behind them, Emma realized her hand had been trembling the entire time.
She lowered the knife, unable to keep holding it any longer and collapsed to the floor, utterly drained.
The adrenaline that had kept her going ebbed away and the sharp, searing pain from her wounds washed over her all at once. Just before everything went black, her vision blurred and she fell backward, unconscious.
When she opened her eyes again, she saw Cole and Theo sitting by her bedside.
For once, their faces were devoid of disgust. One of them, guilt flickering in his eyes, asked softly, “Feeling any better?”
But Emma ignored them completely. Her first words were sharp. “Where’s Juliet?”
The two men froze. “Why are you asking about her?”
“She’s the one who sent those men after me.”
Cole nearly jumped from his seat. “That’s impossible! Juliet would never do something like that.”
His certainty only deepened the irony in Emma’s chest. She turned to Theo, who had remained silent up until now. “You think so too?”
Under the harsh, sterile lights of the hospital, his face looked colder, sharper than ever.
After a long pause, he pressed his lips together and finally spoke. “I know you’ve had your doubts about Juliet lately, but that doesn’t mean you can accuse her without proof.”
Emma’s voice took on a mocking edge. “You don’t believe me? Fine, then check. At least then you’ll know…”
Theo cut her off abruptly, his voice firm. “Don’t bother.”
He seemed to realize his reaction was a little too sharp and paused. Then, he added, “She wouldn’t do it. Just let it go.”
Of course, she wouldn’t.
With the influence of the Barrett and Blackwood families, if they wanted the truth, they could find it in minutes. Yet neither of them was willing to make the effort.
Was her kidnapping just insignificant to them? Or were they protecting Juliet?
Emma’s laughter rang out. “Let it go? I won’t.”
Theo frowned. “Then what do you want?”
Before Emma could respond, the door creaked open and Juliet stepped inside, her expression dripping with false concern.
“Emma,” she said sweetly, “It’s all the brothers’ fault for choosing me. It was so cold last night. You were stuck with those people, wearing so little... You must’ve been freezing.”
She reached for Emma’s hand, her touch feigned tenderness.
Emma turned to face her, a cold smile curving her lips.
Without a word, she slapped Juliet hard across the face, the sound echoing in the room！
"Emma, are you crazy? Stop it!"
Just when Emma was about to slap Juliet for the eleventh time, a strong arm grabbed Emma tightly!
