Hearing those words, Emma's eyes turned bloodshot, and cold sweat broke out on her back.
She knew all too well—when it came to Emilly, Mike and Jeff wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice anyone.
And sure enough, to prove himself, Jeff reached for his phone, ready to call the hospital.
Emma’s heart pounded. Without thinking, she pushed the door open and burst in.
“No!” she shouted.
Ella was still in recovery and heavily reliant on her medication. If her treatment was suddenly stopped, the consequences would be devastating.
The room fell into a stunned silence as all eyes turned to her.
Mike frowned. “Why are you here?”
Emma’s mind reeled with the thought of what they had nearly done. Her fists clenched, but she forced herself to remain calm.
“Ella’s medication cannot be stopped,” she said firmly.
The woman who had made the cruel suggestion smirked.
“Oh? Since when does a mere substitute get to give orders?” She chuckled mockingly before glancing at the table. “Fine. Do you want to keep the medication? Then drink every glass of wine here. How about that?”
The rich boys around them immediately joined in, egging her on.
Emma’s jaw tightened.
She knew exactly what this woman was trying to do—humiliate her, push her into a corner.
These spoiled brats had never valued human life. They enjoyed the spectacle, the thrill of control.
And the alcohol on the table wasn’t just any liquor—it was high-proof, dangerous even in small amounts.
Forget an entire table; just a few glasses could be fatal.
Emma locked eyes with the woman, unflinching.
She had no choice.
Without hesitation, she grabbed a glass and downed it in one go.
Then another.
And another.
The sharp bitterness burned down her throat, spreading like fire in her stomach. She fought against the nausea rising inside her, her hands trembling as she forced herself to keep drinking.
The room watched in eerie silence as she drained cup after cup.
By the time she finished the last one, her vision swam. Her head spun violently, and before she could steady herself—
She collapsed.
Heat surged through her body. Her face was flushed deep red, tinged with purple, while her lips turned pale and trembled uncontrollably.
She struggled to lift her gaze to the people lounging on the sofas.
"Are you satisfied now?" she rasped, her voice hoarse. "Remember your promise."
With unsteady steps, she turned and stumbled toward the door, barely managing to push it open before staggering out.
The moment the door shut behind her—
Her strength gave out.
Darkness swallowed her whole.
In her delirium, she thought she saw Mike’s figure, his face filled with panic.
Heard Jeff calling her name, his voice unusually anxious.
I must be hallucinating, Emma thought. I must have drunk myself to death.
When she opened her eyes again, all she saw was a blindingly white ceiling.
The familiar, sterile scent of disinfectant filled her nose.
She sat up slowly, scanning the room.
Only a nurse was there, changing her IV drip.
No Mike. No Jeff.
Emma let out a bitter laugh.
Of course.
Thinking of last night, she immediately called Ella’s doctor.
When she heard that Ella’s condition had improved and that Mike and Jeff hadn’t stopped the medication, she finally exhaled in relief.
At least for now, Ella was safe.
When Emma returned home, she found Mike and Jeff waiting for her in the living room.
“You’re back.” Jeff smiled. “I asked Aunt Payton to make some tonic soup and your favorite dishes. Come have some.”
He stepped forward, reaching for her—
Emma stepped back.
Her expression was cold, distant. “No need.”
The warmth on their faces instantly froze.
They had prepared a meal today as a way to smooth things over.
But not only did Emma refuse to accept it, she was completely shutting them out.
Mike and Jeff exchanged glances, their expressions darkening.
Still, remembering what had happened yesterday, they forced themselves to hold back.
“Emma, we know you were upset,” Mike said carefully. “But don’t worry, we wouldn’t actually gamble with Ella’s life.”
Emma looked at them, her gaze unreadable.
Really?
But if I hadn’t shown up last night, the call would’ve already been made.
And maybe right now, Ella would be fighting for her life in the ICU.
She wasn’t a fool—she knew the two men in front of her were just trying to coax her.
“Well, I’m a little tired. I’ll go upstairs and rest.”
Emma’s tone remained indifferent, unwilling to entertain them any further.
Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked upstairs alone.
The moment she stepped into her room, her phone buzzed with a message from a former business partner of the Knapp family.
“Tonight, Knapp’s mother’s relics will be exhibited at the Boston auction.”
Emma’s grip tightened around the phone.
It was a necklace made of sea crystal—not worth much of monetary value, but priceless to her.
It was the last thing Knapp’s mother had left behind before she passed away.
For Emma, it carried deep significance.
Without hesitation, she transferred all the money left in her account.
Ten thousand.
If something belonged to the Knapp family, most people would stay away from it.
Maybe…she just maybe, she had a chance to get it.
Holding onto that slim hope, Emma grabbed her coat and left.
The two men downstairs were nowhere to be seen, but she didn’t care.
She hailed a taxi and headed straight for the auction.
The venue was packed with the city’s elite, each attendee wearing a mask.
One by one, the auctioned items were sold, until finally—
Knapp’s mother’s necklace was brought onto the stage.
As Emma had expected, the starting price wasn’t high, and no one placed a bid.
She waited.
Seconds ticked by.
With only twenty seconds left on the countdown, she finally raised her paddle.
“One million.”
The host began the final countdown.
Five seconds.
Emma’s palms were drenched in sweat, but relief was already washing over her.
Then—
A deep male voice cuts through the silence.
“Two million.”
Emma’s face turned pale.
Two million—an amount she couldn’t possibly afford.
With just one second left, the necklace slipped through her fingers, landing in the hands of the man behind her.
The auction ended.
Emma didn’t hesitate—she rushed toward the buyer.
“Sir, this necklace means a lot to me. Can you let me have it?”
As soon as the words left her mouth, the man removed his mask.
Her breath caught.
Mike.
