Chapter44 Emmaliestoodup,lettingoutahelplesslaugh.Forgetit,Mom,Theajustwantsmedead.IllbookmytickettoSilvercreekrightaway.Ishouldnthavebeenfoundandbroughtbackallthoseyearsago , Ishouldhavediedthereinobscurity.Thatway,TheawouldntbeangrythatIstoleyourattention,andshewouldnthate me ThisstruckapainfulchordinIvysheart.Shecouldntholdback anylongerand ,infrontofallthemedia,slappedTheatacrosstheface. Thecameraswentwild,capturingthemonient.Theasfacejerkedtothesidefromtheimpact.Herfistsclenchedandthenloosenedhelplessly.Shewas reallytired Ivysfaceremainedcoldassheissuedherultimatum.Goexplainthingstothereporters.Thestatementhasalreadybeenpreparedforyou. Ifyourefuse, Illsendyouabroadimmediately.Fromnow on,yourenolongeradaughteroftheRowlandfamily,andyoullneverbeabletocomeback . Thealaughed,butasshedid,tearsstreameddownherface.Exhausted,sheasked,Mom ,sometimesIreallywonder, amIevenyour biologicaldaughter? BeforeIvy couldrespond,Theacontinued.Butsometimes,IthinkIdrathernotbe.Thatway,yourlackoflovewouldmakesenseThenshewouldnthavetofeelthishurtanymore. Withthat,Theawalkedontothestage,herfacevoidofanyemotion. WhenIvysawtheemptinessinhereyes,shefeltasthoughsomethinginsideherwasmissing.ThehandthathadjustslappedTheabegantotrembleslightly,andforamoment,shefeltlost. UntilEmmaliessobsbrokethroughtheairagain,shatteringthebrief flickerofguiltthat IvyhadfeltforThea. Thereporterswerereadytopounce,theircamerasitchingto captureeverydetailofwhatwouldhappennext.EverysingleoneofthemwantedtoshovetheirlensesrightintoTheasface. Lookingdownatthescriptinherhand ,Thealetoutabitterlaugh. TheawasexpectedtoconfessthatthewholeordealwithCelestewasa schemeorchestratedbyher ,thatshehadbribedCelestetostageeverything. TheawassupposedtoadmitthatEmmaliesengagementtoNicolaswas realandthatshehad usedherstatusasJakesfiancéetosabotageit. Andtotopitoff,TheahadtosayshehadbeenbullyingEmmaliealltheseyears,doing everythinginherpowertomakeEmmalieslifemiserable. Sure,ifTheasaid allthis,Enimaliesreputation wouldbouncebackimmediately. ButwhataboutThea?Shedbedraggedthrough themudagain,hatedbythousandsofpeople Theahadbearconsequencesfarworse thananythingEmmalieeverfaced. Theathought,TheRowlandfamilyhasotherwaystohandlethisPRcrisis,butthey choosetothrowmeunderthebus IsitbecausetheydontwantEmmalietosuffer?Ordotheyjustthinkthatsacrificingmeisntabigdeal? ။ Chapter44 Theadidntcaretoofigureouttheirreasons.Numbtoitall,shebeganreadingthepreparedstatement, Theadidnthaveachoice.Shehadtostay inKeyBiskane.Until herwingswerestrongenough,shecouldntaffordtobecastoutbytheRowlandfamilyandleftas anabandonedpawn. Afterthepressconferenceended,Theasaidnothingassheplannedtograba taxiandleave.Butbeforeshecould,ashadow appearedbeforeher.ItwasEmmalic, Gonewastheinnocent, vulnerable facadesheworearoundIvyandMax.Now,herfaceshowedonlya smug,mockingsmileasshepokedTheasshoulder. So,howaboutnow.Thea?DidntItellyounottotryandtakeanythingfromme?Emmaliesneered. Thearaised aneyebrow,herresponsedrippingwithsarcasm.Dontflatteryourself.Whatyouhaveistrashtome.WhywouldIwanttotakegarbage?Idonthaveahabitofpicking uptrash. Foramoment. Emmaliesexpressionstiffened.Then,hervoicegrewcold.Thisisjustthebeginning.Sinceyoudaredtochallengeme,bereadytopaytheprice. Thearaisedherhand,andEmmaliecoveredherfacereflexively,ButTheashand merelylandedonhershoulder.brushingoffsomeimaginarydust. IttookEmmalieasecondtorealizeshedbeenplayed.Therewerestillpeoplearound,glancingatthemcuriously.Herfaceflushedwithrageassheforcedacoldsmile .Thea,dontworry.Thisis onlythebeginning Withthat,Emmaliespunonherheelandstormedoff. WithTheaspublicclarification,Emmaliesreputationbegantoimprove.Meanwhile,Theafoundherselftrendingonsocialmedia,subjecttoafloodofinsults. Iknewsomethingwasoffthatday.Theresnowayeverythingcouldvebeensuchacoincidence.Turnsoutitwasallstaged. IfIwereEmmalie,Idbedevastated:Havinga sisterlikethat , schemingagainstmeeverydayitsdisgusting Haveyouguysheardtherumor?Apparently,TheawasbehindEmmalieskidnappingallthoseyearsago. OhmyGod,peoplelikethatreallyexist?Shessoevil SomepeopleknewTheaworkedatAvon Ventures.Theyevenstartedharassing thecompanysofficialaccounts,demanding thatTheabefired. EveryoneassumedNicolaswouldhave Theakicked outofAvonVenturesimmediately,yettherewasntasinglewordfromheadquarters. Nomatterhowstrangethelooksshegot,Theacontinued showinguptowork,dayafterday.Shedidntcareaboutthegossip.butshecouldntavoidthepeopleshedidntwanttosee. Itwaslateafternoon,almost evening,whenJakestoppedheroutsidethecompanybuilding. Theatookastepback assoonasshesawhim,herbrowslightlyraised.Whatsup Jakes expressionwascomplicated,hiseyescarryingahint ofhurt.Thenhesaid,Itsbeenawhilesincewelasttalked.Areyoureallygoingtodistanceyourselffromme this much ? Theanearlyblurtedout,Areyou insane?Butsheheldback,remindingherself that, technically,Jakewas hernephew .Sheworkedhardtokeephertoneneutral.WhyshouldI?Imnotinterestedinsomeoneelsesboyfriend Jakes liststightenedalittle.Someoneelsesboyfriend?Whats thatsupposedtomean? Sat,Oct26ti Ch apter44 68% ExactlywhatIsaid.Theaglancedathimcoldly,hervoiceindifferentas shebrushedpasthim,herheelsclickingonthepavement.Ifyoudonthaveanythingimportanttosay,Mr.Hendrix,Illbegoing Thea.Jakecaughtuptoher,hisvoiceurgent.Iknowyourestillmadatme,andIunderstandyourtemper.Ihaventbeentoo hardonyou Tevenwenttomyparentstospeakupforyou.IfIhadnt ,givenhowtheyare,theywouldveforcedyououtofAvonVenturesbynow. Theaglancedathim ,slightlysurprised.Hehasactuallygonetobatformewithhisfamily? Thenextmoment.Jakespokeagain.SoaboutMadelyn,youneedtostop. Hearing this.Thealetoutasharplaugh.Soitwasallabout Madelynafterall.