Amara quickly turned to the agent. “Something''se up. Thank you for showing me the house today. I''ll let you go."


    The agent, a true professional, didn''t ask any questions. Sensing the sudden tension, he gave a polite nod and hurried away without a backward nce.


    Emma stopped in front of her, her eyes zing with rage. "You little bitch. You still have the nerve to show your face in front of me?"


    Emma''s look was pure venom, but she had no idea that Amara''s hatred for her ran even deeper. In a swift, shocking move, Amara grabbed Emma''s wrist. Before Emma could react, Amara dragged her into a narrow alley beside the house.


    *Thump.* Amara mmed Emma against the brick wall, her eyes locked on her, filled with a terrifying, cold fury.


    The impact sent a sharp pain through Emma''s back, but she was too stunned to speak. She stared at Amara in disbelief. What was happening? Amara had dragged her into an alley and was treating her with such violence. She, the matriarch of the Everly family, who had been revered and pampered her entire life, had never been treated this way.


    Her eyes narrowed into slits. "You little bitch, how dare you—"


    *Screech!*


    Emma''s words were cut short. Amara had pulled a switchde from her purse and dragged it violently across the wall next to her head. The grating sound of steel on brick sent a tremor of fear through Emma''s heart. The gleaming, sharp de was inches from her cheek, and the young woman in front of her was radiating pure, murderous intent.


    Even in the bright daylight, facing this girl who was more than twenty years her junior, Emma felt a flicker of genuine fear.


    "Emma, I know you were behind the kidnapping," Amara said, her voice low and menacing. "Don''t think for a second I''m going to let that slide."


    Honestly, the power imbnce


    between them was enormous. Even


    knowing Emma was responsible,


    there was little Amara could do legally. But Emma was a bully who only respected strength. Amara had to threaten her, to show her she wouldn''t be intimidated, or she would face even worse torment in the future.


    As expected, Emma was momentarily stunned, but her shock quickly gave way to outrage Her fists clenched. "You wouldn''t dare!" This little nobody, this disrespectful brat, was now threatening her. The insult was unbearable.


    Amara''s eyes were dark pools of ice. "Try me," she whispered.


    Emma was a madwoman, capable of beating her own son half to death. Amara had no illusions about appealing to her conscience. All she could do was stand her ground and refuse to give Emma the satisfaction of seeing her cower.


    The light in Emma''s eyes grew colder, more calcting. The initial fear had been real, but it was fleeting. She quickly reasoned that Amar@was just a girl with no power or connections. The knife was A bluff a desperate attempt to scare her. She would never actually use it.


    With her confidence restored, Emma pushed the de away. "You got lucky this time,” she sneered. “Don''t think it''ll happen again. You''d better watch your back from now on."


    With that parting threat, Emma turned and walked away, her head held high.


    ***