“Samuel, I’m d that you’re here. Look at this wretched bullying–your sister!” Vanessa quickly straightened her back and ran towards her son.
“Brother!” ire wailed before she pointed a finger towards Emery.“She attacked me,” she said between sobs. “Emery did this. She shoved me. She humiliated me in front of everyone.”
Samuel’s eyes snapped to Emery. “What did you do?”
Emery smiled faintly. “Check the cameras before using me of anything.”
“She’s lying!” ire screamed. “She broke everything, and now she’s trying to frame me for it.”
Samuel stepped forward. “Emery! What the hell are you up to now? How could you hurt my sister like this?”
Emery snorted and looked at the manager. “The one who broke all that stuff is going to pay for it, right?”
The manager hesitated but gave a reluctant nod.
Emery didn’t look away. “And if they don’t pay, you’ll sue them for the damages, correct?”
Again, the manager nodded.
She turned her attention back to Samuel. “Pay them for the damages your sister caused. And stop treating this like some pce drama. This is a public ce with security cameras. Everyone saw what happened. Your sister acted like a rabid dog and tried to attack me.”
“How could you- “Samuel tried to say but Emery cut in.
“How could I what, Samuel?” She took a step forward. “How could I avoid her attack? Or are you saying I should’ve stood there while she wed at me? Or maybe you expected me to fight her back and get dragged down to her level?<b>” </b>
Samuel stayed silent, but his jaw tightened.
Emery shook her head and turned toward the mess ire had left behind. Broken ss glittered across the floor. Staff hovered nearby, unsure whether to clean up or stay out of the way.
She looked back at Samuel. “You should get her out of here before someone decides to post this online. People with yourst name shouldn’t be filmed throwing tantrums in bakeries.”
Behind her, Nina muffled augh and slipped her phone back into her coat.
Vanessa stood frozen a few <b>feet </b>away<b>, </b>staring at the <b>scene </b>like she couldn’t believe any of it had happened. Meanwhile, ire was still crying, but no one seemed interested inforting her anymore.
Samuel stared at Emery for another few seconds, then turned to the manager. “We’ll pay for the damages.”
The manager only nodded again.
Hearing this, Emery grabbed her purse and walked past all of them without another word. Or at least, she tried to.
“You bitch!” Emery heard Vanessa hiss behind her.
Before she could take another <b>step</b><b>, </b>a hand grabbed her arm and yanked her around. Vanessa’s other hand came up fast, aiming for her face.
To everyone’s surprise, including Emery, she actually caught the woman’s wrist.
Her fingers wrapped around Vanessa’s wrist with <b>a </b>sharp snap. The older woman’s eyes widened. Emery didn’t let go.
Vanessa tried to pull back “Let go of me,” she said. Her face twisted.
<b>“</b><b>You </b>just tried to assault me. In public.”
Vanessa yanked at her arm again, but Emery’s <b>grip </b>only tightened.
A few feet <b>away</b><b>, </b>Samuel suddenly moved. His hand <b>reached </b>out<b>, </b>going straight for Emery’s armi
12:35 AM PP
He didn’t make it.
A loud p cracked through the air as Logan’s hand mmed into the side of Samuel’s hand.
Samuel stumbled back, eyes wide.
He hadn’t even seen Logan approach. One moment Emery was standing there, the next, Logan was in front of her, blocking her like a wall.
Samuel touched his hand, stunned. How could a p be that… strong? His skin burned. For a second, he couldn’t even process what had happened.
“Don’t touch her,” Logan said as he stepped forward.
Samuel narrowed his eyes.
“Samuel-” Vanessa’s voice broke through. She shifted her weight, her free hand clutching her son’s sleeve. “My wrist,” she said. “Let me <b>go</b>. It hurts.”
Emery looked at her, yet she didn’t loosen her grip.
Vanessa’s eyes watered. “Samuel, tell her to let go. She’s hurting me.”
“Maybe think twice before swinging at someone half your age,” Emery said.
“Emery let her go!”
Yet, Emery didn’t flinch. She didn’t move.
The entire room was quiet again. Everyone watched. No one stepped in as Vanessa kept tugging, but Emery’s hand stayed locked around her wrist like a warning carved into bone.
“Emery, what the hell are you doing? That’s my mom!”
“So what if she’s your mother?!” Emery finally raised her voice. “Am I supposed to just let her p me? Mr. Dwight must be hallucinating. Did you think you are some kind of royalty that could do whatever you want?”
“You-”
“Let me go! You-” Vanessa yelped when Emery suddenly let her go. She stumbled back but didn’t fall, as Samuel was there to catch her. “You–how dare you—”
Emery didn’t step back. She stared at Vanessa, who clutched her wrist like it had been broken.
*! had the urge to p you,” Emery said.
Vanessa immediately raised both hands to her face.
Emeryughed. “Rx. I’m not like you. I don’t go around hitting people half my age just because <b>I </b>want to feel powerful.” She took a step forward. “Or respected.”
Vanessa flinched.
“Emery!” Samuel barked, “How dare you<b>!? </b>How could you say that to my mother?”
Emery turned her head toward him. “So what if she’s your mother? Is she nine? Am I supposed to stay quiet while she keeps swinging at me like a <b>lunatic</b>?”
Samuel didn’t answer
His mouth opened, then closed. He <b>had </b>nothing to say as his anger threatened to explode.
From behind him, ire moved closer<b>, </b><b>now </b>standing beside Vanessa<b>. </b>Her <b>face </b>was blotchy and stained, but her <b>eyes </b>were sharp.
“Don’t you <b>dare </b>forgive her,” ire <b>said</b>, grabbing Samuel’s arm. “Don’t ever let her set foot in our house again.”
Emery looked between them. She watched how Samuel stood there, silent, as his sister held onto him <b>and </b>his mother leaned against <b>his </b>side <b>like </b>a wounded queen. Then <b>she </b>snorted.
12:35 <b>AM </b><b>P </b>
“Look, brother Look at how arrogant she is! She must be trying to y hard to get, thinking you would still like her after-”
“Shut up” Samuel hosed. He red at the tall man standing beside her like a damn knight waiting to protect her before he turned towards her “You need to end this nonsense, Em! You aren’t convincing anyone here. You and I need to talk like damn adults!” he hissed as be seaded his mother
Einery looked at him for a moment, then slid her hand through Logan’s arm. “I don’t believe there’s anything left for us to discuss, Mr.
五