+15 BONOS
“The car won’t start<b>, </b><b>what </b>should <b>we </b><b>do</b>?”
“I’ll take a look,” Oliver said, casting <b>a </b><b>meaningful </b>nce at Violet before <b>he </b>walked away with the keys.
Emily was visibly upset and <b>gazed </b>resentfully <b>at </b>Violet. “What are you trying to <b>do</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>
Violet thought the scenario amusing, and retorted, “What could <b>I </b>possibly <b>do</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>
She looked at Emily coldly<b>, </b>unafraid <b>and unnerved</b><b>. </b>Emily’s face was filled <b>with </b>concern and fear, and she was on <b>the </b>brink <b>of </b>copsing.
<b>“</b><b>What </b>are you afraid <b>of</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>Violet <b>scored</b>.
Emily finally broke down<b>, </b>and imed fiercely, <b>“</b><b>You </b>better don’t tell him nonsense. Oliver is mine, and no one can take <b>him from </b>me!<b>” </b>
“If you’re so sure he can’t be taken<b>, </b>why the outburst?” Violet pointed it out.
Violet saw through Emily’s victim facade. Her behavior and expressions raised suspicions.
Her words and expressions were already questionable. Anyone <b>who </b>cared about Oliver would have realized something was <b>off</b><b>. </b>
Emily bit her tongue<b>, </b>hard.
Those who do horrible things, they say<b>, </b>always fear being discovered, and she was in that predicament. Emily turned away<b>, </b>attempting to calm herself.
‘I’m not upset. I just don’t want <b>you </b>to bother Oliver unnecessarily. We’re getting engaged<b>, </b>you <b>know</b>.<b>” </b>
Violet was about to say, “When <b>did </b><b>I </b>ever bother <b>him</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>
However, she noticed a tall, distinguished figure <b>standing </b><b>around </b>the corner. The expression on his face was indecipherable.
It was Lucius. The man upied Violet’s <b>thoughts </b>throughout <b>the </b>day.
She wondered <b>if </b>he had overheard <b>their </b><b>conversation</b>. Given their proximity, <b>he </b>likely <b>did</b>.
Violet was worried about Lucius’s reaction <b>to </b>Emily’s allegations of her <b>pursuing </b>Oliver. She feared he might view her negatively<b>. </b>
+15 BONOS
The situation caught her off guard. Violet had fallen into a daze, uncertain of how to proceed in the
unexpected situation.
Emily had her back to Lucius. She had no idea someone else was there.
Violet’s silence led Emily to believe Violet had acknowledged her suspicions. Her expression darkened.
“Violet, remember your ce.” she admonished. “Also<b>, </b>Oliver saw everything you did at the hotel. He’d never be able to develop feelings for you. Stop making up stories and stay out of my rtionship with Oliver if you don’t want to embarrass yourself.<b>” </b>
This confrontation threatened to negatively impact Violet’s reputation yet again. After delivering her warning, Emily walked past Violet and made her way to the elevator<b>. </b>
When Violet looked for Lucius again, she found that he had disappeared, leading her to believe he might share Emily’s disdain.
George’s remarks from the morning, that Lucius liked her<b>, </b>had lost their meaning<b>. </b>
Violet dashed into the elevator before it closed.
Not expecting her to follow<b>, </b>Emily was taken aback by her appearance.
Violet stood slightly taller than Emily. She looked down at her from above and warned, “I’m warning you, stop going around saying I’m trying to steal Oliver from you. If you keep it up, I will reveal the truth. When it happens, who knows what Oliver will think of you?<b>” </b>
Actually, she had no illusions regarding Oliver’s affections<b>, </b>especially since he had stated clearly that even if it wasn’t Emily who cared for <b>him</b>, he would be devoted to Emily.
On the other hand, Lucius overhearing Emily’s remarks had wounded her pride. Her response was more about setting the record straight.
Emily clenched her fists <b>in </b><b>a </b>mix of anger and fear, too afraid to say another word.
The elevator stopped on the lower first floor. Oliver was waiting <b>in </b>his car, and honked at them. Violet turned away, as if she hadn’t heard anything.
Emily reacted by running toward the car<b>, </b>as if she was being saved.
Violet caught <b>a </b>fleeting glimpse of Emily seekingfort in Oliver’s embrace, her frustration pouring out as she leaned against him.
<b>Oliver </b>tenderly held Emily in <b>his </b>arms, and showered her with affection.
+15 BONOS
Violet observed this with a smile tinged with sadness, and mused, <b>“</b>One day, Oliver, you’ll realize
you’re embracing a deceitful woman.”
As Oliver drove past Violet, he didn’t acknowledge her, his focus solely on the road, as though she were a stranger to him.
Violet surmised that Emily had already spoken ill of her.
She shrugged helplessly. She had epted they had walked on different paths and the
irrelevance of her connection to them.
When Emily returned home<b>, </b>she raced to her mother, distraught and tearful.
“Mom, didn’t you say someone had taken care of her? Why is she still alive and bossing me around? She threatened to tell Oliver everything. If she does, Oliver will surely… Do you realize
how scared I am?”
Upon further conversation, Belle was stunned to learn that Violet remained unscathed and was
even working at the samepany as Emily.
“You assured me she’d be trapped there, her life ruined. But she doesn’t seem affected at all. It feels like I’m the one being destroyed by her,” Emily cried.
Belle was equally angry and bewildered.
“How can this be? I was certain she had been dealt with and sold off for arge sum,” Belle said,
perplexed.
“A huge sum<b>?</b><b>” </b>
At this revtion, Emily ceased her tears and turned to her mother.