Chapter 101

The Rolls-Royce's license plate gleamed coldly under the sunlight. Emily Smith's heart skipped a beat.

Her pale face reflected in the tinted window.

Though she couldn't see inside, she felt a pair of eyes boring into her.

That gaze was like a poisoned arrow.

Her fingers hovered over William Johnson's number on her phone.

Each unanswered ring tightened the knot in her spine.

"Beep—"

The dial tone jolted her back to reality.

Why should she feel guilty?

This was nothing but a transaction between them.

Emily snapped her flip phone shut.

The metal casing left angry red marks on her palm.

Her scraped knees burned as she pushed herself up from the steps.

Twenty meters away, the Rolls-Royce's door swung open.

William's polished shoes crushed fallen leaves.

Daniel Chen's Toyota rounded the corner at that exact moment.

"Watch your step." Daniel's hand hovered near the small of her back.

The rearview mirror caught a glint of something sharp as the car door closed.

Emily's nails dug into the leather seat.

"You look pale." Daniel offered her a water bottle. "Did you hurt yourself when you fell?"

Condensation dripped down the chilled plastic.

She shook her head, catching movement near the Rolls-Royce in her periphery.

William's tie fluttered in the wind like a hissing snake.

"Is that the Johnson family's second son?" Daniel asked suddenly.

Two pairs of eyes locked in the rearview mirror.

Emily twisted the cap open with force. "I don't know him."

Water splashed onto her skirt.