Chapter 104

William Johnson stared into her tear-filled eyes, his heart constricting violently.

Her lashes trembled as teardrops rolled down, tracing glistening paths on her cheeks.

"Why should I believe you?" His voice was icy, yet his grip loosened involuntarily.

Emily Smith tilted her face up, her vision blurred by tears. "Then what do you want me to do?"

Her voice cracked, shoulders shaking slightly.

"Did you take my words as empty air?" William sneered, frost gathering in his gaze.

Emily shook her head desperately, strands of hair clinging to her damp face. "I didn't—"

"From today onward, you're forbidden from working with Daniel Chen again." His tone brooked no argument.

"No." The refusal slipped out before she could stop it, her nails digging into her palms.

William's eyes darkened dangerously. "Can't bear to let him go?"

His knuckles whitened, the pressure on her chin turning painful.

"I promise..." She choked back a sob. "I'll avoid him from now on, but the recording—"

"Find someone else." He cut her off sharply. "No negotiations."

Emily's tears stopped abruptly, replaced by a spark of fury in her eyes.

"William Johnson, I don't belong to you!" Her voice trembled. "We had an agreement—"

"Fifty thousand dollars for you—was it a bad deal?" His lips curled mockingly.

The words stabbed like a knife through her heart.

Emily laughed, the sound more bitter than any cry. "Right. I'm worthless."

Tears poured down uncontrollably. "Not even worth a thousand!"

She shoved him away violently. "I quit! Go ahead and kill me if you dare!"

William's expression turned thunderous.

"Fine. Very well." Each word was ground out between clenched teeth.

The car's partition shot up with a sharp sound.

"Stop the car!" he roared.

Tires screeched against the pavement.

"Get out." He pointed at the door, veins bulging on the back of his hand.

Emily didn't hesitate. She flung the door open and stumbled out, ignoring the searing pain in her left foot.

The door slammed shut behind her with a deafening crash.

"Drive!" William's furious command echoed through the car.

Sam Wilson stole a glance in the rearview mirror. His boss's face was stormy, the air around him suffocatingly tense.

He pressed the accelerator silently, heart pounding—in all his years working for Mr. Johnson, this was the first time he'd seen him lose his temper over a woman.

The night wind howled as Emily staggered along the roadside.

Every step sent sharp jolts of pain through her ankle.

She wiped her face roughly, only to find more tears spilling over.

Distant headlights swept past, illuminating her disheveled figure.