Chapter 170

Emily's hand was abruptly shaken off. She stood frozen in place.

Mrs. Chen strode toward the rooftop garden without looking back, her silhouette radiating finality.

Wasn't she going to the restroom?

Emily stared at the completely opposite direction, unease pooling in her chest. She quickened her pace, her heels clicking urgently against the marble floor.

The glass door slid shut silently behind her.

In the garden, Mrs. Chen stood with her back turned, facing the railing.

"Auntie, did you need—"

Slap!

A stack of papers struck her face with force.

Emily didn't flinch. The sheets grazed her cheek before fluttering to the ground.

"Look at what you really are!" Mrs. Chen whirled around, her mask of kindness now torn to shreds. Her eyes burned with disgust. "How dare you cling to my son?"

Emily's lashes trembled.

"Earlier—"

"An act," Mrs. Chen sneered. "Just the fact that your father is a murderer is enough to ruin our entire family!"

Emily's fists clenched.

"Playing innocent?" Mrs. Chen's gaze swept over her necklace and bag. "Didn’t my son buy all this for you? And your comatose sister’s medical bills—was Daniel supposed to foot those too?"

The garden breeze turned bitingly cold.

"The necklace was—"

"Shut up!" Mrs. Chen cut her off sharply. "Did your sugar daddy toss you aside, so now you’re targeting Daniel?"

Emily's face drained of color.

"Fifty thousand." A bank card was flung at her face. "Take the money and disappear. If you dare bother Daniel again—" Mrs. Chen leaned in, her voice a venomous whisper. "I’ll make sure you can’t stay in Jinzhou."

The sound of heels faded into the distance.

Emily remained motionless. The bank card lay on the ground, its surface reflecting a harsh glare.

Her nails dug deep into her palms, but she felt no pain.