Chapter 175

"Emily, did my mother say something to you?" Daniel Chen suddenly grabbed Emily Smith's wrist, his voice tense.

Emily froze at his abrupt action, then gently pulled her hand back and nodded.

"We need to talk." Daniel's brows furrowed deeply, his tone almost pleading.

Mia Harris scoffed beside them. "Go ahead. I'll be in my room." She shot Daniel a warning glare. "If you make Emily cry again, you'll regret it."

The living room fell silent with just the two of them. Emily poured Daniel a glass of water and sat across from him on the single sofa.

"Daniel, we—"

"What exactly did my mother tell you?"

They spoke at the same time, then both fell quiet.

Emily took a deep breath and met his gaze. "I don't think we're right for each other."

Daniel's expression froze. The glass in his hand trembled slightly. "What did you say?"

"Let's break up." Emily's voice was soft but clear.

Daniel stood abruptly, slamming the glass onto the coffee table. "Because of a few words from my mother?"

"Not just that." Emily lowered her lashes. "Your father's position is... complicated. Our relationship could become his weakness."

"That's not a problem!" He gripped her shoulders. "I can stay in Jinzhou. We can—"

"Daniel." Emily cut him off. "You know the rules of politics better than I do. One misstep could ruin everything your father has built."

His hands slowly loosened, his voice hoarse. "So you're giving up just like that?"

Emily shook her head. "It's not giving up. It's being rational."

"Rational?" Daniel let out a cold laugh. "Or is this about William Johnson?"

Emily's head snapped up, surprise flashing in her eyes.

"You've always had feelings for him, haven't you?" Daniel pressed closer, his voice sharp. "Were you just using me to forget him?"

Emily's face paled. She opened her mouth, but no words came out.

Daniel stared into her eyes, enunciating each word. "Tell me. Is that true?"

The air turned suffocating. Emily's fingers twisted together unconsciously, her knuckles turning white.

"Answer me!" Daniel raised his voice suddenly, the sharpness in it unlike anything she'd heard before.