Chapter 99

Daniel Chen shoved Emma Clark aside and immediately crouched down to check on Emily Smith. His brows furrowed with concern. "Emily, where are you hurt?"

Emily slowly lifted her head, strands of hair obscuring half her face. She blinked in surprise. "Daniel? What are you doing here?"

Daniel gently brushed the disheveled hair away from her face, his fingertips accidentally grazing her cheek. He studied her carefully. "Does anything hurt?"

Just as Emily started to shake her head, she saw Emma struggling to stand up again. This time, Emily didn't retreat. She pushed herself up and shoved Emma back forcefully.

Emma stumbled and fell to the ground once more. The Chen family had been in chaos these past days, with everyone taking their frustrations out on her. She'd tried every possible way to contact William Johnson, but all attempts had gone unanswered.

In desperation, she'd called Amanda Lin. After listening to Emma's exaggerated accusations, Amanda had only laughed coldly. "Are we close?"

"I've known about William and that Emily Smith for a while," Amanda's voice dripped with sarcasm. "He's protecting her now, just like he once protected me. Haven't you heard what happened to Lucas Lu?"

After the call ended, Emma completely lost it. She frantically dialed Emily's number, only to be blocked repeatedly. Today, she'd finally seized her chance to corner Emily during graduation.

Emily looked at Emma slumped on the ground and started to step forward when a sharp pain shot through her ankle. She gasped, swaying unsteadily.

"Don't move!" Daniel caught her, his gaze dropping to her slightly swollen ankle. Without waiting for her reaction, he scooped her up into his arms.

"Daniel!" Emily exclaimed.

"The infirmary isn't far." Daniel tightened his hold and strode purposefully toward the campus medical center.

Nearby, beside a black Rolls-Royce, William stood tall by the car door. He narrowed his eyes, watching their retreating figures, an icy aura radiating from him.

Emma was still cursing when she suddenly met William's frigid stare. She froze mid-sentence, her voice cutting off abruptly.

William withdrew his gaze and got into the car. The window rolled down as he ordered Sam Wilson, "Bring her to me."

"Yes, sir." Sam immediately headed toward Emma.