Chapter 360

“No way, I couldn’t just be taken away like that.”

When Jeremy saw Emma, his eyes lit up.

Desperately, he pleaded with Emma, “Emma, help me out. Say something for me. I know you still care about me. You wouldn’t want to see me go to jail. Emma, trust me, once this is over, I’ll marry you right away. That’s been your dream, hasn’t it?”

Jeremy was grasping at straws, babbling incoherently.

Emma’s eyes flickered slightly, yet she walked toward Jeremy.

Overjoyed, Jeremy exclaimed, “Emma, you really do…”

Before he could finish his sentence, Emma raised her hand and delivered a slap, her face devoid of any emotion.

Jeremy was dumbfounded.

In disbelief, he looked at Emma, “You… you hit me?”

Seeing his reaction, Emma felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.

With a detached tone, she said, “You’ve had that slap coming for a long time, Jeremy. You’re paying for your own mistakes now. Let’s just leave it at this – we’re done seeing each other.”

With that, Emma turned and walked away.

Eason glanced at Jeremy and then quickly followed Emma.

Jeremy, still reluctant to give up, wanted to shout out something, but the police shoved him into the patrol car.

On the street, Emma kept walking.

She walked so fast and so purposefully as if walking was the most important thing in the world to her.

Eason silently followed her, saying nothing.

They walked all the way to the riverbank before Emma finally stopped.

Eason stood beside her.

Beyond the railing, below, the river rolled on relentlessly.

Emma quietly watched for a while.

It felt like all the darkness, fear, and helplessness of the past were being washed away with the river.

Join Chatroom 156% 09:49 After a long moment, Emma turned to Eason and said. “There’s something I’ve told you several times before. But now, want to say it again.”

A bright light shone in Emma’s eyes as she spoke. “Eason, thank you”

Truh, thank you.

1 never thought that Jeremy would actually face punishment.

1 also never imagined that the past could really be left behind.

This time. I knew Jeremy would definitely face the consequences he deserved.

1 finally let go completely “I’ve also said it several times already. No thanks needed,” Eason remarked.

Emma blinked with a hint of shyness and asked, “Are you really sure you’re into me?”

Eason paused for a moment.

Looking at Emma’s slightly flushed face, he felt a stir in his heart, He thought to himself, I’m not entirely sure whether I like Emma or not.

But Emma… she’s definitely someone special to me.

Seeing her so vulnerable, I feel this strong urge to take care of her. The idea of her in any pain is unbearable. I want to give her the best of everything, all for the reward of her smile.

Is this what liking someone is like?

1 just don’t know.”

Emma didn’t wait for Eason’s answer. She mustered up her courage, a bit shyly, “If… if you still like me, maybe we could…. give it a try?”

Her voice grew softer, almost inaudible at the end.

“You mean…” Eason doubted he heard her right Emma refused to repeat herself, blushing, “Just think about it.”

With that, she quickly slipped away.

Eason watched her leave, feeling a strange emotion stirring within him.

He thought, 1 am not sure what liking someone is like.

“But I am certain that I don’t want to leave Emma’s life just like that.”

He kept thinking. ‘Last night, it was the first night in days I slept alone.

‘I thought I’d be happy to let go of a burden.

“But in reality, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep all night.‘

1 couldn’t help but worry if Emma brushed her teeth and washed her face properly.

Would s ‘Would she be scared of sleeping alone?

“Would her illness suddenly come back?

These emotions, wave after wave, flooded my heart all night.

The next day, I couldn’t wait to see Emma.

‘But I couldn’t find an excuse to meet her.

5 09:49 ‘Thinking back to her saying she would sue Jeremy, I mobilized all my resources, investigated Jeremy, and reported him to the police.

‘I thought to myself that once Jeremy got arrested, I’d use that as an excuse to meet Emma.

‘But who would have thought when I followed the cops to Jeremy, I couldn’t believe Jeremy still dared to harass Emma.?

‘At that moment of rage, I couldn’t even pinpoint why I was so furious.

‘I wasn’t someone who liked to resort to violence, but something about Jeremy just made me want to punch him every time. I saw him.

‘After the rage subsided, I felt an indescribable sense of relief.

‘I was relieved that I got there in time.

‘I was relieved that I stopped Jeremy.

‘I was relieved that I didn’t let Emma fall into despair alone.

‘Just when Emma had suggested we give it a try, I was thinking that if Emma and I parted ways, who would be there for her when she faced challenges? Who would comfort her if she became emotionally unstable again? Who would be there to hold her if her illness recurred?”

Eason thought a lot.

As he thought, he found his answer.

Regardless of whether his feelings for Emma were love or not, there was no doubt he couldn’t let her go.

Eason reached for his phone, wanting to call Emma and tell her he also thought they should really give it a try.

Just then, his phone rang first.

Eason answered the call.

It was the police.

55% 09:49 Initially, Eason remained composed, but as moments passed, a wave of growing anger began to simmer in his eyes, subtly at first, then unmistakably intense.

Half an hour later, at the police station, the officer, upon seeing Eason, promptly showed him Jeremy’s confession.

“Mr. Nicholas Jeremy confessed to his crimes. But he also revealed something else. He said, in this harassment case against Emma, he was just an accomplice, not the mastermind.”

“He’s lying,” Eason said with a frosty tone.

The cop replied. “But he has no reason to lie. He confessed to more severe crimes before. This minor harassment case doesn’t even meet the criteria for a criminal offense. There’s no reason for him to lie about this.”

Eason understood this, and so he looked gloomy.

Eason thought, ‘So, Jeremy showing up at the park that day wasn’t a coincidence, but an inevitability.”

He continued to think, ‘Indeed, for so many years, Emma hadn’t seen Jeremy.

“What made Jeremy show up out of the blue that day?”

Eason, preoccupied with Emma’s mental state, had overlooked this crucial detail.

Taking a deep breath, Eason asked, “Who’s the mastermind?”

The police shook their heads, “He doesn’t know. The person contacted him over the phone.”

The police kept saying. “It sounded like a girl. She offered him one hundred thousand dollars to seduce Emma. Jeremy initially didn’t believe such luck could fall into his lap, but she transferred a twenty–

thousand–dollar deposit. That got his belief and eagerness to act.”

“The investigation confirms that twenty thousand dollars was indeed deposited into Jeremy’s bank account a few days ago “However, tracing the transaction led to a dead end in a Swiss account, making further tracking impossible.”

the “The mastermind remains a mystery, and it won’t be easy to uncover them.”

The police detailed everything thoroughly.

Eason’s pupils dilated sharply.

“Mr. Nicholas, did you think of something?” the officer asked urgently. “If you have any leads, please share them with us.”

Join Chatroom 155% 09:49 Eason pursed his lips, and after a long pause, he said, “Sorry, I have no leads. I’m just shocked”

“Yeah. Such a cautious person won’t be easily exposed Anyway, Mr. Nicholas, think it over once you’re home. Recall there’s anyone you suspect. Let us know immediately if you come up with any guesses Eason nodded and then left the police station Seated in his car, he was noticeably tense and his expression was as solemn as that of st His mind, however, churned with tumultuous thoughts 1 remembered how Penny had suddenly messaged me that night, urging me to check my email That’s when I learned about Emma’s past and Jeremy’s existence.

And the very next day, Jeremy actually showed up In hindsight, Jeremy’s appearance turned out to be a blessing “If it weren’t for his unintentional provocation, Emma’s emotional breakthrough wouldn’t have happened softly But the person behind the scenes wasn’t benevolent Eason reflected on the events of that day, realizing that any slight misstep could have been fatal for Emma, potentially pushing her over the edge into a life–threatening darkness Someone was out to harm Emma ‘But who could it be?

Emma, due to her illness, had been reclusive over the years. She’d hardly met anyone, let alone offended someone to such a vindictive extent 1 was reluctant to even consider it ‘But I had to admit The one pulling Jeremy’s strings could very likely be Penny Penny was the one who dug up all that information And Jeremy? Penny brought him into the picture too “What on earth was she up to?

What could Emma have possitily done to deserve such a twisted plot from her?

Eason massaged his forehead lost in thought. After a moment of deep contemplation, the inhaled sharply and cafest Penny Penny was ecstatic when she got the call from Eason.

“Eason, you finally…” Her voice was brimming with excitement.

“Penny,” Eason cut her off sharply. “Where are you?”

“I’m out shopping with friends,” Penny responded cheerfully.

“Come home. I need to see you,” Eason stated.

With that, Eason hung up.

Holding her phone, Penny’s cheeks flushed.

Penny thought, ‘Eason had called me, wanting to meet me.

“Could it be that he felt the same way about me?‘

Shopping was the last thing on Penny’s mind then. She ditched her friends and rushed home as fast as she could.

In the living room, Eason was lounging on the couch, his face showing no emotion.

“Eason,” Penny approached, attempting to take his hand.

Eason swiftly avoided her touch. “Sit across from me.”

His tone was brusque, leaving Penny confused and concerned.

Looking at Penny’s innocent expression, Eason felt a moment of hesitation in his heart.

Eason thought, ‘Could I have been wrong about everything?

‘I didn’t want to believe it.

‘My beloved sister, whom I had cherished for years, was a person with two faces!

‘However, even if I didn’t want to believe it, I had to get to the bottom of it‘

Eason steeled himself and said with a stern tone, “Sit down.”

Penny, not understanding what was happening, obediently sat down.

Eason looked into her eyes and said deliberately, “Emma and I are officially together now.”

Penny’s head shot up, a storm of emotions flashing in her eyes.

Eason continued, “And you know, I think she’s amazing. We might even tie the knot soon. Penny, you’re about to have a sister–in–law.”

‘Marriage?

Join Chatroom MMM ‘Sister–in–law?”

Penny felt like a thousand screams were echoing in her mind, on a never–ending loop.

55% 09:50 She forced herself to calm down and managed a faint smile. “Eason, getting married is great and all, but you’ve known Emma for such a short time. Do you really know her?”

“We’ll get connect.”

to know each other along the way,” Eason said nonchalantly. “I plan to make it official first, then take our time to “How can you even think that?” Penny couldn’t hold back anymore and shouted in a high–pitched voice.

Eason’s heart sank with a wave of disappointment at Penny’s reaction.

He asked calmly, “Why not?”

“She… she…” Penny was frantic Penny wanted to reveal everything she knew.

“But how could I explain my knowledge of all this?

“Aren’t you happy for me?” Eason said with a smile. “That’s good. Soon you’ll be celebrating my big day.”

Every word from Eason felt like a stab in Penny’s heart.

Finally, she blurted out, “Eason! Emma is deceiving you! She’s deeply depressed and still in love with her ex! She’s not right for you.”

Eason squinted his eyes.

‘So, Penny was the one who sent those reports.”

But he kept his composure and said, “I know about the depression. I’m willing to help her through it. As for her ex, I believe that’s all in the past now.”

“What past? She’s so in love with the guy that she falls into depression. How can that just be history?”

Penny argued desperately.

Eason said with conviction, “I don’t buy it. I even ran into that ex of hers when I was out with Emma.

She looked like she had moved on.”

“How could that be?” Penny panicked. ‘She’s just pretending to not care to deceive you. Eason, Jeremy himself said that Emma did crazy things for him back then, like…”

Penny tried everything to persuade Eason.

But Eason’s eyes gradually darkened.

He looked intently at Penny. “Jeremy told you?”

MM “Yeah, he… Penny, oblivious, continued.

Then, suddenly realizing something and seeing the look on Eason’s face, she became terrified.

*INA 09:50 Eason said slowly, “How do you know what Jeremy said? You’ve spoken to him. It was you who orchestrated his,” appearance before Emma.”