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Bianca’s shout grabbed everyone’s attention.
She realized her mistake a second too late, her face going pale.
But she was a pro at acting, and tears instantly filled her eyes. “Emily, are you trying to ruin my reputation and drive me to despair?
She swayed like she was about to faint.
James, standing right next to her, quickly caught her, glaring at Emily.
“Emily, you know Bianca’s health isn’t great. How could you upset her like this?”
This was the first time Emily had spoken to him face–to–face since her rebirth.
She hadn’t expected his first words to be an accusation.
At this moment, he was still her fiancé.
If pleasing the Johnson family was her desperate longing for familial love, then James was the only ray of hope during her days of scavenging for food and fighting off stray dogs.
Back then, James hadn’t been taken back by the Smith family yet. He lived a tough life with Uma, but even so, he would save food for her and help fend off those who bullied her.
They were like two wounded animals, comforting each other and licking each other’s wounds.
They had promised each other that no matter what, they would always protect each other and never let go of each other’s hands.
Later, they each returned to their own families. He started treating Bianca well, explaining that since Bianca was favored in her family, if he treated her well, her family would also treat Emily better.
She had never doubted his sincerity back then.
But people’s hearts change, and promises, though true, can also change.
“If I remember right, you’re Emily’s fiancé. But now, you are defending Bianca and questioning Emily; that’s quite a sight to see.”
Sophia couldn’t help but stir the pot.
James’s expression shifted slightly, but he ignored Sophia and looked at Emily instead.
“Emily, you know I’m doing this for your own good. Be a good girl and apologize to Bianca!“.
James spoke gently, but his tone was firm.
Emily shook her head. “I did nothing wrong, so I won’t apologize.”
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“Damn it, you hurt Bianca and still refuse to change! Eli cursed angrily.
(((
Even the female police officer couldn’t stand it anymore. Despite the talk of Bianca’s frail health, Bianca looked well–proportioned and had smooth skin, not at all weak.
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On the contrary, Emily, standing nearby, was thin and pale, with a sickly complexion.
She interrupted Eli’s scolding and explained the whole case.
“We understand your concern for Bianca, but Emily was thrown into the water by those people while trying to help Bianca. She almost got sick and lost her mind, yet she still wanted to protect Bianca by reporting to the police. She deserves praise. You shouldn’t be biased; show some concern for Emily, too.”
Emily almost lost her mind?
The Johnson family members were surprised and felt guilty upon hearing this.
Finn couldn’t help but mutter, “How were we supposed to know she was sick? She didn’t say anything. If we had known, we wouldn’t have ignored her.”
The others nodded in agreement.
Emily knew that no matter what the truth was, the result would always be her fault.
As for concern, even now that the truth was out, there was still none.
As for the fate of those who threatened her.
Contrary to her expectations, Bianca said they were still young and that convicting them would ruin their lives. She was kind–hearted and wanted to give them a chance to change, deciding to let them go.
But she forgot that Emily almost lost her mind.
However, the Johnson family wouldn’t give Emily a chance to object.
The matter was resolved, and Emily was “escorted” out of the police station by Eli.
In the car, Eli’s voice was cold. “Do you still think you’re in the right? Do you realize you almost ruined Bianca’s reputation?”
Emily looked at Eli calmly. “So, Dad, you think that if Bianca is harassed or bullied, I should just ignore it in the future, right? I’ll remember that.”
“Don’t twist my words!” Eli snapped, momentarily at a loss for a comeback.
Upon hearing that Bianca’s reputation was almost damaged, Bianca couldn’t handle the stress. Her body trembled, her face went pale, and her breathing became rapid.
“Bianca, don’t worry. As long as those people don’t want to go to jail, they won’t say anything. Your reputation is intact.”
James held her gently, trying to comfort her.
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Bianca looked up at James with wide, pitiful eyes. “Really? You won’t think less of me because of this, will you?”
James playfully tapped her nose. “Of course not. You’re the best.”
Their intimate actions were accepted by the Johnson family, who even smiled and nodded, pleased to see it.
Only she, in her previous life, was completely kept in the dark at this time.
Emily looked at the two of them mockingly.
Bianca seemed to realize her mistake and hurriedly got out of James’s arms, explaining anxiously, “Emily, don’t misunderstand. I was just too upset. I know you meant well, but you didn’t grow up in the Johnson family, so you might not understand that a woman’s reputation is more important than her life!”
Was she calling her uneducated and shameless?
In her previous life, when Emily dealt with various men for the Johnson family’s business, they never thought a woman’s reputation was important.
It was clear that they didn’t care because they didn’t love her.
In this day and age, judging women like this was outdated.
After all, if the woman wasn’t at fault.
“Emily, you did make a mistake. Apologize to Bianca!” James said sternly, his tone harsher than before.
His attitude towards Bianca was completely different.
Emily looked at James’s face, still the same face, but now so unfamiliar.
The James who protected her and loved her was lost the year he met Bianca.
“James, do you remember that you are my fiancé?” Emily said, not with affection, but stating a fact.
James frowned slightly.
He thought she was becoming more unreasonable, acting out of jealousy.
“Emily, if you continue to be so unreasonable, you know that my fiancée might not be you!”
His tone was cold, almost like a threat.
It was as if he were saying something he had wanted to say for a long time,
Emily’s nails dug into her flesh, but her face remained calm.
She glanced at Bianca. “If not me, then who? Bianca?”
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“Emily, if you don’t want to apologize, that’s fine. I never blamed you. Don’t say that. There’s nothing between James and me right now.”
Her words were “right now.”
So, the future was uncertain.
The Johnson family’s love and everything good should belong to her.
Emily wasn’t worthy of someone like James, who had both a good family background and looks.
James also disapproved. “Emily, even Bianca is being generous and not holding a grudge. Why are you still being unreasonable?”
His eyes turned sharp. “If you continue to be so out of line, I will…”
Emily’s fingers trembled. She knew what he was about to say, but she was ready to cut ties and face him directly. “What will you do? Break off the engagement?”
In this new life, if anyone were going to say it, it would be her.
She would end the engagement.
She didn’t want him anymore!
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