Chapter 24%
Emma’s POV
“‘Emma, don’t be so damn shameless! Jason spat, his voice full of venom. “You think just because you’re with Chase, you can suddenly climb to the top and act like some damn phoenix?
He sneered, his anger rising with each word. “I’ll tell you this–once he gets tired of you, you’ll be nothing!”
I forcefully shook off his hand, looking back at him without fear. “Jason, you’re pathetic! Seven years, and you still haven’t grown at all. The only thing you know how to do is throw out low, despicable threats.
I crossed my arms, standing taller as I met his glare. “Even if I have nothing. I’m still a hundred times better than someone like you–a parasite living off your family’s charity!“”
Then, the sound rang through the air as my hand collided with his face. The anger I’d been holding back surged forward, and I couldn’t stop it any longer!!
Jason stood there, stunned, holding his face in shock, unable to believe I’d actually slapped him.
He probably never imagined the obedient Emma–the one who always bowed to his every whim–would stand up for herself like this. Two security guards rushed in and began dragging him out. He struggled, cursing at me, but I didn’t flinch, I didn’t even bother to
look at him.
“Emma, you’ll regret this! You’ll regret it!” Jason shouted, his voice laced with fury. “Without me, you’re nothing!”
I didn’t turn back
“Regret?” I muttered under my breath. “The thing I regret the most is ever knowing you. Wasting seven precious years of my life on a scumbag like you.”
The employees in the studio, who had been watching the scene unfold, exchanged wary glances. The tension in the air was thick. forced a smile and cleared my throat.
“It’s fine, everyone, just continue with your work” I said, trying to shake off the anger still simmering inside me.
I took a deep breath, needing to calm myself. The conflict had drained so much of my energy, but I still had work to do..
I grabbed a fragrance test strip and focused on blending the woody fragrance I had been experimenting with for so long. I wanted to create something that was truly mine.
For the top notes, I settled on fresh cedar and a hint of spicy cardamom. The middle notes would be warm sandalwood and patchouli, and the base notes would be steady amber and musk
Just as I began to lose myself in the scent, my phone buzzed.
I glanced at the screen and saw a message from my best friend, Alice, with a link to an Instagram post.
Her message read:
[Emma, look at this. Your parents have completely lost it!
I clicked the link, and a cold shiver immediately ran down my spine. It was a trending topic with the headline *#UnfilialDaughterEmmaYoung “8
I clicked on the post and was hit with a video of my parents, both crying their eyes out, accusing me of being ungrateful, shameless, and a gold–digger. They claimed I had seduced some rich guy and ditched them for money, leaving them stranded in their old age
The comments section was full of self–righteous people calling me out for my supposed betrayal
[This woman’s a gold–digger! Do you know how hard her parents worked to raise her? And now she turns her back on them just because she’s rich!]
[Today’s young people are getting worse! They’ll do anything for money!]
[People like her should be shunned by society. Let her get ruined!]
As I scrolled through the comments, a wave of dizziness hit me. The anger and betrayal felt like a weight pressing down on my
chest.
Ah, what great parents I had. They’d do anything to drag me back under their control, even if it meant destroying my reputation. My phone rang again. I looked down at the screen–it was them.E
My mom’s voice, shrill and demanding, blasted through the line, cutting through the silence.!!
“Emma, I’m telling you right now, you have to divorce that boy toy! The Reeds said if we don’t get you back, they’re pulling their investment, and your father’s company is going under! We really have no choice here. You can’t just stand by and watch us go bankrupt, can you?”
Her words hit me like a punch–sharp, biting, and full of threat. A cold chill washed over me as I listened to her.
The walls felt like they were closing in, but this time? I wasn’t backing down
