Chapter 58

Love couldn't be shared.

Veda didn't want John to be all about Emily, so she did everything she could to win him back.

But now, she felt like she was losing him again, and that thought made her super anxious.

Right then, Mia dragged Veda to the center of the stage, right in front of the mic.

Mia shot a glance at Emily, who was staring back at her. Emily's eyes were cold and clear, no blame or jealousy there.

But it gave Mia this weird feeling, like Emily was slowly tearing away the mask of so-called motherly love.

Mia took a deep breath, forced herself to look away from the slap mark on Emily's face, and announced, "Veda is the heiress of the Johnson family.From now on, she's my biological daughter."

Mia didn't say anything else, and the crowd below started congratulating them one by one. Veda hugged Mia happily and called her mom.

Aiden walked up, moved the mic aside, and whispered in Mia's ear, "What about Emily?"

Mia pressed her lips together and stayed quiet.

Aiden looked at Veda, who seemed genuinely happy for the first time in a while. For a mnoment, he felt a bit relieved too.

After the family hug. Mia looked down and saw that Emily was gone.

Emily didn't want to stick around. Mlia didn't want to acknowledge her as her daughter. When Mia declared Veda as the heiress, giving her a rightful status, it felt like a stab in Emily's heart from the person closest to her.

She had thought Mia wouldn't acknowledge an outsider as the heiress,but she had underestimated the bond between Veda and Mia.

But when she reached the door, security stopped her.

"Ms. Emily Johnson, Ms. Veda Johnson said it's your birthday today, and you're not allowed to leave early."

Emily's face turned cold. "Get out of my way!"

Four security guards surrounded her, making it clear that if she tried to force her way out, they'd step in.

"Ms. Emily Johnson, please don't make this hard for us."

Emily took a deep breath, realizing she couldn't leave now. She thought about using force, but the four guards looked pretty skilled, and she was in a dress, so a physical fight wasn't in her favor.

In the end, Emily went back. She didn't want to see John with Veda,or the whole mother-daughter bonding scene between Veda and Mia.

So she decided to head to the dressing room, but as she was halfway up the stairs, Veda caught up with her.

"Emily,there you are."

Emily turned around, facing the person she least wanted to see.

Veda had that innocent look on her face as usual. "Emily, from now on,we're a real family. Aren't you happy?"

Standing a step above her, Emily's tone was a bit condescending. "Veda,drop the innocent act. You really disgust me."

Veda smiled faintly, her eyes clear and innocent, like a bunny's.

"Emily, I grew up with Mom and Dad, and I know them inside out. Even though I was gone for a bit, I know they love me. I've always been their daughter."

Veda's face was sincere, with a hint of happiness in her eyes.

"Emily, don't be jealous. You're their biological daughter, so they must love you too."

Emily frowned, confused about why Veda was saying all this. The first time they met, Veda was in a pink princess dress, with a crown on her head,held in Mia's arms.

She was a real princess, raised in comfort, showered with love,never knowing hunger or want.

At that moment, Emily thought she would also be cherished like a princess and live a good life from then on, because Mia was such a gentle mother.

But Emily's dream shattered. Mia disdained that Emily couldn't paint or play the piano, wasn't elegant, and didn't understand etiquette, which embarrassed her in front of other wealthy ladies. But those things weren't taught in the Isolde household!

Emily sneered."Veda, don't flaunt parents' love in front of me, because

you will always owe me. If you keep showing off, I might just ruin it when I'm not pleased!"

Thinking back to the past. Emily's mood worsened.

Emily asked. "But Veda, why did you use such dirty tricks to take John away?"

Veda's smile slowly faded,turning somewhat sinister.

"Because Ive liked John since I was a kid. He's mine. Why should you come in later? You two shouldn't have had any interaction! Why should John risk his life to save you? Why was he constantly calling your name while making love to me? Why did everything he did back then have to be for you? Was it just because you were the pitiful one? What about me?Wasn't I pitiful too?"

Emily looked at her, sarcastically smiling. "Disgusting."

Emily couldn't be bothered to argue with her about who was in John's heart. She no longer felt the same way about John.

As Emily turned to leave, Veda suddenly grabbed her arm. Before she could shake off Veda's hand, Veda fell backward and tumbled down the stairs.

Veda held her body painfully. "Emily, I know you're jealous, but why did you push me? Did you want me to die like this?"

Emily calmly watched Veda screaming at the bottom of the stairs.

She slowly opened her mouth."You're so shameless."

As she finished speaking,countless people rushed over.

Veda was still apologizing to Emily. "Emily, I know I've wronged you.I shouldn't have taken your place. Emily, I apologize to you. Can you forgive me? Please."

Emily was surrounded by a crowd.

John saw Veda lying on the ground, bleeding from the corner of her mouth,and quickly helped her up. "Veda, are you okay? I'll take you to the hospital."

"Wait." Emily stopped them.

John turned back, and Veda looked at her pitifully.

Emily, with a commanding presence, ignoring all thevoices around her,said sharply, "Veda, you wanted to apologize, right? Then kneel down and apologize properly."

Everyone was stunned.

Mia was the first to speak, "Emily, you pushed Veda down, and you should be the one apologizing!"