Chapter 90

Emily's situation was a mess. She was scared she might have another breakdown soon.

James only knew she had trouble sleeping,nothing more.

She had a killer headache and had no clue how to tell James. It was driving her nuts.

Emily looked at Gerald. "Dr. Patterson, can I crash here tonight?"

"Sure thing."

Gerald left the office and headed home.

Emily slept in until after ten in the morning. The office was dead quiet,and even the person who usually opened up wasn't there. Clearly,Gerald had told them to come in later.

Emily felt a wave of gratitude.

Behind the office, there was a big flat where Emily had slept. It was Gerald's crash pad for when he worked late.

During Emily's roughest times, Gerald had suggested she move in with him for convenience, buIt she had turned him down.

So, she had chosen to stay here instead. She knew the place like the back of her hand.After freshening up, she shot a message to Gerald before heading out. Gerald replied: [If you feel unwell,call me right away.] Emily:[Got it,thanks.]

Emily left and saw her car downstairs. The front was totally smashed, and the glass was shattered.

She pulled out her phone and made a call. "Mr. Brooks,I need to borrow something."

Harry's deep voice came through. "What do you need?"

"Your pet."

After Emily grabbed a bite to eat, Harry called to say everything was set.

Only then did Emily call Veda. "Veda,let's meet up and talk."

Veda was silent for a long time before asking, "Do you still want to kill me?"

"If I wanted you dead, you wouldn't have gotten away yesterday."

Thinking about yesterday, Veda still felt a bit freaked out. She remembered that suffocating feeling all too well.

Veda gritted her teeth. "Alright, where do we meet?"

Emily said, "Remember the secret base John and I had? Let's meet there."

After hanging up, Emily took a taxi to Begonia Hill. Begonia Hill was covered in begonias, and below it was a fancy villa area.Emily had spent her first birthday there after she first moved into the Johnson Mansion. It was a gift from Calliope.Loving peace and quiet, Emily relished her time here during middle and high school. She had made this place her secret hideout, with security set up to recognize only four faces and fingerprints at the entrance.

Back then, she, Ella, and John would hang out there.

She wasn't close with Veda, so she never told her about the place, but John had brought her there. He even recorded Veda's fingerprints.

It had been three years since anyone had been there.

John was abroad, and Ella had been taken back by her family after she turned 18 and hadn't returned to Emerald City since. The villa was abandoned and covered in dust.

Emily didn't feel much for the place anymore. The happy memories now felt like a cruel joke.

She headed straight to the basement and checked on the little critter Harry had sent over. It looked starving.

She played with it for a bit, then went up to the small attic on the top floor of the villa, which was a control room.

The villa was decked out with surveillance inside and out. Emily turned on the monitoring equipment, and all the screens lit up.

Emily sat in a chair, waiting casually until a black Maybach rolled into view on the monitors. Aiden really spoiled Veda, even giving her this car. The car stopped in the courtyard. Veda looked at the villa jealously. She'd never forget how happy John and Emily used to be here. But John had never shown that kind of happiness around her. Today. Veda was dressed to impress in a knitted dress and a long beige wool coat,looking all elegant.

Soon,she was standing ouItside the control room, feeling a bit weird as she walked over.

All the doors to the other rooms had been removed, except for the control room.

But Veda didn't think too much about it and pushed open the ddoor.

Emily sat there, looking sharp in a black shirt and pants with a khaki trench coat, her long hair tied up, giving off a bit of a cold vibe.

Emily smiled slightly at her, looking stunning. "Veda, you're here."

Veda slowly approached Emily, looking all pitiful. "Emily, I can't handle John breaking up with me. I like him so much. Can you help me?"

Emily laughed, but her eyes were icy. "How do you want me to help?"

"Just tell John you don't like him and don't want him bothering you anymore,okay? You have James now, so please don't compete with me for John."

Veda suddenly dropped to her knees in front of Emily, tears streaming down her face.

She continued,"I know I did you wrong before." Emily still had her legs crossed, the smile on her face fading a bit. "Veda,after all these years, you still haven't kicked the habit of kneeling at every turn." Emily slowly bent down,grabbing Veda's chin. There were still bruises on Veda's neck from yesterday. Emily had been pretty rough.

Emily's fingers tightened, and Veda trembled, gasping in pain.

Seeing Veda's tears,Emily finally let go.

Veda sobbed. "I know it was wrong to take away your parents and boyfriend. Your parents raised me, and they always liked me. So they treat me like their real daughter. This isn't my fault."

"As for John, he's the only thing I feel guilty about taking from you,but I love him so much. Without him, I'd lose my mind. Emily, he's the love of my life."

Veda cried, tears streaming down her face.

In the past, to please Mia and Aiden, Emily might have been swayed by Veda's words and let it go. But now, she felt nothing.

Emily's tone was calm. "If you like John, you should pursue him openly.But you used dirty tricks. Do you deserve any sympathy? Is love obtained through deceit really love?"

Veda cried and laughed, her tone full of self-mockery. "Openly? Haha, how can I compete with you? Emily, do you know? Even though I've been with John for over ten years, as soon as you came back, all of John's attention went to you. I'm not even in his eyes anymore!" Veda felt utterly pathetic. Emily's gaze stayed cold. "So you want me violated?" Veda was stunned. Emotions surged in her tear-filled eyes.