Chapter 92

Veda anxiously wondered, her heart racing, "John, where the heck are you?

Emily's calm voice cut through the tension. "Veda, you totally deserve this."

"I'm counting to ten. If you don't spill the truth by then, I'm opening the door and letting the tigers have a snack."

"Ten..."

"Eight..."

Veda shivered, knowing Emily was dragging this out on purpose.

Emily wasn't even counting in order, just calling out numbers whenever she felt like it.

Veda realized begging wasn't gonna work, so she switched gears and started cursing.

"Emily, you can't treat me like this. Just because you're back, Mom and Dad don't care about me anymore. Even if you kill me, you'll end up in jail forever."

"Five."

Emily didn't even flinch. "Emily, please, I don't know anything. I'll give you back your parents. Just let me go." "Four." "I'm just jealous you're their real kid. Even without their love, you still have the Williams family. You've always been lucky."

"Ever since you came back, John's been all about you. I just wanted him back for a second."

"One."

As the last lock clicked open, Veda lunged at the door, but she was too weak. She watched in horror as the tiger's head poked through,jaws wide open.

If those tigers got in, she was done for. Emily had lost it completely.

Veda screamed, "It's Everett Harrison! Everett locked you up and raped you!"

A whistle blew, and the tigers reluctantly backed off, their growls still echoing.

Emily sat in the yard, eyes glued to the video of Veda.

Everett!

Emily's mind flashed to Everett's face. He was Lucas's neighbor and had tormented her since they were kids.

Everett always followed her around, calling her names with the other kids. Emily remembered clearly that after Lucas had locked her up for days, it was Everett who spread the rumor that Lucas had violated her. Back then, Emily wanted to kill him. The insults and slander went on until she was twelve, when the Johnson family took her in.

She hadn't seen Everett since. She only heard he went to prison for armed robbery.

She had no idea when he got out or how he got mixed up with Veda.

Thinking about it all, Emily trembled,her eyes bloodshot.

Emily asked, "Veda, how do you know Everett?"

Veda was terrified. Afraid the tigers would come back,she didn't catch what Emily had just said until she asked again.

Leaning against the door, Veda said weakly, "When I was sent back to Lucas's house, I met Everett. He kept harassing and threatening me. I was scared he'd expose to outsiders that I wasn't the real heiress and go to my parents..."

She went on, "So when Everett got out of prison that year and came threatening me, I told him where you were. I figured you'd stay put at the Williams Mansion, but I didn't think you'd fall for his lie about John and leave with him. With your skills, Everett shouldn't have been a problem,but I never expected you to get caught and imprisoned by him."

Emily clutched a whistle in her hand,nearly crushing it. She was trying hard to keep her anger in check, but inside, she was falling apart.

She asked, "Veda, how did Everett get John's phone? You're trying to pin everything on Everett, but I know you had a hand in this. Don't think I'll buy your story." Taking a moment to think it over, Emily noticed many holes in Veda's story.

Veda hadn't even mentioned Philip. But why did she bring up Philip's name in the audio?

"Why did you say I was raped by Philip?"

"Philip favored you, and John has always been jealous of Philip. Philip's so outstanding that it makes John feel inferior. So if you had sex with Philip,it would make John hate you even more."

Emily sneered. "How much of what you're saying is even true?"

Veda kept shaking her head. "I can't lie to you now. Philip wasn't involved,it was all Everett. He even filmed a video, which I still have on my phone."

As she spoke, Veda shakily took out her phone and played the video for the room's camera.

In the video, Emily was unconscious on the ground,filmed by Everett's friend in a dark room.

Then Everett's sleazy voice could be heard. "You bitch, you've been ruined by Lucas long ago, and you're pretending to be innocent in front of me.Aren't you always on your high horse? Get up." He walked towards Emily on the ground and leaned over. Then the screen went black. Even though the image wasn't clear, Emily recognized Everett's voice.Lost in fear, Veda didn't even notice that the monitor's screen had long been cut off.

At that moment, there was a knock on the door. She thought it was Emily,ready to let her go.

But when she opened the door and saw who it was, Veda trembled fiercely.

"John, when did you get here?"

Veda's heart sank. She knew she was going to lose John forever.

John was heartbroken, filled with regret and remorse.

He dragged Veda out. "Emmy has been through so much. How could you treat her like this? Emmy never did anything to hurt you!"

She didIn't even fight Veda about her parents!

Veda was stil terrified. Even though John despised her, she relied on him as her lifeline.

Veda cautiously tried to approach him, and said with a grievance,"But Emily wants to kill me. She may have lost her innocence, but at least she's still alive. Now she wants my life..."

"Because you deserve to die!" Another cold voice cut in.

Veda turned her head and saw James.