Second Chances

The next morning, as Emma came downstairs, she caught snippets

siping over breakfast.

“Wow, Aria’s getting all the attention. It’s not even Valentine’s Day, and she’s already drowning in flowers and gifts. Unlike someone who’s ugly, uncultured, and totally psycho.” Zoe finished up, snagging Aria’s diamond bracelet and shooting Emma a nasty glare. “Sleeping in so late, you got no manners. Look at this. This bracelet is from Sebastian, the Gomez family’s second son, all for Aria.”

Emma sneered. “Sebastian’s a total player, probably knocked up half the town. That bracelet is just a cheap trinket worth only several thousand dollars. Only someone as shameless as Aria would show it off.”

Hearing this, Mateo flung his fork at her. “You little brat, what’s with the morning drama? Can’t you let us eat in peace?”

Emma dodged, retorting, “Wrong for calling her shameless? Look who’s ruining my breakfast.” She gestured to her usual seat, now occupied by a dog bowl. Aria’s border collie was munching there, while Emma’s breakfast sat outside on the doghouse.

Struggling to hold back her laughter, Aria pretended to be apologetic. “Oh, Emma, I’m so sorry. After you flipped the table last night, I thought you didn’t want to join us for breakfast. Rocky really wanted your spot this morning, so I moved your breakfast to the doghouse. It’s sunny out there, you know. But if it bothers you, I can fix it right away.”

Feeling bold in her disrespect, thinking Zoe and Mateo had written off Emma, Aria reached for the dog bowl. But Emma kicked it over before she could, sending dog food flying. Panicked, Aria asked, “Emma, what are you doing now?”

Emma grabbed the sunny-side-up egg and chicken breast from Aria’s plate and dumped them into the dog bowl. Then she shoved a handful of dog food into Aria’s mouth. “Dogs are smarter than you, so why bother with dog food? But you can’t even tell people food from dog food. Let me help your pea brain by feeding you some dog food.”

“What are you… Mmph, Emma, you’re insane. Help!” Aria, no match for Emma’s strength, burst into tears, desperately trying to spit it out as her mouth was forced open, more dog food shoved in. She ended up swallowing several pieces.

Zoe looked like she was about to have a heart attack. Nora was horrified too, screeching as she hid behind Mateo. He jumped up, bellowing for someone to stop Emma. But Emma had already quit before the servants could step in.

Seemingly satisfied with her handiwork, Emma menacingly gripped Aria’s jaw, “So, how was Rocky’s food? Tasty?”

Once let go, Aria ran in tears to hide behind Mateo. “Dad, look/what Emma did to me.”

“Emma, you’re completely nuts.” Mateo trembled with anger. “Your sister is the hottest thing in Troln City right now. All these rich dudes are chasing after her. And you, you have the nerve to do this to her? Just you wait, I’m gonna teach you a lesson.”

Emma demanding 2 million dollars to agree to marry shifted Mateo’s investment strategy to Aria.

But there was a key difference. Emma was being forced into marriage, shoved into Liam’s arms whether she wanted to or not. It was like selling off a daughter.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

Meanwhile, Aria could take the 2 million dollars, doll herself up, and pick any man she wanted. That was more like marrying off a daughter. Whether selling or marrying off, the Wilson family saw their daughters as commodities, not individuals.

With gifts pouring in for Aria well before Valentine’s Day, the Wilson family’s expectations soared. The higher their hopes, the better Aria was treated, while Emma’s situation just got worse.

As Mateo lifted a heavy stick to strike Emma, a car horn blared outside. A flustered servant rushed in. “Emergency! Vehicles from the Hall family are here.”

When Mateo heard “the Hall family,” He nearly dropped the stick.

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Zoe gasped, panicked. “Oh shit, we’re screwed. They’re probably here to settle the score for the broken engagement. What do we do? If we pi** off the Hall family, we’re done in Troln City.”

The Wilson family was now utterly terrified. Aria shot a vicious glare at Emma. “This is all your fault. If you hadn’t stirred up so much trouble, Liam wouldn’t be showing up!”

Zoe gritted her teeth. “Let’s just hand over this wretched girl. The Hall family can deal with her however they want. She made this mess, so she’ll have to clean it up on her own. We can’t afford to get tangled up in this.”

The Wilson family trembled at the mere thought of Liam. The Hall family wielded immense power in Troln City, capable of bringing any city to its knees with a mere snap of their fingers. Their ancestors held prestigious positions since the 14th century and had been wealthy for generations. If even one member of the Hall family decided to act, wiping out the entire Wilson family would be like swatting a fly.

Now even Mateo’s face had gone pale, his hand holding the cup shaking violently. Zoe looked like she was on edge, sitting as if on pins and needles.

Seeing their reaction, Emma smirked coldly. In her previous life, Liam came to settle the score for her rejection of his proposal and the scandal with Elijah. But after their encounter at Vark College in this lifetime, Liam should understand her feelings. So he hadn’t come today to cause trouble.

“Did Liam come in person?” Mateo’s voice wavered.

The servant replied, “I’m not sure, but there are a lot of vehicles outside. Over twenty of them.”

“We’re screwed.” Zoe slumped onto the sofa. “Over twenty vehicles?” With that many people coming, the Wilson family was done for today.

Even Aria couldn’t help but glance anxiously at Nora. “Mom, what’s the plan now?”

Only Emma calmly walked outside.

At the front of the convoy was a grey BMW. A man in a sharp grey suit stepped out. It was Liam’s right-hand man, Levi Carter. He gave Emma a respectful nod. But what he said next left the entire Wilson family stunned.

“Hello, Miss Wilson. On Mr. Hall’s orders, I’ve come to deliver the proposal gifts,” Levi said.

Those words hit like a bomb. Emma was stunned to hear there were over twenty vehicles filled with her proposal gifts. And the Wilson family behind her? They were totally speechless.

“What? Proposal gifts? That many?” Aria’s jaw almost dropped to the floor.