Chapter 182

Emma asked, "Help me?"

"Yeah," replied Daniel.

Emma was shocked by their plan, never imagining such a possibility. From Liam's conversations with her uncles, she learned they intended to replicate the chip to dispel suspicion.

"Don't worry. You have us. We'll protect you," Sean said, patting her head fondly. Richard nodded, adding, "That's right. Even if the worst happens, we'll always have your back!"

Tears welled in Emma's eyes. She felt incredibly fortunate to have such devoted and protective uncles. She looked up at Liam, who noticed her tears and leaned down to kiss her eyebrows. "Don't worry. We're all here for you. We'll protect you," he reassured her. Overwhelmed, Emma clutched the hem of her dress.

Shortly after, the butler announced happily, "Mr. Hall, Mr. Philip is here." Philip's name was renowned throughout the country; a legendary physics genius with an exceptionally high IQ, reportedly sought after by numerous countries. Despite years abroad, he remained fiercely patriotic. Seeing him, Emma thought he lived up to his reputation. Philip possessed a cold, aloof demeanor, unlike her other uncles' enthusiastic greetings. Yet, in his gaze, Emma sensed tenderness; even his silence conveyed warmth. He nodded politely, saying, "Emma, nice to finally meet you."

Dazzled by her uncle's confidence and brilliance, Emma simply replied, "Uncle." She thought it was no wonder he was considered a rare genius. Despite her own intelligence, she felt somewhat inadequate in his presence.

Liam stepped forward. "Mr. Philip, I've prepared all the materials you requested." Philip, aware of Liam's relationship with Emma, nodded. "Okay, thank you." This was Liam's backup plan: with less than twenty hours until the forty-eight-hour deadline, Philip would be their last resort if they couldn't find the mastermind.

Richard declared, "If there are any consequences, I will bear them." Daniel shook his head. "No, as the eldest brother, it's my duty to protect Stella's daughter." Sean, from the sofa, grumbled, "Stop it. One of you manages immense wealth, the other's a military hero. I'm just an actor; I should take the fall."

Emma watched her uncles vying to protect her. Even Philip, a stranger moments before, said, "A man should be accountable for his actions. Since I'm making the chip, any repercussions should fall on me."

"Uncle Philip, you don't have to do this," Emma pleaded.

Philip, perceptive as ever, understood her feelings. Smiling rarely, he said, "We should protect you. I'm sure if anything happens, Mr. Hall won't stand idly by, right?" This was their first meeting; Philip was subtly assessing Liam's worthiness of his niece. Liam saw through this, taking Emma's hand and stating firmly, "Emma won't let you take the blame. As her husband, if she's in trouble, I'll stand by her side."

The four men were relieved. Even Sean, usually jealous of Liam, clicked his tongue in approval. "Alright, who'll take care of Emma for the rest of her life if not you? Emma, we just want you to be happy!"

"Alright," Emma said, restraining her emotions. "Let's not be so pessimistic. Maybe we'll find the original chip soon."

Levi's absence, with no news, cast a pall over the situation. Late at night, Liam called Levi, who was working late without leads. Liam instructed, "Levi, go to the old mansion secretly tonight and check on Derek."

Levi instantly grasped the implication. "Mr. Hall, do you… suspect Mr. Simon?"

"Yeah," Liam replied. Simon had recently threatened him to break up with Emma. Liam had previously avoided straining their father-son relationship, but for Emma, he would no longer hesitate.

At the old mansion, before Levi entered, he found an old man in a suit sitting in the garden—Simon.

"Mr. Simon?" Levi said nervously.

The old man smiled. "Liam was right. It's me!"

Levi was stunned. "Mr. Simon, you…"

"I know you're loyal to Liam," Simon interrupted. "But don't forget your sick sister back home." He showed a video of a pale girl. "Levi! Mr. Simon has sent someone to take care of me and even brought me a lot of supplements. Your boss is so nice!"

Levi's face tightened, but he forced a smile and spoke briefly with his sister. After hanging up, he clenched his fists. Simon was using his sister. He explained confidently, "Sharon is a good kid, but she's not lucky. She has hemophilia and a rare blood type. This illness isn't too dangerous with a steady blood supply, but without it…"

"Enough!" Levi trembled. He knew Simon's power; he could cut off Sharon's blood supply completely. Levi, an orphan, considered Sharon his only family. Protecting her was paramount.

"Sharon is just an ordinary girl. She's innocent."

Simon's smile vanished. "I don't care. My goal is to see Emma imprisoned for life! Your sister's life is in your hands. As long as you cooperate, I'll ensure she never lacks blood. It's up to you."

Levi returned to Icovine Estate with heavy steps.