Chapter 20

The next day, Emma walked happily toward the classroom, despite the previous day's drama involving the Taylor and Wilson families. She'd cooked dinner for Liam afterward, and he'd enjoyed it immensely. Reaching the classroom door, she overheard a conversation.

“Someone tried to smash a vase over that bumpkin's head, but Jack intercepted it.” “Not just Jack. They say a super hot guy whisked her away.” “Lucky her. What do they see in that broke bumpkin?” “Who knows? Maybe she's good in bed.”

The girls laughed. A cold voice cut through the air. “I don't know about my skills in bed, but I excel at beating up gossiping bitches. Care to test that theory?”

The classroom fell silent. Everyone scrambled to their seats except one girl, Ruby Cruz, whose name vaguely registered with Emma. Ruby confronted her. “What’s so great about you, Emma? Everyone knows your family’s bankrupt, yet yesterday you arrived in a Maybach with a man. No one believes he’s not your sugar daddy.”

Emma asked, “What concern is that of yours?”

“Nothing,” Ruby replied, “but if you mess up, word will spread.”

“She’s right,” another girl chimed in. “Don’t blame us for gossiping if you're doing something shameless.”

Recognizing them as Aria’s friends, Emma thought, Birds of a feather… She realized they were deliberately provoking her and sneered. “Gossiping is one thing, spreading rumors is another. I’ve never had much patience,” she said, dropping her bag and crossing her legs. “After all, I sent my own sister to jail.”

“Sending your sister to jail isn't something to brag about! Fight me! I dare you!” Ruby taunted. She harbored a deep-seated resentment toward Emma, stemming from Jack's confession and a desire for revenge. Unknown to most at Vark College, Ruby was a highly skilled boxer, a Junior National Champion. Today, she intended to teach Emma a lesson.

Emma smiled faintly. “Why not?”

Ruby sneered. “Okay. If you lose, you run ten laps naked around the track.” She was secretly thrilled.

Emma, having already assessed Ruby's physique, thought, She seems prepared. Grinning, she countered, “What if you lose?”

“I’ll apologize to you in front of the entire college,” Ruby offered.

Emma shook her head. “If I run naked, your apology won't suffice.”

“Then what?” Ruby demanded.

“Slap yourself twenty times and yell a hundred times that Ruby Cruz is a mouthy bitch in the cafeteria!” Emma declared.

Ruby, confident in her abilities, readily agreed. I'll win. I'm a national champion. Everyone will see her run naked, she thought. “Okay, noon at the gym.”

The duel spread rapidly. By eleven-fifty, the gym was packed. The girls were already suited up. The revelation of Ruby's championship belt stunned the onlookers.

“Oh my god! She’s a champion boxer!” “Ruby’s a badass. What about Emma?”

Emma, seemingly oblivious to fighting, prompted worried whispers. “I don’t think she can fight.” “She’s going to get her ass kicked.” “What if she gets hurt?”

Emma, however, seemed to have a plan. She made a call. "Hey, I need a favor."

The recipient, a skilled hacker on her team, answered, “What is it, boss?”

“Can you grab the surveillance footage from the Vark College gym? I really need it,” Emma requested.

He complied, only to see her on camera. “Boss, what’s going on? I see you.”

“That’s right,” Emma said, winking at the camera. “Record my highlight reel. I’m sending it to my husband.”

The hacker was bewildered. She wants me to record her fight so she can send it to her husband?

Emma, sensing his hesitation, pressed, “You don't want to do that for me?”

“Of course, boss! Blow my mind!” he replied.

“Just edit out some details. I don’t want to give my husband too much information,” Emma instructed.

The hacker was speechless.

As the game neared, Emma remained on the phone, drawing murmurs from the crowd. Finally hanging up, she messaged Liam: [Check your email this afternoon. I have a surprise for you. Kiss.]

Ruby, impatient, interrupted. “Emma, stop stalling. It won’t work.” She began warming up, her anger fueling her powerful movements. Her kicks could shake the floor; a blow could severely injure Emma.

Concerned onlookers urged Emma to give up, but she remained unmoved, calmly putting her phone aside.

Ruby, enraged by Emma’s nonchalance, launched a furious attack, aiming to inflict serious harm.