Chapter 3

With a small smile, Emelie handed her phone to Ezra and Kaitlyn. “Mr. and Mrs. Horton, I just got married. The wedding is in two weeks. Look, this is the ring my husband chose. I love it.”

The room fell silent. Ezra and Kaitlyn stared, speechless.

After a long pause, Ezra stammered, “Emelie, are… are you serious?”

Before Emelie could answer, Anthony said curtly, his expression gloomy, “Enough. It’s fine if you’re joking, but this is going too far.”

Marcelo’s smile vanished. “Emelie, this is getting old. Stop joking.”

Connor impatiently set down his cutlery. “Twice you’ve claimed to be married. How’s that even possible? You still have that love letter in your drawer. It’s meant for—”

Anthony and Marcelo’s expressions faltered. Losing their composure, they anxiously grabbed Connor, demanding, “What love letter? Who’s it for?”

Connor shrugged them off, avoiding their gaze. “I didn’t read it, okay? I wouldn’t dare. How would I know?”

Emelie let out a bitter laugh. Yes, she had written a love letter. And yes, she had once loved one of the brothers. But that was in the past. Even before marrying Tyler, she had made her choice. Now, it was irrelevant.

Emelie was about to speak when Melissa gasped. “Ms. Richmond, isn’t that ring from a magazine? It’s unique and incredibly valuable. Who did you marry?”

Emelie’s mind went blank. She hadn’t known the ring was so valuable, and she had no explanation regarding Tyler’s identity.

Before she could answer, Stephanie entered with soup. Exchanging a subtle glance with Melissa, she gave a nearly imperceptible nod. The next second, Stephanie pretended to lose her grip, deliberately spilling the scalding soup.

“Careful!”

Anthony, Marcelo, and Connor immediately shielded Melissa, leaving Emelie defenseless.

“Ah!” Emelie cried out in pain as the soup spilled on her, her skin turning red.

Noticing Stephanie’s smug satisfaction, Emelie, shaking with anger, bellowed, “You did that on purpose!”

Stephanie’s tears began to flow. “Ms. Richmond, how could you accuse me? I know I spilled the soup, but you can’t slander me!”

Melissa stepped forward, standing resolutely before Stephanie. “Ms. Richmond, my mother and I may be poor, but we have dignity. We won’t tolerate your insult. If you think so little of us, we’ll leave!” Melissa took Stephanie’s hand, and they left.

Anthony glared at Emelie. “Emelie, Stephanie diligently serves us. It was an accident. Why did you accuse her? Why are you so selfish and willful?”

Marcelo frowned, disappointed. “Melissa is kind-hearted. Why would they harm you?”

Connor snapped, “Even if Stephanie did it on purpose, so what? It was just soup. Did you have to drive them away?”

Overwhelmed with emotion, Emelie’s tears went unnoticed. They coldly glanced at her before running after Melissa.

Only after they were gone did Emelie feel the full force of the pain. A large burn seared her skin. She tried to stand but collapsed.

“Emelie!”

Ezra and Kaitlyn rushed to her side, taking her to the hospital.

When Emelie awoke, Ezra and Kaitlyn were at her bedside. Kaitlyn wiped away her tears, gripping Emelie’s hand. “Emelie, we checked security footage. Stephanie did it on purpose. We knew they had ulterior motives, but we didn’t expect this. Don’t worry. We’ll make Anthony, Marcelo, and Connor apologize. They’ll see Melissa’s true colors. And please, don’t say you’re married again just to spite us.”

Emelie shook her head weakly. “Mrs. Horton, it’s not a lie. I am married.”

She produced a bank card and a gold necklace from her handbag, placing them in Kaitlyn’s hands. “This is all my savings. It covers my stay. This necklace is the family heirloom you mentioned for your future daughter-in-law. I can’t accept it. Please take it back.”

Staring at the items, Kaitlyn finally understood.

Ezra asked again, “Emelie, are you really married? Please don’t lie.”

Emelie nodded firmly. “Yes, I am married.”