Winning Her Heart Back

 I'm in Perfect Health

Emelie took a step toward William and said suddenly, "Did you hear how he kept calling your name before he died?"

William pursed his lips.

She continued, "Even though your relationship with your father was always strained, he truly loved you and was very proud of you.

"When he saw that I was still alive, he was terrified. Mainly because he was afraid I would harm his beloved son, you. Although he was paralyzed, he still tried to get up to strangle me."

Emelie described slowly, "He couldn't speak. He could only call out 'Will, Will, Will', just like my mother used to call out 'Eme, Eme, Eme', begging you to spare me."

Up close, William's complexion didn't look good. However, the warm glow of the candles hid it. He must have been exhausted from staying up all night.

Emelie reached out and patted his shoulder. "My condolences on your father's passing, Mr. Middleton. The vast empires of the Cloudex Corporation and the Xanther Group still depend on you. You can't break down now."

William felt his throat constricting. He looked down at her and said in a deep voice, "Don't worry, I won't. I'm in perfect health."

His gaze fell on her gloved hand on his shoulder, "It's not cold inside, and your gloves are dirty. Take them off."

Emelie replied indifferently, "I'm about to leave. I'll change them when I get back."

William swiftly grabbed her hand. "You're now someone of great importance in the Filo Group. Wearing dirty gloves doesn't suit your status."

Emelie, disgusted by his touch, glared coldly at him. "Let go of me!"

William tried to pull off her glove, but it was fastened at the wrist with velcro, making it impossible to remove easily.

In their struggle, Emelie quickly yanked her hand back and retreated a few steps, looking at him mockingly. "Can't keep up the act anymore, William? Aren't you curious how I took off the Eros ring?"

"I'm not curious." William's denial came too quickly, making it rather unbelievable.

His rejection of the idea that she used unconventional methods to remove the ring was evident. His words were as much for her as they were for himself.

"Legend says that the Eros ring can't be removed, but maybe it's exaggerated. You're the director of the jewelry and leather goods division at the Filo Group. You interact with many jewelry designers regularly. Surely one of the experts told you the trick." William gave a possible explanation.

Emelie scoffed at him, amused to see that there was something William was afraid of.

She adjusted her gloves and laughed curtly, walking away without turning back.

"If you set foot in my parents' house again, I'll chop your legs off," Emelie warned him.

As she stepped outside, she found their bodyguards engaged in a brawl. Even Jodie was held up.

With a glance from Emelie, everyone stopped fighting. Emelie got into the car nonchalantly. "Let's go."

Jodie signaled the bodyguards, and they left Alderbrook together.

In the car, Emelie was lost in thought, unconsciously rubbing her ring finger.

Jodie noticed this and quickly asked, "Is your finger hurting again, Miss?"

Emelie released her hand and looked at her. "Jodie."

"Yes?" Jodie said.

"If you had to choose between a venomous snake, an eagle, a black panther, or a lion, which one would you hate the most?" Emelie asked.

Jodie thought for a moment. "The eagle, I guess."

Emelie chuckled. "Why?"

Jodie was a little frustrated and replied, "Well, despite my excellent sharpshooting skills, I had a tough time during training."

That seemed to get Emelie's attention.

"The final test before graduation was for us to shoot birds. There were eight birds, and I had to hit them with ten bullets. Every bullet had to hit a bird. To pass, I practiced day and night until a stye grew in my eye. That's why I grew to hate birds."

Emelie asked, "How did you shoot eight birds with ten bullets? Did you shoot two of them twice?"

It wasn't that simple. Jodie explained, "One of the birds had to be hit ten times."Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

The other seven birds were meant to obscure her vision, making it more difficult.

Emelie laughed while shaking her head. "What did the poor bird do wrong? Did the World Bird Association sue you?"

Jodie laughed.

Emelie rested her chin on her hand. "Eagles... Well, to take down a beast like an eagle, you have to remove its claws first."

Jodie didn't understand what she meant. "What do you mean when you say eagle?"

Emelie merely replied, "I'm referring to my first prey."

Just then, her phone rang. It was a call from Wesley.

She smiled and said, "The gentleman who taught me how to hunt is checking in on me again."