Downstairs, the confrontation with their father loomed. And the sisters are petrified. Who sent them the ominous letter? Could be a prank from Lily or someone else. Their apprehension was further heightened when the knock on the door came sooner than expected.
"Emma," came her father's cold voice, "come downstairs. Now."
As she descended the grand staircase, her hand clasped tightly in Eva's, Emma felt a surge of determination and anxiety. She would face her father, face her accusers, and possibly this mystery man that sent her a letter and she would not back down.
Inside the Daniels family estate, Mr. Daniels was pacing furiously in his study. His normally stoic face was contorted with rage, the veins on his neck bulging. He had just found out that his elder daughter, Emma, was pregnant. And the worst part? He had no idea who the father was.
The tabloids were already stirring the pot, but he refused to let them control the narrative because he had deployed his PR machine to combat the situation. He had always believed that his family would be the cornerstone of his legacy, but this… this was unforgivable. Emma had thrown away everything they had worked for.
Mrs. Eleanor Daniels and Lily were not far behind him, watching his every move like hawks.
"You have to make a decision, John," Mrs. Daniels stated, her voice dripping with artificial concern. "The longer this drags on, the worse it will get. This scandal is already all over the media. People are talking, and the last thing we need is for our family's reputation to be tarnished."
"I know what I need to do, Eleanor," John snarled, turning to face her. His eyes were burning with fury, but also with something deeper—disappointment, betrayal, regret. "Everything has been ruined by Emma. She doesn't understand the weight of what she's done…now I will have to get a new heir… Someone to…" After a long pause, he turned to his assistant, the sage and always trustworthy Mr. Aaron, and instructed, "Make an appointment for me for next week. I must visit the attorney to make some modifications to the will." But in his mind was a silent wish for his son, a son whom he had never seen. If only he were here, he would solve some, if not all, of his problems.
As she heard the words 'new heir', Lily stood up with a carefully practiced expression of concern. "But, Father, don't you think this is a sign of her recklessness? We can't just let her get away with this." Her voice was smooth and convincing, and her eyes gleamed with ambition. She wasn't just playing the role of the concerned daughter—she was also making her case to take Emma's place.
John's fists clenched. He could feel the anger rising, but he fought to keep his cool. "What am I supposed to do? She's my daughter."
When Emma and Eva entered the room, their father's angry posture was intimidating and scary, while Mrs. Daniels and Lily stood at his side, casting long, silent shadows over the room. Emma could feel the weight of their stares as she walked in, her hand still clasped in Eva's, but there was a newfound steel in her look. She would not be intimidated.
Mr. John's voice cut through the silence like a blade. "What were you thinking, Emma? What did you expect would happen?"
"I… I didn't mean for this to happen, Father," Emma began, her voice shaking slightly, but with an underlying firmness. "I don't even know who the father is. I… I made a mistake."
Mrs. Daniels stepped forward, her expression one of thinly veiled disgust. "A mistake, Emma? This is no ordinary mistake. You've humiliated this family. And what's worse, you don't even know the man responsible."
Lily's voice was a sharp contrast, cool and cunning. "Father, this isn't just about Emma's mistake anymore. This is about the family. We cannot afford this scandal to ruin us. We must take action. We must remove the problem."
"Remove the problem?" Eva's voice rang out, clear and strong. "What are you talking about?"
"Exactly what I'm saying," Mrs. Daniels interjected, her voice cold as ice, waving her hand dismissively at Eva. "It's time for Emma to leave. She has tarnished our name. And I can't let her destroy everything we've worked for." Her eyes hard-boiled, as she turned to John. "It's the only way."
"We... We? Worked for... Are you serious?" Eva challenged, her voice laced with ridicule.
Emma felt a surge of anger bubble within her. Both her stepmother's and Lily's words cut deep into her soul, fueling her outburst. "I see how it is," Emma averred, her voice rising. "You're not concerned about the family name. This is about power, isn't it? About seizing control for yourselves."
Lily feigned shock, her hand flying to her chest in mock outrage. "Emma, how could you say such a thing? We're trying to help you, to clean up your mess."
Eva stepped forward, placing herself protectively between Emma and the rest of the family. "Enough," she retorted. "Emma is not a problem to be removed. She's your daughter, Dad. Your blood. And I won't let anyone treat her like this."
John Daniels sighed, the weight of his family's dysfunction bearing heavily on his shoulders. "Eva, this isn't just about Emma anymore. This affects all of us—our reputation, our business. Do you think I enjoy making these decisions? This family is on the brink of disaster."
"Disaster?" Eva scoffed. "The real disaster is standing right beside you." She turned to glare at Mrs. Daniels and Lily. "These two have been scheming from the start. They've manipulated this entire situation to suit their agenda."
Mrs. Daniels' face toughened. "How dare you accuse us of such things, Eva? We've done nothing but support this family."
"The only person in this room that has brought honor and praise to this family is Lily. You should be glad you have her for a sister," Mrs. Daniels responded, ignoring Eva's query.
But then, Lily, who was laser-focused on her mission spoke again, her voice laced with just the right amount of concern. "Father, if we don't take a stand now, Emma will continue to drag us down. We need to protect the family's future. The sooner we act, the better."
But Emma, emboldened by Eva's unswerving support, stepped forward. "I overheard you," she declared, her voice sturdy despite the lump in her throat. "In the garden. I know what you did, Lily. You drugged me and set me up. This pregnancy—it's all part of your plan to destroy me."
The room fell silent, the accusation hanging heavy in the air. Mr. John Daniels looked from Emma to his wife, his brow uneven in confusion and disbelief. "What is she talking about?" he snapped at Lily.
Mrs. Daniels' composure wavered for an instant, but she quickly regained it and spoke, first trying to defend Lily by deflecting attention back to Emma. "Emma is lying, John. She's desperate, and trying to shift the blame."
"Am I?" Emma shot back. "Then why don't we bring in the man Lily paid to do her dirty work? Let's see if he's as loyal to her as you think."
Lily's heart sank in a split second as her expression darkened, her confidence uncertain. "You don't have any proof."
Emma paused, put her hand in her pocket to present the eerie note and Lily's heart almost stopped beating for fear of being found out. She only felt a great sense of relief when Emma finally stated,
"Yes, I don't have any proof yet," as her eyes narrowed. "But I will. And when I do, the whole world will know what you've done."
John Daniels held up a hand, his voice commanding. "Enough!" His stare swept across the room, landing on each of them in turn. "This family has become a circus, and I won't stand for it. Emma, if what you're saying is true, you'd better find proof. Until then, stay out of trouble. Eleanor, Lily—if I find out you've been scheming behind my back and that you have any part in all this, there will be hell to pay."
The room went into an awkward and uneasy silence.
Mr. John's eyes fell finally on Lily, his stepdaughter. He looked at her intensely. Even though he knew deep down that Lily was superficial, he had not been able to place her intentions for the family. But Lily wasn't just interested in maintaining the Daniels legacy. She was interested in seizing it.
Mr. John Daniels finally spoke, his voice low and filled with resolve. "I've made my decision. But before I say anything more… you must understand something, Emma. This family… it's not just about you. There are far more complicated matters at play here than you realize."
The finality in his tone sent a chill down Emma's spine.
But before he could say anything further, the door to the room opened with a loud creak.
Standing in the doorway was a stranger—a tall, dark-haired man with a sharp eye. He wasn't just any stranger. He was someone who would change everything.