Chapter 4 Reunion

With tears in her eyes, Emily said, "Dad, our family won't fall apart. Please take care of yourself. I don't have much yet, but I'll earn a lot of money. You'll get better and everything will be fine."

David shook his head at his daughter. With a sigh, he replied, "It's my fault. I wasn't a good father. This is why Flora is being difficult. Our family is broken. And I'm too old to live long now. But you... You're still young, Emily. You should live a better life. You shouldn't have to suffer by living in such an environment."

He held Emily's hand. "My dear, listen to me. Leave this place as soon as possible. Take the watch with you and find your biological parents. They must have a wealthy and powerful background."

Emily shook her head fervently. "Dad, so many years have passed. I'll always be curious about who my real parents are. But in my heart, you'll always be my dearest father. I won't leave. The lawsuit hasn't taken effect yet. There's still hope."

A few days later, Emily held a bank card in her hand worriedly.

The balance of the account had less than a thousand, which she needed to support their household for a month. She had already borrowed some money from the company and knew she couldn't borrow any more. Her father was still in the hospital. Their medical fees were racking up as each day passed.

What should she do?

She thought it over and over in her brain, trying to find a solution. She had to find another job to make some extra money.

She used to work part-time at a bar before. And the last time she heard, the owner was looking for a pianist. That would be an easy several hundred by working for a few hours. She quickly called up the owner and ended the call with a job to call her own.

The music bar had an elegant and romantic ambience to it.

Tonight, the bar's theme was all about fantasy. All the staff wore silk clothes that were specially designed just for tonight.

Along with the band, Emily played keys for the singer. Slowly, she let her mind get carried along with the music. She closed her eyes as she felt her soul get lost in the solace of music.

She kept on hitting the keys without knowing her playing had already attracted the attention of someone from a distance.

Edward marveled at the thin figure playing soulfully at the stage. Her makeup was finely done and only added to her charm. Behind the piano, he could see she was wearing a silk dress that looked a little translucent. She looked very attractive.

Something in her frail beauty sparked an intense pulse of anger in him. For a moment, he had an urge to tear her apart.

After the set was over, Emily stood up. She bowed and left the stage.

As she made her way down, she was surprised to see a man staring at her. For a quick moment, her heart skipped a beat.

She left for the dressing room to pack her things and go home. Before she could leave the bar, she found herself bumping into something hard.

When she looked up, she realized she bumped into a man. It was him!

"Do you need money? Are you selling yourself here?" Edward asked in a low voice.

Emily felt her eyes widen in surprise. When she had recovered from the shock, she narrowed her eyes at him and said, "Sir, please be more respectful. I'm a keyboardist here. My profession is as respectable as any other. I make decent money by working a respectable work."

"You're wearing a few pieces of cloth and flirting with everyone. If you didn't come out here to pimp yourself, then why are you here?" Edward glared at Emily's silk dress. She was wearing far too little in front of so many men out there. He felt uncomfortable about this.

"Mr. Situ, please understand. I'm only here to play the piano," she explained one last time before she left him alone. She didn't want to waste her time explaining herself to someone so smarmy.

Before she could get away, a hand suddenly grabbed her arm. "I know you're in dire need of money. Name your price."

Emily sharply turned to him, stunned at his audacity. She felt humiliation burn through her skin and bones. She said, "Mr. Situ, I'm sorry. No matter how much money you pay, I won't sell myself to you."

"But you're short of money, aren't you? Where else can you find a sugar daddy as generous as I am?" Edward then took out a stack of money from his pocket and threw it her way.

Incensed, Emily shook off his hand. "Mr. Situ, my sister might have done something unforgivable. If you want to avenge your dead girlfriend, I won't stand in your way. But everyone in my family is already suffering. You've achieved your goal. What else do you want?"

Edward was stunned. He wanted to avenge Lucy but hearing the dire situation of Emily's family did not make him happy at all. He had never described himself as a sympathetic person. But seeing this woman play so magnificently out there touched something in his cold heart.

He thought back to that magical moment when he felt how dazzling she was under the spotlight. Irritably, he said, "Aren't you tired of living a hard life? Why don't you accept my offer? If you do set things up to your own terms, you won't have to visit places like this where men can leer at you all night just to earn cash. Don't you want to save your father? Ask me. Beg me. Change my mind."

Emily clenched her fists on her sides. If it was just her he was attacking, she wouldn't have budged. But he dragged her father into their conversation. She had begged him before to let her father go, but he refused.

She wanted to laugh at him heartlessly.

Noticing the self-deprecating smile on her face, he asked, "What's so funny?" Edward narrowed his eyes at him.

"You. You're so funny. You nothing but a playboy who didn't know what do with your family's overflowing wealth. People like you have nothing but your filthy money. You think money could solve everything. But that's not it. Money is not everything. Money can buy you a lot of things but not dignity. Money can pay your medical fees but some hearts are hurt and can't be cured by money, just like mine. And there are people who are mentally broken. No amount of money could set them straight, and that includes you, Mr. Situ. If you're talking about my father's case, then stop. You don't have to worry about it. I can handle it myself. If you don't know what to do with your money, just burn it. Don't throw it at me. I won't beg you, Edward Situ."

Taking all of that off her chest made Emily feel happy. She had finally given him a piece of her mind. All the grievances and anger in her heart had been let out. She straightened her back and walked past him.

Livid, Edward stood still. His eyes flashed dangerously. This woman was really something else. Her courage made him want her all the more.

Soon, they found themselves waiting for the trial.

The three of them had almost used up all the money to pay for David Mu's medical fees.

In the end, Emily had no choice but to ask John Xu for help. The Xu family must have heard what had happened to the Mu family.

When Emily arrived at the Xu family's mansion, the butler immediately greeted her. "Miss Mu, the young master isn't at home."

Emily tried her best to not let her disappointment show. With a bitter smile, she said, "That's fine. I'll just wait here until he comes back."

"Uh... But the young master might not come back today. It would be best if you come back another day."

"No, I'll be fine to wait for him to show up," Emily emphasized.

"Suit yourself then." The butler gave up persuading her and left her alone.

Soon, it started to rain heavily. Emily stood in the rain, unwilling to leave.

She looked up at the sky as she let the rain wash over her body. The rain water was cold but it didn't dampen the fire in her heart. She told herself that she must be strong. She could not fail.

After a long time, an umbrella stopped the rain from falling over her. John Xu appeared in front of her, an umbrella in his hand.

"John..." she whispered as the beginning of a smile appeared on her pale face.

"I told you we're already done. What are you still doing here?"