Chapter 6 Caught in the Act

Although Emily and Lisa were not biological sisters, their bond was much stronger than the one Emily shared with her half-sister, Lily. Lisa was a girl who evoked sympathy and care.

"Yes, but... you can always come to me. Just make sure to come alone," Emily instructed firmly.

For Emily, this place had never felt like home. It never offered her security or warmth.

Lisa, wiping away her tears, managed a small smile and nodded vigorously. "Okay..."

"This is $1,000. Keep it for your school fees. Don't let Mom or Lily know, and it's best if Dad doesn't find out either. Next semester, you'll be a senior in high school," Emily said, handing over the money.

"Big sister, I don't want it..."

"Take it. Be good and listen."

Lisa wanted to ask where Emily had gotten such a large sum, but she swallowed her questions. "No matter what happens, you'll always be my sister."

---

After leaving the family home, Emily changed her address and job.

She severed all ties with her family, except for Lisa. She never wanted to see her toxic mother again.

As for revenge, Emily was in no hurry. She lacked the power to take on Liam and the Roberts family. First, she needed to gather more resources from Alexander Remington.

Emily's life began to stabilize. Alexander called her neither too frequently nor too infrequently, about once a week.

Emily suspected it might be because she wasn't beautiful enough, young enough, or compliant enough to please him. He seemed to find her distasteful, calling her only to send her away shortly after their encounters.

Every time, he would coldly dismiss her without a trace of warmth, never allowing her to stay longer than necessary.

Emily couldn't understand. If he disliked her so much, why did he summon her at all?

But the payments were always punctual. Each month, on the 30th at precisely 9:00 AM, the money would be deposited into her account, never a second late.

Emily found herself thinking that perhaps that was why so many women sought wealthy benefactors-the money was indeed easy to earn.

Life was relatively calm. Her family did not disturb her, and Emily realized that, for the first time in both this life and the previous one, she was living her most content days.

At work, she got along well with her colleagues. Her department manager, a woman in her forties, was warm and friendly in private.

Knowing that Emily didn't have a boyfriend, she insisted on setting her up with someone.

The man was supposedly successful, with a car, a house, a high education, and a good salary. Emily didn't want to go, but she couldn't refuse, so she reluctantly agreed to the blind date.

He was handsome enough but overly groomed, with a flamboyant way of speaking and a penchant for flaunting his wealth.

As they drank coffee, his pinky finger raised delicately, making Emily cringe with discomfort every time he spoke.

No matter what he said, Emily smiled and nodded, speaking little and maintaining a gentle, elegant demeanor, which seemed to please him.

They were seated in the hotel lobby, directly facing the revolving door.

A long black Bentley pulled up outside, and the doorman immediately went to open the door.

A group of bodyguards in black suits escorted a tall, young man inside.

From Emily's angle, she could see his profile-handsome like a Greek god of war, exuding an aura of absolute authority, elegance, and calm, making people hesitate to look directly at him.

Emily's heart skipped a beat. It was Alexander Remington. She hadn't expected to see him here.

Alexander walked with the confidence and grace of a man accustomed to power. The atmosphere in the lobby changed as he entered, the air thick with his presence.

Emily quickly looked away, hoping he wouldn't notice her.

But Alexander's sharp eyes caught sight of her almost immediately. He paused, a faint frown creasing his forehead.

Ignoring the curious stares from onlookers, he walked straight to Emily's table.

Her date, noticing the imposing man approaching, looked nervous. "Do you know him?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly.

Emily's heart raced. She stood up, forcing a calm expression. "Mr. Remington," she greeted.

"Emily," Alexander said, his voice cold and authoritative. "We need to talk."

Without waiting for her response, he turned and walked towards a private corner of the lobby.

Emily glanced apologetically at her date. "I'm sorry. I have to go."

Leaving her bewildered date behind, she followed Alexander, her mind racing with questions.

Alexander stopped near a secluded area, turning to face her. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm on a date," Emily replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

Alexander's eyes narrowed. "A date?"

"Yes," Emily confirmed, though she felt her resolve weakening under his intense gaze.

"You're mine," he said bluntly. "You don't go on dates."

Emily bristled at his possessive tone. "Our arrangement doesn't dictate my personal life."

Alexander stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. "It does now."

Emily held his gaze, refusing to back down. "I need a life outside of this arrangement, Alexander."

His expression softened slightly, but his voice remained firm. "You can have a life, but not with another man."

Emily's anger flared. "You can't control every aspect of my life."

Alexander's eyes darkened. "Watch me."

The tension between them was palpable. Emily knew she was treading dangerous waters, but she couldn't let him dominate her completely.

"Fine," she said finally. "I'll cancel the date."

Alexander nodded, satisfied. "Good. Now come with me. We have business to discuss."

Emily followed him, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. She had to find a way to balance this precarious situation, to ensure her survival and achieve her ultimate goal-revenge.

As they walked away, she couldn't help but think about how she had ended up here, entangled with a man like Alexander Remington. The path she had chosen was treacherous, but she had no choice but to navigate it carefully.

Determined to take control of her destiny, Emily knew she had to be smarter, stronger, and more resilient than ever before. This was just the beginning of her fight, and she would see it through to the end.

Emily glanced up quickly and then lowered her head, her hands on her knees clenching into fists.

She sighed inwardly, *My dear patron, why did you have to show up at just the right moment?*

If her patron saw her on a date, her life would surely take a turn for the worse.

The girls at the next table gasped when they saw Alexander Remington.

"Oh my God, did you see that? That man is so handsome! Look at his car, his clothes, and those bodyguards. He's definitely a high-society gentleman-no, a king! He's so perfect... Who could ever like anyone else after seeing him?"

"Did you see that? He glanced this way. He must have looked at me..."

"Don't flatter yourself. He was obviously looking at me..."

"No, at me..."

The two girls bickered loudly, while Emily started to sweat. He had glanced over-he must have seen her.

Her date scoffed, "Girls these days, so shallow and materialistic. What's so great about that guy?"

Emily forced a laugh. "Really? I didn't see him."

Just then, her phone rang. She quickly apologized to her date and pulled out her phone. The name 'Patron' flashed on the screen, making her hand tremble. Was he about to punish her?

Emily didn't hesitate and quickly answered the call. "Hello?"

"Room 2409 in five minutes."

The voice was cold, emotionless, and brooked no argument.

Emily's patron had given an order, and she had no choice but to obey. She fluttered her eyelashes and spoke in a formal tone, "Yes, I'll be there right away."

She hung up and stood abruptly. "I'm very sorry, but I have an urgent matter at work. We'll have to continue this another time."

Without waiting for her date's response, she hurried out. When her patron said five minutes, she had to be there in five minutes-no later.

Last month, she had been late by a minute, and the result was... she had been punished so severely that she couldn't get out of bed for two days.

Emily knew better than to rush to the elevator in front of her date. She headed to the parking lot on the first floor, where she knew there was an elevator that would take her directly to the top floor.

---

Five minutes later, Emily was out of breath, sweating profusely, as she knocked on the door of the presidential suite, Room 2409.

Entering the room, she found Alexander sitting on the sofa, not even glancing at her.

He swirled the wine in his glass, took a sip, and said, "Explain."

Emily shivered. The way he drank the wine made her feel like he was drinking her blood.

She answered truthfully, "I was on a date."

"A date? The money I give you every month-is that so you can go on dates?" Alexander looked at her, his narrow, sharp eyes gleaming coldly.

"Please don't misunderstand. A colleague insisted on setting me up. I couldn't refuse, but I was only there to appease them."

"Come here," Alexander ordered, crooking his finger.

Without any pride, Emily rushed over and sat on Alexander's lap, wrapping her arms around his neck, trying to please him. "Mr. Remington, I swear this will never happen again. It was the first and last time."

Alexander's expression remained icy. He took another sip of his wine and set the glass down.

"You're mine, Emily. Your time and attention belong to me. Understand?"

Emily nodded quickly. "Yes, I understand."

"Good," he said, his tone softening slightly but still firm. "Now, make sure you never forget it."

Emily leaned in closer, trying to hide the turmoil in her heart. She had to keep up this facade to survive, but the weight of his control was becoming suffocating.

"Of course, Mr. Remington. I won't forget."

Alexander's grip on her waist tightened, and he pulled her closer. "Remember, Emily, disobedience has consequences."

Emily swallowed hard, the memory of her previous punishment flashing through her mind. "I understand."

He finally released her, his expression softening slightly. "Good. Now, let's discuss why I called you here."

Emily sat up, her heart still racing but her mind focused. She had to stay sharp and navigate this dangerous relationship with care.

Alexander's presence was overpowering, and she knew she had to tread carefully to maintain her position and achieve her goals. The path ahead was fraught with challenges, but Emily was determined to see it through. She had come too far to turn back now.