Emily stood frozen in the center of Uncle Li's living room.
Alexander's words still rang in her head like gunshots.
You lied to me. All this time, you were a Chen.
The accusation hung between them. Poisonous. Suffocating.
The shock hit first. Then something else. Something hotter.
Anger.
Fury.
It started in her chest and spread like fire through her veins.
"How dare you," she whispered. Her voice trembled, but her rage was alive.
Alexander had his back to her, phone pressed to his ear. His voice sharp, clipped, as he spoke to his CFO.
He raised a hand in a dismissive wave.
That gesture—that careless dismissal—snapped something inside her.
"How DARE you!" she screamed.
He spun around. Shock flickered across his face at her outburst.
"You accuse me of lying, of using you, of being some criminal mastermind—when you're the one who had me investigated!"
"Emily, not now—" His tone cut, but she refused to be silenced.
"Don't you dare 'not now' me, Alexander Drake!"
