Emma clutch the court letter in her hand as she walked into the small coffee shop. Her heart was pounding—she had barely slept since receiving that strange letter from Xiamen's father.
At a corner table Xiamen's father—calm, sharply dressed, unnervingly confident—waved her over with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Come, Emma, Sit."
She sat slowly, placing the letter on the table between them.
"You called me here," she whispered. "And you wrote this letter… what did you mean by it? You said, 'Yes, this is Hong Yi's son.' What does that even mean? Please tell me clearly. What are you trying to say
Xiamen 's father chuckled softly, stirring his coffee.
"You don't need to worry so much," he said, still smiling. "I know very well how much you love Hong Yi."
Emma froze. Hearing his name from this man's mouth sent a tremor through her chest.
He leaned back and added, "You're trembling for no reason. I'm not here to threaten you. I actually want to make a deal with you."
Emma swallowed, her hands tightening around her skirt. "A… deal?"
"Yes," he said. "And everything written in that letter is true."
Emma's breath hitched. "Then tell me clearly. What do you want? What are you trying to say?"
Xiamen father finally leaned forward, his voice dropping to a cold whisper.
"Emma … haoyu is not just Xiamen son."
He tapped the letter.
"He is Hong Yi's real son. And I want to use this truth."
Emma angrily felt the ground disappear beneath her feet. Her throat closed up. For a moment, she forgot how to breathe.
"What… what did you say?" she managed.
He smiled, satisfied by her shock.
"I want something from you. And in return, I will give you Hong yi and make you his wife …
Emma stared at him, horror and confusion swirling inside her. Do you know what are you saying?
Xiamen father laugh, afcourse i know
"What do you want from me?" she asked, voice barely a whisper.
Xiamen's father's eyes gleamed.
Emma kept her polite smile fixed on her face, but inside her mind a storm was raging.
Xiamen's father sat back in his chair, completely relaxed, completely confident, completely heartless.
He truly didn't care about Xiamen or Haoyu.
He cared only about power… and about destroying Hong Yi's world.
Emma took a slow breath, pretending to consider the offer.
"Fine," she whispered. "Let's say I agree. What exactly do you want me to do?"
His grin widened.
"I want you to take Haoyu," he said.
"Quietly. Discreetly. I don't want chaos. Bring him to me safely, and I will make him the heir of Hong Yi's entire empire."
Emma's fingers tightened around the edge of the table.
"And Xiamen?" she asked.
He snorted. "She can scream, cry, or even disappear for all I care. She's useless to me."
Emma closed her eyes briefly. The cruelty of his voice sent a shiver down her spine.
Then he leaned forward again, lowering his tone.
"If you do this for me, Emma… I will make sure Hong Yi marries you. You will be the madam of his house. You will have everything."
Emma opened her eyes slowly.
Her anger was boiling so hot she could hardly hide it—but behind that anger, another thought tugged at her.
If Xiamen and Haoyu are gone… then Hong Yi will finally see me.
She forced a soft, careful smile.
"Alright," she said quietly. "I'll do it."
Xiamen's father immediately pulled out a sleek black contract folder from under the table.
"Good," he said. "Then sign this. It's just a simple agreement that you need to sign
Emma stared at the papers.
Her hand hovered above them.
Inside her mind, she whispered:
I'll pretend to play your game… but I will never let you control Hong Yi's empire.
She picked up the pen.
And signed.
Xiamen's father clapped his hands lightly, delighted.
"Excellent. Now we begin."
Emma stood up, tucking the contract into her bag, her mind racing ahead with darker thoughts.