Before returning to school, Emma Sinclair decided to stop by home to pack a few of her things.
But the moment she stepped through the door, she realized she had walked straight into a storm.
The living room was filled with people.
Her father Victor Sinclair, her stepmother Linda, and her sister Emily were all there, sitting as if they had been waiting for her.
Emma wasn't surprised they arrived before her. They had a private driver, while she had taken the bus.
And after everything that happened tonight, the Sinclair family banquet had obviously been canceled.
The moment Emma entered, Linda's sharp voice cut through the room.
"Emma , you finally decided to come home? So tell me—what wild man were you with this time?"
Emma frowned slightly but said nothing. She lowered her head and quietly changed her shoes.
"I'm warning you," Linda continued viciously, "stop ruining the Sinclair family's reputation every day! You may not care about shame, but we do!"
She crossed her arms.
"Your brother is such an outstanding man. When people hear the Sinclair name, they show respect. If you keep behaving like this—"
Emma glanced around the room.
Her eldest brother wasn't there.
Even her younger brother, Ethan Sinclair, was missing.
Only her parents and Emily remained.
Emma didn't want to waste her energy arguing.
"Dad, Mom," she said calmly, "I just came to get a few things. I'll return to school afterward."
Before she could move, Emily suddenly walked toward her with a bright smile.
Emma's heart sank.
Years of experience told her exactly what that smile meant.
Whenever Emily smiled like that…
Someone was about to suffer.
"Sister, don't be in such a hurry," Emily said gently, taking Emma's arm.
Her fingers deliberately pressed against the bruised spot from earlier, sending a sharp pain through Emma's arm.
Yet Emily continued smiling sweetly.
"Mom and Dad are just worried about you."
She leaned closer as if sharing good news.
"So after we came home tonight, we discussed something very important."
Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
"We even prepared a surprise for you."
Emma's alarm bells rang loudly in her head.
Emily had always looked like this—sweet, innocent, obedient.
But Emma knew better than anyone what kind of person hid behind that delicate face.
A manipulative liar.
Emily suddenly pulled Emma closer to their parents.
"Dad," she said happily, "why don't you tell Sister the good news? I'm sure she'll be very happy."
Victor Sinclair looked at Emma.
Among all his children, Emma resembled her late mother the most.
Perhaps that was why he never felt close to her.
His expression remained cold as he spoke.
"Emma, your mother and I have already discussed it."
"You'll marry Mr. Zhang in a few days."
His tone was calm.
"After that, Emily will marry into the Chen family."
Emma froze.
For a moment, she thought she had misheard.
Linda immediately added with a sarcastic smile,
"What's wrong? Aren't you satisfied? Mr. Zhang is a successful man. He's only in his forties."
She sneered.
"With your reputation, do you really think you can still find someone like Xander Chen?"
"You don't even know your place."
Emma's hands slowly clenched.
"I won't marry him."
Her voice was firm.
"I will not marry Mr. Zhang."
She ignored Linda and looked straight at her father.
"Dad, Mr. Zhang is old enough to be my father. You want me to marry him?"
Her voice trembled with disbelief.
"Just so Emily can marry peacefully? Just so the Sinclair family can gain some business advantage?"
"Are you really selling your daughter like this?"
Victor's expression darkened instantly.
He slammed his hand on the armrest and stood up.
"Emma Sinclair!"
His finger pointed directly at her.
"You will marry him whether you want to or not!"
"The Sinclair family is not a place where you make the decisions!"
Emma's face turned deathly pale.
For a moment, the entire room fell silent.
Victor remained standing, staring at her stubbornly.
He refused to believe that as her father he couldn't control his own daughter.
Emma looked at him quietly.
Tonight she had already lost her four-year relationship.
Now even the small hope she had for family warmth had completely shattered.
Was she really so worthless?
Linda quickly walked to Victor and gently patted his back.
"Why are you so angry?" she said softly. "Emma has always been obedient."
She looked at Emma with a fake smile.
"You should understand our intentions."
"Emily is also sacrificing her happiness by marrying into the Chen family."
"So as her sister, you should also contribute to the family."
"After all, you're both daughters of the Sinclair family."
Emily immediately stepped forward and grabbed Emma's arm again.
"Sister," she said sweetly, "Mr. Zhang is actually a very good man."
"He's wealthy and powerful. You won't suffer if you marry him."
"You'll live comfortably for the rest of your life."
Emma suddenly laughed.
The sound echoed sharply in the silent room.
She looked at Emily with cold eyes.
"Then why don't you marry him?"
She tilted her head slightly.
"If he's so wonderful, I'll gladly give him to you."
Emily's face instantly turned pale.
Hatred flashed through her eyes.
"Emma! How dare you speak to your sister like that?" Linda snapped.
"She's thinking about your future!"
She crossed her arms again.
"You're about to graduate from university, yet you still don't even have a boyfriend. Do you think you're some beautiful butterfly everyone will chase forever?"
"How shameless."
Then Linda suddenly smiled.
"If you really have the ability, bring us a boyfriend."
"If you can marry him, then your father and I won't force you to marry Mr. Zhang."
Emma stared at them coldly.
Did they think she was stupid?
They all knew about her relationship with Xander.
Yet now they pretended nothing had happened.
Linda actually had the nerve to say something like this.
Did a dog eat her conscience?
Victor thought for a moment before nodding slowly.
"Emma," he said, sounding more reasonable than Linda, "if you truly have a boyfriend, bring him home."
"If he's suitable, you can marry him."
"But if he's not…"
His voice hardened.
"Then you will marry Mr. Zhang."
Emma bit her lip tightly.
She glared at Linda and finally spoke.
"I do have a boyfriend."
"I'll bring him back."
"When you see him, you'll cancel the marriage."
Linda laughed immediately.
"That won't do."
"Who knows whether your boyfriend is real or fake?"
"Bring him here first. We'll decide after we see him."
She added casually,
"After all, our family has a lot of business with the Zhang family."
"You're just a student. You wouldn't understand how important these relationships are."
Victor nodded in agreement.
Then he delivered the final order.
"Tomorrow."
"Bring your boyfriend here tomorrow so we can meet him."
Emma stood frozen.
Her face was pale as paper.
Tomorrow.
She didn't even have a boyfriend anymore.
And if she failed…
She would be forced to marry Mr. Zhang.