Melissa was beating up Emily again because she didn't like the way Liam stared at her.

She pulled her hair that made Emily scream and said"Whore, you tried to steal the spotlight from my daughter. You Bitch! After everything we have done for you, you pay us like that?! This is how you treat your own cousin!"

Tanya slapped Emily right across her left cheek"Liam Knight is mine. MINE! You already took away my other boyfriend from me. If I hear your name once from his mouth, I will fucking end you"

Sadly Curtis wasn't around to protect her.

David came inside the room and said: "What the hell is going on?"

Everyone stopped. Tanya explained everything to him" Liam Knight was looking at her all day. Just her. I worked so hard to get his attention but he couldn't take his gorgeous eyes off of that whore!" She wrapped her arms against her chest in anger.

David said"You will get your revenge... soon but not today, princess. And I need you to lend a dress of yours to Emily and cover all her bruises"

Melissa asked, "Why?" Tanya looked at Emily disgusted" Why should I give my pretty and expensive dresses to her?!"

David held the bridge of his nose and said"Because we're going to a charity ball held by Harvey Ross. And Knight will be there. I need that company deal."

Harvey Ross was a great judge. A millionaire actually. He had his own firm and he was the best friend to Emily's father. He had no one. No wife. No kids. He loved Emily like a daughter.

After her parents' death, he wanted to adopt Emily as his daughter but David didn't let that happen. Emily's father was a successful man and her mother was successful too.

They were both the owner of Parker incorporations. And her mother was the owner of Parker charity for abandoned kids. They were good people.

Both of their wills indicated Emily to be the next owner of the company and charity.

But they were killed when Emily was only 15. David and Melissa adopted her so when she would turn 18 she could sign the company papers over to David. Making him the owner of every wealth and fortune that her parents built by hard work. He wanted to kill Emily after she signed the papers. But the will indicated even if Emily gave away all her money and died young, all the money, everything, would go to different charities around the globe. And David couldn't and wouldn't let that happen.

David continued"I don't want Harvey Ross to suspect anything. That's why princess, I'll buy you more new clothes. Expensive and branded ones like Versace or Gucci." Tanya was a greedy woman. She said"Fine. I'll just burn the dress after she wears it".

Emily wore a beautiful mint dress that reached below her knees. The top part hugging her wait perfectly while the bottom was all spread out. Pairing then with silver close toe heels.

A soft makeup on her face. Enhancing her beauty more. Her hair in a loose updo, her brown hair strands framing her face.

When she came out of the room Curtis jaw dropped in the perfect shape of O. He smiled at her and she smiled back.

Melissa and Tanya looked at her in hatred and also jealousy. And David looked at her like he wanted to jump her bones and rip it off.

He cleared his throat and said, "Let's go." Curtis stopped and said, "I'll drive Emily in my car and all of you can go with the driver." David didn't care and he walked out. Emily whispered, "Thank You." He smiled back.

As they were both in the car. Curtis looked at her and asked, "You okay, Emily?" She shook her head and said"I don't know. When will this torture end?"

"Soon. I promise. When I'll be the CEO of Parker Incorporations, I promise to give it all back to you and I will take you away from here to let you start a new life."

Emily was an educated woman. Because of Curtis. He was the one that fought for her every time.

Fought for her school, college, and university. And she thanked him every step of it. They only thing he couldn't do was take her away from everyone. He couldn't because he was trapped by David too. Threatened by him too. David was more powerful than his own son.

When they reached the party, Curtis took Emily inside while her hand grabbed his arms tightly.

As they entered, everyone turned their heads and looked at her. She looked stunning. But those staring eyes made her anxious that he grabbed Curtis' arm tighter. He whispered to her"It's okay. I'm with you." And he was with her every second.

Liam looked at her at the opposite of the room all day. Harvey Ross whispered in his ear"Let go. She won't fall into your trap. She's not like those other whores you have in your bed every night."

Liam looked at Harvey and smiled"I'll have her tonight. Every girl turns into a whore for me."

"You'll end up getting slapped by her."

"Wanna bet, Ross?"

"No need, Knight. You'll loose already"

"I won't"

"Good luck"

Emily and Curtis were talking to each other. David interrupted them and said, "Curtis go meet people."

He looked at Emily and she nodded at Curtis. David bent down to her and said"Now you smile and act like everything in your life is perfect. Harvey is looking for you."

He took her hand forcefully and wrapped it around his bicep. Causing pain in her fingers but she masked her face with a fake bright smile.

Harvey walked to them and hugged Emily. He was an old man. But a handsome one too. He had soft green eyes that were fatherly.

He said, "How are you, my daughter?" She smiled and said, "I'm really good, Harv." He was also her godfather.

"It's been years since I've seen you. You've grown into a perfect young woman. Your parents would be so proud." She could see the proudness in his eyes for her. The look she always wanted. Instead of disgust or lust.

She smiled" Thank you."

It felt like a knife was twisting in her heart but she still remained silent.

Harvey looked at David and said"Come, I want you to meet some other people. Leave her here. There are so many young men staring at her." He looked at Emily with a smile and teased "I'm sure some of them would want you to dance with them too."He chuckled and fake chuckled with him too.

David looked at her and whispered"Be a good girl and DO NOT embarrass me. Understand?" She nodded quickly and said"Understood."

David went on with Harvey and left her behind.

She walked around looking at how happy and alive people were.

Tanya was standing in the middle of four men. But the men weren't interested in her but what she was wearing.

Emily shook her head at Tanya and passed through them without noticing the men. All of their heads turned at her. They were mesmerized by how beautiful Emily was. One of them asked, "Who is she?" Tanya refused to answer.

As Emily walked around, her gaze was on the dance floor. Smiling at old couples that danced with love in their eyes. Some finding new love too. Wishing she could have something like that too.

She ran into a man's chest. Before she could fall, he wrapped his arms around her. She looked up and it was Liam Knight. She looked to her left, at Tanya as she stared at her in anger.

She instantly removed his arms from around her waist and stood straight. He smiled at her seductively and she kept looking at him. Getting anxious as he was gazing for too long without uttering a word.

Tanya interrupted the moment between them and said to her"Aren't you a clumsy sister?"

She was being nice to her.

She looked at Liam and smiled at him. Batting her fake eyelashes at him. Emily looked scared. Tanya introduced herself"I'm Tanya Parker. But we already met last night." Liam held her hand and kissed the back of it but his gaze never leaving Emily. And he said"I'm Liam Knight. We already met too last night."

He stared Emily up and down. Making her uncomfortable. But not once he looked at Tanya. She lightly pushed Emily so she can stand in front of him as she was getting jealous and no attention from him. But he didn't care. His gaze was fixed.

He held out his hand to Emily and asked: "Care to dance with me?" Tanya looked at her. Pressurizing her to say no. But she kept quiet.

He lightly took Emily's hand in his and wrapped his other hand around her waist and guided her to the dance floor.

He still smiled and lightly pulled her closer to himself and they began swaying to the music.

Her small yet gorgeous hand in his and his hand around her waist.

With every step, he kept pulling her closer. He asked, "You're Emily. Right, beautiful?" She stuttered" Y-yes. W-we met last night." He smiled" Yes, but you left too early without even speaking a word to me."

She didn't like the way his hands caressed her back. But still, she kept quiet. Not even a minute passed he said"Emily, would you like to be mine for the night?" Her eyes widened. But he again said, "I have a room in this hotel and a bed, in which you would look lovely naked on the white sheets."

She tried to push him away but he was stronger.

When she finally freed herself, she slapped him right across his face. Hard that a thud noise was heard. Some of the people stared at them both. Liam was angry and said"Do you know who I am? I can ruin you, Emily Parker. And I will ruin you."

She ran from there in tears and Curtis followed her. He stopped her and asked"What happened? Why did you slap Liam Knight?" While crying she said, "Because he tried to get me to sleep with him." Curtis wrapped his arms around her and she cried on his chest. He said, "Let's go home before dad finds you."

But going home, he knew was dangerous. David saw what she did. And he was not happy.

Instead of taking her home, Curtis took her to a drive-through fast food because she hadn't eaten anything since morning. Her favorite food was burgers with a strawberry milkshake.

He got out of the car and said" Wait here. I'll be back in five."

While he was gone, her mind wouldn't let her be in peace. All she kept thinking was how hard she had slapped him. And his words kept replaying in her mind

'I will ruin you, Emily Parker!'

As she had run out of the hall, she did glance at David. He was so angry at her.

When Curtis came back, she was crying in the car. He got in and asked, "Why are you crying?" She looked at him"I know David saw me slapping that man. And I'm scared that he won't let me go tonight. He won't stop hitting me in anger. He will kill me, Curtis." He calmed her down and said"That's why I'm not taking you home for the day. After eating, we're going to the company and you will sleep in my office tonight. Just until fathers anger cools down, okay?" She nodded and wiped her tears.

As she ate the food, he looked at her with a smile. He said, "And by the way, I think you did well by hitting him. He earned it." He encouraged her.

•••••

Oooooooooo

Liam got slapped

What will he do next?!

See ya in the next chappy!

Bye!

Love, Hope

♥️♥️

(Edited)