Chapter 6

Sophia had barely started speaking when James impatiently waved his hand to cut her off.

His eyes remained fixed on Emily, a frivolous smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "What's the rush? I'm just having a chat with her. Does that bother you?"

Hearing this, Sophia's face flushed even redder with anger. She bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes, but didn't dare say anything more. She could only glare at Emily with resentment.

In front of James, she didn't have much room to throw tantrums.

While Sophia was afraid of him, Emily wasn't.

She shot James a cold glance, her tone full of disgust. "If you're done looking, take your people and get lost. Don't stand here being an eyesore."

"Quite the temper." James wasn't annoyed at all - in fact, he found it even more interesting.

Compared to the dull Emily from before, the one showing her claws now caught James's attention even more.

Seeing the distance between them closing, Sophia's sense of crisis grew stronger.

Forgetting about maintaining her image in front of James, Sophia reached out and pulled him to her side. "James, she's different from before. I'm afraid she'll hurt you."

Her voice became even softer, though the jealousy flashing in her eyes didn't quite match her appearance.

James chuckled and tapped her nose with his finger.

He glanced sideways at Emily and spoke casually. "She wouldn't dare."

Emily watched them put on their act in front of her with cold eyes, finding it nauseating.

"Emily, I've said what I needed to say and done what I could do. If you don't agree, then I'll just have to find my own way." Sophia didn't want to drag this out any longer. After flirting with James for a bit, she turned her attention back to Emily.

The threat in her words was obvious.

But Emily didn't want to waste any more time with her. She raised her chin and pointed toward the gate. "Don't let me keep you."

Her lazy manner only irritated Sophia more.

"You really think I don't have that video from back then?"

Even now, Sophia still thought of Emily as her "sister" she could manipulate at will, not realizing how things had changed.

"You did what happened back then, so naturally, you have some shady evidence," Emily said bluntly. "But you also know that if that thing gets out, I won't be the only one who looks bad."

Her words hit Sophia like a bucket of cold water.

Just as she was feeling the chill, Oscar walked out of the house carrying a ceramic basin, water sloshing inside.

He walked up to Sophia, looked up at her with an innocent face. "I see your face is dirty. Let me help you clean it."

Sophia was already fuming inside. Seeing even a little brat dare to provoke her made her even angrier. "Get lost. Who needs your fake kindness?"

After hitting one wall after another, she was having trouble maintaining her act.

But as soon as Sophia finished speaking, Oscar flicked his wrist and the water from the basin splashed all over her.

The icy water ran down her hair, soaking her clothes until they clung to her body. She looked utterly miserable.

"You!" Sophia trembled with rage and raised her hand to hit Oscar.

Fortunately, Emily was quick and grabbed her wrist, squeezing hard. Sophia immediately cried out in pain. "Let go of me! How dare you lay hands on me? Dad won't let you get away with this!"

"So what if I did?" Emily's eyes were ice cold. "Did you think you could touch my child?"

Seeing the situation, James stepped forward to separate them. Realizing things were getting out of hand, he positioned himself between them as a peacemaker. "Can't you talk this out nicely? You're sisters, after all."

"Sisters? Talk nicely?" Emily laughed coldly, fearless.

"You threaten me and try to hurt my son, and you call that talking nicely?"

James saw her acting like a porcupine and found himself in an awkward position.

Just as both sides were at a standstill, Nina also ran out of the house carrying a small plastic basin.

She walked up to Sophia and James, her voice clear. "My brother just splashed you with clean water. Let me give you something even 'cleaner.'"

Before Sophia could react, Nina splashed the liquid from her basin.

The liquid had a sharp smell and splashed onto Sophia, making her face turn deathly pale instantly.

"Formalin? You little psycho!" Sophia stumbled backward in fear, worried the liquid would corrode her skin.

Looking at Nina's young but cunning face, she felt both shocked and furious.

James also frowned.

He hadn't expected these two kids to be so bold as to use formalin.

He quietly took a step back, putting distance between himself and the mother and children.

"You've gone too far." His eyes were full of darkness. "I won't let this go."

Facing his threat, Emily just crossed her arms, her expression calm. "I'm waiting."

Seeing them still standing there, Emily raised an eyebrow. "I've already called the police. When they get here, I'll tell them about trespassing and threatening minors."

The corners of her lips curved slightly, her expression serious - not joking at all.

Sophia was both angry and scared. The smell of formalin made her stomach churn. Combined with the handprint on her face and the water stains on her body, she didn't want to stay another second. She grabbed James's arm and headed out.

"Let's go. No point wasting time with them here. Emily, I'll make you pay for this." After dropping this threat, their footsteps gradually faded away.

Watching their miserable retreat, Oscar and Nina exchanged smiles, and even Emily couldn't help but curve her lips slightly, the coldness in her eyes dissipating a bit.

Inside the house, William had heard everything clearly.

He leaned against the headboard, a barely noticeable smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

This woman really was something, and these two kids weren't easy to bully either.

But this kind of personality actually suited his taste.

When people came to bully her at her doorstep, and she just kept backing down - that wasn't his style at all.

William had actually woken up halfway through their argument.

If he weren't currently unable to move freely, he wouldn't have just watched from here.

"Mommy, did we cause trouble?" Outside, Nina looked up, asking with some worry.

"No, you did great." Emily smiled, then put on a stern face. "But don't play around with formalin again. It's too dangerous."

When she saw Nina bring out the formalin, Emily had been terrified she might accidentally hurt herself.

Nina stuck out her tongue and nodded obediently.