Chapter 146
Chapter 146
Jonathan happened to be distressed about what he could do to finally see Abigail again, and Emma's phone call had undoubtedly given him hope.
"Of course. I'll be there ASAP!"
Despite knowing Jonathan had agreed to come, Emma was still seething with jealousy right then.
This man's feelings for Abigail had gotten deeper since five years ago. He had even thought about calling off their engagement for Abigail. Even though she had called Jonathan over as a buffer for dinner that night, hearing his eager and happy voice, Emma clenched her phone in response so hard that her knuckles turned white.
Then, she heard the dial tone. Jonathan had ended the call. But Emma's heart tightened, twinging.
Five years! She had spent five years of her life on Jonathan. It'd be impossible to say there was no love between them.
How would she have given her body away if she hadn't taken a fancy to Jonathan back then?
As a daughter of the Kain Family, she knew her purpose was to be a pawn that would bring her family benefits through a union. And because of this so-called benefit, she actually had no say in who she would marry in the end. This is from NôvelDrama.Org.
However, Abigail captured Jonathan's heart.
Emma didn't know what Abigail had done to deserve it, but Jonathan was hot. Compared to those grandad or ordinary trust-fund babies, he was leagues above them!
Hence, she instantly got infatuated. She even stopped at nothing to replace Abigail. However, was she still not able to make him fall in love with her when she had given him her all in the last five years?
How could he still be smitten with Abigail?
Why?
What had that woman done to have Jonathan fall so head over heels for her?
How could she even attract the great Greg Buckley's attention and seduce him into protecting her?!
Emma chucked her phone away and screamed with her head buried in her hands, unwilling to resign to fate the more she thought about it. "Ah!"
"Goodness me, do you have a death wish!?"
Sasha had only gone to change her clothes when she heard Emma's scream. With that, she hurriedly covered Emma's mouth and took a wary glance at the study. Seeing that Philip didn't make any significant responses, she heaved a sigh of relief.
"What the heck were you screaming about? I know you don't like Abigail, and it upsets you that she's riding on Greg's coattail now, but we can't stop them from coming, can we? If you really can't stand the sight of them, just find an excuse to eat out. Why don't you call Jonathan? You two haven't gone out on a dinner date for a long while."
Sasha thought her idea was brilliant, but never would she have thought she had hit Emma's sore spot dead in the center.
Had her mother not noticed that Jonathan wanted to break up with her?
How could the Jonathan at present miss out on a chance to talk to Abigail?
Emma was really upset, but seeing her mother, who cared about and thought wholeheartedly for her, she couldn't say anything.
How should she?
Was she going to tell Sasha that Jonathan felt nothing for her now? That her five years of effort were all in vain?
Once Philip knew she had no use for the family anymore and had even lost her chastity, would he marry her off to a nice guy?
No way!
At the thought of marrying someone other than Jonathan, Emma felt beyond sad and disgusted.
Jonathan Fraser had to be hers, and he could only be hers!
Her body trembled subtly as she suppressed the jealousy and anger within.
Sasha rarely saw this side of her daughter.
She knew this girl was wayward, a little witless, and even impulsive at times, but she had rarely seen Emma this sad, and it broke her heart to see her like that.
"Emma, is something troubling you? Why don't you tell me? See if I can figure it out. Did you and Jonathan fight?"
A hint of bitterness drifted across Emma's heart as she heard her mother's words.
A fight?
She could only do that if she could see him, couldn't she?
"It's okay now, Mom. I just don't like Abigail coming back. You know how at ease and happy I was when she wasn't home in the last five years. But now, she hadn't just come back, but she's also bringing Mr. Buckley with her to humiliate the two of us. It really pisses me off."
Philip came downstairs right as Emma finished her words. His voice was apathetic, having not a single care for his daughter. "Well, suck it up. You even have to butter up Abigail and Mr. Buckley. Once he's happy, our family will be one step closer to moving into the A-list families of Harrion."
Sasha furrowed her brows a little at that. "Philip, you know Emma and Abigail had never gotten along since they were children, and now, they're even estranged. Making Emma butter Abigail up won't do anything. What's more, it'll make Emma utterly disgraced. Jonathan will come over later as well. How will she be able to keep her head up like that after marrying into the Fraser family?"
Despite knowing Philip's temper, Sasha let her dissatisfaction show.
Emma was her precious baby girl, no matter how. Plus, Emma was also Philip's own child. How could he be so heartless?
She wouldn't even bat an eyelid if they were talking about Abigail right then, even supporting the idea a hundred percent. But this was Emma they were talking about!
Sasha felt utterly sullen at the thought of her daughter having to butter up that woman's daughter.
Philip's cold gaze drifted toward Sasha at that, and he said coldly, "Why can't she keep her head up? Jonathan is Mr. Buckley's nephew, and if Abbie marries Mr. Buckley, she'll be Jonathan's aunt-in-law. So what's wrong with Emma buttering up her aunt-in-law?"
"But they're also sisters! Philip, Abigail can't marry Greg. The seniority will be all messed up."
For the first time, Sasha yelled at Philip.
"You keep your mouth shut! I have my plans."
Philip would lose his temper easily as soon as he was enraged. Even if Sasha wanted to seek justice for Emma, she knew now wasn't the time.
Others might not know of it, but she knew most explicitly.
Philip was mentally sick!
He was irascible and violent-prone. As soon as he was enraged, his wrath would be uncontrollable. He had what was commonly called mania.
Blood drained from Sasha's face as she shuddered inwardly when she saw redness lacing Philip's eyes right then.
"Got it."
All she could do now was act like a gentle obedient wife lest she wanted to feel his wrath.
Philip's temper was worse back when she first married him, and she had nearly died in his hands a few times. However, after his mania was over, he would apologize and make up for what he had done to her.
Sasha was from a poor family, after all. She had thought she was a lucky one when Philip took a fancy to her. But it was only after marrying him that she realized things weren't exactly as she had imagined. This man had a trick or two up his sleeves. He might not be able to go up against others, but he could still deal with Sasha with ease.
Hence, she dared not and could not run as she was already pregnant with Emma at that time.
Following Emma's birth, Philip's condition had alleviated by a sliver.
Sasha had thought it was perhaps a turning point.
Though Philip had never cared much about Emma over the years, he had never done anything out of bounds either. Compared to how he treated Abigail, he was far better toward Emma.
So, Sasha swallowed it all after thinking about it like that. What was more, Philip still treated her nicely, especially because they had years of marriage between them. He had a bad temper, indeed, but if she steered clear while he lashed out and advised him after he had calmed down, he would still listen.
Sasha could only apologize for now, knowing what she could do later. However, Emma felt hopeless when she saw this.
Her father dictated this household. So, even if Sasha genuinely wanted to protect her, it would be out of her mother's depth. She still had to fend for herself.
Abigail Kain, sooner or later, I'll take back what you owe me, she vowed to herself.
Emma kept her head low and said nothing, pretending to not have heard anything Philip said.
Philip knew she was unwilling when he saw her like that.
Was he willing to butter up that daughter of his? Of course not.
But did he have a choice?
He naturally needed to rely on external forces if he wanted to make the Kain Family big and become one of the A-list families of Harrion.
What were daughters?
They were outsiders and someone who would have to be married off to another family no matter how much he loved them. Even if they gave birth, the child would carry the father's surname. So, he could only exploit them while they were still a Kain.
At that, Philip sighed as a hint of pity flashed in his eyes. Even if it was for a few seconds, it was already extremely precious.
Then, he patted Emma's shoulder and muttered, "I know you're aggrieved. I don't like seeing Abigail this triumphant either. But what can you do when Mr. Buckley doesn't fancy you, Emma? So bear the grievances later, and I'll make sure your wedding to Jonathan is a grand one. When our family rises to the top, your social status will follow, no? And by then, your future mother-in-law, who looks down on you, will think highly of you too, am I right? I'm doing all this for you, aren't I?"
Philip barely spoke to Emma so gently, and he rendered her stumped when he even explained so much.
Sasha's eyes turned misty at that.
Emma still meant something to Philip.
When had he ever spoken so gently to Abigail?!
Besides, he was right.
Emma would only have a strong backing when the Kain Family rose to the top.
She looked down on Abigail, but if they could use her to bring the Kain Family to more fame and fortune and give Emma a better future, what was so bad about temporary grievances?
As Sasha came to the conclusion, she tucked away her emotions.
"Yeah, your dad's right. Don't be upset anymore. You're sisters, after all. You'll have to look out for each other then."
However, Philip didn't agree with Sasha.
Look out for each other?
That daughter of his?
It would already be nice if she left their family alone.
"Alright, go and get dinner ready. We can't let Mr. Buckley think the Kain Family's incompetent. Did I hear Emma say Jonathan's coming over as well over the phone? Great, make his as well."
With that, Philip got up and returned to his study.
Emma was still reeling in her father's rare gentleness when she watched Philip reenter his study. Then, she couldn't help asking, "Mom, what's in Dad's study? He's usually either in his office or the study. He barely spends any time with us. Are you not curious at all?"