She straightened her back, scanning the room as if searching for someone.
I knew she was looking for me. I let out a bitter laugh.
“Ethan Brooks, come out here and repay every cent you owe me. You abandoned me when I was crippled, then threw yourself into the arms of wealthy older women. Don’t tell me you don’t have money to pay me back.”
The crowd fell silent. No one dared provoke the fury of the billionaire queen.
Minutes passed, but I didn’t appear. Her anger blazed higher.
“Fine. If you won’t come out, I’ll take your mother instead.”
Emily kicked my mother to the ground, then pressed her sharp heel into her hand, grinding hard.
My mother cried out in agony, tears streaming down her face. I frantically tried to push Emily away.
Stop it! Her heart is weak—you’ll kill her!
But no one could hear me. My voice was swallowed in despair.
“Well? Will he come out and pay me back?”
My mother stared at Emily in disbelief, her face filled with sorrow.
“My son Ethan is dead. He can’t come.”
Emily, furious, stomped harder, drawing blood from my mother’s hand.
“Hah! He’s perfectly fine—he just doesn’t want to pay me back. You’re lying, aren’t you?”
“You two disgust me.”
The guests began to mutter curses.