After swallowing the pill, the red spots on Emma's face gradually faded.

Seeing the worry on their faces, her heart softened.

Do they still care about me? Does this mean I still have a place in their hearts?

After all, I’ve been with them for five years.

Emma suddenly remembered what Emilly had told her before—if the two of them ever fell in love with her, she would be given a chance to stay.

She wasn’t made of stone. Over the years, their occasional kindness had tempted her, and made her wonder if she could belong here.

The thought lingered, and before she could stop herself, she asked, "Mike, Jeff, after all this time… have you ever fallen for me? Even for just a moment?"

She wasn’t hoping to be their priority, just to have a small place in their hearts.

But the warmth in their expressions vanished the moment the words left her lips.

Mike scoffed, casually tossing the anti-allergy medicine onto the ground. His voice was filled with cold determination.

"Emma, have you forgotten? You're just a stand-in."

"Love you? Are we crazy?" His eyes darkened with disdain. "What makes you think you could ever compare to Emilly?"

As if driving the point home, he grabbed her wrist, pressing down on the fading red spot, his grip firm and unyielding. "Don't get ideas above your station."

Then, without hesitation, they turned and left.

Leaving Emma standing there, frozen.

After a long silence, she let out a bitter laugh.

Of course. She had been foolish.

How could she have expected them to love her?

With trembling fingers, she sent a message to Emilly.

The reply came almost instantly, as if Emilly had been expecting it.

"I’ll be in Boston in four days. I’ll transfer the final payment then. Take the money and never come back."

Four more days.

Then, her five-year role as a stand-in would finally come to an end.

She would leave this city filled with memories behind.

The next day, perhaps due to the allergy, Emma developed a high fever.

She drifted in and out of consciousness.

By the time the nanny woke her, her vision was so blurred she could barely make out faces.

"Miss Knapp, the gentlemen have requested a massage."

Emma wanted to refuse. But the nanny, close to tears, kept pleading.

Not wanting to cause trouble, she forced herself up despite the dizziness.

When she stepped into the courtyard, Mike and Jeff were already lounging on the recliners, waiting for her.

Emma's adoptive mother had been a farmer, constantly suffering from exhaustion. Out of necessity, Emma had learned how to give massages to ease her pain.

One day, she massaged Mike and Jeff on a whim.

Since then, it had become an unspoken rule—she had to continue.

Taking a deep breath, she slipped on her gloves and began.

Her technique hadn’t changed, but her hands trembled. Her eyes, bloodshot from the fever, struggled to focus.

She felt herself weakening with each passing second.

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, she licked her dry lips and whispered, "Can we stop here for today? I’m not feeling well."

She feared that if she stayed any longer, she would collapse in front of them.

But the moment the words left her lips, their expressions hardened.

"Emma, what do you mean by that?"

Mike’s narrowed eyes were a clear warning—he was on the verge of anger.

Emma had always been obedient. This was the first time she had ever defied them.

But she couldn’t hold on any longer.

Her body swayed, and she leaned against the wall for support, bending slightly as her strength gave out.

Mike and Jeff, however, didn’t believe her.

Jeff’s voice was laced with cold impatience.

"Drop the act."

"Just because we told you we don’t love you yesterday, you’re throwing a tantrum today?" He scoffed. "The gifts I bought for you are in the living room. Stop pretending."

"I… I’m not feeling well today. I feel terrible."

Emma was drenched in sweat, struggling to explain herself.

But neither of them listened.

Especially Mike—his temper had always been volatile.

Seeing her act so defiant, he snapped, "Emma, don’t push your luck. What’s so special about a stand-in like you? Have we spoiled you too much these past few years? Is that why you think you can act this way?"

"We don’t love you—let’s be clear on that. What makes you think you even deserve our love?"

Emma was already weak, her body barely holding up.

She hadn’t expected that just trying to explain herself would anger them this much.

"I’ll take you to pick it out in person tomorrow, alright? Stop acting entitled. You really think you’re something special?"

Mike didn’t wait for a response. He had already made up his mind.

Mike always kept his word, so early the next morning, he dragged Emma to a high-end boutique.

Luxury designer clothes filled the store, but Mike and Jeff didn’t bother asking Emma what she liked.

They simply ordered the sales staff to bring out all the latest collections.

Without hesitation, they swiped their cards, clearing out entire racks within minutes.

Just then, a salesgirl approached them with a respectful smile.

"Gentlemen, the exclusive designer S gown you pre-ordered has just arrived. Would you like to see it now?"

The moment they heard this, Mike and Jeff straightened up.

"Bring it out."

Several salesgirls carefully wheeled out a covered rack, the white silk cloth draped over it, making it clear just how valuable the item inside was.

When they pulled back the cloth, a dazzling white diamond dress was revealed.

It was crafted from rare, custom-made silk—one of the most expensive fabrics in the world.

Emma had only ever seen dresses like this in the news, ordered by heiresses for their loved ones.

Now, it was obvious—Mike and Jeff had ordered it.

And the "loved one" could only be Emilly.

Just as the two men leaned in to examine the suit details, a sudden commotion broke out at the entrance.

All heads turned to see a group of tattooed men swaggering in.

The man leading them stepped forward and ran his hands over the dress without care.

"How much for this one? I’ll take it."

The moment Emma saw his face, her blood ran cold.

Quinn Payton.

The Knapp family's biggest creditor.

The second she recognized him, a sense of dread sank into her stomach.

This man wasn’t here to buy a dress.

Before the Knapp family went bankrupt, they had ruined several of the Payton family’s major business deals. Quinn had never let it go. He had tried to settle the score with Emma countless times, but each time, Mike and Jeff intervened.

And now, he was here.

It definitely wasn’t just about this dress.

The instant Quinn laid a hand on the gown, Mike and Jeff’s faces darkened.

Without hesitation, Mike smacked his hand away and warned coldly, "What, Master Payton? Do you want to lose another finger?"

At those words, Quinn’s expression twisted.

The last time he had come looking for Emma, Mike’s bodyguards had broken one of his fingers. He had spent over a month in the hospital recovering.

He had never forgotten.

And now, were these two daring to stand against him again?

Quinn clenched his fists tightly, but his lips curled into a smirk.

"Oh? So you two can buy it, but I can’t?"

"I happen to like this dress today. I think I’ll take it with me."

Despite his gangster-like attitude, Quinn’s family had deep connections. Taking something from him wouldn’t be so easy.

Mike found this man nothing but a nuisance.

Jeff, on the other hand, looked completely exasperated.

"Quinn, don’t court death."

But the warning did nothing to deter Quinn. Instead, it only fueled his amusement.

"Oh? Is this rag of a dress really that important to you?" He smirked before his gaze slithered toward Emma, sharp and calculating. "How about this—you hand Emma over to me, and I’ll give you the dress."

His cold, snake-like stare sent a shiver down Emma’s spine. A flicker of malice danced in his eyes, making her skin prickle with unease.

She knew exactly what kind of man Quinn was.

What else could one expect from a Payton heir, born from a family drenched in filth?

The last time she escaped from him, she barely survived. That horrifying experience was still etched into her bones.

Mike and Jeff were beyond his reach, but she wasn’t.

For Quinn, crushing her would be as effortless as squashing an ant.

Emma’s breath hitched.

But within moments, she forced herself to calm down.

No.

Mike and Jeff wouldn’t let her die—not with them here.

Even if she was just a stand-in, five years together meant something… right?

They wouldn’t—

But then, her heart faltered.

This time, the choice was between her life and Emilly’s dress.

Whenever Emilly was involved, she ceased to exist in their eyes.

The room fell into suffocating silence.

Growing impatient, Quinn abruptly kicked the clothing rack, making the salesgirl next to him tremble in fear.

"Well? Have you decided?" His voice dripped with mockery. "If you keep stalling, I’ll just give this dress to my men. And then… heh, don’t even think about begging me. I heard this dress is Emilly’s favorite designer piece, isn’t it?"

He ran his fingers over the pristine white fabric, his filthy hands leaving a disgusting contrast against its purity.

Jeff’s jaw clenched. His temples throbbed.

"Enough."

He shoved Quinn aside, his expression eerily calm.

Then, without hesitation, he glanced at Mike and gave a slight nod.

"You can take her."

Emma’s mind went blank.

Her lips parted, but no words came out.

Did she hear that correctly?

Quinn let out a delighted chuckle, signaling his men to seize Emma by arms.

Cold sweat drenched her skin.

Before she could even process what was happening, Jeff suddenly turned to the salesgirl.

"What are you waiting for? Get them out of here. If they so much as touch the dress we ordered again, it’s on your heads."

Without a second thought, the staff rushed to shove both Quinn and Emma toward the exit.

As the heavy doors slammed shut behind her, Emma screamed their names with all the strength she had left.

But they didn’t turn around.

They didn’t even glance in her direction.

Instead, with pleased expressions, they admired the dress they were about to gift to Emilly.

Smack!

A sharp slap sent Emma’s head whipping to the side.

Quinn let out a dark chuckle.

"Still think they’d protect you?" he sneered. "Wake up. They’ve loved Emilly for over ten years—always watching her, worshiping her. You? You’re nothing. Just a replacement. A toy. Did you really think this was real?"

His laughter echoed in her ears.

"Hah! I bet they wouldn’t even blink if I killed you right now."

With that, his men hauled her toward the waiting car.

Emma barely resisted.

Because there was nothing left to resist.

The curtains inside the boutique had already been drawn.

She had been abandoned.

Between her and Emilly, Mike and Jeff had chosen without hesitation.

A rough bag was yanked over her head, plunging her into darkness.

Laughter and taunts filled the air, but Emma didn’t react.

Instead, she silently curled her fingers around the door handle, preparing herself for what came next.