Chapter 60
Liam could no longer contain his overwhelming feelings. He kissed Emma deeply, yearning for intimacy, aching for physical closeness. But too many obstacles remained, causing him immense anguish. His kiss was unlike any before, dominant and intense, almost aggressive. After a long moment, he released her, leaving Emma slightly breathless.
"Aren't you afraid of me after what she told you?" he asked, his voice hoarse.
Emma gazed at the proud man, so careful of her, his wounds bandaged with heartache. "What's so scary about you?" she retorted. "All I know is they treat you poorly. Before, you didn't have me. Now you do, and anyone who mistreats you, I'll repay them tenfold! Even if it's hell, I'll be there with you!"
Slender though she was, her eyes blazed with unwavering stubbornness, an aura of dominance uniquely hers. Liam held her hand tightly; their intimacy was palpable. In that moment, the last emotional barrier in his heart shattered. He thought, In this lifetime, Emma is my life!
In the Hall family villa, Elsie sat in her room, her face contorted by the humiliation she'd suffered that day. Staring intently at information on her computer, she immediately called Kate.
"Kate, I'll give you one last chance!" she declared. "If you still fail, forget about marrying into the Hall family."
On the phone, Kate sobbed softly, a choked, tearless cry. Had the Johnson family not focused all their attention on her younger brother, leaving her undervalued as a socialite, she wouldn't have had to grovel before Elsie and Brad.
When Kate received an email from Elsie, menace filled her eyes. She thought, Emma! It's all because of her! After so many failures, I understand Emma's weaknesses better than anyone. Now, with Elsie's secret weapon, Emma will be in deep trouble!
Liam's hand injury was minor; Emma had bandaged it, and it would heal within days. The next day at school, Emma noticed police officers surrounding the building. Returning to class, she asked her classmates, "What are all those police officers doing at the school gate?"
A classmate replied, "I have no idea. I heard they received a report about someone involved in cybercrime."
"What kind of cybercrime?" Emma asked cautiously, thinking, My identity as Stox can't be revealed casually.
"I'm not sure," the classmate said. "Apparently, someone stole personal data from schools and hospitals. The teacher said they'll check each class. We'll continue as usual."
Emma nodded. Soon, a commotion erupted at the door.
"The address indicates the criminal is in this class," a police officer announced.
Several teachers were taken aback. One exclaimed incredulously, "It can't be! This class contains Vark College's top students, future achievers!"
The police officer, his expression reflecting a weary understanding of the world, replied, "Many high-IQ criminals excel academically. It's a shame she uses her intelligence for crime. Everyone's equal before the law! Prepare yourselves; the investigation begins now."
The class was halted. Students stood for questioning. Soon, it was Emma's turn. She remained calm, her expression impassive. The police asked for her ID, then frowned at the information in their hands.
"Your name is Emma?" one officer asked.
"Yes," she replied.
"Did you steal student data from Ritney High School?"
"No," Emma said. She knew of minor hackers who stole and sold data, but she would never stoop to such actions.
The police remained unconvinced. "Come with us," they said. "The information points to you. Leave the classroom."
Emma frowned, thinking, Who would use such a low tactic to smear me? She couldn't reveal her identity as Stox, the genius the Rhines police relentlessly pursued. She had no choice but to comply.
After Emma's arrest, her classmates and teacher were shocked. The teacher, after a brief commotion, quickly restored order. "Let's resume class. Return to your seats and get your textbooks."
Whispers rippled through the classroom: "I didn't expect Emma to do this," "Is she short of money?" "Were the nuisance calls we got due to this data leak?"
Unnoticed, in the back row, a boy by the window gritted his teeth. That boy was Vere. He'd competed with Emma in the Vark Invitational Mathematics Examination; she'd given him first prize and a scholarship, securing his place abroad. But a phone call had shattered his dreams. Kate had uncovered his past misdeed: stealing student data—a youthful prank, never sold for profit. Kate, with malicious intent, had exploited it, framing him for cybercrime. She threatened him to implicate Emma; otherwise, he'd face imprisonment. The death of his parents had left him deeply scarred. He'd agonized all night, finally succumbing to Kate's pressure. Before hanging up, Kate hissed, "This is a world where the strong prey on the weak. If you don't frame Emma, you'll be in jail. Besides, she's a hacker; you're just helping put her away."
Vere clenched his fists. "Even if she's a hacker, she never harmed anyone! You sold the data; you should be in jail!"
Kate sneered. "I've covered my tracks. The police will be at your school tomorrow. One of you will face serious consequences."
In the police car, Emma thought, My black market opponents know my capabilities; they wouldn't use such a low-level tactic. This isn't someone from the black market, someone with hacking skills but not a professional... The Hall or Gomez families. Someone from one of them must be behind this.
As Emma entered the interrogation room, she saw stacks of documents. At a glance, she knew they were prepared. She thought, Those activity traces… they've redirected all network addresses to me, catching me off guard! She gritted her teeth. There's only one way out. To prove my innocence, I have to reveal my identity!