Chapter 405
Emma had finally managed to get engaged, but just when she thought she could leave her past humiliations behind, Micah showed up and caused a scene in front of everyone, dragging her old shame back into the spotlight.
A surge of hatred rushed through her, so intense it nearly choked her. As she strode toward Micah, her whole demeanor suggested she was ready to settle a deadly score.
“Emma, you finally agreed to see me.” Micah’s face lit up with a mix of hope and desperation when he caught sight of her. His eyes swept over her, and he couldn’t help himself. “You look beautiful tonight.”
After her earlier wardrobe mishap, Emma had changed into a tasteful crimson evening gown – elegant and modest, a sharp contrast to her earlier embarrassment. The dress, perfectly matched to her makeup, made her look poised and radiant, drawing admiring glances from all around. Still, next to Ivy, she couldn’t quite measure up.
“Micah, what do you want?” Emma hissed under her breath, trying to keep her fury in check for the sake of appearances and all the guests. “It’s my engagement party. Get out of here!”
Micah ignored her anger. His expression clouded with concern as he reached out toward her. “Emma, I need to talk to you. Please.”
“Don’t touch me!” Emma recoiled in disgust, her whole posture defensive. “What are you trying to do?”
Micah’s hand dropped, pain flickering across his handsome features. He lowered his voice, serious and urgent. “Emma, you can’t marry Sheridan.”
Emma’s eyes widened in shock. “Why not?”
“He’s been divorced twice already—everyone in this circle knows what kind of man he is. I’ve heard rumors he’s abusive, that he forced his ex-wives to entertain his shady business partners. He’s only marrying you for his own agenda. Don’t be fooled and end up regretting it–”
Before Micah could finish, a sudden whoosh tore through the air behind Emma. A hard, cold fist flew past her ear and smashed directly into Micah’s jaw.
Emma screamed, instinctively ducking and shielding her head.
Micah crashed to the floor with a howl, sending the nearby guests stumbling backward in shock, hands flying to their mouths.
The room plunged into chaos.
Sheridan lunged at Micah, practically pinning him to the ground as he landed punch after punch.
“Micah Shepherd! You must have a death wish! Don’t think your precious Shepherd family name means anything here. You show up at my engagement party just to stir up trouble?” Sheridan’s face was thunderous as he cursed and beat Micah mercilessly.
But Micah was young and strong. He quickly rallied, shoving Sheridan off and fighting back. For a moment, he gained the upper hand.
Sheridan, who’d spent years indulging in wild living, soon ran out of steam after just a few rounds of close combat. Micah pressed his advantage.
“You don’t love Emma! You only want her because she’s young and pretty–someone to play housemaid, to entertain your twisted clients, to be your personal cash cow!”
In his rage, Micah didn’t hold back, exposing Sheridan’s dirty secrets for everyone to hear.
The Carters were a prominent family, and they’d kept their scandals tightly under wraps. Any rumors had always been just that–rumors. But now, with Micah shouting the truth in front of a roomful of witnesses, shock rippled through the crowd.
Sheridan was livid. He leapt up and charged at Micah again, hurling punches and kicks, and soon called his family members to join in.
Micah, alone against a mob, was quickly pinned to the ground and beaten without mercy.
Over in the lounge area, Ivy hadn’t seen the fight break out, but the sounds alone were enough to make her blood run cold.
“Aren’t you going to do something? That’s your nephew,” she said, glancing over at Jamison, whose face was icy and remote.
Jamison frowned slightly. “He’ll live,” he replied dismissively, but still stood up and headed over to the chaos.