Chapter 3

Knowing how fiercely protective he was of me, his wife, I was really worried something might happen.

Yet, the very next second, Jake stepped forward and blocked my path, his face dark with anger. He helped Quinn up, her face streaked with tears, and barked at me, “Emma, apologize!”

My body trembled when I heard that. In an instant, memories from the past came rushing back.

There was a time when I added a little too much salt to a meal. Quinn had burst into tears at dinner, claiming I was jealous of her figure and deliberately trying to make her fat. Without a word, Jake had shoved me to the ground, treating me like a dog with no dignity.

Every scene was still vivid. My fingers curled tightly, nails digging deep into my palms. Fortunately, things were different now. I wasn’t going to let anyone drag me through the mud.

With that, I sneered and spat, “In your dreams.”

Spencer paused mid-motion as he wiped Quinn’s tears. Then, he turned to me and shouted in disappointment, “You’re so vicious, and you won’t even admit it. I don’t have a mom like you!”

It wasn’t the first time he had said something like that. Giving birth to him hadn’t been easy, so I had always doted on him. Even when his demands were unreasonable, I would quietly give in. However, if he thought this could still threaten me now, he was wrong.

Looking at the stubborn, almost smug expression on his face, I replied calmly, “It doesn’t matter. You have more than one mom anyway.”

Spencer froze at my reply. He opened his mouth, a little flustered, and his eyes shimmered, as though tears were about to fall. Suddenly, he exploded. He yanked off the chain hanging around his neck and threw it straight into the ocean, bursting into tears.

“I don’t want you anymore! You’re an evil woman!”

For a brief moment, I was dazed. I had gotten that chain for him when he was six years old. He used to think it was old-fashioned and refused to wear it, often tossing it aside at home. When had he started wearing it?

Quinn quickly pulled him into her arms, gently comforting him. “Spencer, from now on, I’ll be your mother. Someone like her doesn’t deserve to be your mom.”

Then, she turned to look at me. A sharp glint flashed in her eyes, and her tone turned cold.

“Emma, you don’t even have a pass on you. It looks like you bought a scalped ticket. I was going to let you off, but since you insist on being so shameless, don’t blame me.”

As she spoke, she raised her hand, about to call the bodyguards over, but I didn’t move an inch.

What a joke. This cruise was a gift from Luca, so it was under my name. I’d like to see who would dare touch me.

The next second, a hand shot out and firmly pressed hers down. Jake looked at me with a complicated expression, then turned and said something to Quinn. She stared at him in disbelief, her face full of resentment, but in the end, she reluctantly nodded.

Only then did Jake’s expression soften. He turned as if he was about to say something to me when Quinn suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her red lips against his.

Jake froze for a moment, instinctively glancing at me. Seeing that I didn’t react at all, a shadow flickered in his eyes, and he turned back and kissed her deeply.

Just then, my phone suddenly rang. Before I could even answer, Jake’s eyes lit up.

His voice carried barely concealed excitement. “Do you still listen to that song?”

I was taken aback. I was just about to ask what he meant when it suddenly clicked: this song had been our song back then, which I had long forgotten. I’d only set it as my ringtone because I liked it, but clearly, Jake had misunderstood.

There was a spark in his eyes, as if he wanted to say something more. I simply ignored him and picked up the call.

Luca’s deep, pleasant voice came through the line. “Em, where are you? The runway show’s about to start. We’ve got a speech to give.”

I couldn’t help but smile, letting out a soft hum in response. “I’ll be right there.”

Before my smile could fade, somebody suddenly grabbed my wrist.

“Who was that man?”

Jake’s jaw was tense. He looked like a volcano on the verge of erupting.