As soon as Sophia Turner got back to Riverstone Apartments, she locked herself in her room, refusing to come out no matter who called.
Lily Stone glanced over at John Knight, who shrugged his shoulders, clearly just as clueless about the situation.
Lily Stone wasn't Sophia Turner, so when she saw John Knight refuse to speak, although she was curious, she didn't push it further. She had no idea what had happened up on the northern mountain, and John Knight didn't think it was necessary to fill her in—no point in making her worry. He'd already contacted Charles Turner about it.
"That damn beast! That filthy animal! He tricked me into giving him my first kiss! And then he had the audacity to say that was his first kiss too!" Sophia Turner seethed, lying face down on her bed. The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. That beast—there's no way that was his first kiss.
Suddenly, an idea hit her. That bed... it had been where that beast had slept. She jumped up as if a needle had pricked her, disgusted by the thought.
She had to kick him out—there was no way she was letting him stay in this villa any longer.
Decision made, Sophia Turner stormed out of her room.
John Knight was sitting behind Sophie Grant, watching her play a game.
"Hey, you beast! We need to talk!" she snapped.
"I'm listening," John Knight said, without even turning around, his tone casual.
What's with this attitude? Sophia Turner was about to blow up at him, but then John Knight's phone rang.
John Knight's usual indifferent expression immediately darkened when he saw who was calling.
Sophia Turner, never having seen John Knight like this before, felt her curiosity piqued, and her anger simmered down as she watched him walk away to answer the call.
"John, is that you?" Emily Park's voice came through the phone.
"What's up?" John Knight's voice was cold, detached.
"Can't I call you if there's nothing wrong?" Emily Park's playful tone made John Knight's heart skip a beat.
For a moment, he was thrown off guard. Her voice was so familiar. Every time Emily Park used that tone with him, he could picture her pouting, the exact look on her face.
John Knight took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "If there's nothing important, I'll hang up."
"John, don't do that. I know I've messed up before, but please, let's have dinner together, just the two of us." Emily Park pleaded.
John Knight felt his heart soften. How long had it been since she'd spoken to him like that? Five years of history wasn't something you could just erase, especially when Emily Park was his first love.
"I'm busy," he managed to say, struggling to keep his distance.
Sophia Turner and Sophie Grant, stealthily eavesdropping from the side, exchanged confused glances. They could hear the woman's voice clearly—soft and sweet. They hadn't expected John Knight to turn down a woman who was so clearly interested in him.
"Please, John, just this once, I promise it'll be the last time," Emily Park continued, her voice almost flirtatious.
"Fine, we'll meet at the Shangri-La Hotel," John Knight said, finally giving in.
He hung up the phone, his mind still heavy with thoughts of Emily Park. He couldn't seem to turn her down.
Sophia Turner, to everyone's surprise, didn't snap at him.
"I'm going out," John Knight said casually, then made his way toward the door.
With three women in the house, there wasn't much he had to worry about. Uncle John had made it clear that Riverstone Apartments was practically impenetrable, a fortress.
"Hey, Sophia, Bao'er, where are you two going? Dinner's ready!" Lily Stone called out as she stepped out of the kitchen.
Sophia Turner and Sophie Grant had been sneaking toward the door, and Lily Stone immediately noticed, calling out to them. She'd been busy cooking and had already finished preparing the meal.
Shh—!
Sophia Turner and Sophie Grant simultaneously put their fingers to their lips, signaling Lily Stone to lower her voice.
"What's going on?" Lily Stone whispered, now curious.
"We're going to follow John Knight."
"Follow him? Why?"
"Because he's going on a date with some beautiful woman. The location's the Shangri-La Hotel. We want to see which blind woman actually likes this beast."
As soon as Lily Stone heard that John Knight was going on a date, her curiosity was piqued. Women never lacked that nosy instinct.
However, Lily Stone was a rational woman. "Sophia, Bao'er, it's getting late. After everything that's happened today, maybe it's best you don't go out. Plus, you haven't even eaten yet."
"Sis Stone, the place they're meeting is a hotel. You really think they'd be hungry there? Come on, just let us go! The route to Shangri-La is in the heart of the city, we'll be fine!"
"Sis Stone, aren't you curious what kind of woman that beast is going to meet? Don't you want to know what they'll talk about?"
Lily Stone hesitated, unable to resist their pleading. She gave in, though still not entirely comfortable. "Alright, I'll take you. But we absolutely cannot let him know—we have to be polite about it."
Sophia Turner and Sophie Grant both nodded eagerly like chicks pecking at grain.
At the Shangri-La Hotel, Emily Park looked elegant in a rose-red evening gown, exuding an air of grace and sophistication.
Maybe she was right to choose someone else. John Knight felt a pang of disorientation as he thought about it. He'd never be able to get her to wear something like that for him! All he could offer her was poverty and hardship, and women... they often cared about those things.
"John, over here," Emily Park smiled and waved him over.
She was someone else's woman now. John Knight steadied his emotions and walked over.
"John, how have you been?" she asked.
"Same as usual," he replied, his voice devoid of warmth.
Emily Park wasn't fazed by his tone, smiling again. "I ordered two glasses of Hennessy. I think it fits the mood."
John Knight couldn't help but smile bitterly. He remembered their first date, when they'd ordered the same drink. That night, he'd spent an entire month's salary just to take her out, and the following month, he had to borrow money just to make ends meet. Of course, Emily Park didn't know any of that.
Now, as she ordered two glasses of Hennessy again, it brought back memories of that first date.
What was she trying to do? Was she hoping to rekindle their relationship? John Knight thought, his mind swirling.
"Today marks eight years since we've been together, so I really wanted to see you!" Emily Park raised her glass, looking into his eyes. "Come on, let's toast to this special day!"
John Knight immediately knew something was off. Emily Park was lying. He'd never forget that day, but it was still months away.
Why was she always thinking about that old man?
John Knight subtly tuned into her thoughts, only to realize that, although she was sitting right across from him, her mind wasn't on him at all. Instead, Richard's face kept appearing in her thoughts.
"Find out the details of that kid's gambling skills, and if necessary, use your charm to get the info," Richard's voice echoed in Emily Park's mind.
Now it all clicked. The real reason Emily Park had asked him out was to probe him. John Knight had been showing off his skills in Richard's casino, and after winning all the games, Richard—worried about the rivalry—had sent Emily to test him.
As he pieced it all together, he noticed a tinge of resentment in her thoughts. It seemed like Emily Park felt neglected by Richard after he had gotten what he wanted from her.
Serves her right! John Knight couldn't help but curse inwardly: All rich men are like that. Before they get you, they swarm around you like flies. Once they've got you, they treat you like a pest. Now she's regretting it? Too late!
Emily Park, oh Emily Park, the only person who's ever been truly sincere with you is me, and yet you've hurt me so deeply.
John Knight was lost in thought, but his face remained impassive.
"Is that so? I don't really remember," he said calmly.
"You've forgotten such an important day?" Emily Park playfully pouted, her voice teasing. "No way. You're getting punished for that!"
She smiled seductively and scolded him, "You have to drink this entire glass in one go!"
Now that John Knight had figured out Emily Park's intentions, the more he looked at her, the more disgusting she became. How could she be thinking about other men while still playing this game with him?
But John Knight didn't confront her right away. He wanted to see just how far this woman would take her act.
John Knight gave a small smile and downed the drink in one go.
Emily Park immediately had another drink poured for him, watching him intently. Her eyes seemed to glisten as she suddenly spoke in a soft, almost melancholic tone, "John, I know you're angry with me, but you have to understand, I did all of this for you."
"For me?" John Knight blinked, momentarily thrown off. Even with his ability to read people's thoughts, he couldn't quite figure out what she was trying to say. What the hell was this woman getting at?
"Yes, John! Or rather, I did it for us!" Emily Park's eyes held his as she continued. "I may not know how you've made your fortune, but I need to tell you... I did it all to trick that old man out of his money, so I could leave him. Then, we could be together, living the good life, and you wouldn't have to struggle alone anymore."
Good reason, John Knight thought to himself.
Emily Park pressed on, her voice trembling with emotion. "I remember everything you've done for me. Every bit of kindness you've shown me. And the thought of you letting me go... it tears me apart, John. Can you really never forgive me?" Her eyes welled up with tears, making her look every bit the heartbroken woman.
John Knight had to admit, her acting was impressive. He couldn't believe she'd come up with such a story. But he clearly remembered the cold, resolute look in her eyes when she broke up with him, the look that drove him to the edge of suicide.
"You know," John Knight said softly, his voice laced with bitterness, "the night you gave me two thousand bucks and ended our five-year relationship, I went to kill myself…"
"Ah?" Emily Park gasped, suddenly grabbing his hand. "John, are you okay?" But inside, she was thinking, He tried to kill himself? Why didn't he die? If he had, I wouldn't have to deal with this mess. This idiot still can't even do that right. Pathetic as always.
This woman's really heartless, John Knight thought bitterly. If it weren't for Hades being curious, I might've been dust by now. Maybe every time she thinks of my name, she curses me—"Idiot, serves you right!"
But outwardly, he said, "Even if I could forgive you, what would it change? You're already someone else's woman."
"No, John," Emily Park interrupted, her tone pleading. "We can start over. I've taken money from that old man, and I can leave him. We'll run away, find a place where no one can find us. I know your gambling skills are amazing now. With this money, we could go anywhere."
And then, as if remembering something, she leaned in closer, her voice dropping with feigned curiosity, "By the way, John, how did you get so good at gambling? You never mentioned it before."
Here it comes! John Knight thought to himself, a cold smirk forming inside his mind. Outwardly, he remained unfazed. "Just luck."
Emily Park's face flickered with suspicion, but she quickly masked it. Looks like I'll have to do something more drastic if I want to get him to talk, she thought to herself.
"John, I'm feeling a little dizzy," Emily Park said, standing up and slowly sitting down on John Knight's lap. She placed his hand, almost casually, on her ample chest.
Trying to seduce me? John Knight scoffed inwardly. They'd been together for five years, and Emily Park had never once sat on his lap, never once let him touch her like this. But now, to pry into his secrets, she was willing to do anything.
Suddenly, a loud shout rang out, "You shameless bitch, are you serious?"
Both John Knight and Emily Park jumped in surprise, and Emily Park instantly jumped off his lap.