9. The Shocking Revelation

Emma Coleman

"Nana?" I called out when I recognized the figure standing at the entryway.

"Brandon brought this to my room tonight. He wants me to give it to you after he leaves, but I think you need to see it and thank him before he leaves," Marbella, my grandmother, said with a teary tone as she walked slowly towards my bed. She dropped the box on my bed, wiped her tears with the back of her palm, turned, and left the room. Her reaction made me hesitate to open the box.

I had cried enough already, and I did not want anything that would make me shed more tears. As I continued staring at the golden box Marbella placed on my bed wondering what was inside that made Marbella shed tears, I heard a loud kick on my door, and it swung open violently, hitting the wall with a loud noise. My heart skipped a beat.

"You shameless bîtch!" a woman's voice pierced the silence.

Rachel stood in the middle of the room, her arms folded across her chest, her legs trembling with anger. I couldn't help but regret deactivating the automatic control of my room door, especially on this particular night when I craved solitude.

"Get off that bed right now!" Rachel shouted at me, her voice filled with rage. Ever since I humiliated Rachel at one of the prestigious parties we attended and stopped her from moving close to Brandon, she had been seeking an opportunity for revenge. And it seemed she had found it.

"Rachel, what are you doing in my room?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Are you deaf?! Get off the bed now!" Rachel yelled. Before I could ask her questions, she moved closer, forcefully grabbed hold of my hair and violently pulled me out of the bed. I tried desperately to release her grip, but her hold was unyielding.

With a thunderous slap on my face, Rachel pushed me away.

"You cheap slut!" Rachel spat at me, her words filled with venom. I regained my balance and stepped towards her, fueled by a desire to hit her back.

"Go ahead, Emma, hit me, and I will reveal to your father how Brandon manipulated you and coerced you into selling one of your kidneys to him! I'm certain you understand the consequences, especially since you're not yet eighteen then! Samuel Coleman and Honorable Anthony Coleman will ensure that Brandon ends up in jail for organ harvesting!" Rachel threatened, sending shivers down my spine. I had no idea that anyone apart from my two friends knew about what I did.

"Rachel, you're nothing more than a shameless liar!" I retorted, my voice filled with defiance.

"Oh, am I? Just wait until I speak to your father, grant a few interviews and present some evidence that Brandon manipulated you!" Rachel taunted, intensifying my fear. I desperately wanted to keep my father in the dark and prevent this news from going viral.

"Rachel!" Brandon's voice cut through the tension as he entered the room, his tone laced with anger. Rachel turned towards him and put on a sweet facade.

"Oh, sweetheart, what are you doing here?" Rachel asked, her tone suddenly filled with kindness.

"I should be asking you the same question!" Brandon snapped, his anger aparent in his voice.

"I'm simply explaining to Emma why her name wasn't included on our guest list, despite her close relationship with both of us. Isn't that right, Emma?" Rachel asked, turning her attention back to me.

"Yes, and I... I understand," I stammered, forcing a smile, but Brandon saw through the act and remained unconvinced. His face still bore an angry expression.

"Let's return to the guest house," he ordered Rachel.

"Sweetheart, just go, I'll join you shortly. I'm not done with Emma," Rachel responded dismissively.

"No, you're coming with me now!" Brandon insisted. Rachel grabbed my ear and whispered into it.

"We'll be leaving tomorrow. If I catch sight of you near our estate or Zenith Incorporation Tower, I'll inform your father and the press. Your lover will face fourteen years in prison for organ harvesting," Rachel threatened, a mischievous smile playing on her lips as she spoke.

"Now, smile and nod your head like a good girl," Rachel commanded. I complied, forcing a smile and nodding. Rachel retrieved an envelope from the pocket of her nightgown.

"I've packaged this little token for you," Rachel said, handing me a white envelope. I eagerly took it, wondering what could be inside. Rachel pulled me into a tight hug and whispered in my ear.

"Enclosed is a photocopy of what I have in store for you and Brandon if you dare make a move and chase after my fiance. I have the originals, and I will use them to destroy both of you.

I hate Brandon with passion. I'm only interested in two things. Presiding over Zenith Incorporation and his big cock. If I can't have these two things, nobody will! Now, let's laugh at my victory," Rachel declared with a sinister tone. We shared a forced laugh, adding to the eerie atmosphere in the room. However, Brandon's eyes were fixed on the golden box my grandmother dropped on my bed. He lifted his eyes and stared pitifully at me.

"Goodbye, Emma," Rachel said, waving at me with a fake smile. I reciprocated the gesture, masking my true emotions with a counterfeit smile. Brandon took her hand, and they proceeded to exit the room together.

As they departed, I collapsed onto my bed, overwhelmed with fear and grief. Rachel remained a formidable adversary for Brandon, and he had no idea.

Deep down, Brandon had always sensed Rachel's true nature, and I now realized he was right all along.

Tears streamed down my face as I remembered Brandon's innate kindness towards everyone. All the sacrifices he made for me in the past when my mom was not around. He deserved better than Rachel's presence in his life. He needed me.

I wiped my tears and opened the envelope Rachel gave me to see what was inside. It was a collection of documents.

Receipts and test results from a series of medical examinations I underwent prior to the kidney transplant were well arranged. Inside the envelope were also a set of falsified agreement papers, bearing my forged signature as well as Brandon's fabricated signatures, passports and real stamps.

"Oh, my God!"

In disbelief, I let out a soft gasp as I started to read through one of the forged agreements.

"I, Brandon Henderson, hereby acknowledge that I have entered into an agreement today, being the 13th of June, with Emma Coleman. It is agreed that, in addition to the payment of seventy thousand dollars for the kidney Emma sold to me, I have made a commitment to marry Emma Coleman and provide ongoing financial support. This document serves as evidence of our agreement, and Emma Coleman reserves the right to take legal action against me if I fail to fulfill my obligation to marry her."

.

I dropped the papers, stood up, and began walking toward my window. Nobody would ever believe that the documents were fake, given that they were all properly signed with my own forged but authentic signature. If these documents fell into the wrong hands, Brandon would undoubtedly be thrown behind bars. The mere thought of my father and grandfather's wrath upon discovering this made me shudder. They would sue Brandon and my testimony won't be enough to save him.

"This woman is a devil!" I exclaimed, feeling a sudden chill coursing through my body, causing me to tremble as if I had been caught up in the rain for far too long.

As I stood by my window, still trembling from what Rachel had told me, fear continued to consume me. Being with Brandon was a battle I was prepared to fight, but now it seemed like I was up against a very strong and dangerous enemy.

The worst part was that I was alone in this battle, with no support from anyone, not even my best friend and Brandon himself.

There was no way I would allow Rachel to marry Brandon, but how could I stop her and claim what is rightfully mine?

How could I warn Brandon about Rachel's ulterior motives, especially now that he sees her as a true friend due to the favor she did for him? I kept asking myself these questions, feeling confused and lost.

"Maybe checking the mysterious box will provide something that can help you in this fight," my mind suggested.