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Chapter 2 How Do You Plan to Repay Me

James raised an eyebrow, giving her a curious look. Emily was definitely something else.

He seemed a bit taken aback by her answer. He gave Emily a once-over, his voice tinged with skepticism. "You ditched the wedding for freedom?"

Emily shot back, "Not exactly. I heard the third son of the Smith Family has a bum leg, he's over thirty, and still single. Who knows if he even has erectile dysfunction?"

Her words hit James like a ton of bricks.

Did she just question his manhood?

Seeing James's intense stare, Emily's heart skipped a beat. "Uh... I see you have a leg issue too, but I wasn't talking about you. Don't take it the wrong way."

She gave James another look. He was in a suit, sitting straight. Even in a wheelchair, he had this commanding presence.

The more she looked, the more he seemed like James.

When she saved him, it was dark, so she couldn't be sure if this was the same guy.

"Had your fill?" James's lips curled into a teasing smile as he caught her staring.

She was bold, alright!

"Sir, I really need to go. If they can't find me, they'll come back!" Emily snapped back to reality and tried to leave again.

"Since I helped you, how do you plan to repay me?" James's eyes darkened, his tone dangerous.

Emily's heart raced. She instinctively stood up but was yanked back onto his lap.

She struggled, but he held her waist tight, making it impossible to move.

James looked down at Emily in his arms. Her face showed a hint of panic, but it couldn't hide her delicate features and smooth skin, especially her big, watery eyes that now looked at him like a scared deer.

"Ms. Johnson, you know how to repay a favor, right?" James's voice was deep and magnetic, with a hint of menace.

Emily's heart pounded. She wanted to snap back but couldn't find the words.

James had just helped her, after all.

"What kind of repayment do you want?" Emily nervously swallowed, feeling stiff as a board.

Seeing her flustered state, James felt quite pleased. He chuckled and let go of her.

Emily quickly got up from his lap and put some distance between them. She straightened her clothes and tried to look composed.

"Sir, I have something to do, so I'll be going now." Emily said, turning to leave.

"Wait," James called out.

Emily paused and looked back, wary. "What now?"

James didn't say anything. He just pulled out a business card and handed it to her.

Emily hesitated but took the card.

"When you figure out how to repay me, call the number on the card," James's voice was deep and magnetic, with a hint of authority.

Emily's hand tightened around the card. She didn't say anything, just nodded, and quickly left.

Watching her walk away, James's lips curled into a knowing smile.

He thought, "Emily is definitely interesting!"

Meanwhile, Emily ran until she was far enough away, then stopped to catch her breath.

She clutched her chest, trying to calm her racing heart, her mind replaying everything that had just happened.

Emily couldn't figure out who the guy was.

She looked down at the business card in her hand. It only had a name and a phone number.

"James Smith." The name seemed to have some kind of magic, making Emily's heart sink instantly. "Oh my God, it really is him!"

Emily's fingers traced the card, struggling internally.

Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the card. James's name and that handsome yet stern face lingered in her mind. His words, "When you figure out how to repay me, call the number on the card," seemed to scratch at her heart like a hook.

She cursed inwardly, "Damn it, when did I get involved with such a man? Just because of that damn life-saving favor?"

Emily irritably crumpled the card but then, fearing she might really offend James, smoothed it out and put it in her pocket.

Emily sighed and was about to head back when her phone rang.

The sharp ringtone broke the silence around her and interrupted her chaotic thoughts.

The caller was Emily's sister, Bianca Johnson. Emily took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, and answered the call. "Hello, Bianca..."

"Emily! Are you okay?" Bianca's anxious voice came through as soon as the call connected, with a noticeable sob.

"Bianca, I'm fine. I got away. What about you? Did they do anything to you?" Emily's heart tightened, and she quickly asked.

"I'm fine..." Bianca's voice was shaky, like she was trying to hold back tears. "Please help me, I beg you."

Emily's heart sank, a bad feeling rising. "Bianca, don't cry. Tell me what happened?"

"Mom and Dad want to marry me off to James," Bianca said between sobs, "But I love John. I can't marry James. Emily, please help me, I beg you."

Emily was thunderstruck, her ears buzzing, her mind blank. How could this be? Bianca was supposed to marry James?

"Bianca, don't worry. Tell me what's going on? Why do Mom and Dad want to marry you to James?" Emily tried to stay calm, trying to make sense of the sudden change.

On the other end, Bianca seemed to have calmed down a bit and spoke through sobs, "Tonight, the Smith Family called. Mom and Dad agreed to the marriage. They plan to discuss it tomorrow. They said the Smith Family is powerful and can't be offended. If you don't agree to marry James, they'll make me marry him!"

Emily's heart tightened, a chill running up her spine.

Their parents knew Bianca had been with John Williams for years, yet they wanted to break them up. They must have calculated that she would definitely help Bianca and agree to the marriage.

"Emily, please, help me. Tell Mom and Dad I don't want to marry James. I don't want to marry into the Smith Family. If you agree to marry him, they won't force me," Bianca's voice was filled with despair and pleading.

Emily's hand holding the phone trembled slightly. She didn't want to marry into the Smith Family either.

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