Winning Her Heart Back

 A Gentle Knife

Emelie took a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped the dirtied gloves that she had always been wearing. "If you want to keep the house, keep it. I'm just worried that you won't be able to hold on to it."

She tossed the handkerchief aside and left with Jodie and her bodyguards.

The moment she left Eastbay and got into the car, her expression turned cold.

Jodie said, "Ms. Pierce, don't be upset."

"I'm not upset. This isn't the first time I've seen him go back on his word. I suffered a lot for it back then." Emelie scoffed.

Jodie asked, "Do we still want the Pierce Residence?"

Emelie took off her dirty gloves and tossed them aside.

Jodie handed her a clean pair, and after she put it on, said coolly, "If someone from the Pierce family can't have the property of the Pierce family, then I'd rather see it destroyed than in the hands of the Middleton family."

After she got used to the new gloves, she smiled. "Jodie, I need you to do something for me."

That night, the old Pierce family house on Brookside Road caught on fire. Fortunately, neighbors noticed it in time and called the fire department. The blaze was extinguished before it caused any serious damage. William wore a long black coat as he stood outside the Pierce Residence in the early morning. A fog had hung over the area.

The fire trucks had just left. The ground was still wet from putting out the fire, and the air smelled of burnt wood.

Just then, a car pulled up by the side of the road.

William turned his head to see Emelie get out of the car, wearing brown ankle boots and a long, caramel- colored coat.

As she walked toward him, she adjusted her scarf and said with a smile, "It seems colder than the last few days, Mr. Middleton. You were the one who advised me to dress warmly, and yet you're wearing something so light?"

William waited until she was close to him before he asked, "Why are you acting in such an extreme manner now? If I don't give you the house, will you burn it down instead of leaving it?"

"Mr. Middleton, what do you mean?" Emelie said, "I just heard that my old family house caught fire, so I came to have a look."Content is property of NôvelDrama.Org.

William said in a low tone, "You're being too extreme."

Emelie shushed him. "I'm not extreme enough. I would've set fire to the whole row of houses if I was any more extreme.

"Do you think that would make it on the news? Would there be a discussion about the owner of this house, maybe they would even name Xander and the Xander Group? Would that kind of curiosity lead them to dig up all the old stories about the Pierce family?"

William chuckled softly, finally understanding what she meant.

The fire wasn't meant to destroy the Pierce Residence but to warn him that, if he didn't return the house to her, it could become the spark that reignited the past scandals about the Pierce family. She was sure that William wouldn't allow the affairs of Xander and the Xander Group to be revived.

He hadn't expected Emelie to act so decisively and without hesitation. She must have given the order to start the fire as soon as she left Eastbay the previous night. She didn't even consider negotiating. The action she took was decisive and final.

"You do things very differently from how I taught you. You've also become very good at manipulating public opinion," William said.

Emelie hummed in agreement. "I am responsible for the jewels and leather lines of the Filo Group. You see, you can't promote luxury goods without marketing."

It was only 7.30 in the morning. If it hadn't been for the fire, there might not have been anyone driving at this time in the winter.

However, just then, another car pulled up by the side of the road.

Charles's head popped out as the rear window rolled down. "Mr. Middleton, Ms. Pierce, what's going on?"

Emelie ignored how out of place it was for Charles to show up so early. She sighed and answered, "I heard that it was an electrical short circuit that caused the fire. Mr. Middleton, if you'd agreed to sell me the house a few days ago, I'd have had it renovated and perhaps the disaster wouldn't have happened."

Charles looked around and said, "Ms. Pierce, why are you so interested in this old house anyways? It's not very comfortable to live in. Why don't you pick out a new place in town, and I'll give it to you as a gift? What do you say?"

"Mr. Davis, I appreciate the gesture, but I really like this one." Emelie slipped her hands into her coat pockets with a faint smile. "Mr. Middleton, are you still unwilling to let it go at this stage?"

The air still smelled of burning wood. William took a deep breath and then coughed. "It's just a house, and if you want it, I'll give it to you."

Emelie asked, "No conditions?"

William coughed a few more times, and his voice was a little hoarse now. "What am I supposed to do if you don't want to answer my question?"

"Then don't mind if I do." Emelie watched as he continued to cough.

She took a handkerchief from her pocket, walked over to him, and offered it. "Your cold seems to be getting worse. Are you sure you're alright?"

"I'm almost better," he replied.

Just as William reached for the handkerchief, Emelie suddenly said coldly, "Nothing comes for free, Mr. Middleton. I'd feel guilty taking a house from you for nothing. Very well, I'll answer your question. About Wesley and I..."

She smiled gently. "We are, of course, legally married."