Has it become so hard to even have a meal in this house now? When Howard looked up at Emery, the sight was heart-wrenching. Her fair skin was marred with patches of blue and purple, signs of the hardships she had endured. Her once plump face was now thin and gaunt, a stark contrast to her former self. Even her long hair, which used to flow down her back, was now cut short. Howard felt a tightness in his chest, a subtle pain throbbing within. Once upon a time, she was the girl he adored wholeheartedly. But to see her like this now, how could it not stir a sigh of lament! Throughout the entire meal, Emery didn’t look at him, nor did she glance at anyone else. She quickly finished her food, stood up, and announced, “Everyone, please enjoy your meal at your own pace. I’m done eating!” Howard’s gaze followed her as she slowly ascended the stairs, while the expression on Winona’s face on the side turned unsightly. “Howard, it’s because Emery’s in a bad mood that she didn’t talk to you. Don’t take it to heart, okay?” Winona spoke in a soft, coquettish voice. Howard smiled gently. “It’s okay, I don’t blame her.” After returning to her room, Emery noticed that her phone was fully charged. After powering up and conducting a thorough check, there were no issues with the phone. She picked up her phone and descended the stairs. By then, the family had already finished their meal and were casually chatting with Howard. Howard was the legitimate eldest son of the Xenakis family in Qutbridge and also the future heir. Gary and Eleanor had once been extremely satisfied with this prospective son-in-law. Moreover, Howard and the three Langford siblings had grown up together and had always shared a close bond. Ignoring everyone around her, Emery headed straight for the front door. “Do you see that? So rude…” Eleanor couldn’t help but complain. “Mom, she’s just trying to spite us!” Bradley uttered dismissively. Ever since Winona returned, Emery had become irritable. She was constantly picking fights at home and was no longer as close to her brothers as before. “Ugh, let’s not talk about her anymore. It just annoys me every time she’s mentioned!” Eleanor sighed in frustration. “Howard, you’re not getting any younger, and it has been two years since you broke off your engagement to Emery. Besides, Winona has had feelings for you for so many years now. When will you two make your relationship official?” Eleanor looked at Howard with a face full of smiles. “Mrs. Langford, we need to think this through carefully. After all, Emery is still unaware that I’ve broken off our engagement. I’ll find a suitable time to explain it to her myself,” Howard answered calmly. Winona’s face instantly fell. “Howard…” Upon seeing the aggrieved expression on Winona’s face, Howard’s heart instantly softened. He reached out to gently pat her head, saying, “Don’t be upset, Winona!” Eleanor and Bradley exchanged a knowing smile. It seemed that Howard was not going anywhere. Throughout the entire time, Nicholas remained silent. He had taken a close look at the injuries on Emery’s face, and it left a bitter taste in his mouth. His once beloved sister, whom he had always pampered and adored, had been beaten so brutally. It sent waves of pain through his heart. “I’ve got some work left at the office. Howard, you can stay as long as you want. I’ll take my leave now!” Nicholas stood up, striding away with his long legs. Emery stood at the gates, waiting for her ride-share. Several minutes had passed, yet there was still no sign of the car. In the past, she used to drive herself everywhere. But now, the car keys were in Winona’s hands, and she didn’t feel like asking for them back. At that moment, Nicholas drove up and stopped beside Emery. Rolling down the car window, he asked, “Why didn’t you drive?” With a wry smile, Emery responded, “I didn’t feel like it.” Nicholas’ brows furrowed slightly. He didn’t appreciate the tone Emery was using at the moment. “Get in! I’ll give you a ride. Where do you want to go?” Emery gently shook her head. “No need, the car I called for will be here soon.” Growing impatient, Nicholas raised his voice and said, “I don’t want to repeat myself. Get in the car!” With a sense of resignation, Emery opened the backseat door and got in the car. Nicholas glanced at the empty passenger seat beside him, a spot that Emery used to occupy all the time. He stepped on the gas, and the car sped off into the distance. Emery unlocked her phone, scrolling through her Instagram feed. The latest post from Winona had just been uploaded. The photo showed her arm in arm with Howard, who was looking down at her, creating a truly sweet sight. The atmosphere inside the car was somewhat stifling. Suddenly, Nicholas broke the silence. “How… did you get the injuries on your face?” Emery was taken aback, feeling somewhat dazed. For a moment, she almost believed that the brother who once loved her dearly had returned. “It’s nothing, just a fight, a common occurrence in prison,” she said nonchalantly. “You just let them beat you up? Aren’t you a decorated Taekwondo practitioner? Where’s your skill?” Nicholas roared in anger. “I tried resisting before, but I couldn’t win against the prison guards’ batons,” Emery said with a self-deprecating laugh. Nicholas’ heart clenched in pain at the words. His next line of reprimand lodged in his throat. It took him a moment before he continued, “Didn’t the Langford family pay for someone to take care of you? How did you end up in fights? Were you acting like a spoiled young lady?” Emery let out a sigh, turning her gaze toward the window. Yeah, she had truly been “well taken care of” when in prison! They provoked and beat her up every day, even slandering her. They didn’t even spare her when she was asleep, causing her to suffer from severe insomnia later on. She had been absolutely terrified to fall asleep. “Yeah, they treated me so well! I owe a debt of gratitude to the Langford family!” A hint of mockery curled the corners of Emery’s mouth. “Emery, what’s with this attitude? Can you stop being so sarcastic?” Nicholas was growing increasingly irritated and frustrated. “Pull over! Thanks for giving me a ride, Nicholas.” Nicholas hit the brakes, bringing the Mercedes-Benz to a halt. Emery opened the car door and, without looking back, walked away. She walked into a moderately-sized hair salon she found nearby. The salon she used to frequent in the past would charge her thousands just for a haircut. But now, she had to be more frugal. After all, the Langford family had cut off her card a few years ago. At that time, she had a total of about two million in her account, which was a combination of her previous savings and royalties. If she were to move out of the Langford residence in the future and had to buy her own place, this amount of money would definitely not be considered much. The shop assistant washed her hair, and after she gave some simple instructions, the hairdresser began to trim her hair. This salon was really affordable. A haircut only cost 50 bucks, and with the addition of a treatment, it all came up to 150 bucks in total. She sent a message to Annie on WhatsApp: Annie, can we meet now? In no time at all, Annie had asked her for her location. Just after Emery had finished her hair treatment, Annie hurriedly arrived. As soon as Annie walked through the door, she pulled Emery into a tight embrace. Her voice was choked as she said, “Emery, you’ve been through so much. I’ve been worried about you all the way from abroad, but I was helpless to do anything.” Emery patted her back, whispering softly, “It’s okay. See, I’ve come out, haven’t I?” The two of them found a café to sit down in. As Annie looked at the injuries on Emery’s face, her eyes welled up with tears again. “Emery, you’ve really suffered. And that Howard, how could he just ignore you like this!” Emery scoffed, “Him? He only has eyes for Winona now. He barely even notices me.” “What’s your next move?” Annie asked with concern. “To find a place and move out first. I don’t want to stay in the Langford residence anymore.” A glint of determination flashed in Emery’s eyes. “You’re welcome to stay at my place first. My house is vacant anyway,” Annie hastily offered.