Chapter 23 Kicked Out Again

Emily lugged a small suitcase as she stepped out of the Smith Villa. This time, no one had to push her; she packed her stuff all by herself. Luckily, Michael was already in bed, thanks to the nanny, so he missed the whole scene.

Emily trudged to the villa's entrance, staring at the small suitcase beside her. Her mind was a mess, and she couldn't help but let out a bitter smile. Eight years in the mansion, and this was all she had to show for it.

It was late, and getting a cab near the villa was a pain. With no one else to call, Emily hesitated before dialing John's number.

Hearing Emily's shaky voice, John, who was working on his computer, immediately frowned and stood up. "What's wrong, Emily? Do you need help?"

John's concern made Emily break down. Even a good friend cared so much about her. But James, whom she had carefully taken care of for eight years, didn't believe a word she said.

There was silence on the other end, just Emily's quiet sobs. John grabbed his coat and car keys and rushed to the door. "Emily, where are you? I'm coming."

"John. I'm fine." Emily clenched her hands so tight her fingertips turned white. She couldn't bring herself to ask for help and hung up, not wanting John to see her like this.

John stared at the ended call, then bolted downstairs, coat and keys in hand, and hit the gas.

It was late, the moon half-hidden by clouds, casting a dim light.

Worn out, Emily couldn't stand any longer. She set the suitcase down and curled up on the steps of the mansion. Her dress, perfect for the day, felt too thin in the night chill. She hugged herself, trying to stay warm.

When John arrived and saw her, a sharp pain hit him. How could Emily, the one he wanted to protect, be treated like this?

"John?" Hearing footsteps, Emily looked up and met John's worried eyes. "How did you know I was here?"

Who else could make Emily this sad but James? He just didn't want to admit it. John thought, forcing a wry smile.

"I couldn't sleep and went for a walk. I was nearby when you called." John helped her up, grabbed the suitcase, and got her into the car.

"Thanks, John. I'm so glad you're here." Emily had tried to keep it together, but now she couldn't hold back, tears cascading down her cheeks, deeply touched by John's presence and concern.

"Let's go, I'll take you home."

On the way, John wanted to say something but didn't know where to start. Emily kept crying, and the car ride was heavy with silence, the shadows of trees slipping past as they drove.

After a while, seeing Emily calm down a bit, John finally asked, "Emily, why were you out there alone? Did you and James fight again?"

"Yeah," Emily replied softly, her head down.

John paused, his emotions swirling, and after a moment, he said, "I have a small apartment near the hospital. It’ll be convenient for you. You can stay there for a while and focus on your job."

"John, that's too much. I can find a place myself. I don't want to trouble you," Emily said, waving her hands, trying to refuse. She had already leaned on John too much.

"You can find a place later. For now, don't worry about it. Between us, there's no such thing as a hassle." With that, John didn't wait for her to refuse and drove into a quiet street, stopping in front of a quaint little apartment.

"Let's go." John's voice was firm, and Emily didn't argue anymore. She really had nowhere else to go. She could move out later when she found a better option.

Emily looked at John gratefully. "John, thank you."

John was carrying her luggage up the steps. Hearing this, he turned and gave a reassuring smile. "Emily, this is what friends do. Didn't I promise Ava I'd look out for you?"

After moving Emily's things into the room, John looked around and nodded in satisfaction. "I bought this place a few years ago when I went abroad. After I came back, I had the cleaner clean it up. It's still pretty decent. You can stay here for now. If you need anything, let me know, and I'll bring it over tomorrow."

The room wasn't big. In the living room, a cream-colored sofa took up most of the space. In front of the sofa was a wooden coffee table, and above it, a warm yellow lamp cast a soft light. Next to the sofa was a small bookshelf, neatly filled with books and magazines. In the corner was a small vase with a few fresh lilies.

Everything in the apartment was just the way Emily liked it.

Standing in the center of the room, Emily felt a warmth in her heart. This small apartment, though not big, felt like home.

"John, I really don't know how to thank you. I already caused you trouble at the hospital today, and now I'm asking for your help again." Emily said, choking up. "John, I won't go back to James."

Hearing this, John felt both sad and hopeful—sad that Emily was hurt again, but hopeful that he might have another chance.

But now wasn't the time to rush; he didn't want to scare her. "Emily, don't worry. I'll always be here for you."

Emily nodded silently. John patted her head gently, his voice soft. "It's late. I'll head out now and come see you tomorrow. Emily, have a good night."