I wanted them to contact Daniel directly.
But before I could finish, his aunt shouted into the phone, “Sue them! You must. Arrest that woman now!”
“This is outrageous! She killed someone and still dares to smear my brother online!”
“Excuse me, ma’am, are you a family member of the deceased?”
“I’m his sister. His biological sister. Which makes me my nephew’s aunt.”
After hanging up, she grabbed my arm and dragged me straight to Daniel’s office.
His assistant, flustered, tried to block the way, but my aunt shoved him aside.
“Do you have no sense? I’m your CEO’s aunt, and she’s his wife. What right do you have to stop us? Do you want to be fired?”
Before he could answer, she threw the door open.
Daniel sat back in his executive chair, and Natalie Brooks straddled his lap, feeding him cookies mouth-to-mouth.
My aunt froze, then charged forward, yanked Natalie off him, and slapped wildly.
“You tramp! Seducing a married man?”
“Ah—Daniel, save me!”
Natalie ducked and sobbed, crying for his help.
Before my aunt’s next blow landed, Daniel seized her wrist.
“You—you dare lay a hand on her?”
“Do you even know what time it is? And you’re still fooling around at a moment like this?”
Daniel shot me a venomous glare.
He thought I’d brought his aunt here on purpose, just to catch him in the act.
“Aunt, this is my family matter. Don’t you think you’ve gone too far?”
“What did you just say?”
His aunt froze. She couldn’t believe her nephew, once so kind, would speak to her like that.
“Fine, fine—it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have meddled in someone else’s affairs.”
With that, she turned and stormed out.
I was about to follow when Daniel Carter stopped me. “Emily Carter, if it weren’t for our personal ties holding me back, I’d fight this case myself on Natalie’s behalf—and I’d crush you in court!”
I stayed quiet for a moment before asking, “Daniel, tell me—why do you treat me like your enemy now?”
He narrowed his eyes and leaned close, half his face shadowed. “Because I’ll never forget that slap.”
I nodded, nothing left to say.
Meanwhile, public opinion online was burning hotter by the day.
Fueled by the frenzy, the case went to trial within two weeks.
I didn’t hire an attorney. I sat alone in the plaintiff’s seat.
From the gallery, Daniel arched his brows at me with a smug grin. His relatives and friends shuffled in, whispering, “Why is your wife sitting as plaintiff? Shouldn’t you be the one up there?”