When Emma returned from the library that day, she spotted her mother on the couch. Beside her was Vanessa seated, hugging her arm. Smiles sat on both their faces as they carried on their conversation.
Emma stared at them for a split second with disdain before heading to her room when Vanessa noticed her presence and rushed over to her.
She held on to Emma's hands and enthusiastically complained, "Where have you been, Emma? You are ignoring my messages these days, and I don't know where to find you."
"That's why, you came over to my house uninvited?" Emma raised one of her eyebrows.
There was a sharp look in Emma's eyes. Although Vanessa was used to Emma being overbearing, this gloominess and hostility felt new to her.
"Why are you acting this way? I thought you're at your home, and Aunt Lin let me in," Vanessa explained. Her tone was soft and docile.
"Uh, so I ignore you, and you think it is appropriate for you to show up in my house to search for me?" There was amusement in Emma's voice.
Jude noticed the tension between them and came over. A frown settled on her face, realizing the downtrodden expression on Vanessa's face, and scolded, "Emma, are you acting up again? You, young lady, need to learn some manners. All because your dad spoiled you, you act so lawless now."
Emma remained unfazed and let out a chuckle.
Extending her hand, she patted on Vanessa's cheek and commented, "I am just teaching a dog how to behave well, Mom. Stay out of it, alright?"
Hatred rose in Emma's chest in turbulent waves when she thought about how Vanessa trampled on her, humiliating her to the point of death in her previous life.
Emma was originally a vengeful person. Although her temperament calmed down after her rebirth, one look at Vanessa made her want to dig out those eyes that once stared at her in disgust and mockery.
However, she held her anger back.
A bad dog should slowly be taught what happens when it betrays its master.
"Emma!" Her mother raised her voice. "You will be grounded if you keep this up! I am still your mother!"
Her mother?
Emma wondered where this relationship was when her mother stood with Vanessa, pushing her until the abyss.
Emma took a step back and raised her hand in surrender. "It's a joke, alright? You need to ease up more."
"Even as a joke, it's not funny. Apologize to your friend, right now." Jude's tone was stern.
Extending her hand, she put it around Vanessa's shoulder and pulled her close. "That's how we are. You don't mind it, Nessa, right?"
Being the well-behaved follower she was, Vanessa shook her head and responded, "Aunt Lin, it's fine. That's how Emma and I get along."
Jude sighed and shook her head. "You're too kind, Child. You can't keep on indulging her like this. If she bullies you, let me know. Aunt Lin will seek justice for you."
A shy smile adorned Vanessa's face.
The interaction between them made Emma bored, and she was about to leave when Vanessa spoke up. Being with Emma for so long, she understood her mood well.
"Emma, my dad didn't receive an invitation to Gu family's celebration banquet, and well, you know, recently his business hasn't been doing good. If he manages to enter the banquet, it will help with the issues," Vanessa brought up.
Emma arched her brows.
The Gu family's celebration banquet.
That did unlock a memory within her.
"And you want me to help you?"
Vanessa's pitiful, pleading eyes stared at her. "If it's too difficult for you, I understand."
In her previous life, Emma spoiled Vanessa a lot. No matter what she asked for— as long as it didn't cross the line— Emma didn't think twice before fulfilling her wishes.
Vanessa complained later about Emma's condescending behaviour, bitter about being treated as something lowly— something that was pressed under Emma's heel. However, Emma believed it was mutualistic.
No one forced Vanessa to be her dog.
How hypocritical.
"Why would it be difficult for me?" Emma asked— her arrogance clear in her voice.
"Dress up well, and if you don't have anything nice to wear, just message my maids. After all, the face of a dog represents its master's."
°°°
"Honey! You can't keep on spoiling that girl! She was going around calling her friend a dog today! That Vanessa, what a lovely girl."
Emma heard the sounds of her mother complaining when she made her way over to the dining table. A frown settled on her forehead.
"How noisy," she mumbled, "should I have her sent away on a vacation?"
"Dad," Emma greeted, smiling widely.
Her father stared at her sternly. "What is it that I am hearing from your mother? When did you learn to be that disrespectful?"
Emma held in her urge to roll her eyes. Although her indulged her most of the times, he adored Jude as well. He wasn't going to brush aside her constant rude behaviour towards her mother.
"Dad, she had no issue being called a dog," said Emma. "For her to not have an issue over it..."
Emma pulled the chair and sat down. "It must mean she is either suspicious or she might be a masochist and enjoys this."
Then, she shrugged her shoulders.
Both of her parents were baffled by her attitude.
Her mother glared at her father and slapped him on the chest. "You better fix this daughter of yours or else you won't have a bed to sleep on tonight!"