Love in the Abyss

"It wasn't me, believe me." Emily Stone stared stubbornly at the man in the car as the rain poured down, the windows wet from the rain and his cold face vaguely visible through the blurred glass.Emily stood outside the car, her shaking body unable to stop her from screaming, "Damien Blackwood!!!You listen to me for once!" The car door slammed open and Emily barely got a sigh of relief before she was pulled into the car by a strong hand. She lost her center of gravity and threw herself at him, her white shirt instantly soaked with rainwater and clinging to her skin. "Damien Blackwood, the people who hurt Claire, I didn't hire them..." Emily hadn't finished her sentence when a long, slender finger unceremoniously cupped her chin and the man's low voice came from above her: "You, do you like me that much?" There was a hint of tobacco in the cool voice, familiar and distracting to her. "What?" Emily froze for a moment, she liked him, everyone in the world knew that. But why did he ask that all of a sudden? The man held her chin coldly, while his other hand reached out to her, his fingertips tenderly touching her cheek, cold from the rain.Emily was mesmerized by those deep eyes, and her heart couldn't help but beat faster. It was as if she had heard his next words, "Is it cold?" However, a sudden chill emanated from the man's body and his eyes became cold and piercing, "Emily Stone, do you like me that much? Like me so much that you're willing to have Claire killed?" An invisible feeling of oppression surged through her heart, Emily's heart clenched violently and her consciousness snapped awake. She couldn't help but laugh bitterly, this man's gentleness turned out to be nothing more than a satanic smile in his cold heart. "I didn't kill Claire ......," she hurriedly tried to explain, but was cut off by the man's impatient words. "You didn't kill Claire? You just spent money to hire some punks and let them ...... "A trace of anger flashed in the man's eyes, and before the words were finished, he suddenly tore Emily's clothes off with one hand. "Ah!" Emily screamed as her form was mercilessly pushed out of the car. She fell into the rain in a pitiful state. The man's cold voice echoed in her ears, "Emily Stone, Ms. Emily, what you did to Claire, I will do to you. Do you feel the same helplessness now?" Emily jerked her head up and looked at the man in the car, disbelief in her eyes, Damien Blackwood sat in the car looking down at her, pulling out a pad and slowly wiping his fingers, "Miss Emily, I'm tired now, you can go." "Damien Blackwood!!! listen to me! I really ...... " Emily's voice was full of fear. The man lifted his eyelids impatiently and gave her a cold look, "If you want me to listen to you, it's not impossible." He spoke weakly, "Kneel down in front of the Blackwood Estate the night before, maybe I'll be in a good mood and willing to give you ten minutes." The car door slammed heavily and the handkerchief was thrown from the car, landing in the rain and gradually becoming soaked. Emily looked down and picked up the paddle, clutching it tightly. She stood there, letting the rain soak her hair and cheeks, but her heart was filled with determination. The car pulled into the Blackwood Estate and the heavy iron gate closed mercilessly in front of her. The rain continued to fall, and Emily's pale face did not budge as she knelt, her knees hitting the ground hard. She was not kneeling to atone for her sins! It was because Claire Williams was her friend! Her friend was dead, and she had to get down on her knees, not only for her friend, but to explain herself! She had to prove herself, prove that she didn't do those evil things! She denied it! Her clothes were torn and barely covered her vital parts, but her spine remained straight as she covered her body with her hands. She was proud and even on her knees she had her dignity! She is New York's Emily Stone! She insisted on kneeling just to get a chance to explain herself, something she had never done and was unlikely to do again. And yet, could there really be such a chance? Could anyone really believe her? The rain, it still hadn't stopped. The night passed. The downpour still hasn't stopped, and Emily is still kneeling in front of Blackwood Estate. Her silhouette in the rain looked particularly desolate, her dress soaked like wet paper, fluttering in the cold wind. As the night wore on, she never moved, the rain penetrating her skin with a piercing cold that seemed to torment every inch of her flesh and blood. It wasn't until the first rays of dawn broke the darkness that Blackwood Estate stirred. The silver-haired old butler walked out of the courtyard with a well-worn black umbrella, his pace so steady that the storm seemed to have no effect on him. The iron gate creaked open and Emily finally felt a flicker of movement. She lifted her wet face, her eyes red and swollen, with a pale smile that barely showed any strength: "Mr. Harris, I didn't do it, I really didn't." The old butler was silent for a split second, his tone still cold, "Damien Blackwood told you to get out of here." His tone didn't change and there was nothing but endless indifference and command in his eyes. Emily held out her rain-soaked hand, trembling as she took the clothes. Her voice was hoarse but firm, "I want to see him." The old butler did not show the slightest change of expression and said quietly, "Damien Blackwood said that Miss Emily's presence was polluting the environment of the manor and that she no longer needed to appear here." Fighting back the bitterness in her throat, Emily looked up at him, a flash of pain flashing through her eyes. She closed her eyes as rain trickled down her cheeks, blurring her vision. She whispered, "Mr. Harris, I did not pay those men to hurt Claire, I didn't do it, absolutely not." Her words were clear and strong, each word like a sword blade, carrying the last stubbornness of her heart. Her eyes grew hard as iron at that moment - she knew no one would listen to her defense, yet she persisted. A flicker of anger flashed in the old butler's eyes, but he quickly regained his indifference, "Claire was my daughter, she had never been to these filthy places, why did she die? Miss Emily, you should understand that you owe her much more than that. Emily's heart ached, her throat felt blocked, words clogged her mouth but she couldn't get them out. The relationship between her and Claire was destined to have no explanation. She lowered her head, biting her lips tightly, tears mixed with rainwater trickling down, hitting her heart coldly. "The last phone call and text message Claire sent you, Ms. Emily should still remember." The old butler's words were like cold knives slicing through her heart. Emily's body trembled slightly as the man in front of her continued, "It wasn't just Claire you killed, it was a living being, Ms. Emily, no amount of sophistry on your part will help. Everyone knows you have an obsession in your heart for Damien Blackwood, but you can't get an answer from him, and your jealousy makes you want to destroy Claire's innocence. You used as much vitriol as you could muster, and even Damien Blackwood couldn't stand it." Emily's heart was pounding like thunder, her face was pale, her lips parted, and she could say nothing. "Miss Emily, get out of here." The old butler's tone was no longer negotiable. Emily stared at him blankly, and suddenly a flash of cool determination flashed in her eyes, "What did Damien Blackwood say?" She no longer had the strength to hold back and asked in a low voice. The corners of the old butler's mouth turned up slightly and he said coldly, "Damien Blackwood said, how come the one who died wasn't you?" Emily's body shook and her eyes went black. She couldn't hold herself up, and her body staggered, falling head first onto the cold asphalt. She laughed to herself, tears mixing with the rain. She knew this man would never give her a chance, he would never believe her. "Claire, Claire, why wasn't it me who died?" Emily murmured, tears falling silently like rain. On the second floor of the Blackwood Estate, Damien Blackwood stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, his eyes cold, gazing at the lonely backdrop outside the estate. "Damien Blackwood, Miss Emily has been asked to leave." The old butler's voice carried a hint of subtle emotion as he stood in the doorway and reported. The red wine glass in Damien Blackwood's hand shook slightly as he said in a deep voice, "Tell the Stone family that Emily Stone is no longer a member of the Stone family." His voice was like an icy blade that cut through all relationships. "Yes." The old butler replied. "Second, notify University S that Emily Stone has a bad record at school and destroy her file immediately. Notify First High that Emily Stone has been expelled for misbehavior." "Lastly," Damien Blackwood's eyes were cold as iron, "have her sent to prison." The old butler froze, a flash of shock in his eyes, "Damien Blackwood, this ......" Damien Blackwood's cold smile carried an undeniable, "Murder pays for murder, bribery, premeditated murder. She should pay for her actions." Emily Stone dragged her tired body back to the Stone family, but Damien Blackwood's order was like a heavy hammer that broke all her ties with the Stone family. With a cold message, the old butler "invited" her out of the Stone family. As she left the Stone gates, she felt as if she had lost everything. The iron gates slammed shut, cutting her off from her past. As she walked outside, two men in police uniforms blocked her way: "Ms. Emily, on suspicion of aiding and abetting the destruction of Claire's innocence, resulting in her death, please come with us." Emily Stone was led into the prison, she stood in front of the barred window, looked up at the shimmering back outside the window and suddenly spoke firmly, "I didn't hurt Claire. Damien Blackwood stood silently in front of the window, his slender figure still erect, and Emily Stone's determination brought a flicker of contempt to his eyes, "You expect me to believe you?" His gaze pierced her heart like a sharp blade. Emily Stone tried to argue, but her voice was already choked with the dryness and tension in her throat. Her body shook, but she didn't look down. She knew in her heart that no matter what happened, she couldn't run from it anymore.