âYou little punk!â Lewis jumped from his seat, ready to pounce on Emmett. âHow dare you show up here? Havenât you caused enough trouble for Abel?â
âSo, youâre the little troublemaker?â Oscar narrowed his eyes at Emmett in warning. âThe person who singlehandedly smeared and tarnished my familyâs good name?â
âGranddad,â Abel said, still holding on to Emmettâs arm. âEmmettâs not like that. Please donât scare himâ¦â
âIâm scaring him? I think heâs scaring me!â Oscar yelled. âLook at him! Heâs prettier than a woman! Itâs no wonder heâs got you wrapped around his little finger!â
âEmmett!â Evelyn spoke in a cloying voice as she stepped forward. âAre you going to keep hounding Abel? What are your intentions?!â
âI just want to help him clear his name,â Emmett smiled. âIâve already explained that Abel isnât gay, but no one seems to believe me!â
âStop lying to us!â Evelyn pointed at the scandalous photos on the table. âTell me, is that not you in the photos with Abel? Arenât you embarrassed to be caught red-handed? Or did you do it on purpose?â
Emmett casually picked up one of those photos from the photo. âTsk-tsk, who took these photos? The angles are horrible!â
âYou know whatâs horrible? You seducing Abel, you shameless minx!â Evelyn shrieked.
âPlease, youâre the shameless one,â Emmett rebuked. âYouâre the one whoâs been trying to seduce Emmett, and now youâre directing your anger at me when he didnât fall for your tricks!â
âAt least Iâm a woman!â Evelyn argued. âI wouldnât have humiliated Abel and his family like you did!â
âI told you all of you are stretching the truth,â Emmett intertwined his hand with Abelâs just to prove a point. âAbel and I are just being friendly. Whatâs the big deal?â
âYou crazy b*stard!â Oscar slammed his fist on the table. âHow can time like this? Someone, get this man out of my house!â
Abel immediately stood in front of Emmett protectively just as a few guards burst into the room.
âEmmettâs just a child! He doesnât know what heâs saying!â
âOh, I think he knows exactly what heâs sayingâ¦â Oscar muttered. âAbel Ryker, if you insist on protecting that kid, you may leave Ryker Group with immediate effect!â
âFather, donât be rash!â Lewis immediately stepped in. âAbel is not in his right mind, but Iâll make sure he snaps out of it! Iâll get rid of Emmett!â
âBut Iâm here to help Abel!â Emmett pouted. âWhy canât you see that?â
âYou call this helping?â Lewis asked with one raised eyebrow. âCanât you see youâre only making things worse?â
âWell, how can I help then?â Emmett scratched his head innocently.
âWhy donât you just leave? Stop causing more trouble for my family!â Lewis said.
âBut I have to be responsible for tarnishing Abelâs reputation, right?â Emmett said.
âPlease, you canât afford to bear such a responsibility!â Lewis huffed impatiently. âFor all the trouble youâve caused, just leave and never talk to Abel again!â
âWell, what are you still doing here? Are you going to leave only when youâve thoroughly destroyed Abel?â Evelyn chimed in with her arms folded.
âOf course, not!â Emmett laughed. âI told you. Iâm here to turn things around!â
âThereâs no way you can turn this around!â Lewis clawed at his head in frustration. âUnless you become a woman!â
âWell, well,â Emmett quipped. âIâll become a woman then. How hard could it be?â
âEmmettâ¦â Abel frowned, tugging on Emmettâs sleeve. âStop it. The adults are talking.â
âWell, I have something to say too,â Emmettâs voice was gentle as he whispered in Abelâs ear. âIf I become a woman, then all of your troubles would disappear!â
Abel stroked Emmettâs head gently. âGo home first. Iâll look for you in a bit,â Abel promised.
However, instead of leaving, Emmett brought his hands to his head and removed the wig he was wearing.