Chapter 36 Anger

Emma returned home from the hospital to her beautifully decorated duplex apartment, which was in disarray due to her destructive behavior. The maids diligently cleaned up the mess, trying to restore order. Emma, holding a red wine glass, smashed it on the floor, further adding to the chaos. The nervous maid quickly collected the broken glass, grateful for Kara's arrival.

Kara surveyed the messy living room and settled on the couch opposite Emma. She noticed the bleeding gauze on Emma's face and inquired about the injury, expressing her concern that Alina might be responsible. Kara had assumed that Alina and Caleb were already divorced, and as Emma's fiancée, she expected Emma to have a stronger presence in Caleb's life. However, with the revelation that Caleb and Alina were still married and Alina's return, the divorce proceedings would likely be delayed even further. This realization deepened Kara's worry for Emma.

Kara pressed Emma for details about her current situation with Mr. Collins and urged her to be honest. She emphasized the difficulty she faced in managing public opinion amidst the unexpected circumstances surrounding Emma. The consequences of Emma's recent actions had already caused significant losses, not only for Caleb but also for Emma's own reputation. As a renowned designer, Emma's career could suffer greatly if her troubles continued. Kara sternly reminded Emma that she was at the early stages of her career and could not afford any more negative publicity.

Emma, feeling angered and upset, revealed that Mrs. Collins (referring to Alina) was the one who had physically assaulted her. This revelation shocked Kara, as it escalated the severity of the situation. Emma recounted the main events, and Kara's headache worsened as she comprehended the full extent of the turmoil Emma was facing.

It was clear that the relationship between Emma and the Collins family was not as expected. There seemed to be a long-standing feud between them, and Emma was not accepted by the Collins, particularly due to Mrs. Collins' attitude. Kara couldn't help but comment, "It appears that the Collins family is very different from what you anticipated."

Kara had always known that Emma worked tirelessly to gain fame and status because she wanted to be worthy of Caleb, even though Caleb was backing her. However, it seemed that the car accident involving Caleb's late wife three years ago had something to do with Emma. Now it appeared that no matter how talented Emma was as an artist, she would never be fully accepted by the Collins family.

"In light of this, it would be best for you to avoid direct conflicts with the Collins," Kara advised, considering the Collins' influential position in Ingford. She further explained that the Collins might have left Emma alone for the past few years because they believed Joslan Hughes (Alina) was dead. With Alina's return, they were likely to start paying attention to Emma again, and there might be potential retaliation from the Collins despite Caleb's protection.

"I haven't done anything to provoke them," Emma protested, feeling aggrieved. She had been summoned and humiliated by Mrs. Collins without any apparent reason. Kara's next statement intensified Emma's animosity towards Alina. Kara suggested, "I suspect they haven't given you a hard time these past few years because they thought Joslan Hughes was dead."

Joslan Hughes—Emma seethed at the name. The renowned wedding dress designer whom everyone talked about was none other than Alina. Kara's observation was accurate; the Collins family likely refrained from troubling Emma because they believed Alina was deceased. However, now that they knew Alina was alive and well, still residing in Ingford, the dynamics were changing. The Hughes and Collins families had always enjoyed a strong relationship, particularly between Ms. Erica and the late Collins, which meant that no matter Caleb's attitude towards Alina, her position in the Collins family remained secure, surpassing anyone else's.

"In any case, for now, it's best not to rely on Master Caleb for any shows," Kara advised, recognizing that such a move would only backfire. She had initially assumed that Alina and Caleb were already divorced, which justified seeking Caleb's help with the show. However, since there was no divorce between them, running a show with Caleb's involvement would only fuel rumors about Emma being Caleb's mistress.

Emma felt overwhelmed and asked, "What should I do now?" She realized that Alina had triumphed at her show, stealing the reputation Emma had hoped to attain. If Emma didn't make progress soon, she would be gradually pushed out of the design world by Alina.

After considering it, Kara suggested, "There's a show competition happening at Oklens. You should participate in it." Emma inquired about the timeframe, and Kara responded, "Thirteen days from now. I will prepare the necessary exhibits for you. If you achieve a good ranking, it will pave the way for your future in the international scene."

The idea of competing on the same level as Alina intrigued Emma. Despite her disdain for Alina, Emma couldn't help but feel envious of Alina's successful career over the past three years. Emma couldn't help but wonder why all the good luck seemed to be bestowed upon Alina—supportive parents, a loving grandmother, a good husband, and a caring mother-in-law. Not to mention the resources Andre had provided for Alina's career, as Emma overheard from Caleb. Emma attributed Alina's achievements to the opportunities and support she received from Andre.