Alpha's replacement bride is destined mate-Chapter 85 The Stepmother’s Obstruction

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No, I’ll have to speak with the woman. I’ll have to find a way to convince her to accept this copy. Emily made up her mind that this was the only solution at the moment.

So, Emily walked in the direction of the bathroom, and at that moment, she noticed that the old woman had just emerged from the bathroom. Instead of returning to the reception room, she pushed open the stairway door and disappeared behind it.

Emily, intrigued, followed and stood outside the door, when she overheard the old woman’s voice coming from the other side.

"Yes, she just arrived." The old woman whispered, "I saw a copy of her lawsuit application. It seems she really managed to get fifty signatures, but it doesn’t matter. I won’t let her file the lawsuit."

Emily’s heart sank. It turned out that the old woman was only intent on making things difficult for her. But who was she speaking to on the phone?

"Once this is over, you must settle my account as agreed." The old woman’s voice dripped with greed for money.

Could it be that Katherine was behind the old woman’s orders? The thought made Emily burst through the door angrily. When the old woman saw her, her wrinkled face contorted in instant surprise.

"Who were you talking to?" Emily demanded of the old woman. "Was it Katherine? She’s the one who told you to stop me from filing a lawsuit, isn’t she?"

The old woman regained her composure, slipped her phone into her pocket, and addressed Emily as if nothing had transpired, "I don’t know what you’re talking about."

"I heard every word you just said," Emily said angrily. "Don’t evade the question. Tell me, did Katherine instruct you to do this?"

"Looks like I’ll have to call security," the old woman said, pulling out her mobile phone and dialing a number. She spoke to the person on the other end, "Yes, there’s a woman here causing a disturbance. Please send someone over quickly."

Three minutes later, several security guards arrived swiftly, and the old woman pointed at Emily, telling the guards, "This is the woman. She’s the one who caused trouble here earlier. You can escort her out."

The head security guard had a stern expression. He looked at Emily and said in a firm tone, "Miss, please leave now. Otherwise, don’t blame us for treating you roughly."

"I didn’t cause any trouble," Emily exclaimed loudly. "You can’t just force me to leave. I’m the Princess of the North."

The tall security guard sported a mocking expression, the corners of his mouth curling slightly upward, his eyes brimming with disdain. He spoke in a sarcastic tone, "The princess of the north went to the court in the south to file a lawsuit? Do you really think we’re fools?"

"Don’t waste your breath on her, get this woman out of here," the old woman commanded impatiently.

Several burly men, their faces stern and eyes betraying a trace of ferocity, closed in on Emily. One of them wore a fierce expression, one hand gripping his baton and holding it high, as if poised to strike Emily at any moment. Just then, a quiet yet authoritative voice echoed from the other end of the corridor.

"What are you doing?" The voice wasn’t harsh or shrill, but it carried a force that could not be ignored.

Emily turned her head and saw Prince Adam standing a short distance down the passage. His brow furrowed slightly as he strode briskly, each step determined.

"Emily?" Prince Adam looked surprised upon seeing Emily, and immediately turned his ire on the security guards.

"How dare you treat the princess of the north like this?"

"Princess?" The man with the baton was momentarily stunned, his face paling. He quickly lowered his baton, eyes filled with horror and remorse, his hands trembling slightly. He hastily apologized to Emily, "I’m sorry, we had no idea who you were."

Prince Adam’s usually genial demeanor was now marred by a distinct look of disapproval. His eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a hint of sternness as he glared at the security guards and demanded, "What happened here?"

The lead security guard looked nervous, lowering his head slightly as he spoke truthfully, "We received a call from Miss Rowling, informing us that a woman was causing trouble. It was Miss Rowling who ordered us to remove this lady."

As Prince Adam’s gaze shifted slowly to the old woman, her expression momentarily contorted. She hastily defended herself, "I apologize, I didn’t realize this lady was the princess of the north. I rejected her application because she didn’t provide sufficient evidence for the lawsuit. I never expected her to threaten me. Your Highness, I was merely following protocol."

"You’re lying," Emily angrily exposed the old woman’s deceit. "In reality, you’re secretly conspiring with Katherine, and it’s she who instructed you to prevent me from filing my lawsuit. I overheard your call."

"Your Highness, please don’t listen to her absurd claims," the old woman’s face suddenly tensed, her eyes widening with fear. "I have devoted my life to Congress. How could I possibly collude with anyone? Besides, I don’t even know any Katherine." Her voice trembled slightly, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

Prince Adam scrutinized the old woman intently, causing time to seem to halt momentarily. After a few seconds, I heard Prince Adam say calmly, "Give me your phone." His tone was serene, yet carried an underlying sense of immense pressure.

"Your Highness, you mustn’t believe this woman’s claims." The old woman panicked, "You must have faith in my loyalty to Congress."

"I’ll ask again." Prince Adam’s voice was like a razor, piercing into the old woman’s conscience, "Are you attempting to hinder Luna Emily from filing a lawsuit?"

"I..." The old woman’s face was etched with alarm, her eyes darting about, unable to utter a coherent word.

"Confiscate her phone and escort her to my office." Prince Adam’s command was decisive, his tone so authoritative that the men hesitated not a moment.

The security guards sprang into action, swiftly searching the old woman’s phone before handing it to Prince Adam. Their movements were swift and efficient. Then, they led the old woman away. Her face ashen, her steps unsteady, she seemed to have lost all her strength.

Prince Adam glanced down at the old woman’s phone, his lips pressed in deep contemplation. After a moment, he looked up at Emily and said, "I’ll look into this matter, but you might want to stay here until it’s resolved."

"Actually, I’m facing a bit of a predicament." Emily lowered her head slightly, a hint of hesitation in her expression. After a few seconds, she lifted her gaze and decided to seek Prince Adam’s assistance.

"What’s the issue?"

"I wish to file a lawsuit, but at present, I only have a scanned copy of the complaint form." Emily hesitated before continuing, "Can I submit the original application form later? The royal representative informed me that I must submit it by Friday, or else..."

"Hand over all the documents you’ve prepared." Prince Adam spoke calmly, "Allow me to file the lawsuit with the judge on your behalf, and I’ll personally explain the situation to him."

"Thank you." Emily’s eyes shone with gratitude as she promptly presented Prince Adam with the lawsuit application.

"If you don’t mind, please join me in my office for a cup of tea."

Emily nodded.

Prince Adam then escorted Emily to his office via the elevator. He instructed his subordinates to bring tea and pastries for Emily’s enjoyment, before asking her to wait for him there while he attended to some matters.

Alone in her office, Emily tapped the rim of her teacup with her fingers, anxiety creeping through her mind like a vine.

After about an hour, Prince Adam returned to his office. He told Emily, "Rowling has admitted that Katherine instructed her to prevent you from filing the lawsuit, and I’ve dismissed her."

"Thank you, Your Highness," Emily said gratefully, and then asked, "Did the Capitol Court accept my petition?"

"Yes, I’ll add your lawsuit to the afternoon meeting’s agenda. Since both you and Katherine have filed petitions with the Court of Congress, they need to convene to discuss which case to take first," Prince Adam said. "But fear not, your case has a better chance. The king has taken this very seriously."

Does the king also care about her mother’s poisoning? Emily’s heart was suddenly flooded with mixed emotions at the thought that King James had mentioned her mother to her. What was the relationship between King James and her mother?

A special friend, she remembered King James describing their relationship thus.

"Emily, may I call you that?" Prince Adam sat gracefully, his hands folded in his lap, his head slightly tilted up, his jawline sharply defined, his eyes gazing tenderly at Emily.

"Of course."

"Then you don’t need to call me ’Your Highness.’ Just call me Adam."

"Adam? Good." The familiarity seemed to bring Emily and Prince Adam closer, and her already tense posture relaxed slightly.

After a moment of silence, Emily said, "If there’s nothing else, may I leave?"

"Of course, let me drive you back." Prince Adam leaned forward slightly, his tone sincere.

"I can get back on my own," Emily politely declined Prince Adam’s offer. "It’s easy to hail a taxi with my phone."

"Then I’ll walk you downstairs," Prince Adam said. "Don’t reject me again this time, okay?" There was an unmistakable firmness in his words, yet they were gentle.

"Okay."

Prince Adam escorted Emily to the Capitol, and as she bid him farewell, a taxi happened to drive by on the roadside. Emily immediately raised her hand to signal the taxi driver to stop.

The taxi pulled up to Emily, and the sound of its wheels grinding against the pavement was distinctly audible in the still air. Just as the taxi was about to come to a halt, however, a hand with a black handgun emerged from the window. The black pistol gleamed menacingly in the sunlight, its barrel aimed directly at the unsuspecting Emily.

"Emily, be careful!" Prince Adam shouted, and there was a burst of gunfire.