Chapter 26: Emma's Scheme
Emma immediately began tearing at her clothes with her hands, pulling her collar open slightly while messing up her hair.
She didn't use this trick often, but the effect was always surprisingly good.
"Child molestation. That's a good excuse," William commented calmly.
"Coupled with the status of a priest, I can't think of how I would exonerate myself."
Hearing this, Emma stopped her hands.
She looked confused, not understanding why this priest was so unmoved.
The adults she encountered before were all panicked, some even kneeling on the ground begging for mercy.
But they always ended up being taken away by the police.
And naturally, no one believed their words.
"When I talked to your father just now, I mentioned that you might do something," William smiled faintly.
...
A few minutes earlier.
Inside the bedroom.
"Mr. Gross, I need to give you a heads-up about a few things."
"What?"
David had just grabbed the doorknob, but turned around upon hearing this.
"Children with the same symptoms as Emma often get emotional and do things to avoid conversation."
David looked attentive.
"For example... messing up their clothes to create the appearance of an adult molesting them."
"Or hurting themselves..."
"Or drugging someone when they're not looking..."
...
Listening to William list "things that might happen" one by one, David looked at him strangely.
What has this priest been through?
"Emma shouldn't..."
David was about to say his daughter wouldn't do these things.
But then he remembered the purpose of coming here, so his gaze gradually became serious.
"So when I'm talking to Miss Emma, if you feel something is wrong, you can come in and interrupt at any time."
David was a smart man and understood William's meaning, so he nodded:
"Father, I trust you. Please go ahead."
...
Back to the present.
Seeing Emma stop, William turned his head and shouted out the door:
"Hey, Mr. Gross, Miss Emma might think I'm going to do something to her. Do you need to come in and take a look?"
A moment later, a voice came from outside.
"No need. Emma, listen to the Father carefully."
William shrugged, looking like "Don't look at me, I tried for you."
Emma stared at William resentfully and buttoned her clothes with a cold face.
"If you're thinking of putting something in the water."
William lifted his robe, revealing a leather water bag hanging inside.
"Just telling you in advance, I brought my own, so you don't waste your effort."
Emma's fists clenched tightly, trembling slightly.
"As for lighters, knives, and forks..."
"When I was walking around the room just now, I put them all away. I guess you won't find them."
Emma gritted her teeth, staring at William with hatred.
Who is this guy? He's not like a priest at all!
What kind of priest is so guarded against a child!
As a ruthless killer, Emma certainly knew her advantage—age.
In the past, those adults would be deceived by her appearance and follow the path she designed.
But the one in front of her... was totally unreasonable.
It seemed this priest could see through any of her thoughts.
This made Emma feel a deep sense of powerlessness, like pinching cotton.
But this made her even calmer.
Emma understood now. Because of her previous mistakes, her father had become suspicious of her.
That was why they took this "visiting trip."
She was almost certain that this priest, like those doctors, intended to "treat" her.
"Hmph!"
Thinking of this, Emma felt a little contempt.
These so-called adults were always so smug.
But this priest was indeed tricky.
The most fatal thing was—he knew her secret. So this man had to die.
...
On the other side.
William also realized something.
Relying solely on [Psychological Counseling] could "correct" Emma to some extent.
But this treatment was temporary.
It was equivalent to planting a suggestion in her subconscious to guide Emma back to normal.
But this method treated the symptoms, not the root cause.
Once Emma's bad seed instinct returned, the killing would start again.
Unless William kept her by his side for a long time and "corrected" her every once in a while.
But this method also had drawbacks.
First, this was undoubtedly keeping a ticking time bomb by his side, requiring constant vigilance.
Second, William guessed that too many of these "treatments" might produce tolerance like drugs.
"$3,000 to take on such a trouble, not worth it..." William rubbed his chin in thought.
Just like that, one old and one young faced each other, both plotting how to deal with the other in their minds.
Suddenly, Emma stood up.
This immediately aroused William's vigilance.
Emma smiled sweetly at him, then walked to the door.
"Daddy, I was wrong."
After opening the door, her eyes filled with tears in seconds, looking sincerely repentant.
If one hadn't seen her face before, it would be easy to be convinced.
Naturally, David was convinced.
"Emma, what's wrong?"
Although the priest had warned him, seeing his daughter teary-eyed, he still asked anxiously.
"The Father was right. I did do bad things..."
"I casually threw my doll at the top of the stairs. I didn't expect Levia to step on it... I've been so scared..."
According to Emma, her unintentional act caused the nanny to fall down the stairs and die, but she lied because she was afraid of going to prison.
There were many other "accidents" like this.
And after talking to William, she finally understood how wrong she was!
So she confessed everything to her father and asked him to put her in prison.
Outside, the three adults were surprised to hear this.
While regretting these misfortunes.
They also comforted Emma: "It's not your fault."
Especially David. He didn't expect that being busy with factory business left his daughter to bear so much alone.
Fortunately, he brought her to the priest this time, and the previous misunderstanding was finally resolved.
Witnessing all this, William wanted to applaud her.
"Retreating to advance. This guy is really bad enough."
At this time, David walked over excitedly and held William's hands.
"Father, thank you for helping Emma."
He wiped away a tear.
"Emma said talking to you was very helpful. I think since she's on vacation..."
David meant to leave Emma at Bailey's house during her vacation.
Both to relax and to let William communicate with her a few more times.
And the factory was busy during this time, and David himself had to go on a business trip, so no one would be home to take care of Emma.
"During Emma's stay, I will pay for her living expenses, and the fee of $3,000 per session still stands..." David pleaded.
"Oh, David, you're being too formal. Just pay the Father. Emma can stay here as long as she wants." Bailey waved her hand.
William wanted to refuse, but on second thought, this fee was a stable income.
The commission in Ravens Fair was only $5,000.
At the same time, William knew Emma did this to find an opportunity to deal with him.
But since she wasn't staying at the church and would leave after the vacation, it seemed feasible.
During this time, William could try a few more times to see if he could make Emma act like a human being.
If there was no progress, he would explain Emma's situation to David in detail and strive to send this little witch to juvenile detention.
"Just have to remind Ren..."
William thought for a moment and decided to agree.
"Great, I'll go get her luggage right now."
While no one was paying attention, this little bad seed sneaked up to William.
"Don't worry. Before you die, I won't touch those two."
Emma smiled kindly.