Throughout the commotion, Emma hadn't moved. She remained seated in the most inconspicuous corner, watching the farce unfold.
From the crowd's grumbling and jeering, she had already pieced together the gist of what was happening. She just hadn't expected the line-cutters to be Melissa Carter and her father.
Mr. Carter's complaints hadn't been quiet, and his voice had carried right to where Emma was sitting.
When Emma heard the father and daughter repeatedly mention "Mr. Cooper," a faint, ironic smile touched her lips.
"Mrs. Cooper…"
Melissa froze. By the time she saw Emma, Emma was already looking directly at her.
In Emma's presence, Melissa always felt a natural sense of inferiority, as if she could never hold her head high, as if she perpetually owed her something.
Thomas Carter didn't know what was going on. Seeing his daughter staring blankly at a young woman in the distance, he looked up and asked, "What is it, Melissa? Do you know her?"
His father's question was like a wake-up call. Without a second thought, Melissa locked the wheelchair's brakes, pushed her father out of the spot they had just found, and headed back into the crowd.
Thomas and the caregiver, Tessa, were both completely bewildered.
That corner had been perfect—quiet and with few people. Now, plunging back into the throng, they were met with even more disdainful glares from the people in line who were already upset about them cutting in.
"Melissa, where are you taking me?"
They kept moving until they had almost reached the exit of the lab department. Only then did Melissa stop, looking completely shaken.
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