Their Punching Bag Became The Storm novel Chapter 66

Chapter 66 Brandon Is on Whitney’s Side

All Kayla, Jason, and Bella cared about was themselves. They’d picked the wrong side, and now they had no idea how they were going to get dinner tonight.

But they’d had no choice but to rely on Chase and Emily.

They couldn’t help but recall that moment on the sailboat–Emily crying and stopping Chase from saving the two lifeguards, then urging everyone to head straight back to the island.

Even now, just remembering the look Emily gave the three of them made their skin crawl.

Emily was truly indifferent to life.

She didn’t care at all about those two who risked their lives for her.

Something told them that if they stopped kissing up to Emily, they would end up just like those two lifeguards, completely abandoned.

So, they had no choice.

Even with the cameras rolling, they looked absolutely miserable and couldn’t even force a flattering smile.

On the contrast, Whitney’s group of five were all smiles, joking around and genuinely enjoying themselves.

*****

Meanwhile, Emily was hiding in her room, her face twisted with rage.”

She had faked being sick and weak, citing a need for rest, and refused when Darian offered to start her live stream. Once the staff had left, she burrowed under her covers, pulled out her private phone, and opened the live stream. Watching Whitney’s bright, dazzling smile on the screen, Emily was so furious she wished she could reach through the screen and tear Whitney’s face apart.

Emily lived for the spotlight. She always had to be the center of attention, always needed the cameras on her.

But now, all because of Whitney, she didn’t even dare show her face on camera.

All Emily could do was play up the fact that Whitney had slapped her twice and pretend to be weak, just to squeeze some pity out of the audience.

‘How is it fair? After everything Whitney’s done to me, why does she get to laugh like nothing happened?‘ Emily seethed. Her eyes were red with rage as she stared at the endless stream of comments flying across the screen.

Every single one was praising Whitney.

And every now and then, there were a few snide remarks about Emily.

But not a single person mentioned how Whitney had just slapped her.

Emily clenched her jaw.

Every time her facial muscles twitched, the burning pain in her swollen cheeks hit her hard, reminding her again and again of the shame Whitney had put her through.

Fuming, she spammed the chat with her alt account, hoping to remind viewers that Whitney had just slapped her.

But the chat was moving so fast that her messages got instantly swallowed up.

All her remarks were completely lost in the flood of praise for Whitney.

No matter how many times she spammed the chat, it didn’t even cause a stir.

That just made Emily even more furious.

She couldn’t help but start blaming Brandon.

He’d promised to send in some paid trolls to back her up.

But now she was getting trashed in the chat while Whitney was still doing just fine. There wasn’t a single paid troll in the stream to help steer the conversation in Emily’s favor.

‘Is Brandon letting family ties cloud his judgment, thinking that an adopted sister will always lose out to his real sister?” Emily thought bitterly. ‘So he’s not putting any real effort into helping me.

‘Or maybe… all those glowing comments abou orchestrating everything behind the scenes?‘

Successfully unlocked! winning over, maybe it’s actually Brandon

Just thinking about it made Emily’s hatred for Whitney reach its peak, on the verge of erupting.

Chapter 66 Brandon is on Whitney’s Side

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

Emily startled, hurriedly switched off her phone and shoved it under her pillow. Putting on her best sick–and–teary act, she croaked out, “Who is it?”

It was a staff member, letting her know she had a personal call.

Emily’s heart skipped a beat.

She got out of bed and opened the door.

The staff member handed her the phone and whispered, “When you’re done, just give me a wave and I’ll come grab it.”

With that, the staff member slipped away, leaving her alone.

Emily pressed the phone to her ear.

“Emily.” A deep, icy voice came through the phone.

Even though the voice was cold, there was a gentleness in it reserved only for her.

Emily’s throat tightened for a moment before she managed to say in a hoarse voice, “B–Brandon…”

She had just been grumbling about Brandon in her mind, and right then, he called her.

Emily felt a twinge of guilt, like she had been caught red–handed complaining about him behind his back.

But clearly, Brandon had no idea that his beloved adopted sister had just been harboring malicious suspicions about him Hearing how hoarse her voice sounded, Brandon softened his tone. “What’s wrong? Does your face still hurt?” Brandon, always known as the cold, domineering CEO, only ever showed a hint of gentleness when he was with Emily. Hearing Brandon’s voice, Emily steadied herself, grabbed her phone, and quickly closed the door behind her. “Brandon.” She called out to him, her voice thick with tears. She didn’t need to say a word about how wronged she felt. Her voice alone was enough.

Brandon’s voice softened even more as he tried to comfort her.

Emily whined for several minutes.

Then, still crying, she put on her usual act, pretending she didn’t want Brandon to blame Whitney or hold it against her. She insisted she didn’t want to come between them.

But deep down, she was subtly reminding Brandon how badly Whitney had treated her, hoping he’d take her side. Normally, Brandon would have gotten mad at Whitney because of her words and stepped in to put Whitney in her place. But after Emily finished whining, Brandon suddenly went quiet.

Emily’s brows knitted together. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

Then Brandon’s voice came through the phone. “Emily, you’re so considerate, always thinking for Whitney and the Anderson family.”

Emily was dumbfounded.

‘As if I actually care about them.

‘I’m just pretending so I can get what I want.

‘Why isn’t Brandon buying my act like he always did? Why isn’t he feeling sorry for me and dying to stand up for me?‘ she thought.

“Emily, Whitney shouldn’t have hit you, and it’s pretty generous of you not to hold it against her,” Brandon continued. “When you guys get back, I’ll make sure Whitney apologizes to you privately.”

Emily instantly understood what Brandon meant.

He wanted her to just let it go and not dwell on the slaps.

‘How could I just let it go?‘ Emily grumbled to herself. ‘Who cares about a private apology?‘

Whitney had slapped her right in front of the cameras, with thousands of people watching, and even got Ryan to humiliate her together.

What Emily wanted was for Whitney to apologize to her publicly, right in front of everyone.

She wanted Whitney to get roasted even worse than she was now.

What’s wrong with Brandon?‘ Emily couldn’t believe it. ‘Why is he actually taking Whitney’s side?‘

Emily was now furious with Brandon too. But no matter how bitter she felt inside, the words that came out of her mouth

Chapter 66 Brandon Is on Whitney’s Side

were still sugary sweet and obedient.

She said, “How could I ever hold anything against Whitney? She’s Mom and Dad’s true daughter, your real sister, and my

sister too.

“After all, I took her place for nineteen years, took her parents and brothers away from her. Even if Whitney wanted my life, I‘ d give it to her without a second thought.

“I don’t need Whitney to apologize to me. If getting slapped twice makes her happy, then I’m okay with it.”

Once again, Emily acted humble and self–effacing, putting herself down and highlighting Whitney’s status, making it clear she herself had no right to complain or ask for more.

Subscribed