Emma grasped Anna's hand, feeling the slight tremor in her palm. Outwardly, both tried to maintain calm and friendly expressions, but Emma knew all too well that behind that facade, Anna must be seething with inner turmoil. The thought that Emma had risked her life to save Ricard, thus indebting him to her, was enough to fuel Anna's jealousy and rage.
Inwardly, Emma silently thanked her parents in heaven for watching over her. This time, fortune truly smiled upon her amidst disaster. Her rush into the fire, driven entirely by concern for Jackson, had inadvertently saved Ricard. It was a strange twist of fate, as if destiny had arranged for her to become the hero in the eyes of the Anderson family. The gratitude she elicited not only endeared Ricard to her but also made a strong impression on Mr. and Mrs. Anderson. The whole scenario was too perfect to be purely coincidental, and Emma felt as though she had just experienced a stroke of incredibly good luck.