The CEO's Empathy Pregnancy Pains

Michael was giving Emily instructions, breaking it down word by word.

He thought she'd be all ears, but instead, she was zoning out, staring at his cheek.

"What are you looking at?" Michael asked.

The light in the study was a harsh white, unlike the cozy yellow glow in the living room earlier. It was bright enough to highlight the slap mark on Michael's face. "Who hit you?" Emily asked.

It was clear someone had really laid into him; the red mark was deep and lingering.

Michael's breath caught at her question.

As Emily nervously stepped closer to get a better look, Michael's heart skipped a beat.

He'd never felt like this before, not even with Sophia.

"I went back to the old mansion and asked my mom about the $700,000."

"What $700,000?" Emily asked.

Michael was floored by her question.

Turned out Scarlett had kept Emily in the dark; she didn't even know about the $700,000 reward for taking care of him.

They were both clueless and had totally misunderstood each other.

"Forget it. Emily, have you decided? Are you really moving out?" Michael asked again, not wanting her to leave Emerald Lake Manor.

But Emily got it wrong again, thinking Michael just wanted to control her.

"So what? What excuse are you gonna use to stop me this time? There's no rule saying we can't live apart before the divorce, and I can give you and Sophia some space, right?" "Who needs you to make space for us?" Michael shot back.

"Isn't it obvious? If I hadn't been here last time, she would've moved in without a hitch, right?" Emily snapped.

"Which eye of yours saw her moving in? Emily, what about you? Don't you think you owe me an explanation about that Daniel outside?" Michael said.

"What's there to explain? I told you, he was just helping me move, we just happened to meet!" Emily said.

"So many coincidences!" Michael said.

"How would I know! My conscience is clear!" Emily shouted.

They were on the verge of another argument.

The noise from the study reached the living room, where Abigail leaned on the sofa, shaking her head helplessly.

Daniel looked worried.

But somehow, the argument fizzled out, and Abigail sighed. "Those two are definitely a doomed relationship, absolutely doomed!" "Michael, you!" Emily said.

"What? It was an accident, I didn't kiss you on purpose!" Michael said.

Just as Abigail was sighing about their fate, Emily was leaving, and Michael was trying to stop her, and they accidentally kissed!

Michael found it really strange. Why, last time when he almost kissed Sophia, he felt so disgusted he nearly threw up. But this time with Emily, not only did he not feel like retching, he actually enjoyed it!

At the same time, Emily felt the same way. Yesterday's big fight had left her exhausted, and house hunting all day had made her body numb. But just now, she accidentally kissed Michael! She felt a thrilling electric shock all over her body, and her heartbeat sped up.

"Damn." Just as they both spoke in unison again, Michael's phone rang suddenly.

Emily thought it was either a company matter or Sophia. So she immediately pulled herself together and took a deep breath.

Now she just had to wait for the call to end. Then she could break free from Michael's grip and finally live her own life!

"What? We're going back right now!" Michael said, sounding anxious.

Just as Emily was trying to figure out what was happening, Michael grabbed her hand!

They bolted out of the study, leaving Emerald Lake Manor without a second glance, under the watchful eyes of Abigail and Daniel.

"Speak! What other terrible things have you done behind my back?" Mason's voice boomed with anger.

"I haven't done anything," Scarlett replied.

"Grandpa! Please, spare my mom," Veda pleaded.

"Get out of the way! I'm warning you, if you don't confess today, I'll kick you out of the Smith family in place of my late son! You won't tarnish the Smith family name and ruin our legacy!" Mason scolded. Scarlett's dirty deeds were finally out in the open.

The people Benjamin sent only had followed her for an afternoon. They caught Scarlett threatening the maid and snapped photos of her with a gigolo.

Even though Michael and Veda's father was already dead, Scarlett dating a gigolo wasn't the issue. It was all her words that were recorded and handed to Mason.

Mason couldn't believe Scarlett was so malicious; he fainted after hearing just a few sentences. Luckily, he was given a quick-acting heart pill in time, or he might have died that day!

Benjamin was terrified after thinking it over.

Seeing Mason so furious, he realized that Scarlett's situation was beyond saving, so he thought of calling Michael back quickly.

As for Veda, Scarlett called her back. She felt the same as Benjamin. Seeing that Mason wasn't going to let her off today, she figured having an ally was better than none.

Veda didn't want to get involved at first, but Scarlett tricked her with one sentence, "Think about your allowance."

Sure enough, Veda rushed back from the bar.

As soon as she entered the house, she knelt in front of Mason, crying and shouting, "Grandpa, please spare Mom. I only have her, you can't let me lose my mom!"

But Mason, with his sharp eyes and clear mind, saw right through their act.

In the past, his son had fallen for this trick and married the vicious Scarlett. If it were the old days, she would be a family disgrace, daring to kill!

Thinking of this, Mason got even angrier.

He mustered all his strength, raised his cane, and swung it at Scarlett.

"That hurts!" Scarlett screamed.

She knew Mason wouldn't spare her. But she had spent a fortune on skincare! Now her body was bruised and battered! Even her face had blood marks, and she might end up permanently disfigured!

In that case, those handsome gigolos wouldn't even look at her! Would she have to spend her difficult single days all alone?

"Mr. Smith, I gave birth to a son and a daughter for the Smith family, and you treat me like this? Your son won't rest in peace!" Scarlett said.

"He deserved it, marrying a disgraceful wife like you. Even if he's punished in hell, I accept it!" Mason said.

With that, Mason raised his cane again, ready to strike Scarlett.

"Grandpa!" This scene was witnessed by Michael and Emily, who had just rushed in.

For the first time, Emily saw Michael, usually stern and impartial, unhesitatingly rush in front of his mother, taking Mason's powerful cane strike.