Chapter 5

Emily smiled bitterly as she heard Nicholas drive away. She didn't understand why she still felt hurt. He made his choice and she should hold on hers.

Neither looking back nor stopping; she kept walking until a car stopped before her. Worried about her safety, Oliver came out to follow them.

"Emily, are you okay?" he asked as he got out of the car and rushed to her side, his face a mix of concern and anger.

"I'm fine, just tired," Emily nodded, though she looked exhausted. "Thank you for coming, Oliver." With that, she passed out in his arms.

The next morning, Emily woke up in her old bedroom. Everything was familiar and cozy. This should be her real home and she needed to give up those unnecessary delusions about Nicholas.

As Emily descended the stairs to find the kitchen bustling with activity. The dining table was spread with an array of breakfast dishes: fluffy pancakes, crispy bacon, fresh fruit, and steaming coffee. Oliver, clad in a casual apron, looked up with a warm smile.

"You woke up?" he asked, his eyes lighting up as he swiftly walked over and pulled out a chair for her. "Come, sit. Have breakfast."

Emily sat down, her surprise evident. "What is all this?"

Oliver chuckled, setting a plate in front of her. "I figured you could use a good start to the day. After everything that's happened, you deserve a proper meal.”

Emily smiled, feeling a mix of gratitude and comfort. "Thank you. I didn't realize you knew how to cook."

Oliver shrugged, his smile unwavering. "I enjoy cooking, but only for someone special."

His gaze was fixed on her, and Emily sensed the deeper implication behind his words. But she forced herself to ignore it. Oliver was a friend; she was not ready to change it.

She took a bite of the food, savoring the delicious flavors. "This is amazing, how did you make it?"

Oliver leaned back in his chair, watching her with a gentle expression. "I learned it specially. I remembered you like this food.”

Emily froze, her heart racing. Suddenly, her mobile rang with a new number. She swiped to answer, and Nicholas’s voice emerged from the other end.

"Emily, unblock my number and come back home..."

The sound of his voice made her quickly hang up and toss her phone aside. Oliver looked up, concern etched on his face. "What happened?"

"Nothing. I just need a new number," Emily replied, dismissing the call and returning to her meal. She had learned enough from last night and wouldn't be stupid again. Nicholas did all this only for his pride. He couldn't accept that she was the first to ask for a divorce. But why should she care that when they were doomed to divorce?

Oliver could sense there was more to the situation, but he chose not to press. Instead, he shifted the conversation. "What are you planning to do now?"

"I'm ready to take charge of the company again," Emily replied as she checked her phone, ensuring that she had blocked every way Nicholas could contact her. And then she quickly processed a few documents.

Her company was not at peace. Lily didn't tell her because she didn't want to spoil her vacation, but she couldn't leave her friends to fight those cunning alone. The company was their precious effort and she wouldn't let others ruin it.

Oliver nodded, understanding her position. "Alright, I get it. Just let me know if there's anything I can do to help."

"Thank you, Oliver," Emily smiled at him and her smile widened when a push popped out on her phone the next second. She just had Lily put an announcement on their official website.

After three years, the mysterious founder of Soul Corporation returned.

And this news would soon spread to the business world, making her enemy quake.

***

Meanwhile, across the city, Nicholas slammed his phone onto the desk, his face contorted with fury. How dare Emily hang up on him? His patience was wearing thin, and he tried to call her again, only to find that Emily had blocked him again. He tried other ways to get into her but all failed.

"Damn it!" Nicholas cursed, placing his forehead in his palm. He couldn't understand what was going wrong. He just had a business trip for a month and when he came back, everything turned upside down. His wife, who used to be docile, changed so drastically. He suddenly felt as if he didn't know her at all. And he hated that.

The office door opened, and Noah walked in with a stack of files. The chill in the room was palpable, and Noah could sense the tension as he nervously placed the documents on Nicholas's desk.

"Mr. Sinclair," he began, his voice cautious, "We get stuck on the Soul Corporation acquisition. The founder of Soul Corporation returned today and she refused our proposal."

Nicholas's frown deepened. He continued to stare at his mobile, as if willing it to ring with Emily's number.

"Stick to the acquisition plan. Their financial chain is at risk and they won't last long. Add extra money if needed," he said absently, his thoughts clearly elsewhere.

Noah hesitated, then continued, "But...it is said that their founder has injected new capital as soon as she's back and they're very optimistic about their future now. If we are going to acquire it, Soul Corporation might not be the best option right now."

Nicholas's indifference was palpable. He looked up from his mobile, his gaze icy. "Continue the plan. What I want is the technology behind them. If the money isn't enough, add more. I don't want to repeat myself again. Also, send someone to guard Oliver's villa and let me know once Emily shows up."

"Alright, Mr. Sinclair," Noah responded, noting the irritation in Nicholas's tone. As he left the office, he couldn’t help but wonder about the source of Nicholas's agitation. It was unusual for Nicholas to be so out of sorts over a business matter.

Noah shook his head and just as he turned around, he encountered Maria, who was dressed to the nines. Noah couldn't help but frown slightly. Why was she here again?

Since Maria returned home, she had been here so often that many staff started gossiping about her identity. All the company knew Boss Nicholas was married but they never saw the real face of his wife.

Well, Maria was planning to take this advantage to mislead others that she was the real one. After all, her vulgar sister could never match their class. Nicholas needed a refined wife and Maria believed she was the best choice.

With that confidence, she knocked on the office door of Nicholas.