Chapter 8
Hayden’s voice on the other end of the phone sounded anxious and distraught. Emilia replied, confusion lacing her words, “See what?”
“The news of your divorce from Nathan was exposed! It’s only been a short time since you two got divorced. It must’ve been that scumbag’s doing!”
Hayden’s voice was filled with anger and distress. Despite the cover–up of the incident, he had gotten wind of it through a well–connected reporter.
Emilia’s heart skipped a beat, and she clenched her phone so tightly that her fingertips turned white.
“Is he that impatient? Could he really not wait even a day?” she wondered.
She fell silent, but Hayden on the other end of the phone grew more furious.
“I think he’s just making way for his new sweetheart. He kept everything about your marriage a secret, but now the whole world knows about the divorce. His actions are utterly disgusting!”
Hayden’s voice continued to vent, but Emilia couldn’t shake the memory of the photos she had seen earlier.
In those pictures, Nathan’s broad shoulders were slightly bent, and a delicate cheek was revealed from the side of his face. There was no mistaking it–they were kissing.
Nathan had never bent down for her, but now he was humbling himself before another woman.
Clearly, one’s love was impossible to conceal.
Emilia felt a sharp pang of heartache, but in the end, she managed to muster a bitter smile. “We’re divorced. He’s free to marry whomever he
wants.
As Hayden was about to respond, a voice filled with disbelief abruptly interrupted him, “Emily, you’re actually alive?”
The woman’s voice was sharp, and her gaze bore into Emilia as if she were a ghost.
Chapter 8
Emilia looked up at the person who had just entered and explained to Hayden on the other end of the phone, “Don’t worry about this. Your involvement will only bring you trouble. I’ll handle it myself. I have something to attend to here, so I’ll hang up first!” With that, she ended. the call.
Setting her phone aside, Emilia scrutinized the woman standing before her.
The woman was adorned in opulence, and the diamonds around her neck sparkled brilliantly. Emilia’s expression turned slightly chilly as she observed her.
“What’s the matter, Rebecca? Are you so surprised to see that I’m still alive?”
Rebecca Yates‘ eyes briefly flitted away, then she quickly regained her composure, saying with confidence, “Of course, I’m surprised. Where have you been all these years without coming home? Do you have any idea how worried my parents have been?”
Emilia regarded Rebecca as she spoke, noting the emotions flitting across. her face.
It seemed that Rebecca was hiding something, which made Emilia’s heart
sink.
With a sarcastic smile, she responded in a cold tone, “Are you so
concerned that you’ve dressed up to the nines just to express how much you’ve missed me?”
Rebecca was taken aback by her cold tone and thought, “Is this the same. easy–to–bully Emily I used to know?”
Then, she realized that Emily was subtly mocking her!
Fury blazed within Rebecca’s eyes as she took two steps closer. “Emily, don’t think you can act all high and mighty here. Let me ask you this–did you intentionally target my dad at the company?”
Emilia glanced at her indifferently and inquired, “So what if I did? What can you do about it?”
Rebecca pointed an accusatory finger at her. “My father has dedicated himself to the Saunders family for years, and you just waltz back and snatch his position! Do you have any conscience?”
Chapter 8
Rebecca made it sound as if she spoke the truth, but Emilia was no longer the naive young girl she once was.
She observed the sparkling necklace adorning Rebecca’s neck, and her lips curled into a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “That necklace. you’re wearing is the Eye of Poseidon from the Christmas Auction. Did you earn it through your own hard work?”
A necklace worth over two million dollars was being flaunted as if it were a casual accessory. The extravagance with which they used Saunders Group’s money appalled Emilia.
Rebecca instinctively covered her necklace, a tinge of guilt crossing her face.
Emilia’s voice remained composed, but the resentment simmering within her could hardly be concealed.
Her parents had dedicated years of their lives to the company, yet they were supporting an ungrateful family.
However, the events had transpired so many years ago, and even if there was evidence, locating it would be a formidable task. Emilia knew she had to be cautious and couldn’t act recklessly.
Glancing down at the Black Hawk Ring on her finger, she spoke icily. “I can’t help but wonder if you used the public funds of the Saunders Group or the Yates family’s money to purchase your jewelry, Rebecca.”
Rebecca appeared even more disconcerted, and she bit her lip, preparing to respond when Emilia’s cold voice cut through her thoughts.
“I recall you don’t hold any shares in the company, right? Saunders Group doesn’t distribute money to just anyone.”
Rebecca was left stunned, her face paling at the realization that without the resources of Saunders Group, she would lose her financial cushion. Panic set in as she pondered her future.
“By what right? On what grounds could Emily vanish for a decade and then swoop back in to claim my possessions?” she wondered.
Rebecca’s fury reached a boiling point and she pointed a finger at Emilia’s face, shouting, “I’m your cousin! The management of Saunders Group falls under my father’s purview How dare you say such things?”
she spoke, her anger escalated, and she raised her hand high, poised to
Chapt
slap Emilia across the face.
Yet, before her hand could make contact, it was seized by a large, powerful grip.
“Where did this crazy lady come from? How dare you throw your silly tantrums here? It seems like you don’t want to live anymore, huh?
The man’s voice was as frigid as the polar ice, causing Rebecca to involuntarily shudder.
She shot a glare in his direction, teeth gritted.
“Jacob! Yet again, it’s him! Jacob has been Emily’s guardian since their childhood. Even after Emily’s passing, he continued to safeguard this place diligently. If not for him, our family would have already taken control of the Saunders mansion! He’s the root of all our troubles!” Rebecca fumed internally
“Jacob, this is our business. Just stay out of it!” With that, Rebecca was about to break free from his hand.
However, Jacob’s expression was nonchalant, exuding a sense of repulsion. He let go of her as if discarding a bothersome object and whistled. “Snowy, come entertain this woman who can’t seem to understand the human language.”
Snowy, Jacob’s military–trained mastiff, was known for its ferocity and loyalty to its master.
More importantly, Rebecca had been bitten by it in the past!
“Woof!”
Rebecca’s complexion turned ashen, and she bolted from the room. without the slightest concern for her dignity.
As Emilia approached the window, she witnessed Rebecca’s hasty retreat and subsequent plunge into the courtyard’s fountain.
“Pfft!”
Emilia couldn’t suppress a chuckle as she beheld Rebecca clambering out of the fountain, drenched and cursing vehemently, before hastily making her escape.
As she turned back into the room, Emilia was met with Jacob’s
fectionate gaze
