Chapter 5
Emily nearly cried out Alexander's name in desperation.
The physical pain of her illness and Sophie's humiliation had almost made her forget that this man was the true source of all her suffering.
She desperately needed a hug, just a moment of care.
But Alexander's tone was icier than she had ever heard before. "Emily, are you done with this drama?"
Those words instantly yanked Emily back to reality.
She stared at Alexander blankly. "What drama are you talking about?"
As reason gradually returned, Emily instinctively sat up straighter.
Though it caused her pain, she refused to appear weak before Alexander.
Perhaps her initial motives for marrying him weren't entirely pure, but now, Emily could face herself with a clear conscience.
Alexander's expression remained impassive, his deep brown eyes like bottomless pools, drawing Emily in.
"Why did you go cause trouble for Sophie?" His tone carried a barely perceptible hint of expectation.
But Emily couldn't detect it.
The words "cause trouble" alone were enough to ignite her anger.
Alexander had forced her to defend Sophie, and when she went, Sophie had hidden in an upstairs conference room, refusing to come down, causing Emily to collapse.
And now, somehow, she was the troublemaker?
"Alexander, do you automatically believe everything Sophie says?" Emily said coldly.
Alexander looked disappointed.
He stood up, towering over Emily. "She hasn't mentioned you to me at all. But you, Emily—that so-called 'internet troll' was someone you hired, wasn't it?"
Another baseless accusation was laid at her feet.
Emily laughed bitterly. "Alexander, I would never stoop to such manipulative tactics. You think too little of me! If Sophie won't cooperate with this case, find yourself another lawyer!"
After speaking, Emily retreated under her blanket.
Breathing in the faint antiseptic smell, her eyes gradually reddened, but she bit her lip hard to keep from crying audibly.
The sound of footsteps only came after a long while.
Alexander had left.
He hadn't asked about her illness, only accused her. When he didn't get the answer he wanted, he simply walked away.
Emily sat up slowly, her right hand unconsciously touching her collarbone.
There was a scar there—a scar that had once kept her hospitalized for three months, a scar she'd gotten protecting Alexander.
Now, she was beginning to regret it.
Had this man really been worth all those years of secret love?
It was already dark when Emily returned home.
She turned on the lights and jumped at the sight of Daniel sitting in the living room.
"Daniel, why are you sitting in the dark?" She worked hard to hide her discomfort, trying to sound cheerful.
Daniel slowly raised his head, his face troubled.
Emily sat beside him, feigning lightness.
"Why do you look so conflicted? Found yourself a girlfriend yet?" Her forced cheerfulness only made it harder for Daniel to speak.
Finally, he just patted her head. "Don't be ridiculous. Who would want someone like me now?"
Emily pressed her lips together, suddenly serious. "Daniel, I promise I'll clear your name. I will!"
After this solemn vow, Emily went to the kitchen and made two plates of pasta.
After eating, they each retired to their rooms.
Emily's phone chimed several times.
Thinking it might be a response to her job applications, she eagerly checked it, only to see Alexander's name.
Alexander: [You will handle Sophie's situation properly. Stop playing games.]
Alexander: [You know the consequences if you don't.]
The cold text messages—Emily could almost picture Alexander's expression as he typed them.
A metallic taste rose in her throat. Emily rushed to the bathroom and vomited blood into the toilet.
Tears streamed down her face. She couldn't tell if they were physiological tears from the pain or if she was actually crying.
Just then, Daniel pushed open the door.
Emily instinctively tried to flush the toilet but missed the button. In panic, she slammed the toilet lid down.
"Daniel?" She looked anxiously at him, unsure if he had seen the blood.
Daniel's face was ashen.
He stared directly at Emily, his lips trembling. "Emily."
Emily was almost certain he had seen the blood—otherwise, he wouldn't look so devastated.
She shook her head helplessly, about to say something reassuring, when Daniel grabbed her wrist. "Emily, you have to help Sophie."
Emily thought her ears must be playing tricks on her.
Why would Daniel, of all people, say something so absurd?
"Daniel, what are you talking about?" Emily asked.
Daniel looked at her imploringly. "I'm saying you need to help Sophie! I've seen online that they're spreading rumors about her being a homewrecker, saying she made the original wife collapse! Emily, I've been set up by Alexander before—I know how ruthless he can be. If you don't do what he says, who knows what he'll do to the children's home! Think about Nancy!"
He started speaking haltingly, but gained momentum, finally gripping Emily's slender wrist tightly, trying to convey his determination through physical contact.
But Emily only felt pain.
She forcefully pulled her hand away, looking at Daniel strangely. "Daniel, you saw the news online? Did you see the photos?"
Daniel answered without hesitation. "The photos must be photoshopped."
Emily was speechless.
She wanted to ask if he couldn't recognize that the person collapsed on the floor was her.
If strangers couldn't tell, shouldn't someone who grew up with her recognize her?
"Daniel..." Emily tried to say something, but as soon as she opened her mouth, she felt nauseated and opened the toilet lid to vomit again.
Daniel attempted to approach and pat her back, but she stopped him.
"Stay back! Just... go out. I'll consider what you said."
After vomiting again, Emily flushed away the blood and went to wash her face.
She raised her wet face to the mirror. The woman staring back was deathly pale, her eyes bloodshot, blood still staining her lips—she looked almost like a ghost.
Emily gave herself a bitter smile.
Apparently, those she thought cared about her didn't care as much as she believed.
After spending ten minutes cleaning the bathroom, Emily emerged to find Daniel waiting outside with a cup of ginger tea.
She frowned. "What's this?"
Daniel pressed the tea into her hands. "Homemade ginger tea. It used to cure your colds when we were kids. Try it—see if my skills have improved after three years!"
His tone was so casual, as if the bathroom scene had never happened.
Emily lowered her gaze to the cup of ginger tea, silent for a long time.
Daniel watched her persistently.
Finally, Emily sighed and drank the ginger tea in one go. "Yes, it still tastes good."