The CEO's Empathy Pregnancy Pains

Scarlett's words cut like knives, each one sharper than the last. Emily could barely stand it, but she had no choice but to endure it. Scarlett was her elder, after all.

Scarlett kept pushing, then leaned in close, giving Emily a once-over. Seeing Emily's defiant look, Scarlett twisted her face into a cold sneer before she raised her hand and slapped Emily.

Emily's cheek burned red and throbbed with pain.

Her thoughts shattered in that instant, leaving her feeling utterly humiliated.

But Emily wasn't surprised. In fact, she found it almost laughable.

This was the inevitable outcome of her relationship with Michael. She was always the one who got hurt, always the one in the wrong, while Michael seemed to glide through life unscathed.

Thinking about this, Emily let out a faint, bitter laugh, which only fueled Scarlett's tirade.

"I knew it! You scheming woman, always trying to ruin Michael and the Smith family!

"Now look at this mess. Michael's already struggling to keep the Smith family afloat, and he still has to cover for you, dragging Smith Corporation into crisis and costing us a fortune! Emily, do you even have a conscience?"

Hearing this, Emily closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She felt a stinging pain at the corner of her mouth and realized she was bleeding. She wiped it away, confirming it was blood.

The sight of the bright red blood was a stinging reminder.

The longer she stared at it, the more entranced she became.

Was she just looking at the blood? Emily didn't think so. She was looking at her shattered relationship.

Maybe she and Michael were never meant to be together.

If they weren't together, none of this trouble would have happened.

Emily felt she had endured enough.

"Mom."

Emily addressed Scarlett again, and sure enough, Scarlett responded with more mockery.

"Don't call me Mom. I'm not your mom! Isabella is your mom. Like mother, like daughter. She raised you to be like this, and now you're both leeching off Michael! What are you two trying to do?"

At this moment, Emily couldn't hold back any longer.

She raised her hand and slapped Scarlett across the face, clean and swift, almost causing Scarlett to stumble down the stairs.

Scarlett was stunned.

She had always been the one to control Emily. When had Emily ever dared to hit her? Scarlett snapped back to reality, glaring at Emily like a furious lioness.

Despite this, Emily felt no sense of victory, only bitterness.

She knew how much Michael cared about his mother. When Veda found out, she probably wouldn't forgive her either. Compared to her and the Smith family's reputation, Mason would undoubtedly side with Scarlett.

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This slap marked the end of her relationship with the Smith family, with no chance of repair.

But she also knew she couldn't let Scarlett insult her any longer.

She needed to stand up for herself and Isabella's dignity.

Emily took a deep breath, trying to calm her emotions. She knew the road ahead would be even tougher, but she had to face it head-on, as long as it meant cutting ties with Michael.

Their relationship wasn't more important than her mother and child.

"Scarlett, you say I corrupted Michael and caused the Smith family to face a financial crisis? On the contrary, I hope you get your facts straight before accusing me.

"The news report about yesterday just came out today. You probably haven't had a chance to see it, right? It was Michael who held Sophia's hand on stage and explained everything. I didn't force him, and I never would."

Scarlett's anger flared instantly. She spat at Emily, her words harsh.

"Emily, you lie without even blushing, don't you? I'm here today to make things clear. Either you cover Michael's debts, or you use your mother's money to pay them off. Stop expecting the Smith family to be the scapegoat!"

Seeing Scarlett so adamant, Emily was momentarily dazed.

Anyone who didn't know better might think she was the evil daughter-in-law who had wronged her in-laws and harmed her husband.

"Scarlett, I think you're mistaken. And if you're so concerned about the Smith family, why don't you think about what you've done for them?"

If you're loving the book, nel5s.com is where the adventure continues. Join us for the complete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Hearing Emily's question, Scarlett was at a loss for words, fearing that Isabella had already told Mason about her drugging him. She stammered.

"I, I haven't done anything wrong. At least I wouldn't saddle the Smith family with huge debts!"

Huge debts?

Emily couldn't help but laugh. "Scarlett, I'm not you, nor am I a caged bird kept by the Smith family. I've worked and I know how the business world operates. Sophia breached her contract and owes Smith Corporation money. Smith Corporation can use that money to compensate its partners.noveldrama

"At most, they'll need to cover a small portion. Michael can even sue Sophia for full compensation. I'm the victim here, so how did I become the instigator in your eyes? "Huge debts and debts are two different things. I hope you think carefully before you speak. Besides, you know exactly what you've done to the Smith family and its members. I don't need to spell it out. After all, it wouldn't be good if Michael found out."

Emily's meaning was clear.

She knew what Scarlett had done to Mason. Not exposing it was a way to preserve the Smith family's reputation and give Michael and Veda some dignity.

Emily had nothing more to say to this shrew.

She turned and walked down the stairs, not looking back.

Meanwhile, Scarlett's heart sank. She couldn't let Emily reveal those secrets. If she did, her reputation would be ruined, and the entire Smith family would turn against her.

Her red nails dug into her palms. Feeling her core interests threatened, she couldn't hold back any longer. She spun around and shouted angrily.

"Emily, you might think you're on the side of justice, but have you considered what will happen to the Smith family's business empire if these things come to light?" Scarlett's voice was low, with a hint of menace. "And have you thought about Michael's feelings? Smith Corporation is already facing a huge crisis. Whether it's Sophia's fault or not, Smith Corporation is now tainted with a plagiarism scandal. Who will want to work with Smith Corporation in the future?"