The CEO's Empathy Pregnancy Pains

The two of them chatted for a bit longer, and just as Abigail was about to leave, she remembered the main reason she came over. "Hey, don't worry, your secret's safe with me. Oh, and there's something else. Moonlit Treasures wants you to design their fall and winter jewelry collection. Got any ideas?"

Moonlit Treasures was a brand under the Smith Corporation. Emily had always dreamed of becoming a jewelry designer, partly to fulfill Isabella's unachieved dream. But back in college, Sophia framed her in a plagiarism scandal, and she lost her shot. Following Abigail's advice, she took a different route. She started submitting her designs under the pseudonym "Ella Garcia" to various companies after graduation. Luckily, her designs caught some eyes.

In the years since graduation, no one knew Emily, but everyone in the industry knew Ella. Even though she never showed up in person or entered competitions, her designs were still admired for their spirit and stories. "Did my design submission get accepted?" Finally, some good news.

"Yep, Moonlit Treasures is teaming up with Phantom Beauty, so they're taking this seriously. I heard the design department went through several rounds of changes, and their design director called me directly," Abigail said, grinning. Emily was surprised. "Wait, you mean the international luxury brand Phantom Beauty? Are they entering the domestic market?" This brand wasn't just about money; you needed influence too. Emily was impressed by Michael's capabilities, realizing the Smith Corporation could pull this off.

"Yeah," Abigail replied. "According to some insider info, Phantom Beauty's general agency Novaria is coming to the domestic market to pick a jewelry brand to collaborate with. Besides Moonlit Treasures, all the major brands are gearing up for this. Emily, several companies have already contacted me. What do you think? How will you choose?"

Abigail had a point. Given her situation with Michael, Abigail worried that sticking with Moonlit Treasures might be a compromise.

"It's okay, Abigail. Right now, Moonlit Treasures has the biggest market share and platform. For a small, unknown designer like me, it's not a bad choice," Emily said.

Abigail frowned and got a bit angry. "What do you mean 'unknown'? You're just keeping a sense of mystery; it's a marketing strategy."

Emily laughed. "Alright, alright, whatever you say. I'll rely on you, my agent, to keep marketing me."

Abigail had been with her since graduation. Emily handled the designs behind the scenes, while Abigail took care of everything else. So, people in the industry had only seen Ella's agent, never Ella herself. After dinner, they went their separate ways.

Before leaving, Abigail reminded her to seriously consider the collaboration. Emily took it to heart; she really needed to think it over. She thought Michael wouldn't come back tonight, but to her surprise, he got home earlier than she did. Emerald Lake Manor, with the sea on one side and mountains on the other three, was a stunning place. In Emerald City, owning a villa there was a big deal, a real status symbol. This fancy area was developed by Michael, and of course, he snagged the best spot for himself.

As Emily walked in, Ava quickly stepped up to take her coat. "Oh, Mrs. Smith, why is your face swollen? Let me get you some ice." Ava, who was about the same age as Emily's mom, was always kind and friendly. Emily usually felt pretty close to her.

"No need, I'm fine. You can go about your business; don't worry about me," Emily said softly, then walked past Ava towards the living room.

Ava sighed and shook her head. She had been sent to take care of Michael since he got married, but she could see that Michael didn't treat Emily well. There wasn't much she could do but watch.

"You come back so late. Where have you been?" Michael sat on the sofa with a grim expression, clearly waiting for her.

The bit of good mood Emily had in the afternoon vanished. "Mr. Smith, I think it's none of your business." She wanted to say, "Why aren't you at the hospital with Sophia instead of watching me?" but she held back.

"Don't be sarcastic. Tomorrow, come with me to the hospital to apologize to Sophia." Michael's tone was firm, but when he saw the slap mark on her face, his eyes darkened.

"Did your dad hit you?" Michael couldn't describe his feelings at that moment-discomfort, chest tightness, and a slight sting, as if the slap mark on her face was hurting his eyes.

"Yes, my dad already slapped me. Do you still want me to go to the hospital to apologize to her? Or maybe you can slap me too, so I don't have to go to the hospital." Emily's words were full of sarcasm, making Michael feel a sharp pain all

over.

He gritted his teeth and glared at her. "Emily, who are you trying to impress with this act? Is it your first day knowing about my relationship with Sophia? Don't forget why we got married in the first place." Michael said angrily, then turned and left the living room.

Emily closed her eyes in exhaustion. 'Yes, why am I getting angry? Didn't I know before we got married that Michael loved Sophia? Am I throwing a fit just because Michael doesn't love me? But wasn't that a fact I had known all along? Emily, are you jealous now? Are you turning your love into hatred?'

She kept questioning herself. 'No, I don't want to become someone so detestable, nor do I want to be like Isabella, who can't live without a man's love. This isn't the life I want.'

Realizing this, she suddenly felt much lighter, as if a weight had been lifted off her chest. She forced a smile and headed upstairs.

Meanwhile, back in his study, the more Michael thought about today's events, the stranger they seemed. In just a few minutes, his feelings had shifted from sadness and frustration to sudden relief. He knew clearly that these weren't his emotions. And then there was the fact that both he and Emily had vomited at the same time today. It was all too strange.

Leaning back in his chair, he closed his eyes and pondered, trying to recall when his emotions had started being affected. It seemed to have started when he mentioned divorce to Emily. Emily was clearly upset and didn't want a divorce, but why was he affected by her emotions? Michael was still unwilling to believe that Emily could influence his feelings. He decided to test it out.

Emily had just finished her bath and was sitting on the edge of the bed, applying body lotion. Her white silk nightgown was pulled up to her thighs. Just as she was focused on her task, Michael suddenly barged in.