The CEO's Empathy Pregnancy Pains

Who would've thought the world was so small?

Michael watched as Archibald and Dean treated Celeste with such reverence, calling her "Aunt" at every turn. He realized his status had inexplicably risen.

After all, Celeste had always shown him great respect.

Celeste, ignoring everything else, noticed Emily was pregnant and quickly helped her sit down before turning her attention back to Michael. "Michael, what brings you here today?"

For Michael, the question was easy to answer.

The awkward part was those who had inappropriate intentions toward Emily.

"I'm here to escort my ex-wife." With that, Michael glanced meaningfully at Emily.

Celeste was momentarily taken aback but quickly understood.

After all, she had seen and heard it all over the years.

Michael continued, "She's pregnant, so it's hard for her to move around. I was worried, so I came along to check on her.

"At first, Emily thought it might be inconvenient to bring me along to meet you. I thought so too, but she carried our child, and I was concerned about her. Now that I've seen you, I realize there's no need to worry.

"Besides, I've met Archibald before, so we know each other. And with our connection, we're practically friend. What's inconvenient about that?"

"Exactly, exactly!" Celeste and Michael agreed wholeheartedly.

Emily was simply amazed at how coincidental everything was.

But Archibald and Dean felt differently.

Michael's condescending tone was annoying.

Archibald managed to keep his cool, considering Celeste and Emily were present, and

he needed to maintain the peace.noveldrama

But Dean, with his fiery temper, couldn't accept it.

Back at the Emerald City police station, Michael had already gotten the upper hand

once.

Dean had never gotten over it.

And now?

They were in Dean's studio, his territory. Why should Michael be allowed to strut around?

Unable to hold back any longer, Dean finally snapped and confronted Michael, who was chatting with Celeste. "Are you done talking?"

But Michael acted as if he hadn't heard, completely ignoring Dean and continuing his conversation with Celeste. "Business isn't as easy as it used to be.

"Celeste, you just arrived in Emerald City. You wouldn't know, but the city's atmosphere has become chaotic. There's a constant influx of outsiders who don't understand how to do business, always stirring things up.

"I'm used to it, but I still have to smile and greet all the big shots to ease the tension. It's exhausting."

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! Michael's remarks were thinly veiled criticisms of people like Dean, outsiders who weren't professional businessmen.

Celeste hadn't caught on yet, but Dean took it personally.

In a fit of rage, he grabbed Michael by the collar. "What did you say? I'm running my jewelry business properly. How does that affect Smith Corporation? Michael, do you really think Emerald City belongs to the Smith family? My brother is a well-known jewelry tycoon in Everglade City. Our entire Lancaster family is a jewelry dynasty. How can you dismiss us with a single sentence? Who do you think you are..."

Before Dean could continue, Archibald pulled him back, and Michael easily countered his challenge.

"Look at Dean, still young and hot-headed, with ambitions too high to tolerate my comments. Anyone not from Emerald City is an outsider to me. I didn't mention you specifically, but you took it personally. That's a bad habit you need to change."

With that, Michael turned his attention to Archibald.

Archibald, the older brother, was calm and composed, able to keep Dean in check.

Michael respected him a bit more, but in front of Emily, he couldn't resist the urge to compete. "And Archibald, I heard from Emily that you're interested in one of her design sketches?

"It's a shame. With Celeste here, we should do you a favor, but JM Jewelry isn't managed by my wife. That design sketch is under JM's control, and we can't directly collaborate with you."

"Enough!" Archibald interrupted Michael's sarcastic and divisive remarks, visibly irritated. "Emily is no longer your wife. Why do you keep calling her that?"

Then he saw Michael's expression changed instantly.

Emily saw it too.

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!

To be honest, she hadn't seen this side of Michael in a long time.

It was terrifying, making her afraid to approach him, barely daring to breathe.

"Yes, we're divorced. But she's carrying my child, so she's the mother of my child. We're still family," Michael retorted.

But Emily hadn't expected that, unlike the old Michael who didn't care about her feelings, the new Michael noticed her slight discomfort and immediately toned down

his aggression, shielding her and casually finding an excuse to reject the Lancaster family's collaboration request.

Emily recalled every word she had said to Michael in the car earlier.

She remembered not mentioning that she didn't want to collaborate with the Lancaster family. How did Michael sense it?

Maybe it was just their chemistry. ;Michael thought so.

He hadn't come here just to vent his frustrations. His main goal was to reject the collaboration on Emily's behalf. Now that he had achieved his purpose, he was ready to leave with Emily.

At that moment, Celeste stepped in to smooth things over.

She was older and had seen it all.

How could she not see the young people's grudges?

But seeing Emily pregnant, and knowing the father of her child was the president of

the powerful Smith Corporation in Emerald City, neither of them could afford to offend such influential figures.

So, knowing when to stop was the best they could do now.