The CEO's Empathy Pregnancy Pains

Chapter 2 Welcome Dinner

Sophia was totally showing off with that photo of her and Michael hugging. Emily stared at her phone for what felt like forever, her eyes practically burning holes into the screen. It was like she was torturing herself, constantly reminding herself that Michael didn't love her. The pain in her chest was all too real.

"Mrs. Smith, there's a call for you downstairs," Ava, the servant, knocked on the door, snapping Emily out of her trance. She quickly turned off her phone, took a deep breath, and headed downstairs. She didn't need to answer to know who was calling.

"Emily, you've got some nerve blocking me!" The rough, angry voice on the other end was loud enough to be heard without putting the phone on speaker.

"What's up?" Emily asked, her voice flat and emotionless as she stared at the sofa. She couldn't bring herself to feel anything for her real father, especially since he was a womanizer who had abandoned his wife.

The voice on the other end seemed taken aback by her cold tone. "You know your sister is back in the country, right? Come home tonight."

Emily couldn't help but laugh bitterly, feeling a bit nauseous, probably because of her pregnancy. She rubbed her stomach to ease the discomfort. "Sister? Last I checked, my mom only had me. Where did this 'sister' come from?" She thought of the photo Sophia had just sent her.

On the other end, Hayden Brown was clearly holding back his anger. "Emily, don't push your luck. Don't forget you're part of the Brown Family. And don't think I don't know where your mother is."

Emily's grip on the phone tightened. "What do you want? I'm warning you, don't mess with my mom, or you'll regret it."

Hayden knew exactly how to manipulate Emily, especially when it came to her sick mother.

"I should be the one warning you. Tonight is Sophia's welcome party. Whether you like it or not, you have to come." With that, he hung up.

she gripped the phone. 'Fine, if they want to push me, I won't make it easy for them at

Sophia. She didn't want to

her absence to target her mother. By the time she heard about her mom's suicide, it was too late. Now, they twisted she was the illegitimate child, and her mom, Isabella

the Brown Family. After a while, she saw that Michael hadn't replied. She expected

reached for her high

what happened between her and Michael,

Isabella, no one else would love her, and

hear the laughter inside before she even stepped in. "Sophia, you're not leaving again this time, right?" That unmistakable sharp voice belonged to her

Grandma. I missed you so much while I was abroad." Sophia clung to the old woman's arm, acting all cutesy. "You're still act like a child." Hayden shook his head with a smile, looking at Sophia like she was the best thing since sliced

for me to act like a child? Doesn't Michael like it?" Sophia

"I do," Michael replied.

hear what they were saying anymore, just a buzzing in her head. Suddenly, the door

Emily standing there, dazed. Her eyes met Michael's across the room, and she saw the coldness in his gaze. She quickly looked

here! We've all been waiting for

and walked straight to the end of the table, sitting

We've all been waiting for you, and you show up late with such a bad attitude." Her grandmother, Amelia Martinez, was the first to

sweetly at Emily. If Emily didn't know better, she might

we here to eat? Let's get on with it. I have things to do afterward." Emily directed her

red with anger, but he held back because Michael was there. "Emily, is this how your mother raised you? No