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.

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

didn't want to acknowledge this half-sister, but she couldn't deny

sent her to boarding school, letting her come home only once a month. They used 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 Taylor, was the mistress. All

Facebook, asking if he could go with her to the Brown Family. After a while, she saw that Michael hadn't replied. She expected

evening, she instinctively reached for her high heels but remembered her pregnancy and swapped them

this child. No matter what happened between her and Michael, this

would love

like a Christmas tree, and Emily could hear the laughter inside before she even stepped in. "Sophia, you're not leaving again this

clung to the old woman's arm, acting all cutesy. "You're still act like a child." Hayden shook his head

it okay for me to act like a child? Doesn't Michael like it?" Sophia playfully winked at Michael, who was standing right next to

"I do," Michael replied.

with her. She couldn't hear what they were saying anymore, just a buzzing in her head. Suddenly, the door swung open from the inside. "Miss Brown? Why aren't you coming in?" The servant exclaimed. The laughter inside

there, dazed. Her eyes met Michael's across

been waiting for you."

and walked straight to the end of the table, sitting down

you, and you show up late with

sweetly at Emily. If Emily didn't know

we here to eat? Let's get on with it. I have

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