The CEO's Empathy Pregnancy Pains

Chapter 346 Unexpected Windfall

Hayden slumped onto the couch, looking utterly defeated.

Emily's face showed a flicker of emotion before she placed the contract on the table with a blank expression.

"Here's the contract for the branch office. I brought it for you."

Emily hadn't even called him "Dad" since she walked in. She might not have noticed, but Hayden did. He took a deep breath and spoke to Emily in a harsh tone.

"Did you come here just to give me this? Emily, no matter what, I'm still your father. Yes, I divorced your mom and married Evelyn. I have a new family now, and I can't always be there for you. But have I ever let you go hungry or without clothes?

"Don't I have the right to pursue my own happiness? Do I have to revolve around you? Don't you feel sorry seeing me alone in this house?

"You're still young, you don't understand. You want to do things your way, fine. But Emily, you should understand me! There's no right or wrong in matters of the heart. You shouldn't be attacking me along with your mother!" Fueled by alcohol, Hayden started lecturing her again.

Every time Emily heard these familiar words, she found them laughable.

Father, family these words felt both foreign and piercing to her.

She took another deep breath, her face still expressionless. Emily had planned to leave because she knew you could never wake someone pretending to be asleep.

Even if Hayden realized he was wrong one day, he probably wouldn't admit it. But as she turned to leave, Emily felt a surge of anger she couldn't swallow.

She turned back, her gaze shifting from the cold contract on the table to Hayden's face, filled with disdain. She spoke, "I've never resented you for favoring Sophia over me, nor was I upset about your remarriage. I understand everyone has the right to pursue their own happiness. I don't blame you."

She paused for a second, a faint smile appearing on her face. "But you probably don't even know why I distanced myself from you.

"You said it yourself, I'm still your child. You never let me go without food or clothes. But did you see how Evelyn and her daughter treated me all these years?

do you remember what I said before? You play both ends against the middle; you're opportunistic, always looking for your own

her daughter, thinking I wasn't close to you, that Michael wasn't really your son-in-law. But as long as Sophia and Michael were together, Michael would be

them hurt me over and over, until one day Evelyn even dared to threaten me with

the more she felt a

that moment, she realized she didn't

been hurt too

living room fell into a tense

expect a response. She

Hayden back to reality. He shook his head, tears suddenly streaming down his

Villa, her phone rang. It was Andrew. She frowned, feeling the weight

"Mrs. Smith."

"What is it?"

there! Just a friendly reminder that if you're not reading this book on nel5s.com, you might be missing out on the complete

meet with you." Andrew's

that if Andrew was reaching out, it had to be at Michael's request. She swallowed

heading to the hospital to see

did. He didn't waste time on small talk. He handed Emily a document, and she was

"What's this?"

transfer

Michael had

have been good news, but for some reason, Emily felt a pang of sadness. She

at Emerald Lake Manor, Michael was giving her half

thought she must be seeing

closer inspection, she realized it was true. Michael was giving her half of

included a 40% share of Smith

fighting with Scarlett and holding shareholder meetings