Chereads / The president's private favorite: Her counterattack / Chapter 2 - Entanglements of Power

Chapter 2 - Entanglements of Power

Emily sat at the table, her gaze fixed blankly on the diamond ring on her ring finger. The dazzling light of the ring now seemed like a cloud of mist, plunging her thoughts into endless chaos. The conversation with Jack last night was like a melody playing on a loop, echoing repeatedly in her mind. Although his apology had sounded sincere beyond measure, in his deep eyes, there seemed to be countless secrets hidden, like mysterious black holes that attracted her to explore yet also made her feel afraid. She clearly knew that she needed time to digest all of this that had come so suddenly, but deep down in her heart, she was even more eager to get a definite answer, an explanation that could put her at ease. Sophia sat quietly opposite Emily, frowning tightly as she looked at Emily's troubled appearance. "You look so tired, Emily," she said softly, her tone full of concern. Emily managed to force a weak smile, which looked so pale and powerless. "I just... need time to accept all this," she said in a low and weary voice, as if bearing a heavy burden. Sophia nodded slightly. She understood in her heart that what Emily needed at the moment was far more than just time. "What are you going to do?" she asked softly, her eyes full of worry. Emily let out a deep sigh and shook her head helplessly. "I don't know. Jack proposed that we give each other a chance, but I don't know if I'm ready for it," she said, a hint of confusion and uncertainty in her voice, like a traveler groping in the dark and unable to find the way. Sophia held Emily's hand tightly, giving her strength and support. "Whatever decision you make, I'll support you," she said, her eyes firm and warm, making Emily feel a bit comforted. Emily gave Sophia a grateful look, and a warm current welled up in her heart. She knew that she was lucky. In this chaotic moment, at least she had a friend like Sophia by her side. She took a deep breath, tried hard to calm herself down, and decided to put these problems aside for the moment and focus on her work. She needed to distract herself and get back on the familiar track to find a sense of security and peace. Emily was a lawyer and worked in a well-known law firm. With her sharp insight and firm professional ethics, she had won the respect and praise of her colleagues. Today, she had an important case to handle, a complicated case involving commercial fraud. She stood up, sorted out her thoughts, and prepared to leave the coffee shop and head for the office. "I have to go to work, Sophia," Emily said, with a hint of determination in her tone. Sophia nodded, looking at her understandingly. "Go ahead. Work will help you forget your troubles for a while," she said, her words full of encouragement and expectation. When Emily walked into the office, she was immediately surrounded by a busy atmosphere. Her colleagues were all working nervously at their respective positions. The clicking of keyboards and the ringing of telephones intertwined, forming a vibrant office symphony. She quickly threw herself into work, trying to forget what had happened last night. She flipped through the thick case files, carefully analyzed each piece of evidence, and tried hard to find a breakthrough in the case. However, no matter how hard she tried, her mind always involuntarily drifted back to Jack, to that mysterious diamond ring, and to the wedding that she could hardly remember. During lunchtime, Emily sat alone in the rest area of the office, hardly touching the food in front of her. Her thoughts were like wild horses running out of control, galloping in all directions. Her colleague Emma noticed her strangeness and walked over with concern. "Emily, are you okay?" Emma asked, her eyes full of worry. Emily looked up at Emma, a hint of tiredness showing in her eyes. "I'm fine, just a bit tired," she tried to answer in a relaxed tone, but her tired look couldn't be concealed. Emma sat down and looked at Emily carefully. Her eyes were full of concern, as if she could see through the struggle in Emily's heart. "If you have any troubles, you can tell me," she said softly, her tone full of sincerity. Emily hesitated for a moment, her heart full of contradictions. She didn't know whether she should tell Emma all this. Emma was the closest colleague to her at work, but their friendship had never involved their personal lives. However, at this moment, she was full of confusion and uneasiness in her heart, and she was eager to have someone listen to her story and give her some advice and support. Finally, Emily decided to confide in Emma. "I... I found out last night that I got married," Emily's voice was almost a moan, and the heavy tone was full of helplessness and confusion. Emma's eyes widened in surprise. "Got married? To whom?" she asked eagerly. "Jack Harrison," Emily replied, a hint of bitterness in her voice. Emma's face instantly changed, with surprise mixed with a touch of worry. "Jack from the Harrison family?" There was a sense of awe in her tone. Emily nodded. She knew what Emma knew about the Harrison family. The Harrison family was a powerful and influential family in City A, and their influence was like a huge spider web, permeating every corner of the city. Emma took a deep breath, her eyes full of worry. "Emily, this is no small matter. You need to be careful," she said, her words full of warning, making a sense of uneasiness rise in Emily's heart. Emily knew what Emma meant. The power and influence of the Harrison family made her feel scared. She began to doubt whether she had been involved in a situation that she couldn't control. The mystery and power of this family were like dark clouds hanging over her head, making her feel oppressed and uneasy. Emma continued, "People from the Harrison family won't easily let others get close to their core. Your marriage to Jack might make you a target for them." Her eyes were full of worry, as if she could see the danger that Emily was about to face. A strong sense of uneasiness welled up in Emily's heart. She knew that she needed to learn more about the Harrison family and figure out exactly what she had gotten herself into. The mystery and complexity of this family made her feel like she was on the edge of an abyss. In the afternoon, during the breaks while handling the case, Emily began to gather information about the Harrison family. She searched online for various news reports and materials, trying to lift the veil on this mysterious family. She found that the history of the Harrison family was full of power struggles and business competitions. Their name was associated with many business tycoons and politicians, and their business empire covered multiple fields such as real estate, finance, and technology. The family's wealth and power were like huge mountains, making her feel small and powerless. Emily's heart was full of doubts. Why had Jack chosen to marry her? She was just an ordinary lawyer, and her life was far from the world of the Harrison family. She began to suspect that there might be deeper reasons behind all this. This doubt was like a heavy stone weighing on her heart, making it hard for her to breathe. After work, Emily decided to meet Jack. She needed to get answers directly from him. She dialed Jack's phone number, a hint of determination in her voice. "Jack, can we meet? I have some questions I want to ask you," she said, her tone full of determination that couldn't be refused. There was a hint of surprise in Jack's voice, but he quickly regained his calm. "Of course, Emily. I also have something to say to you," his words seemed to hide some indescribable emotions as well. They agreed to meet in Jack's office. Emily stood downstairs of the Harrison Building, looking up at this building that symbolized power and wealth, her heart full of nervousness and uneasiness. The building towered into the sky, magnificent and spectacular, as if showing the majesty and glory of the Harrison family to the world. She walked into the building, passed through the splendid hall, and the gorgeous decoration and noble atmosphere made her feel a bit suffocated. She arrived at Jack's office, where Jack stood, a hint of expectation in his eyes. "Emily, you're here," his voice was calm, but Emily could feel the nervousness behind his words. Emily took a deep breath and tried hard to stay calm. She knew that she needed to face the problem directly and couldn't avoid it anymore. "Jack, I want to know what's going on with our marriage. I want to know what the Harrison family thinks about it," she said, looking firmly at Jack, waiting for his answer. A complex emotion flashed in Jack's eyes. He knew that Emily's questions were not easy to answer. "Emily, I... I need to explain some things to you," he said, his tone full of helplessness and hesitation. He led Emily into the inner room of the office, where there were some old furniture and decorations, and pictures of the Harrison family through the ages hung on the walls. These pictures seemed to tell the glorious history and vicissitudes of this family. Jack began to tell the history of the Harrison family, about how they had developed from merchants in a small town into the powerful family in City A. Emily listened quietly, her heart full of shock. She had never thought that she would be involved in the history and secrets of such a family. The story of this family was like a magnificent epic, making her feel small and helpless. Jack continued, "My marriage... our wedding was not accidental. The Harrison family has a tradition that the eldest son of each generation must get married within a specific time to ensure the purity of the family bloodline." His voice was low and serious, as if telling an ancient legend. Emily frowned tightly, her heart full of doubts. "Then why me?" she asked, a hint of confusion and anger in her voice. Jack sighed, pain in his eyes. "It's a complicated question. I originally had a fiancée, but our relationship broke down. The family needed a suitable bride, and I... I chose you," he said, his words full of helplessness and struggle. Emily felt dizzy, feeling that she had been involved in a huge conspiracy. "Why me, Jack? Why me?" her voice was almost a desperate cry. A flash of pain showed in Jack's eyes. "Because I think you're a strong woman, a woman who can bear all this," he said, a hint of expectation in his voice, as if hoping Emily could understand his choice. Emily stood up, her heart full of anger and a sense of betrayal. "You chose me because I seemed strong enough? You don't even know me," she said, her voice full of accusations and disappointment. Jack reached out his hand, trying to comfort Emily. "Emily, I... I have feelings for you. I didn't choose you just because of your strength," he said, his eyes full of sincerity and longing. Emily took a step back, feeling that her world was falling apart. "Jack, I don't know if I can believe you," she said, her voice full of doubt and fear. Jack's eyes were full of despair. "Emily, I hope you can give me a chance. Give me a chance to prove myself," he said, a hint of pleading in his voice, which made Emily's heart stir slightly. Emily turned around and left, her heart full of doubts and fears. She needed time to think, time to decide her future. This sudden marriage and this mysterious family made her feel at a loss. She didn't know where to go or whether she could bear all this. Doubts: - What was the real reason why Jack chose Emily as his bride? Were there other motives hidden in his words? Perhaps Jack chose Emily not only because of her strength, but also possibly because of her professional background or other unknown factors. Was the family tradition just an excuse? - What was the connection between the Harrison family's tradition and Jack's wedding? Were there deeper secrets behind this tradition? Was this tradition related to the family's power inheritance or wealth accumulation? Was there some unknown conspiracy hidden? - Who was Jack's former fiancée? What was the real reason for the breakdown of their relationship? Would the appearance of the former fiancée have an impact on Emily and Jack's marriage? Would she become an obstacle between them? - Where did Emily's diamond ring come from? Was this ring related to the history of the Harrison family? Was the ring a family heirloom? Did it have special significance and value? - Would Emily's sudden appearance threaten the power structure of the Harrison family? How would the other members of the family view this marriage? Would they accept Emily? Or would they take some measures to stop this marriage?