"I…" Emily hesitated, unsure of what to say.
Did Alexander want her to sit down and eat breakfast with him? But she had already eaten.
"I need to tell you something," Alexander said calmly, his voice unwavering.
Emily blinked, glanced at her mother-in-law and Lu Qianqian, and then sat down obediently beside Alexander. She knew well that neither her mother-in-law nor Lu Qianqian would want to sit at the same table with her. Not for meals, not for casual conversation—certainly not after everything that had happened.
Her mother-in-law and Lu Qianqian exchanged a quick glance. Had Alexander called her over to discuss something important? What could he possibly want to say to Luo Aiqun?
"What is it you need to tell me?" Emily asked, trying to sound as casual as possible. She wanted to get this over with quickly. The tension in the room was suffocating, and she feared that any longer with her mother-in-law and Lu Qianqian would only lead to more unpleasantness and possible retaliation later.
"Later, call your parents. Ask them to come to the International Hotel," Alexander said, his voice clipped and precise.
"Ask my parents to go to the International Hotel?" Emily's eyes widened, her heart pounding in confusion.
"Yes." Alexander casually cut into his steak, his movements smooth and controlled.
"But why?" Emily's brow furrowed. She could barely understand what was happening. Her mind raced. There had to be a reason, but she didn't see the connection between this and the 80 million her father needed.
Alexander's gaze darkened as he looked at Emily, his brow furrowing slightly. "Doesn't your father's company need 80 million?" he asked, as though she should have already known.
"Yeah," Emily nodded, still baffled. "But what does that have to do with the International Hotel?"
Before she could finish, her mother-in-law snapped, "What? Luo Aiqun's family is asking for money again? 80 million?"
Emily felt her chest tighten, but she didn't dare say anything. Her mother-in-law's disbelief was palpable. She could see the shock in her eyes.
"Yeah." Alexander responded matter-of-factly, his tone unwavering.
The tension in the room escalated as her mother-in-law's face reddened with fury. "Alexander, you cannot give her money! Don't you know what kind of people Luo Aiqun's parents are? Greedy, insatiable—just looking to drain you dry. They'll ruin you eventually!"
Her mother-in-law's voice was thick with disdain, and she glared at Emily as though the very air she breathed was an affront to her. "It's bad enough that you're still married to her, but now you're going to give them 80 million? You're going to be ruined!"
Emily dropped her gaze, guilt and embarrassment flooding her. Her heart clenched in her chest. She couldn't refute her mother-in-law's words. She didn't dare. They were her biological parents, but what did that mean when they only seemed to care about money?
"Alright." Alexander wiped his mouth with a napkin, unaffected by his mother's rant. "The capital injection signing ceremony will take place at the International Hotel. You can meet them there."
He stood up and, without sparing anyone a second glance, walked away.
"Alexander, stop right there!" His mother's shrill voice echoed across the room. She kicked her chair away in frustration, but it was too late—he was already heading out.
Watching him leave without even turning around, her face twisted with anger. "Luo Aiqun, you are incredible. You can't even lay an egg, yet you can somehow control my son. Tell me, how good are you at pleasing men?" Lu Qianqian sneered, a malicious glint in her eyes. "Oh, I see now. That's the only value you have—being a convenient little toy. A slut."
Emily's jaw clenched, and her teeth nearly cracked from how tightly she was biting down. But as she replayed Lu Qianqian's words in her head, she couldn't shake the truth of them. Wasn't that all she was to Alexander? She was there to satisfy him, to meet his needs in that regard. He didn't love her. It was all one-sided.
"Get out of here! I don't ever want to see you again!" Her mother-in-law's voice snapped through the silence. She grabbed a knife and fork and hurled them at Emily in a fit of rage.
The sharp metal of the fork grazed Emily's cheek, drawing blood. The sting was immediate, but Emily didn't react. She kept her face blank, her heart numbing with the familiar ache.
She didn't make a sound as she silently stood up and left the dining room. She was used to this. Used to the contempt. Used to the hatred. Used to being treated like she didn't matter.
Upstairs, Emily dialed her father's number. She asked him and her mother to meet at the signing location at the International Hotel. After hanging up, she sighed deeply. She wasn't sure what to expect, but at least she was doing her part. It was time to face whatever came next.
At the International Hotel
Luo's father and mother stepped out of a Volkswagen, both looking somewhat out of place but undeniably striking. He, in a sharp suit, looked every bit the businessman; she, in a graceful cheongsam, radiated elegance.
They were a striking couple, and no one passing by could help but notice them.
As soon as Mr. Luo received the call from Emily, he and his wife had hurriedly packed and headed out. They hadn't expected things to move this quickly. Emily had been efficient—Alexander had agreed to invest in Luo's company just like that. They had assumed they would need to wait days, even weeks, for something to happen.
Now, everything was happening at once.
When they entered the hotel lobby, a woman dressed in a cheongsam approached with a smile. "Excuse me, are you Mr. Luo and Mrs. Luo?"
"Yes," Mr. Luo replied, nodding.
"Please, follow me," she gestured politely, leading them toward the conference area.
Luo's parents exchanged a quiet look. They were both thinking the same thing: This woman had to have been sent by Alexander to greet them.
The signing ceremony was held on the second floor. When Luo's parents entered, they were immediately struck by the sight of numerous reporters, cameras flashing, and journalists eagerly waiting. It was clear that Alexander was making sure everyone in the capital knew about his investment in Luo's company. This wasn't just about money—it was about public image, too.
By doing this, Alexander was not only helping them, but he was also signaling to everyone that the Lu and Luo families were now intertwined, linked by business. This could open doors, could mean a new era for their business.
"Please, take a seat," Alexander said, pointing to the chairs in front of him. His voice was calm, but his eyes were intense, his gaze unwavering.
Luo's father smiled broadly, his demeanor shifting instantly. He pulled his wife over to the chairs, eager to sit.
Alexander's face remained impassive. He calmly took his seat, the contract already laid out in front of him. The assistant at his side began signaling to the host, who took the microphone.
"The signing ceremony between Lu Group and Luo Group will now begin," the host announced with a bright smile, her voice projecting across the room.
Two hostesses dressed in cheongsams approached, each holding a contract. One was for Alexander, and one for Mr. Luo.
Mr. Luo opened the contract carefully, as though it were some kind of treasure. He was eager to sign, but his hands shook slightly as he scanned the pages.
"What are you still looking at? Sign it quickly!" His wife said impatiently, handing him the pen. She seemed terrified that Alexander might change his mind.
"Oh, right, right," Mr. Luo said with a nervous laugh, quickly uncapping the pen and scribbling his signature.
Alexander, however, didn't rush. He glanced at Mr. Luo, whose signature looked hastily written, as though he couldn't wait to sign and get the process over with.
With a calm sigh, Alexander slowly opened his own contract and began to read. His eyes scanned the fine print with the sharpness of someone who didn't miss a detail.
Soon, his precision and work ethic were clear. He was meticulous, taking in every word.
After a moment, Mr. Luo glanced over at him. "Alexander, I've signed," he said, a hopeful look on his face.
"Hm," Alexander replied, not looking up. He took the pen offered by his assistant, his signature flowing smoothly across the page, leaving no room for doubt.
Once the two had exchanged contracts, Mr. Luo hurriedly signed the second one. Alexander watched him for a moment, then signed his name.
"The signing ceremony is now complete!" the host announced triumphantly.
Mr. Luo, his voice full of excitement, couldn't help but ask, "Alexander, when will the 80 million arrive?"