The moment Emily thought back to what had happened earlier that morning, she immediately called her mother-in-law back.
It only took ten seconds before the call connected.
Her mother-in-law's voice was sharp and scolding. "Emily, where have you been? Why didn't you answer any of my calls today?"
"Mom, I..." Emily's voice caught in her throat as she tried to cover her face with her hands, holding back the tears that threatened to spill. She'd been yelled at and humiliated by her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, then unceremoniously kicked out of the house. Now, even her own mother was giving her grief.
Luo's mother paused for a moment, sensing something was off, but she quickly brushed it aside. "Forget your excuses. Just make sure you talk to Alexander and get him to return the company to your father. Your father's in the hospital because of this! He's still unconscious."
Emily staggered back, feeling like the ground was slipping away beneath her feet. "What? Dad's in a car accident?" she gasped.
"Yes," Luo's mother sniffled. "He hasn't woken up yet." Her voice wavered with emotion. "But what's more important right now is that you get the Luo Group back from Alexander. Do you understand?"
Emily's steps faltered. "What do you mean? Where is Dad? I need to see him!" she demanded, her mind a blur of worry.
"Don't worry about your father," Luo's mother snapped, her tone hardening. "You'll only see him once you've fixed this. If you don't get Alexander to return the company, I'll have nothing to do with you. Understand?"
Before Emily could respond, the line went dead.
The tears that she had been holding back for so long fell freely now. Her own family was turning against her, and the man she had married... well, it felt like he was slipping away too. She tucked the phone back into her pocket, still holding tightly to Liu Shang's coat—though the cold had seeped into her bones, she couldn't bring herself to put it on.
She wandered aimlessly, her feet taking her to the large fountain at the heart of the manor. She sat down and stared up at the pitch-black sky, searching for any sign of hope. But there were no stars, no moon, nothing but the vast emptiness above.
All she could do was wait. Wait for Alexander to come home. Wait for his headlights to shine through the dark.
After what felt like an eternity, two beams of light appeared in the distance, cutting through the night. They bathed her in warmth, though she couldn't tell if it was the lights or just the contrast to the biting cold. The car grew closer, and Emily's eyes locked on the license plate—only then did she step away from the fountain.
The car slowed to a stop, and the window rolled down, revealing Alexander's familiar face, though it was too shadowed to make out his expression.
"Alexander…" she spoke softly, taking a step forward. The words felt stuck in her throat, her emotions tangled up inside. She hesitated, remembering the humiliation she had just endured, unsure how to explain everything.
"What are you doing out here?" he asked in his usual detached tone, his voice cold but not unkind.
"I... I..." Emily struggled to find the words. She couldn't bear to tell him she'd been kicked out by his own mother and sister.
"Get in the car," he ordered, his voice leaving no room for refusal.
Emily, though hesitant, obeyed, slowly making her way to the back seat. As she settled in, she could feel Alexander's eyes on her through the rearview mirror. His gaze was cold, unreadable.
The car moved steadily toward the garage. As they entered, Alexander's eyes flicked to the backseat. He saw the coat in Emily's arms. It wasn't his. His clothes were always black—this was a brown coat. It was then that Emily realized he knew.
They pulled into the garage, and Alexander didn't say a word. He merely glanced at her and then started heading inside.
Emily followed him, but before she could catch up, Lu Qianqian appeared, blocking her way.
"What are you doing here?" she sneered, grabbing Emily's wrist to prevent her from going upstairs.
"Let go of me!" Emily tried to pull away, but as she struggled, her elbow collided with Lu Qianqian's body, sending her off balance.
"Ah!" Lu Qianqian lost her footing and crashed to the floor, letting out a sharp cry of pain.
Her high heels—a ridiculous thirteen-centimeter stiletto—didn't do her any favors.
Before the housekeeper could intervene, Lu Qianqian shot up from the ground, her face twisted with rage. "You did that on purpose!" she spat, grabbing a fistful of Emily's hair.
"I didn't mean it!" Emily cried, trying to push her away. The sting of Lu Qianqian's grip on her hair made her head spin, but she could hardly fight back.
"Let go!" Emily's eyes filled with frustration and weariness. She was exhausted—mentally, emotionally, and physically.
"You think I'll believe you?" Lu Qianqian taunted. "You just wait, Luo Aiqun. You'll be kicked out of this house by my brother for sure."
The mother-in-law appeared, eyeing the scene with satisfaction. She was no doubt waiting for Alexander to do just that.
Emily's heart was breaking. She had already lost so much. She didn't care for Lu Qianqian's cruelty or her mother-in-law's harshness. She just wanted to see Alexander, to make him understand.
She didn't deserve this.
With shaky legs, Emily headed upstairs, brushing past them without a word.
In the bedroom, Alexander stood by the window, his back straight, his posture as cold as the night outside. She couldn't help but stare at him, her heart in her throat.
If he hadn't turned around, she might never have snapped out of her daze.
His gaze, when it met hers, was icy. His expression unreadable.
"A-Alexander…" she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Please, listen to me. It's not what they said. Let me explain, please…"
"I know," he said, cutting her off.
Emily's heart skipped a beat. Did he understand? Did he believe her?
His next words shattered everything.
"Let's get a divorce," he said flatly.
What?
Emily's breath caught in her throat, and she took a step back, her knees weak. The world seemed to tilt beneath her feet, her heart pounding in her chest. Divorce? He wanted a divorce?
Her mind reeled, her entire body shaking. The tears that had dried up earlier now threatened to spill over, and she struggled to hold them back.
From outside the bedroom, Lu Qianqian and her mother-in-law shared a look, satisfaction written all over their faces.
"Alexander, please!" Emily's voice broke as she reached out to him. "You have to believe me. I haven't done anything wrong. It's Qianqian and Mom who misunderstood!"
She stepped forward, her fingers trembling as she reached for his arm.
But he stepped aside, avoiding her touch.
Emily froze, her hand suspended in the air. It felt like a rejection more painful than any slap.
"I'm divorcing you," Alexander said, walking toward the low table beside him. He tapped the divorce papers there. "Three copies. I've signed them. I'm waiting for you."
Emily's vision blurred as she saw the divorce papers on the table. Her heart seemed to sink to the very bottom of her chest. It was hard to breathe, hard to think.
She looked up at him, her eyes filled with desperation, only to see a cold, determined expression in his eyes.
It wasn't about whether she'd cheated.
It seemed like he didn't care either way.