Chapter 4

Andrew asked in a cold voice, "Emily, what exactly do you mean by this?"

I answered, "Exactly what it says. Do you really think every project Collins Group landed over the last three years was all your own doing?"

He replied, "No."

I nodded. "That's why I'm only taking back the part that belongs to me. For example, the Harbor Lane Revitalization Project that will be unveiled next week."

The look in Andrew's eyes changed at once. That project was the most important one Collins Group had this year.

From the market positioning and investment recruitment to the visual identity and charity section, I had spent half a year building every part of it.

After Nina returned to the country, Andrew wanted to elevate her, so he forcibly gave her the title of Creative Director on the project.

In my old life, on the day of the launch event, Nina stood onstage in a custom gown, presenting the proposal I had written while thunderous applause filled the room below.

She became the most dazzling woman at Collins Group. And I stood backstage, listening as Andrew warned me coldly, "Don't make Nina look bad."

But this time, I wasn't going to stay backstage.

Andrew threw the agreement back onto the table and said sharply, "This project has already been announced publicly. It can't be stopped."

I looked at him and said, "Then don't use my work."

"Do you really have to start making demands now of all times?"

I corrected him at once. "I'm not making demands. I'm informing you."

Nina bit her lip and said softly, "Emily, are you upset because I'm involved in the project? If it bothers you that much, I can step away."

She sounded pitiful when she said it. But all the while, her eyes kept drifting toward Andrew's face, watching his reaction.

Sure enough, Andrew sided with her. "Nina isn't stepping down."

I laughed and clapped. "Fine. Then you two handle it yourselves."

I picked up the agreement and put it back into my bag. "Andrew, sign it before eight tonight. If you don't, my lawyer's letter will be delivered to Collins Group at nine tomorrow morning."

I paused, then added, "Getting an infringement notice the day before the launch event should be pretty auspicious."

Andrew's eyes were burning with suppressed anger. "Emily, don't you regret this."

I looked at Nina beside him. "The ones who'll regret it are you two. Don't rush."

After they left, my mom kept looking toward the doorway. It was a long time before she finally asked, "Em, you really don't like him anymore?"

I sat down by her bed and tucked the blanket around her. "Mom, I did like him.

"I liked him so much that I thought if I were a little more sensible, a little more patient, a little better, he would eventually see me."

My mom's eyes turned red.

I took her hand. "But no one can trade self-neglect for favoritism. And what you get that way isn't love, either."

My mom gently patted the back of my hand. "Then don't want it anymore."

I nodded. "I don't want it anymore."

At four in the afternoon, Collins Group's legal department called Ethan. They were very aggressive, saying the project had been incubated through Collins Group's platform resources and couldn't be replaced because of my personal emotions.

Ethan only said, "Then see you in court."

At five thirty, Andrew called me himself. I didn't answer.

At six, he sent a message: [Let's Talk.]

I replied: [Talk to my lawyer.]

At six twenty, he sent another one. [Do you really have to drag something between husband and wife out into the open?]

I replied, [The moment you let Nina put her name on my proposal, this stopped being a matter between husband and wife.]

At seven, he called for the third time. This time I answered.

He seemed to be in his office; in the background, someone was lowering their voice to report. "Emily, Nina's health isn't good. Don't drag her into a business dispute."

I almost laughed. "When she put her name on my proposal, why didn't she think her health wasn't good then?"

He said, "That was my arrangement."

"Then you sign."

There was a silence on the other end for a few seconds. "Sign what?"

I said, "The divorce agreement."

His voice turned cold. "Impossible."

"Then wait for the lawyer's letter."

I was about to hang up when Andrew suddenly asked, "What exactly do you want?"

I had heard that question in my previous life too. Back then, I wanted his trust. I wanted his favoritism. I wanted him to choose me, even once, over Nina.

Now what I wanted was much simpler. "I want the two of you to stop feeding off me," I said.

His voice sank. "Emily, do you have to put it so harshly?"

"Harsh?" I looked out at the darkening sky. "You only find it hard to hear because you were used to making me swallow it. Andrew, I'm not swallowing it anymore."

I hung up.