Chapter 6

Plates of food kept coming out one after another throughout the dinner.

During the meal, Emily became the center of attention. She chatted confidently about her job at an investment company, sharing details about major projects she had participated in and how she collaborated with high-level company leaders.

Every story she told subtly highlighted her competence and importance at work.

"Career success only goes so far. Nothing beats having a stable, loving relationship," Emily said.

She suddenly shifted her gaze toward me. "People are truly lucky when they have steady long-term love like you and Adam. I heard the two of you are planning to get married soon."

Everyone turned to look at me.

"Not yet," I replied. "Marriage is a big decision and worth taking slow."

"That's true." Emily twisted the ring on her finger slowly. "Everyone should think carefully before committing to marriage. Many couples stay together out of pure habit instead of genuine love. Don't you agree, Claire?"

A quiet hush fell over the private room.

"Emily, you've had too much to drink tonight," Sophie frowned, cutting into the awkward silence.

"I'm completely sober." Emily smiled and lifted her glass. "I'm simply looking out for Claire. Seven years is such a long time for anyone to invest in a relationship. It'd be a shame to realize you've devoted yourself to the wrong person after all that time."

I set down my fork and looked at her. "What exactly do you think defines the wrong person?"

"Someone who holds on to a relationship even when their feelings have faded." Emily held my gaze firmly. "Or someone who keeps loving someone else in secret while putting on a sincere front for their partner."

The room went dead silent.

I smiled and raised my glass. "Well put. Let's toast to people who pretend to love wholeheartedly while their hearts belong to someone else."

Emily paused for a second, and then clinked her glass with mine.

After more rounds of drinking and chatting, Emily stood up to head for the restroom.

She left her bag sitting on her chair with the zipper half open. Inside, I caught sight of a familiar key trinket. It was fully intact with no damage at all.

Adam had obviously fixed it perfectly. I never knew he was capable of this.

Sophie leaned in and whispered, "Claire, what's up with Emily today? She's been throwing shade at you all night."

"Maybe I did something to get on her bad side," I said.

"Is she..." Sophie hesitated for a moment before lowering her voice further. "I've heard she's been seeing someone who's already in a committed relationship. Do you think it could be..."

"No way." I patted her hand. "Adam would never do something like this."

I spoke with such firm certainty that I almost managed to convince myself.

When Emily came back, her cheeks were flushed, but her eyes sparkled even more.

She walked straight toward me. "Claire, can I talk to you privately for a minute?"

I followed her out to the restaurant's open terrace. A sharp cold wind swept over us, and I pulled my coat tighter around my body.

"We're alone now. What do you want to say?" I asked.

Emily leaned against the railing and lit a slim cigarette, the same brand Adam smoked.

"Let's stop beating around the bush, Claire." She exhaled a cloud of smoke. "You know about Adam and me, don't you?"

"Know about what exactly?" I feigned confusion.

"Stop pretending." She laughed softly. "You saw my message last night, didn't you? And you moved the party time on purpose today to see if I was with him, right?"

I held her gaze and stayed quiet.

"Since you already know everything, I'll be honest." Emily flicked away ash from her cigarette. "I'm pregnant, and the baby is Adam's. He promised he would end things with you as soon as he could."

"Is that so?" I smiled. "When did he make that promise?"

"Last night, when he took that phone call on your balcony." She stepped closer to me. A strong rose perfume drifted from her body, the exact fragrance that always lingered on Adam's clothes.

"It's been seven years, Claire," she went on. "He's grown tired of this life. Your relationship only runs on old habits and obligations with no real love left. I'm the one who can give him new thrills and genuine passion."

"And the baby," I chimed in.

"Yes, the baby." She gently stroked her stomach with a tender expression. "He wants a real family. He doesn't want to spend his life settling for someone who only prioritizes work."

Her words stung. When Adam started his company, I was the one who stuck by him through every hard time. I worked full-time during the day and helped him sort through all his business paperwork late every night.

When he ran out of funding and had no way to keep the company going, I put my parents' house up as collateral to save his business.

The second he landed his first real contract, he hugged me and said, "Claire, when I succeed, I'll make you the happiest woman in the world."

Now he finally got the successful life he wanted, but I was nothing more than someone who only prioritized work in his eyes.

"So what are you trying to say?" I asked. "You want me to walk away on my own?"

"You catch on fast." Emily smiled faintly. "You can leave with your dignity intact instead of getting broken up with. I'll make sure Adam offers you a generous compensation package, enough to cover all your living expenses for the rest of your life."

"What if I refuse?"

Her smile chilled. "Then I'll stop playing nice. I have plenty of ways to ruin your reputation and mess up your life. I know everything about your work projects and your family's public image. I've done my homework, Claire. You can't afford to lose anything."

It turned out she'd planned every single part of this for a long time.

I nodded. "I'll think about it."

"You have three days." Emily held up three fingers. "If you're still together after three days, I'll expose everything about him and me to the public. And there's one more thing..."

She paused, her voice turning cold and threatening. "That old scandal your dad was mixed up in. You really wouldn't want that dragged out again, would you?"

A chill ran straight through me. I never thought she would dig up something that old and private. "How did you find out about that?" I asked.