Chapter 5: Emily, Come Here
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The checkup was finished, and Emily’s restraints were removed. She immediately pointed anxiously at her stomach, looking at Lily Morgan.
Lily gave her a condescending smile. “Are you asking if Ethan knows you’re pregnant?”
Even now, this little wretch was still hung up on Ethan!
Did she really think she could use this baby to win his heart?
How utterly naive!
Lily had clearly underestimated just how deep Emily’s feelings for Ethan ran.
Looking back, Lily cursed her own stupidity for pushing such a valuable man like Ethan into Emily’s arms. After Lily married into the declining Graham family, her life as Mrs. Graham had been miserable and humiliating. Meanwhile, Ethan Carter, whom she hadn’t thought much of before, had soared to become one of the most powerful men in the city.
That’s why she came back.
And now, it was time for Emily to finally give up.
Lily smiled softly. “Of course, he knows. How else do you think you’re being released so easily?”
Emily felt uneasy. Something about Lily’s words didn’t sit right with her. But the overwhelming relief of being freed from the prison overpowered her doubts, and in the end, she nodded.
As long as she got out, there was hope.
Lily’s eyes lingered on Emily’s frail figure. Even after months of malnutrition, her cheeks sunken and her skin pale, Emily’s eyes still shimmered, full of depth and emotion. When she looked at someone, it was as if her gaze could sweep through their soul.
It was a face that could captivate anyone.
Lily’s smile faded. “Do you want to see Ethan?”
Emily nodded eagerly, her heart racing.
“Don’t worry. Once you’re settled, I’ll bring him to you.” Lily glanced over the medical report, satisfied to see all the indicators coming back negative. Her lips curved into a pleased smile. “Be patient. You’ll see him soon.
Emily left the prison in such a hurry that it took a few days for Alyssa and the others to realize she was truly gone. The mute girl… she always did the laundry so neatly...
But how many people had ever crossed Ethan Carter and come out of it unscathed?
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Grandview International Apartments
Emily had been living in the apartment for a week now.
Lily had hired the best nutritionists to help her regain her strength, and doctors came by every other day. The number of medical checkups was increasing as well.
But Emily couldn’t help but notice the way Lily’s gaze often drifted to her belly.
Uneasy, Emily scribbled on a piece of paper: When will Ethan come?
“Tomorrow.” Lily’s lips curled into a smile full of triumph, as if she were looking at a defeated enemy. “I’m looking forward to it too.”
Emily hardly slept that night. At dawn, she carefully applied lipstick she hadn’t touched in ages, tied her hair back, and changed outfits three times before finally stepping out of her room.
And there he was—the man she had longed for day and night, sitting quietly on the sofa.
He looked even more handsome than before.
His long legs were crossed over the edge of the couch, his tailored suit perfectly accentuating his lean, muscular frame. His features were chiseled, every angle sharp and flawless, as if sculpted by the gods.
But she… she had aged so much.
Panicking, Emily took a step back, feeling the gap between them widen despite his physical nearness.
Crash! She stumbled into the table behind her, the sharp sound echoing in the room.
Ethan Carter looked up.
A flicker of something unfamiliar crossed his eyes. He had expected her to be in poor shape, but this… this was worse than he imagined.
Her once smooth skin had become rough and scarred, marked by twisted lines that ran across her body like scary earthworms. It was only her face that remained somewhat recognizable, but even that had lost the delicate, innocent beauty he once knew.
The woman standing before him was hardly the Emily he remembered.
He raised his hand and gestured to her. “Emily, come here.”
It was the same gesture he had made the day he proposed to her, standing amidst the falling snow. Back then, he had smiled and called her over softly: “Emily, come here.”
- Writer
