The Billionaire's Perfect Match

Chapter 6:

“Okay.” Ricard accepted the bowl and took a gentle sip.

Emily then placed a piece of carrot into Ricard’s bowl. “Carrots are good for your health. Have some more.”

“Alright,” Ricard agreed, but instead of eating it, he continued sipping his soup slowly.

He finished one bowl of soup and served himself another, eating some shredded chicken and stir-fried lotus root, but he didn’t touch the carrot Emily had given him. Noticing this, Emily looked down and ate her food, feeling a bit disheartened.

Emily said nothing more, and Ricard, who disliked talking while eating, maintained the silence. The atmosphere became silent. After the meal, Ricard offered to wash the dishes, and Emily, not saying a word, turned and went to her room.

She knew her relationship with Ricard wasn’t intimate enough for such gestures, but seeing him dislike the food she had chosen for him still made her feel hurt.

But upon reflection, their marriage was not based on any affection. They married simply because it was time. Despite being married, their lack of familiarity prevented them from exchanging intimate gestures. This was indeed her mistake.

From now on, she would try to maintain a respectful distance in their life together and avoid any over-familiar actions. Once she figured this out, Emily no longer felt upset about the food incident.

She opened her computer, planning to review the Aliba project proposal once more. They worked tirelessly for a long time leading up to the bid opening on Friday, where any mistakes were not an option. Just as she opened the document, her phone rang.

Seeing Anna’s name on the screen, she answered, only to hear Anna’s anxious voice, “Where have you been? Why didn’t you tell me you moved? Are you trying to scare me to death?”

Anna was Emily’s high school and college friend. When Emily was shunned by others, Anna stood by her. When Emily moved to Tomaso to start anew, Anna immediately followed her, bringing just a simple suitcase, leaving the bustling capital for the quieter Giang Bei city. Anna worried about Emily living alone and initially planned to stay for two months until Emily settled down, but she eventually decided that Tomaso, a city growing on the international stage, wasn’t bad either and settled there with Emily. Together, they pooled their money to open a bridal boutique.

Emily needed money, feeling that even family couldn’t be trusted. Only money could provide her with a sense of security, so she took on multiple jobs, which is why she worked at William Group, but only invested in the bridal boutique without managing it. Anna understood there was more to it. The main reason was that Emily no longer wanted to design bridal gowns, a hidden pain she had never fully healed from.

With Anna, Emily had no secrets. Anna had even set her up with Ricard. Emily had planned to tell Anna about her marriage to Ricard over the weekend, but Anna had come to her rented place first.

Emily quietly listened until Anna finished scolding her, then gently said, “Anna, don’t worry. I’m fine. The Aliba project wraps up this Friday. I’ll treat you to dinner over the weekend.”

Anna shouted angrily, “You scared me half to death, and you think a meal will compensate for my emotional damage?”

Emily knew Anna’s tough talk was just a front, so she laughed. “How about I sleep over at your place to make up for it?” As she said this, Ricard walked in, pausing slightly, already guessing she was on the phone with Anna.

Despite Emily’s usual gentle smile, she kept most people at arm’s length emotionally, except for Anna. Ricard was aware, but Emily wasn’t aware of his awareness.

Whispering with her hand over the phone’s speaker, she informed him, “It’s a friend who is female.”

Ricard nodded, not asking further, and tactfully left the room to give her space. However, Emily thought he didn’t believe her and smiled helplessly, thinking he must consider her fickle.

“Emily, Emily...” Anna called out when Emily didn’t respond. “Tell me your address so I can come over.” Emily knew Anna was worried and would call the police if she didn’t see her today.

Smiling gently, Emily said, “Don’t worry, I’ll come to see you.” After hanging up, she packed a few things to spend the night at Anna’s, intending to explain her marriage.

She knocked on the study door and, hearing Ricard’s permission, entered. “Ricard, I’m going to Anna’s tonight. I won’t be back.”

Ricard immediately stood up. “I’ll drive you.”

Emily shook her head. “No need to trouble you.”

Ricard looked at her intently. “It’s late. I’d be worried if you went out alone.” His firm tone left no room for refusal.

Ricard drove a Land Rover SUV, not the most expensive for someone of his status, but spacious and comfortable.

He drove steadily, just as he gave off an air of reliability.

After giving him the address, they both fell silent. The drive took nearly an hour. As Emily thanked him and was about to get out, Ricard gently grabbed her shoulder.

“Emily...” His deep, attractive voice always sounded so pleasant when he called her name.

Emily glanced at his hand, then looked into his eyes and asked softly, “Is there anything else?”

He released her, somewhat awkwardly, asking, “Are you mad at me?”

Emily smiled. “Why would I be?”

Ricard: “...”

Emily got out of the car, standing outside as she said, “Drive safely.”

Ricard nodded and drove off. Watching him leave, Emily turned towards Anna’s apartment.

When they first moved to Amy, Emily, and Anna shared an apartment with two bedrooms and one living room. Later, Emily moved out to be closer to her job at William Group.

After Emily moved out, Anna remained in their old place, keeping a room ready for Emily, claiming it was for Emily to always have a place to return to.

Seeing Emily standing healthily before her, Anna ignored her and engrossed herself in a drama on her iPad. While Anna didn’t acknowledge Emily’s arrival, a large white dog, looking like a snowball, eagerly bounded over to her, wagging its tail and licking her feet in excitement.

Emily casually tossed her handbag aside and picked up the dog. “Anna, did you miss Mommy?” Anna barked twice and burrowed into Emily’s arms, showing how much it had missed her.

Anna’s discontented gaze landed on them. “Anna, you traitor! Though she’s your ‘birth mother,’ I’ve spent more time raising you. It’s bad enough you don’t greet me, but now you’re flaunting your affection in front of me?”

Emily, holding Anna, squeezed in next to Anna with a smirk. “Anna is smart; it knows who its real mom is and who the stepmom is.”

“I’m the stepmom?” Anna threw her iPad aside and aggressively hugged Emily. “Emily, be careful, or I might poison your ‘daughter.’” Before Emily could respond, Anna barked indignantly, protesting Anna’s threat.

Emily, finding Anna adorable, lifted it and rubbed her face against its fur. “My ‘daughter’ is the most caring.”

Anna rolled her eyes at Emily. “To have a daughter, marry a man and have as many children as desired.”

Suddenly, Emily looked seriously at Anna. “Anna, I’ve registered for my marriage.”

“Get out!” Anna pointed to the door but quickly realized Emily wouldn’t joke about this. Her mouth dropped open in shock, wide enough to fit an egg. After a pause, she asked, “Who’s the man?”

Emily replied, “It’s Ricard, the guy you introduced me to.”

“Ricard?” Anna scratched her head, trying to recall. “But I didn’t introduce anyone named Ricard to you.”

Hearing this, Emily felt a pang of unease and concentrated on recalling the meeting. She wasn’t the one who approached Ricard first.

“But...” Anna grabbed Emily’s hand, worried. “Tell me everything that happened. I’m worried that someone has tricked you.”

Emily detailed the meeting, the marriage registration, and that Ricard was the new CEO of her company. Hearing this, Anna’s eyes nearly popped out. “Emily, what should I say now?”

Anna retrieved her iPad, quickly searching for information on Ricard, the CEO of William Group. “I thought Ricard must be some bald, pot-bellied old man unworthy of you...”

She stopped mid-sentence, staring in shock at the images on the screen. Despite only finding two pictures from his inauguration press conference, Ricard’s stunning looks were clear.

“Girl, slap me so I know I’m not dreaming,” Anna exclaimed.

Emily complied, patting Anna’s back. “He’s exactly who you see.”

Anna flailed her arms in excitement. “Such a handsome and capable man as your husband? After all your bad luck, have you finally struck gold?”

Emily didn’t feel like joking and asked, “Are you sure Ricard isn’t someone you introduced?”

Anna replied, “Indirectly, I guess. A client mentioned a well-qualified man, and I thought of you. So...”

Emily grabbed a sofa cushion and hit Anna with it. “Crazy woman, do you think I’m that desperate?”

“It’s not that you’re desperate; I was worried you didn’t want to marry,” Anna said, hugging Emily with a mix of joy and sadness. “Emily, live happily ever after, giving those people a lesson.”