The New Emily Hills

Chapter 13

NORA

“Emily, do you know that man?”

I raised an eyebrow at Asher’s question. If there were a measurable scale for shamelessness, he would have exceeded the maximum limit by now. I wanted to snap at him, to throw the truth in his face that I remembered nothing, that the woman standing before him was someone still feeling her way through a life that wasn’t truly hers. But I restrained myself. Not out of weakness, but because he wasn’t worth the explanation.

Instead, I slowly withdrew my gaze from him and turned to Devon.

“I don’t remember agreeing to any research collaboration with anyone,” I said coldly, my voice calm, precise, and unwavering. “So enlighten me—when exactly did I, or Hills Pharma, ever agree to something like that?”

I no longer trusted easily. Never again.

After what Andres had done—the deception, the lies that led to my death and forced me to live inside Emily’s body, I learned a painful lesson: never accept words at face value, even when they’re delivered with a pleasant smile and feigned sincerity. In the world I now inhabited, trust was a luxury I could no longer afford.

A smile crossed Devon’s lips, one I couldn’t immediately decipher. It wasn’t rude, nor was it forced—but there was a depth to it, something layered, something I had yet to understand.

“I think you misunderstood,” he replied evenly. “You are special to me because I was pursuing you.”

It felt as though cold water had been poured over my head.

For a moment, I froze—and I wasn’t the only one. Mr. Taylor gasped softly, while Asher stiffened beside me, his body tense as if he were about to explode.

“Stop spewing nonsense,” Asher cut in sharply, barely containing his anger. “Emily is my wife.”

He emphasized every word, wielding the title like a weapon—as if repeating it often enough would grant him ownership over me.

But Devon didn’t even flinch.

“—pursuing you for the research collaboration,” he calmly finished, his gaze never leaving mine. “This is Mr. Taylor’s birthday party, so I didn’t want to discuss business matters here. I’ll have someone contact your office to formally request an appointment.”

I studied him for a brief moment.

I couldn’t decide which irritated me more—the fact that I had no memory of Emily’s past, or the reality that there were people who seemed to know more about Emily’s life than I did.

In the end, I nodded. A simple gesture, but enough to show that I had heard him—and that I wasn’t rejecting the possibility outright.

I then turned to the birthday celebrant.

“Mr. Taylor, happy birthday,” I said with a gentle smile. “The celebration is magnificent. It truly suits someone like you.”

The old man smiled back, and for that brief moment, I saw something genuine—free of politics, free of hidden motives.

“Thank you, Emily,” he replied warmly. “I hope you enjoy yourself tonight.”

“I will,” I answered, bowing slightly before excusing myself.

I think the gift Matt was supposed to bring was the "something happened" he mentioned when he arrived. Thankfully, Asher made it clear that he brought his gift with me.

Mr. Taylor is a well-respected man, not just in the city. So, if the rumor that I didn't give him a present for his birthday escalates, it will be bad for my reputation, and Hills Pharma will be dragged into it.

As I walked away, I could still feel Asher’s heavy gaze burning into my back. But I didn’t look back.

One truth echoed clearly in my mind—

I need to recover Emily’s memories. And I need to do it as soon as possible.

Because with every sentence spoken by the people around me, I became more aware of how deep this world truly was—a world filled with secrets, interests, and truths deliberately hidden from the very body I now occupied.

The information I needed felt like needles scattered across an endless field of grass.

But I also knew—

Once I found them, I would no longer be the one searching blindly.

They would be.

As I changed direction, I could still feel eyes following me.

I didn’t need to turn around to know where that weight was coming from.

It was Asher.

Even without my memories, based on what we’d discussed at the hospital, I knew one thing clearly—Asher had hurt Emily. And the likely reason?

Corrine.

I took a sip of champagne from a passing waiter, maintaining a composed posture. I couldn’t afford to show cracks. Not here. Not in front of people trained to read weakness in every movement.

“Emily.”

I closed my eyes briefly.

I didn’t need to turn around to recognize that tone—forced calm, laced with frustration and restrained anger.

I stopped walking but kept my back to him.

“What?” I asked coldly.

He stepped closer until I could feel his presence behind me. He didn’t touch me this time, maybe he’d learned his lesson.

“Who is that man?” he asked quietly. “And why does he seem so comfortable with you?”

I let out a small, humorless smirk before finally turning to face him.

“Funny,” I said, raising an eyebrow, “coming from a man who was always comfortable being seen with another woman.”

His face went rigid.

“Emily—”

“Don’t,” I cut him off. “You don’t get to interrogate me. Not after everything.”

“Everything?” His voice rose slightly. “You suddenly act like I’m a stranger, you talk about divorce in front of everyone, and now there’s a man openly saying he’s pursuing you—”

“—for business,” I interrupted coolly.

He fell silent for a moment, visibly restraining himself.

“I remember you telling me that you already filed for divorce,” I added, my gaze locked onto his eyes. “Then why does it bother you so much? If you truly believe you’re innocent, why do you look like someone terrified of losing everything?”

Something flickered in his eyes—something I couldn’t quite define as anger or fear. Perhaps it was both.

“Because you’re my wife,” he said firmly, his voice low but resolute.

“Not for long,” I replied calmly.

One second passed.

Then another.

It looked as though there were countless words trapped inside him, all pressing to escape, but none of them made it out.

I suppose Emily had always been someone who said yes. Yes to compromise. Yes to silence. Yes to him. A doormat in their marriage. And that was why Asher reacted this way now.

He couldn’t accept that the woman he married, who probably loved him deeply, had started to lose interest. It never crossed his mind that the Emily Hills he knew could grow tired of loving him.

But unfortunately for him, this body no longer belonged to Emily.

This body is mine now.

I left him standing there, frozen at the edge of the grand hall, slowly returning to celebration, while I continued walking—my back straighter, my thoughts clearer.

But inside?

Chaos still reigned.

Devon—his arrival wasn’t an accident. His words weren’t careless. And Hills Pharma… CEO? Research collaboration?

Emily had a life I didn’t know.

Decisions she made that I couldn’t remember.

Did she have enemies? Allies? Who were they?

And as I walked farther away, one thing became painfully clear:

It wasn’t enough to pretend to be Emily.

I needed to know her.

Because if people were already starting to move around me—

I had to move first.

I stopped near the edge of the hall, took a glass of champagne, and handed the now-empty one to a passing waiter—not to drink, but to look composed.

From afar, I spotted Corrine—seated, quiet, her eyes swollen. Her confidence was gone. So was the smile that once made her look like the center of the world. Beside her sat Cici, who clearly had no intention of following Mr. Taylor’s instructions.

I shook my head slightly. Were young people really this foolish and unable to recognize the lies staring them in the face?

I chuckled inwardly. Who was I to talk?

Wasn’t I deceived and betrayed by Andres as well?

One wrong step, and everything collapsed.

And in that moment, one rule burned itself into my mind:

Never trust anyone. Never again.

I began mingling with other businesspeople, even though I could feel three pairs of eyes following my every move.

Corrine.

Asher.

Devon.

People whose intentions toward me were still unclear—except for Corrine, whose motive was painfully obvious. She wanted Asher.

Thanks to Mr. Taylor, the other guests treated me warmly, and I managed to connect with several influential figures. I couldn’t deny that Devon’s claim of “pursuing” me had piqued their curiosity. Emily Hills had suddenly become someone worth watching.

But, as far as I understand it, Devon is unknown to many, even to Asher. Maybe the fact that Mr. Taylor knew him led the other guests to think he was an important person.

After clinking glasses and exchanging pleasantries, I approached Mr. Taylor to say my goodbyes. I felt I had stayed long enough to establish valuable connections—ones that could significantly benefit both Hills Pharma and me.

“Thank you so much for coming, Emily,” Mr. Taylor said warmly. “I hope we’ll get a chance to sit down and talk someday, without discussing business.”

I smiled before responding. “I’ll be looking forward to that as well.”

The old man nodded, and I turned away, heading straight toward the hotel’s main entrance.

The car was already waiting. I reached for the door myself, but before I could get in, a hand stopped me.

“I’ll take you home.”

I clicked my tongue at the sound of that voice.

“Asher,” I said, raising an eyebrow, “which part of I don’t want to see you anymore is hard for you to understand?”

I noticed his jaw tense—but frankly, who cared?

He was about to speak when someone else called out.

“Ash.”

I saw him close his eyes tightly before opening them again. Our gazes met.

“I didn’t bring my car. Can you send me home?” Corrine asked as she finally reached us. I immediately pulled my arm free and got into the car. Whatever conversation they had after that no longer concerned me.

I leaned back, closed my eyes, and waited for us to arrive home.

But then—

I suddenly opened my eyes.

A familiar scent filled the car.

“Where’s Biboy?” I asked.

“You have sharp instincts, Miss Hills.”

I clicked my tongue at the driver’s words. “You sound like you know your employer’s driving habits very well,” he added.

I smirked.

“No,” I replied. “It’s your perfume that gave you away.”

The car screeched to a sudden stop.

The driver—

It was none other than Dante.