Chapter 3: Accident

Vivian's face stiffened, and the smile on her lips almost faltered. She quickly glanced at Adam, as if waiting for him to say something.

Adam said nothing. He stared at Emily, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

Emily had never talked like this before. She was always gentle and soft-spoken, never getting into arguments with anyone. What was going on with her today?

"Emily, you—?" Adam frowned, about to speak, but Vivian gently tugged at his arm.

"Adam, let's go inside." Vivian's voice was soft, with a touch of hurt. "Emily might not be in a good mood. I don't blame her."

Her words sounded considerate and generous, making Emily look like the unreasonable one.

As she passed by Emily, Emily clearly felt someone bump hard into her shoulder. The champagne glass slipped from her hand and spilled right onto a woman in a white dress standing nearby.

The woman shrieked, looking down at the wine stain spreading across her chest, her face turning dark.

Emily steadied herself and turned to look at the person who had bumped into her.

Vivian's face showed just the right amount of panic. "Jennifer, are you okay? Emily, how could you be so careless?"

She spoke words of concern, but a flash of triumph showed in her eyes.

Emily saw it clearly—in that moment, Vivian had bumped into her on purpose.

"How do you walk?" The woman who got wine spilled on her turned around, glaring at Emily. Her name was Jennifer Walsh, daughter of the Walsh family, and she was usually close with Vivian.

"She bumped into me," Emily said calmly, pointing at Vivian.

Vivian immediately put on a wronged expression. "Emily, I know you don't like me, but you can't accuse me like this."

As she spoke, she glanced at Adam, her eyes slightly reddening.

Sure enough, Adam walked over. He looked at the wine stain on Jennifer's dress, then at Vivian's hurt expression, and finally fixed his gaze on Emily, his brow deeply furrowed.

"Emily, apologize."

Emily looked up at him. "Why should I?"

"Vivian already said it wasn't her. How old are you? Still acting so childish?" Adam's voice was low, but the impatience in his tone was impossible to hide. "Look at Jennifer's dress—what a mess."

Jennifer sneered. "This dress is the new Elysium collection, limited edition worldwide. There's only one in the country. Ms. Hart, what do you say we do about this?"

Emily glanced at the dress—it was indeed expensive. But her attention wasn't on the dress; it was on Adam's face.

He stood beside Vivian, in the posture of a protector.

While she stood opposite them, like someone who had done wrong, waiting to be judged.

She just found it funny.

"How much?" Emily asked.

Jennifer paused, then named a figure. "Eighty-eight thousand dollars."

There was some smugness in her tone as she waited to see Emily's embarrassment.

Emily nodded and said calmly, "Eighty-eight thousand dollars?"

Jennifer thought she was scared by the price and scoffed. "Ms. Hart, this is an Elysium gown, not those cheap brands you usually shop at."

Several socialites around them laughed and whispered.

"I heard she's just an ordinary designer. How much can she make in a month?"

"Wearing a knockoff to an art exhibition—doesn't she feel ashamed?"

"How could Adam have a girlfriend like this?"

Adam's expression grew even darker. He walked to Emily's side, lowered his voice, his tone filled with suppressed anger. "Can't you just behave? Do you have to embarrass yourself here?"

Emily looked up at him, her gaze as calm as if she were looking at a stranger.

"Embarrass myself?" She repeated the phrase.

Adam felt uncomfortable under her gaze, but still pressed on. "How much is your monthly salary? Can you afford eighty-eight thousand dollars? Vivian already said it wasn't on purpose. Why do you have to make such a scene?"

Emily ignored him and took out her phone, dialing a number.

"Elysium customer service? Can you connect me to your chief designer, Lina?"

A delighted voice soon came from the other end. "Emily? Oh my God, why are you calling me? Long time no see!"

"Lina, I want to reserve your latest design from this season—that limited edition Starry Sky dress that hasn't been released yet."

"You want it? No problem! But that dress hasn't gone on sale yet. I was planning to save it for Fashion Week, but since you're asking, I'll have someone set one aside for you. When do you need it?"

"Tomorrow." Emily said. "Send it to this address." She gave the address of the Hart family estate in Silverpine City.

"Done! By the way, when are you coming back to Silverpine City? I'll arrange time to take you to dinner."

"Soon."

Emily hung up and looked up at Jennifer.

"The Elysium Starry Sky dress, the one that hasn't been released yet—you know about it, right?"

Jennifer's face changed. Of course she knew—that Starry Sky dress was Elysium's finale piece this season. So many people in their circle were on the waiting list and couldn't get it.

"You—?" Jennifer opened her mouth but couldn't speak.

Emily smiled faintly. "As for the dress you're wearing, eighty-eight thousand dollars, right? I'll pay for it. But—"

Her gaze shifted to Vivian, her smile deepening. "She's the one who bumped into me, and the wine spilled from her glass. By rights, we should each pay half for this dress."

Vivian's face went pale. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," Emily said unhurriedly, "Jennifer only needs to pay half the money to get this Starry Sky dress—the half you should pay! As for whether you're willing to give it, that's up to you."

"I have things to do. I'm leaving." Emily turned and left the exhibition hall without looking back.

Behind her came Vivian's tearful voice. "Adam, I really didn't bump into her. Is Emily mad at me?"

Adam comforted her in a low voice. "It's okay, it's not your fault. Don't take it to heart."

Emily's steps paused for a moment, then she continued forward.

She didn't look back.

Walking out of the art museum, the cool March evening breeze hit her face. Emily took a deep breath, feeling the tightness in her chest finally ease.

She stood by the roadside waiting for a car. Her phone buzzed—a message from Jack. "Did you book your ticket?"

She replied, "Booked. Wednesday afternoon."

"I'll pick you up. I've already arranged things with Noah. Dinner Thursday night, okay?"

"Okay."

She put away her phone and got into a taxi. The car drove through Birchwood City's streets, neon lights casting mottled shadows on the windows. She looked outside, suddenly remembering the first day she came to Birchwood City.

Three years ago, she had also taken a car from the airport to downtown. Back then she was full of hope, thinking that if she loved someone enough, she would get the same in return.

Now she knew—some people's hearts could only hold one person. And she was just a substitute when that person was absent.

Emily went straight back to the company and handed her resignation letter to the department director, Jacob.

"Emily? You're resigning?" Jacob took the letter, looking surprised.

"Yes, something came up at home. I need to go back to Silverpine City."

"But does Mr. Blake know?"