Chapter 6: Farewell to the Past

"Adam, I have no idea where Emily went. She must be really upset this time - she even made up a fiancé just to get under your skin. Maybe you should go find her and explain things properly."

Vivian looked up, pretending to be concerned as she spoke.

Adam frowned. Just thinking about how Emily dared to make up lies about having a fiancé to fool him made him furious.

Where did Emily get the nerve to play him like this?

She was clearly so dependent on him that she couldn't let go, yet she thought saying this would scare him?

Every single time she used these cheap tricks to try to make him regret things. If she wasn't tired of it, he certainly was.

"Why should I care? She can go wherever she wants! She doesn't have much money and doesn't know anyone. No matter where she goes, won't she just come crawling back home in the end?"

Adam said dismissively, though he still took out his phone and sent a message to his assistant at the company.

[Did Emily come back to the office?]

Adam told himself he wasn't worried about Emily's whereabouts - he just didn't want her running around causing trouble that he'd have to clean up later.

[She's at the office.]

After getting confirmation, Adam's lips curved into a satisfied smile.

See? No matter how angry she pretended to be, didn't she obediently go back to the office? These little schemes were so transparent. Emily was getting more and more stupid.

"Adam, what's wrong? Did you find out where Emily is?"

Vivian clenched her hands slightly, pretending to be innocent and naive as she asked.

"Yeah! She went back to the office like a good girl. What fiancé? I knew she was making it up."

"That's good. Looks like Emily still can't let you go."

Vivian breathed a sigh of relief, then deliberately added a flattering comment.

Adam felt even more pleased with himself, but decided he couldn't let Emily off this easily. "Vivian, come on, I'll take you shopping. Let's go out and have some fun - I'll make it up to you! How about it?"

"Adam, you're so good to me!"

Vivian looked at Adam with surprise, her eyes bright and full of admiration. Adam smiled smugly. "Let's go."

He wanted to show Emily that only obedient women deserved his kindness.

Since Emily had been getting more and more out of line lately, she deserved to be punished.

Meanwhile, at the office.

Emily was packing up her desk. She'd always lived simply, so there wasn't much at her workstation.

When she saw a photo, she paused for a moment.

In the picture were two people - one with bright eyes and a brilliant smile, the other looking around with an impatient expression.

There was some distance between them. They didn't look like a couple, but not like strangers either.

Emily stared at the photo for a while, remembering it was taken when she first got together with Adam. She'd asked him to take this photo with her.

Back then, she'd been full of hope for the future. Who would have thought it would end like this, defeated by reality.

With a self-mocking smile, she picked up the frame to throw it in the box when she suddenly heard people nearby gossiping.

She took out her phone and opened Adam's social media page. There were photos of Vivian carrying various luxury brand shopping bags, and photos of the two of them together.

In the photos, they had their heads close together, leaning toward each other, both smiling brightly. They looked like a perfect match.

So Adam could smile after all.

Putting away her phone, she casually tossed the photo into the trash and found Jacob to handle the final paperwork.

Jacob looked at the resignation letter in his hand and sighed with regret, though he didn't say much.

Everyone had secrets. He wasn't interested in prying, and he had no right to interfere with other people's lives.

"I wish you all the best in the future."

Jacob really appreciated Emily - she was reliable, a quick learner, and should have had the potential to become an important member of the company.

What a shame.

"Thank you." Emily smiled faintly. As she was about to leave, she ran into Adam and Vivian.

Vivian was still carrying several shopping bags with luxury brand logos. The two were chatting and laughing as they walked over. When Adam saw her, his smile immediately disappeared.

"What are you doing here during work hours?"

Adam frowned, scolding her with obvious displeasure. "Emily, don't push it."

"Mr. Blake, there's a resignation letter that needs your attention."

Jacob saw Adam and immediately walked over, handing him the letter and cutting off whatever he was about to say.

Vivian's sharp eyes immediately spotted Emily's name on it!

Adam took it casually and was about to open it when Vivian interrupted. "Adam, hurry up. Didn't you say you'd take me out tonight?"

"Fine." Adam glanced at Emily, then quickly signed the letter and handed it back to Jacob.

"Jacob, I'm leaving now."

Emily watched this scene without feeling anything - only relief at finally leaving.

As for what Adam was saying, she'd long since filtered it out as background noise.

When she loved him, she treasured every word, every syllable, keeping them in her heart.

Now that she didn't love him, he was just sand on the roadside, mud on the ground - even stepping on him felt unlucky.

She brushed past Adam and left the company, heading toward her new life.

...

Night fell, but The Blake Villa was still brightly lit.

Emily was packing her things, checking to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything.

Just then, her phone chimed with a notification.

After zipping up her suitcase, Emily took out her phone and opened it. Surprisingly, it was a message from Vivian.

She opened it to find a video.

The video showed a dim background with flashing lights, a group of people surrounding Adam and Vivian, eating, drinking, and having fun.

"Vivian! Let me toast you!"

A group of people laughed and joked as they offered Vivian drinks. Adam generously blocked the drinks for her. "That's enough! Vivian can't drink. You dare bully her?"

"Only because you're here to protect her!"

Emily watched expressionlessly, then deleted and blocked the contact without hesitation.

Annoying trash belonged in the trash can, waiting to be collected, not coming to her for attention.

Just as she was about to put her phone away, Adam sent her a message at that very moment.

[I have to work late at the office tonight. I won't be coming home.]

Emily frowned. What was wrong with these crazy people?

Why should she care whether he came home or not?

She was about to block him too when a recently added contact sent her a message.

His profile picture was a crescent moon hidden in dark clouds, giving off a mysterious vibe.

It was Noah.

[What time are we leaving tomorrow morning? I'll come pick you up.]

Emily's expression shifted slightly. She only replied to his message.