Outside the office door, Emily's face turned pale. With a soft thud, the envelope in her hand slipped to the ground.
The sound caught the attention of the couple inside. Ethan turned his head sharply. "Who's there?"
His face froze when he saw Emily standing just outside. Damn it! Why did she show up without warning? She was his financial lifeline—he couldn't afford to lose her.
Ethan hastily pulled on his clothes. "Emily, I can explain!"
Tears welled in Emily's eyes. She turned and bolted down the hallway.
Ethan rushed after her, but she had already vanished. Panic gripped him—he had just started his secret affair with Chloe, and now he'd been caught red-handed.
"Emily!" he shouted, preparing to run after her—only to be stopped by a familiar figure stepping out from the shadows.
Celia stood there, calm and composed. Ethan flinched. "You?!"
Celia didn't answer. Instead, she pointed to the envelope of cash lying on the floor. "Emily came to give you money—twenty thousand yuan. Isn't that what you wanted?"
Yes. Absolutely.
Ethan crouched to grab the envelope.
But before his fingers could reach it, a sharp heel pressed down on his hand.
He froze, then looked up.
From his low vantage point, Celia stared down at him, her eyes glinting like shattered glass under the light. Her voice was cold and deliberate."If you're going to live off a woman, Ethan, at least act the part. A man on a leash doesn't kneel with pride—he squats like a dog. Got that?"
Ethan's face contorted. "You—!"
Just then, Chloe stepped out with a smug smile. "Celia, you're here to defend that hideous friend of yours? I took her man—and now the other ugly girl wants to play hero?"
Celia slowly withdrew her foot and picked up the envelope. She shot Chloe a playful smirk."Chloe, your stomach must be pretty strong. If you enjoy feeding off men like this, you could've just said so. We'd have sent you a whole buffet."
"What—?"
Chloe's smile collapsed. Before she could respond, Celia leaned in and whispered sweetly, venom in her voice,"Congratulations, Chloe. You've just secured lifetime ownership of a first-class freeloader."
Then she turned and walked away without looking back.
Chloe, who had just been basking in her triumph, suddenly felt like she'd been doused with ice water. Her smug expression crumbled as she erupted in rage.
···
Emily ran through the city streets, tears blurring her vision.
Just then, her phone rang. It was her father—Mr. Fu.
She picked up. His worried voice came through immediately,"Emily? Where are you? You're not still with those people, are you?"
But Emily just cried harder, choking on her sobs.
Mr. Fu fell silent. From the moment she was born with that birthmark, the family had been especially protective of her.
"Emily, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"
"Dad," she wept, her voice trembling, "Why do I have this birthmark on my face? Why me? Why am I the only one who looks like this?"
"Emily, sweetheart… Dad always told you—whatever life gives you, accept it bravely…"
"I don't want to accept it anymore!" she burst out. "Just because I have this mark, everyone calls me ugly! They say I don't deserve love. That no one could ever love me…"
"Emily—!"
But the call ended. Two soft beeps. She had hung up.
···
Downstairs at the CC building, Celia couldn't find Emily anywhere.
Just then, a luxury SUV pulled up to the curb. The door swung open—Mrs. Fu stepped out, her face filled with worry.
"Celia, have you seen Emily? She's missing. We're searching everywhere for her!"