Chapter 13

As the bracelet slipped from her wrist, Emily's heart sank right along with it. Ignoring Patrick's shouts, she bolted out the door.

The sun was blazing. but Emily didn't care. She dropped to her knees.sifting through the dirt and trash, not missing a single spot. Her clothes got filthy, her hair a mess, but she didn't care. All she wanted was to find that bracelet.

Minutes ticked by, and Emily came up empty-handed. Desperation started to creep in, tears threatening to spill as her emotions bubbled over.

Suddenly, a pair of long legs appeared in front of her. The figure,dressed in a suit she once knew so well, now seemed like a stranger,standing boldly in her way.

"Emily, what are you doing?" Patrick's voice had a mix of confusion and mockery. "Is that bracelet a gift from some other guy?"

Emily looked up at Patrick's handsome but cold face, anger flaring up inside her.

Right now, she didn't want to say a word to him, even though he was someone she had once loved deeply.

Everything had happened so fast, faster than Emily had expected.

She knew he would side with Shirley, but she hadn't thought he'd

hurt someone who had loved him silently for so long just for Shirley!

"Is this fun for you?" Emily sneered.

For years,she had supported Patrick without question, acting as both his secretary and his caretaker, doing everything to please him. Even during her period, she would still meet his sexual needs. But in the end, what did she get in return? He knew she had been drugged, yet he still protected the person who harmed her!

She knew Patrick had always misunderstood her, thinking she was a woman who relied on men. But this time, she was truly enraged.

"Patrick, what gives you the right to say that to me?" Emily's voice shook with anger.

At this moment, Emily's eyes were red, a side of her Patrick had never seen before.

Maybe realizing he had gone too far, Patrick didn't stop Emily any further. He stayed silent for a moment, then turned and went back upstairs.

The sunlight slanted across the lawn, casting Emily's figure in the dirt and grass, making her look particularly disheveled. Her hands were covered in dirt, her clothes torn in several places, but her eyes shone with determination. She had to find that bracelet.

In the CEO's office, Patrick stood by the window, staring at the small yet infinitely energetic figure below.

After a moment of hesitation, Patrick picked up the phone and called the security department.

The call from the CEO's office caused a stir in the security department. Since the company's establishment, Patrick had never

directly contacted the security department; it was always his secretary or assistant who did.

The entire security team immediately assembled and went downstairs to search for the bracelet.

Emily's fingers were caked with dirt, but there was no sign of the bracelet. Just as she was about to give up. a security guard appeared in her view. holding something in his hand. It was ordinary, slightly oxidized, and not very bright, clearly old.

Emily's heart raced. She rushed over and snatched the item from the guard's hand. It was her lost bracelet!

"I finally found it!" Emily clutched the bracelet tightly, collapsing to the grouand in tears. She no longer cared about her appearance,only holding the bracelet close to her chest.

The security guard, confused, was signaled by his supervisor to return to his post.

Patrick watched thoughtfully from upstairs. He couldn't understand why Emily cherished such an ordinary bracelet. He had bought her various bracelets made of jade, gemstones, and gold, but she never wore them.Instead, she always wore this cheap bracelet.

He was insanely jealous. At first, he thought their relationship was just a convenient arrangement, but over time, his feelings for Emily grew stronger. Even with the drugging incident, Patrick had deleted the video to protect her. Shirley's background was way more complicated than it seemed, and he was already gathering evidence.

He didn't want to drag Emily back into the mess. But he couldn't explain all this to her yet.

"Emily,how could you be so careless?"

A gentle voice sounded beside her. It was Marlon.

Marlon had coincidentally passed by the Rivera Group and was planning to visit Patrick when he saw Emily in such a disheveled state.

Marlon's eyes were filled with concern and tenderness. Seeing Emily like this, he felt a pang of heartache and instinctively reached out his hand.

Emily hesitated, looking at Marlon's outstretched hand, but didn't take it. Marlon gently helped her up by her arm and then carefully wiped the dirt from her hands with a wet wipe.

Emily felt awarm current in her heart from Marlon's kindness.

"It's okay now," Marlon said.

Emily looked into Marlon's deeply affectionate eyes, unable to hold back her tears any longer.

Marlon glanced upstairs, meeting Patrick's warning gaze. Under that gaze, he seemed to understand something.

Marlon said with a gentle smile, "I'll take you home."

For Emily,where was home? Was it the dorm where Lisa lived or the apartment Patrick had rented for her?

"Actually. I don't know where my home is." Emily thought of her childhood home with her parents and brother. That was home. but it was long gone. never to return.

Seeing Emily's distress. Marlon turned around and headed to his villa.

Marlon poured a glass of warm water and handed it to Emily.

Marlon said sincerely, "Everyone thinks I'm a spoiled troublemaker.but I've been living independently since fifth grade. My parents only appear together at public events. Privately, they do their own thing.It's ridiculous, isn't it?"

Emily looked at Marlon's sincere face.

Emily asked. "Is that why you haven't gotten married?"

"That's part of the reason. I don't want to repeat my parents' path,pretending to be a loving couple when they're not. But it's also because I haven't met the right person. But now, things are different."

Marlon looked at Emily with deep affection.

"Maybe now, I'll consider marriage. Who knows?"

Emily fell silent.

Marlon sensed her discomfort, smiled, and asked, "What happened to you? How did you end up like this?"

Emily looked at the bracelet on her wrist. "Because it almost got lost.My dad passed away early. This is the only thing he left me.Whenever I see it, I remember his love and expectations. So, it's very

immoctand to hme.

Mariom's eyes shoored a mix of restrect amd sxumpanhy.

"But now it's ckay. Twe foomd in." Emály smniled,and Marlem wias momentarily stunned.

"What's wrong? Did I diirty the couchn?" Emily asiced cantiousiy.

Marlon said with a playful smille. "If you could dirty a dark brown couch, that would be impressive."

Emily's clothes were indeed covered in dirt, making her uncomfortable.

Marlon said. "There's a bath in the bathroom. Go take a warm bath."

Emily locked at Marlon warily.

Marlon gently patted her head. "Don't worry. Ill be in the living room playing games. I'm not interested in peeking."

Emily smiled awkwardly and went to the bathroom. locking the door behind her.

Just then. the doorbelI rang. Marlon looked through the video intercom and saw Patrick standing outside the villa.