The sunlight peeked through the curtains, casting a patchy glow on Emily's tired face. She lay on the wooden bed, eyes shut tight, trying to soak in a moment of peace amidst all her exhaustion and worries.
Lately, it felt like she was stuck in a never-ending nightmare. Lisa and Gordon's health issues, the financial strain, Shirley's revenge, and Patrick's distrust were all weighing her down.
Luckily, Carol had offered to take care of Gordon, and Marlon's help had been invaluable. Without them, she might've crumbled.
Emily stared at the ceiling, lost in thought about her next move.
Suddenly, her phone rang, jolting her out of her thoughts. She saw it was the HR department calling and felt a wave of anxiety. What now? Taking a deep breath, she answered.
"Emily, your vacation's almost up. Just a heads-up, you need to be back at work tomorrow."
"Sure, I'll be there for the Canyon Ridge project team."
"Actually, no. You're needed back at headquarters."
"What?" Emily was confused.
"Mr. Rivera specifically asked me to remind you."
Emily thought, 'Patrick, what are you up to now?'
"Emily, you there?"
She snapped back, "Yeah, got it."
After hanging up, Emily felt a mix of emotions. She had no clue what Patrick wanted by calling her back to headquarters. Was it to explain things or to fire her? Either way, she knew she needed to face him. So, she stopped overthinking and got ready.
She picked up Gordon from Carol's place, took him shopping for clothes, and then drove him back to his special school. He needed the structured learning and care for his recovery.
The school staff were warm and welcoming. After the last incident with Gordon, they'd had several meetings about safety, and the teachers formally apologized.
"Thank you for trusting us. We'll take good care of Gordon!" his teacher said, shaking Emily's hand, eager to reassure her.
Emily patted Gordon's head, "I'll pick you up this weekend, okay? If anyone else tries to take you, don't go with them, got it?"
Gordon nodded and went back to class with his teacher. Emily left reluctantly. By the time she got back to her old apartment, it was already dark. She needed to start planning, as Lisa and Gordon needed more money now. Since she had decided to leave, she had to think ahead.
The next day, when Emily returned to headquarters, the atmosphere felt off.
"Did you hear? Emily's hooked up with the heir of the Hughes Group."
"No wonder she comes and goes from the Canyon Ridge project as she pleases. She's got a backer!"
"And get this, Mr. Rivera caught her and Mr. Hughes in bed last time he visited!"
"So scandalous! That must've been tough for Mr. Rivera to see!"
"I told you! She was the one who seduced Mr. Rivera in the first place. He must be glad to be rid of her!"
Colleagues whispered among themselves.
"Why not consider that I'm the one who's really glad?" Emily said, startling the most talkative colleague from behind.
"Emily, Mr. Rivera wants to see you!" The HR colleague ran over, giving the gossipers a disdainful look and scolding them. "Don't you all have work to do?"
The colleagues, who had been enjoying their gossip session, scattered in frustration.
Emily took a deep breath, trying to keep her cool, and walked confidently into Patrick's office.
She clutched her resignation letter tightly, feeling a whirlwind of emotions. She knew that handing it in meant closing the chapter on her tangled past with Patrick and facing new challenges head-on.
But she was determined. She knew that breaking free from this situation was the only way to truly start fresh. Emily placed the resignation letter on Patrick's desk and turned to leave.
"Emily, did I say you could leave? Sit down!"
Emily stopped, standing straight in front of Patrick, refusing to sit. They locked eyes, and the room fell silent except for the ticking clock. Patrick opened the resignation letter and read it carefully.
Every now and then, Emily glanced nervously at Patrick, her eyes catching a glass ornament on the bookshelf behind him. It was a little white rabbit she had picked up at an event she attended with Patrick for the first time.
Back then, Emily, still green, had hesitated to accept a souvenir from the event organizers. It was only at Patrick's urging that she nervously chose the glass figurine of a rabbit with a crooked ear.
Patrick had teased her all day for picking the rabbit instead of one of the more beautiful and valuable souvenirs. Embarrassed, Emily had left the rabbit at the event venue.
But later, there it was, the crooked-eared rabbit on Patrick's shelf. That was when Emily realized Patrick wasn't just a high-and-mighty CEO; he had a softer side too.
Thinking back on her time with Patrick, Emily's heart was a mess of emotions. The once charming Patrick had become her deepest pain.
His distrust, his coldness, his controlling nature—it all left her feeling exhausted and hopeless. She had wanted to ask him what she meant to him, but every time she tried, she swallowed the words, afraid of the answer.
"Mr. Rivera, I want to resign," Emily repeated.
Patrick was silent for a moment.
"Emily, have you really thought this through? I'm asking you one last time," Patrick's voice had a slight tremor, whether from anger or reluctance.
"Yes, I owe you, and I'll repay you as soon as I can."
"Repay me? How?" Patrick sneered.
"If you want to resign, fine. But if you can complete this project, I won't stop you. I gave you the money willingly. You don't need to repay me."
Emily thought, 'Are you pitying me, Patrick?' She smiled bitterly inside. Whether it was leverage or genuine help, it was Patrick who had convinced Lisa to open up.
'Patrick, let me help you one last time,' Emily thought.
Patrick slammed a folder down in front of her.
Frowning, Emily picked it up and skimmed through it. She couldn't help but gasp; the project seemed impossible.
"What? Scared? Then take back your resignation letter, and I'll pretend I didn't see anything," Patrick said, watching her reaction.
"Mr. Rivera, as you said, if I complete the project, you'll let me leave," Emily said seriously, looking him in the eye. "Mr. Rivera, I hope you'll keep your promise."