Chapter 2 The Mistress Enters the House
Early the next morning, just as Emily placed the signed divorce agreement on Alex's desk, she received a call from her father.
"Emmie, when are you coming home? I heard Alex likes blueberry pie, so your mother specially bought lots of blueberries. Come over with Alex and have some."
Emily glanced at the divorce agreement on the desk, feeling terrible inside.
Her parents had always doted on her, and ever since she married Alex, the couple had been trying every way possible to please Alex.
Emily understood in her heart that they just hoped she would have a better life with the Bakers.
She didn't want her parents to know about the divorce, so she took a deep breath and tried to stay calm. "Alex has been pretty busy lately. Let's talk about it in a few days."
"I see." Father's tone sounded a bit disappointed, and he asked again, "So are you doing well with the Bakers? Do we need to come visit you?"
Emily said gently, "I'm fine, you don't need to worry. I'll come home to see you in a few days."
The father and daughter chatted for a while longer. After hanging up, Emily tiredly pulled herself up and went downstairs.
But just as she reached the stairs, she saw Alex helping Grace walk in.
Grace still had that fragile look about her. When she saw Emily, a flash of surprise crossed her face. "Alex, I didn't know you had guests at home..."
Emily frowned. It seemed Alex hadn't told Grace that he was already married.
Well, that made sense. At the time, Alex had been forced to marry a woman to inherit the family business. The wedding wasn't publicized, so many people in their circle didn't know about her existence as Mrs. Baker.
"My name is Grace." Grace walked toward Emily and extended her hand graciously. "You are..."
She finished speaking and looked up at Alex beside her.
Alex lowered his eyes, his face expressionless. "This is Emily, the second daughter of the Johnsons."
Everyone in their circle knew that Old Mrs. Johnson and Alex's grandmother were close friends, and the two families had always kept in touch. Grace wasn't surprised by Emily's identity.
"So you're the second daughter of the Johnsons. What a coincidence, running into you here."
Grace spoke graciously with an appropriate smile. Even though her tone carried a hint of questioning, it didn't make people feel uncomfortable.
Emily felt a bitter pang in her heart.
She smiled slightly and said casually, "Is Miss Miller back this time to rekindle things with Mr. Baker?"
Alex's brow furrowed slightly.
Grace paused, looking a bit shy as she glanced at Alex and said coyly, "Why are you telling everyone about our business?"
Seeing that neither of them denied it, Emily felt a chill in her heart.
Alex's expression also became somewhat unnatural. He looked at Emily coldly. "Grace isn't feeling well, so I brought her back to recover. You should move out for the next few days."
Emily's expression froze instantly.
She hadn't even divorced Alex yet, and he was already so eager to bring his old flame home and kick her out.
Although Emily had long thought about leaving, she still looked at Alex stubbornly. "So you're saying I should return what belongs to its rightful owner?"
Grace looked at her in surprise, then looked at Alex in confusion. "Alex, what does she mean by that..."
Alex frowned deeply, his eyes cold as he looked at Emily. "What are you doing? Wasn't I clear enough yesterday?"
Emily said flatly, "Acting so deeply devoted—is the baby in her belly yours?"
Now even Grace, no matter how naive, could tell something was off between them.
She tugged at Alex's sleeve somewhat pitifully. "Alex, am I causing you trouble? Maybe I should just stay at the hospital instead."
"And you!" Emily decided to go all out, not even sparing Grace. "Since you can't live without Alex, why didn't you marry him when he proposed back then?"
Grace's mouth opened and closed, unable to find an answer for a moment.
"Emily, have you lost your mind?" Alex shouted angrily and dragged Emily upstairs. "Come with me!"
Grace stood there alone, her gaze toward Emily growing increasingly cold.
Alex brought Emily to the bedroom. As soon as he closed the door, he started accusing her, "Emily, I'm warning you, we're about to get divorced. Don't cause trouble for me at a time like this!"
Emily looked at him with a cold laugh. "What? Are you that afraid of letting your little lover know you're already married?"
Alex's face darkened. "That's none of your business."
Emily looked at him in despair, her heart completely dead. "Alex, am I just a tool to you that you can summon and dismiss at will? We're not even divorced yet, and you're already bringing your ex-girlfriend home. What exactly do you take me for?"
"Emily, know your place! We only got married by agreement! If it weren't for Grandma insisting I marry you, do you think you could have comfortably been Mrs. Baker for three years?" Alex warned her coldly.
Emily fell silent.
Back then, when old Mrs. Baker came to the Johnsons to propose the marriage, she took one look at Emily and insisted she marry into the Bakers.
Emily already had feelings for Alex, and after the two old ladies played matchmaker, she naturally agreed.
When she came to meet Alex as the future Mrs. Baker, Alex threw a marriage agreement at her, saying he would only be her husband for three years. After three years, once he had full control of Baker Corporation's shares, he would divorce her.
Although Emily felt wronged, she still agreed.
From then on, things became awkward with the Bakers. Alex had never publicly acknowledged her, and after three years of living there, she felt like an outsider.
Except for old Mrs. Baker who took good care of her, no one was willing to give her a second glance.
Being Mrs. Baker hadn't made her happy at all.
Seeing her head down and silent, with tears welling up in her eyes, Alex sighed and finally softened his tone. "How about this—after the divorce, I'll give you some Baker Corporation shares and property to ensure you'll be comfortable for the rest of your life."
Emily looked up, her eyes red. "Alex, do you think I married you for money?"
Alex avoided her gaze and said nothing.
"Alex, actually I..."
Just as Emily was about to tell him about her pregnancy, there was a sudden knock at the door.
A servant called out urgently. "Sir, something's wrong—Miss Miller has fainted downstairs!"