Chapter 4 Grandma Orders Her to Return Home
"It's fine. I sent the onboarding application to your email. When can you start?"
Hearing this, Emily paused. The sooner the better, of course.
"Once I wrap up what I'm working on, I can leave within three days."
"Great!" Sophia agreed immediately, appreciating her straightforwardness. "When you get here, we'll work on next season's new product launch together. I believe in your designs!"
The job was settled.
After hanging up, Emily pressed her lips together, sitting by the bay window and looking out at the street corner.
She couldn't help but touch her belly, her smile softening. "Baby, mommy will take good care of you."
Emily slowly stood up, planning to make herself some nutritious food.
But just as she entered the kitchen, her phone rang again.
The screen showed "Grandma."
Emily froze for a moment.
Margaret Baker was the only Baker who truly cared about her.
She quickly answered, trying to sound casual. "Hello, Grandma, what's up?"
"Emmie, where are you right now?" Margaret's voice was gentle, full of affection.
Emily hesitated for a moment, lying awkwardly. "Grandma, I'm out shopping with friends."
Despite her age, the old lady loved fun and enjoyed young people's things.
She used to call Emily to the old house to make videos together for social media.
But Margaret didn't say anything about that, only. "Emmie, come to the old house. I need to talk to you."
Hearing this, Emily's heart sank.
Did Grandma find out?
She didn't dare delay and quickly agreed.
An hour later, at the Baker family estate.
Surrounded by lush greenery, a garden-style villa stood tall.
In this area, every inch of land was worth a fortune.
Emily got out of the taxi and hurried into the main hall, forcing a smile.
"Grandma, what's so urgent? Are you not feeling well?"
She entered to find Margaret sitting on the sofa, her kind face tinged with worry. "Emmie, come sit down."
"The servants told me you and that troublemaker Alex are getting divorced. Is it true?"
She found out after all.
Emily's movements froze. After a long pause, she nodded. "Grandma, it's true."
Margaret grabbed her hand and spoke up, "Hmph, I knew it! Did that troublemaker bully you?"
"Don't be afraid, Emmie. Grandma's got your back!"
Margaret snorted coldly and picked up her phone.
The phone case had a custom photo of her and Emily together.
Grandma had taken it using a TikTok filter. At the time, Alex looked reluctant, but under Grandma's pressure, he had no choice but to comply.
Every time Emily saw that screen, she had to shake her head helplessly. "Grandma, it's not his fault, I..."
But before she could finish, she was interrupted.
"I need to ask that troublemaker if he's gotten too big for his boots and won't even listen to me anymore!"
"Besides Emmie, no one deserves to be my granddaughter-in-law. Those trashy women out there better not even think about stepping foot in the Baker family!"
Emily wanted to say more, but Margaret had already called Alex.
Her hands resting on her knees slowly clenched. Her heart was a mess, and she finally let out a bitter laugh.
Grandma's protection touched her.
But between her and Alex... there was no going back.
The next second, Margaret thrust the phone forward, "Alex, you brat, get back to the old house right now!"
She practically pressed the camera to her face as she scolded him.
Emily didn't know what to say.
Alex was at the office. Hearing the old lady's scolding, he frowned. "Grandma, I still have work to do."
"I don't care what you have to do, get back here!" Margaret was so angry she took off her jade ring. "Otherwise, don't bother coming back ever again!"
That green jade ring was bought with Alex's first paycheck, and the old lady had always treasured it.
Alex rubbed his temples helplessly. "Grandma, why are you so worked up? At least tell me what's going on."
Not mentioning it was fine, but bringing it up made the old lady even angrier. "What did Emmie ever do to you? Why do you have to divorce her?"
"Don't think I don't know what you're up to out there!"
"Let me tell you, if you dare divorce Emmie, don't blame me for disowning you as my grandson!"
"You decide for yourself!"
With that, Margaret hung up.
Alex looked at the disconnected call, his brow furrowing.
How did Grandma find out about this?
The office was eerily quiet.
The pen was in his hand, but he couldn't get through several documents.
Suddenly, a mocking expression appeared on Alex's stern face. "I thought she had more backbone. She signed the divorce papers, then turned around and complained to the old lady."
He really overestimated her.
With a cold laugh, he grabbed his coat and headed to the underground garage.
At the old house.
After hanging up, Margaret's anger hadn't subsided. She simply pushed the ring farther away, "Take it away, take it away. Just looking at it makes me angry."
That brat!
Making her worry at her age.
Emily quickly poured her some tea. "Grandma, don't be angry. Take care of yourself."
"Actually, he and I... we've already agreed. The divorce is mutual."
The old lady held her hand sympathetically. "I know you're a good kid who only shares good news, not bad."
"But you truly care about Alex. I'm old but not blind. Don't worry, as long as Grandma's here, no one can bully you."
"If that troublemaker dares divorce you, I'll cut off his shares in Baker Corporation and throw out his collectibles. Let's see what he'll have to mess around with!"
Margaret snorted, her well-maintained face full of determination.
Emily didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but she was also worried.
This way... she wondered if they could still get divorced smoothly.
The rift between her and Alex couldn't be smoothed over with just a few scoldings from the old lady.
Soon enough.
The sound of a car engine roared outside the old house.
Emily looked up. She could tell from the sound that Alex had arrived.
She had waited for him on countless nights.
But in the end, there was never any result.
Soon, Alex came in.
His crisp black suit was impeccable, making his tall figure even more striking.
The man's chiseled face had softened its sharpness somewhat. When his gaze swept across the living room, it didn't pause for a moment.
As if he didn't see Emily at all.
He walked over calmly, "Grandma, what did you need me for?"
"You dare ask me?" Margaret snorted coldly, pulling Emily's hand closer to her. "I'm asking you, are you divorcing Emmie or not?"
Alex's dark eyes narrowed. He didn't speak, which was as good as admitting it.
"Speak up!" Margaret was frustrated, throwing a coaster at him.
Alex caught it in one hand. Helplessly, he finally said. "Grandma, this is between her and me. Please stay out of it."
Margaret was immediately displeased, holding Emily's hand and refusing to let go. "I don't care what you think. Emmie is the granddaughter-in-law I've chosen!"
"She came through the Bakers' door, so she's a Baker! If you want a divorce, it'll be over my dead body!"
Alex's frown deepened.
He knew Grandma always meant what she said, and she was even better with technology than he was.
If he insisted on divorce, he'd probably be in trouble.
Then he looked at Emily with even more displeasure.
So she did go running to the old lady for backup.
Emily's delicate brows furrowed. What was that look supposed to mean?
She was too tired to think, just calmly meeting his gaze before looking away. "Grandma, don't force him."
"We both agree to the divorce."
Her tone was flat, without a trace of attachment.
Alex heard her say these words with his own ears, and his heart suddenly ached, though it passed in an instant.
But the next second, Margaret pinched Emily's cheek, "You're just too nice, girl. With this kind of brat, you have to be tough!"
"Don't worry, Grandma's got your back. You're moving back in today!"
What?!
Emily instantly froze.