Chapter 347: Unexpected Encounter
Emily didn't even look up, continuing to flip through the magazine. "Whether he gets angry or not is none of my business. He's the one who kept secrets first."
"But..." Kate wanted to say something more.
Emily closed the magazine and looked at Kate. "Kate, remember this—in any relationship, trust goes both ways."
Her voice was calm, her expression unchanged. Kate nodded, seeming to half-understand.
After takeoff, a flight attendant approached, asking in Seraphic, the native language of Seraphim, if they needed any beverages.
Emily looked up and replied in fluent, native-sounding Seraphic: "Coffee. Black coffee, no sugar. Thank you."
Her pronunciation was perfect, carrying the elegant accent typical of Seraphim's capital.
The flight attendant's eyes lit up with surprise. "Miss, your Seraphic is excellent."
Emily smiled faintly. "Thank you. I lived in Seraphim for a few years."
After the attendant left, Kate exclaimed, "Emily, you speak Seraphic too?"
Emily replied casually, "Work requirement. Learning a few extra languages never hurts."
The plane flew smoothly. Emily closed her eyes, but her mind was rapidly organizing her plan.
Several hours later, the plane landed at Pine Airport in Seraphim.
Emily walked off the plane with Kate, striding confidently toward customs. Her presence was commanding—wherever she passed, many travelers couldn't help but glance her way. This exotic beauty wasn't just stunning; she possessed a cool, formidable aura that demanded respect.
The customs officer looked at her passport and asked, "Purpose of your visit to Seraphim?"
Emily answered directly in Seraphic: "Attending Arcturus runway activities. I'm a fashion designer."
She handed over her invitation and related documents.
The officer reviewed the papers, then looked at her again, his eyes filled with admiration. "Welcome to Seraphim. We hope you have a pleasant stay."
"Thank you."
Exiting customs, Emily navigated expertly to the taxi waiting area with Kate.
"The Royal Hotel," she told the driver, her pronunciation as perfect as a native speaker's.
The driver glanced at her through the rearview mirror, a flash of amazement in his eyes, but quickly looked away—this woman's aura was too powerful, too intimidating to stare at.
The car headed toward downtown. Kate gazed curiously at the unfamiliar scenery outside. "Emily, you seem so familiar with this place."
Emily looked out the window. "Mm-hmm. I worked here for a few years."
She pointed to a building in the distance. "That's the Seraphim Academy of Arts. I used to go there for exhibitions."
Then she indicated a coffee shop. "That place has the best lattes in the city. We can try it if we have time."
The car soon arrived at The Royal Hotel. This century-old luxury hotel sat in the city center, elegant in appearance and opulent within.
Emily walked into the lobby with Kate. Under the crystal chandeliers, her figure appeared particularly striking. The front desk staff couldn't help but straighten their posture upon seeing her—this woman's presence was more commanding than many political and business elites.
"Hello, I have a reservation. Emily," she said in fluent Seraphic.
The receptionist quickly checked: "Yes, ma'am. You've reserved the executive suite. Here's your key card."
While checking in, several nearby guests couldn't resist glancing at Emily. Her beauty wasn't the fragile, protective kind, but rather independent, confident, and sharp-edged. Standing there, she was like an unsheathed sword—cold and brilliant.
A middle-aged man in an expensive suit attempted to approach. "Miss, are you also here for the Arcturus runway event? I'm—"
"Sorry, I don't have time right now." Emily cut him off directly, took her key card, and headed toward the elevator with Kate.
Swift and decisive, leaving no room for negotiation.
In the elevator, Kate whispered, "Emily, that man seemed to be the CEO of some fashion conglomerate."
Emily replied coolly, "So what? I'm not interested in meeting anyone right now."
She had only one goal: find Charles and demand to know what the hell he was up to.
After checking into their room, Emily told Kate, "You should rest and adjust to the time difference. I'm going downstairs to look around."
"Should I come with you?" Kate asked.
"No need. I want to be alone."
She went downstairs alone to the hotel's coffee shop, chose a window seat, and ordered black coffee.
She knew Charles was staying here but didn't know his specific room number. That didn't matter—she had ways to make him show himself.
As she leisurely sipped her coffee, a surprised voice came from nearby: "Jane? Is that really you?"
Emily turned to see a familiar face—Samuel Harris, her former colleague from when she worked in Seraphim, a brilliantly talented designer.
Emily's face broke into a genuine smile. "Samuel? Long time no see."
"My God, it really is you!" Samuel approached and gave her an enthusiastic hug. "What are you doing here? I heard you went back to Thalassia."
Emily smiled warmly. "I'm here for the Arcturus runway event. Are you still with your old company?"
Samuel sat across from her. "No, I opened my own studio. Just nearby. What a coincidence running into you here."
They began catching up. Samuel was talkative, sharing his experiences from recent years and changes in the design world. Emily also shared her development since returning home.
"I saw Mirage Fashion's new collection—absolutely fantastic. Your designs are getting more powerful."
"Thank you." Emily smiled.
Just then, Emily caught sight of a familiar figure at the coffee shop entrance from her peripheral vision.
Charles.
He was walking in with several men in suits, apparently entertaining clients here.
Emily smirked inwardly but kept her expression unchanged. She even deliberately leaned closer to Samuel, their heads nearly touching as he showed her design sketches on his phone.
From Charles's angle, this scene could easily be misinterpreted.
Sure enough, Charles stopped in his tracks. His face darkened instantly, his gaze ice-cold as he stared at Emily and Samuel.
Emily could feel his stare but deliberately pretended not to notice, continuing her animated conversation with Samuel.
"Jane, let's have dinner tonight? I know a wonderful restaurant you'd definitely love," Samuel invited.
Emily considered, then nodded. "Sounds great. I happen to be free tonight."
Her voice was perfectly pitched—not too loud, not too soft, just enough for Charles to hear.
Indeed, the atmosphere around Charles grew even chillier. His clients clearly sensed his displeasure but had no idea why.
An hour later, Samuel checked his time. "I need to head to a meeting. Seven o'clock tonight, hotel lobby?"
"Perfect." Emily nodded with a smile.
After Samuel left, Emily remained in the coffee shop, leisurely finishing her coffee.
She knew Charles would approach soon.
Sure enough, within five minutes, Charles walked over.