Chapter 6
"I support you! People with such bad character deserve to be together forever and stop hurting others!" Emily excitedly slammed her hand on the table, striking a bold pose like she was ready for battle.
However, she forgot that every action had an equal and opposite reaction.
The moment her palm hit the table, she instantly doubled over in pain, clutching her hand and curling up.
"That hurts so much! Layla, you heartless thing, I'm standing up for you and you're laughing!"
I couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Emily had successfully cheered me up and swept away my earlier gloom.
That night, it felt like we were back in college.
Emily and I squeezed under one blanket, sharing our experiences and secrets.
No marriage conflicts, no worrying about a husband staying out all night, no cold and lonely bed—I finally got a good night's sleep.
The next morning, Emily made me a delicious breakfast.
Eating the sandwich covered in ketchup and salad dressing, I showed a completely satisfied smile.
"Look at you, acting like you haven't eaten in years. Don't tell me the Brown family is like those wealthy families in novels, making you get up early to cook and then stand by the table serving your husband's parents?"
I gave a bitter smile. "Not quite that dramatic, but close. William's parents don't live with us, but our housekeeper reports every detail of our daily life to William's mother. From small things like how much we ate for breakfast and how many times we used the restroom, to big things like who we met when we went out, who came to our house, what we talked about—she reports everything to William's mother."
"Like this sandwich—when I first got married, I'd wake up early every day to make sandwiches for William. We both loved this brand, so I stocked up on them in the fridge. But after the housekeeper came, she just threw away all the instant food and ice cream I bought without even asking me."
"For the past three years, I haven't had a single bite of ice cream or street food. All three meals have been the nutritious pregnancy-prep meals that the housekeeper makes. If she's even slightly unhappy, she complains to William's mother. If I want to cook for myself, I have to report the recipes and menu to the housekeeper in advance."
"Looking back now, I feel like I've been in prison for three years."
Emily looked at me with pity. "I thought everyone in the Brown family was like Matthew—serious but reasonable."
Emily worked at the Brown Group and had even been Matthew's assistant for a few days before being transferred to the marketing department.
She knew Matthew fairly well and had a very high opinion of him, practically treating him like an idol.
"In the Brown family, Matthew is the only good person." At the mention of Matthew, that night's intimate scene flashed through my mind, making me blush and my heart race again.
Fortunately, Emily's attention was elsewhere at the moment, and she didn't notice my reaction.
She sat at the computer, scrolling with the mouse, pointing at several well-reviewed companies. "Layla, these companies are all hiring. The benefits and salaries are good. Want to give them a try?"
Suddenly, she spotted an overseas company she'd wanted to work for before and excitedly waved me over. "Layla, you're so lucky! Summit Innovations Group has a position that's perfect for you. It matches your major too—you'd definitely pass the interview!"
"Summit Innovations Group? Isn't that the company where I interned in college?" I looked curiously and discovered that Summit Innovations Group was indeed my internship company. I immediately felt more confident.
"That's great! If you know people there, you'll do even better." Emily was a woman of action. After breakfast, she handed me her business suit and had me get dressed up to contact Summit Innovations Group's HR for an interview.
Just as we were busy with preparations, my phone suddenly rang urgently.
I glanced at it—it was Amelia Martinez, a senior from my school, whom I hadn't been in touch with for a long time.
I answered the call puzzled, and after exchanging pleasantries with Amelia, she got to the point. "Layla, did you and William have a fight?"
"Why would you ask that?"
"Well, William has been calling me and all his friends and alumni these past few days, asking about your whereabouts. He said you blocked all his contact methods, so he can't reach you."
"Layla, I don't know what happened between you two, but I think after being together for so many years, it hasn't been easy. If it's not a matter of principle, please forgive William."
I was slightly stunned. I never expected William, who always cared so much about his image, would lower himself to call others looking for me.
In the past, hearing that he'd done this might have made me happy for a long time.
But now, I just found it childish and ridiculous.
Still, I left William some dignity and didn't mention that he'd cheated and I'd caught them in bed together. I just said a few simple words and glossed over the matter.
After hanging up, a strong sixth sense made me uneasy. I felt things wouldn't be resolved this simply.
That afternoon, with the professional career woman image Emily had created for me, I successfully passed the interview at Summit Innovations Group.
And I even ran into Evelyn Thomas, who had mentored me during my internship.
After the interview, Evelyn and I had a simple meal outside and chatted about the company's internal structure and relationships between various leaders.
I was full of energy and anticipation, ready to embrace my new working life starting tomorrow.
But the next day, I didn't even make it into the company. The receptionist stopped me at the door with an apologetic look. "Sorry, HR notified us this morning that there was a mistake with yesterday's interview. You can't work at our company."
My mind went blank. I felt like I was hearing things and couldn't process it for a long time.
Then Evelyn came out from the company and mysteriously pulled me into an empty stairwell. "Layla, it's not that you're not good enough. Someone called the boss behind the scenes."
"Think carefully—did you offend someone?"
"To be honest, if you want to work in the design industry in Emerald City, it's probably impossible now. Unless you change industries, or... change cities."
I didn't know how I left Summit Innovations Group. I was in a daze the whole time.
Without investigating, I knew the person sabotaging me was William.
In all of Emerald City, only he had a grudge against me, and only he could use his status as the Brown family's younger son to blacklist me in the design industry.
I really hadn't realized that the man I'd loved for so many years could be so despicable and shameless!
I was furious. I rushed back to Emily's place, wanting to complain with her about William's shamelessness.
But when I opened the door, I heard Emily's angry roar.
"William, you think I'm afraid of you! Go ahead and fire me if you dare!"
"I'm keeping Layla here! No one's going to bully her!"