Chapter 235 Embarrassment
"What are you talking about?"
Daniel felt extremely nervous.
Because it had been so long ago, and he'd been in such a hurry to get Stanley to handle Emily's situation with the law enforcement bureau, he'd completely forgotten about that incident.
Now that Emily had reminded him, he finally remembered.
Looking at Daniel's expression, Emily knew he'd remembered which incident she meant. She laughed lightly, though the smile didn't reach her eyes. "Looks like you remember now. So are you going to give me an explanation?"
The implication was clear—if he didn't, perhaps there would be no future between them.
Daniel had been afraid she'd remember things from the past. Now that she already knew, he naturally couldn't avoid it.
Having made up his mind immediately, Daniel organized his thoughts and said, "I'm sorry. When we first met at the hospital, I later looked into the Johnson family and found out you were part of it, but I didn't know you were the unloved, invisible one. When I heard you were in trouble, I had Stanley handle it, and he mistook Bianca for you. This was my oversight. I'm sorry!"
So that's what happened.
Good thing it wasn't that Daniel also liked Bianca. The huge weight pressing on her heart seemed to lift all at once.
Actually, she hadn't even realized that Daniel occupied such an important place in her heart. Otherwise, why would she—reborn and returned—be so troubled by this?
But...
Since they'd already gotten this far in the conversation, Emily went ahead and asked her other questions too.
"When did you figure out I was that doctor?"
She hadn't deliberately hidden her identity as a doctor. Given Daniel's intelligence, she wasn't surprised he could figure it out.
Daniel looked at her, his eyes seemingly brighter than ever. "The first time you came to treat me, I recognized you."
"What?"
Emily's voice cracked, completely shocked.
She'd thought he only recognized her later after she'd given him hints.
How could it have been that early?
Wasn't he seriously ill at the time? Or did he have X-ray vision or something that let him see through her mask and recognize her at a glance?
Emily thought about how she'd later used her doctor identity to have Daniel invite "Emily" to cook and test for poison for him.
At the time, she'd charged a high price.
Didn't that show Daniel how greedy she was, wanting to earn two paychecks from one person while acting so righteous about it?
Right now, Emily wanted to find somewhere to hide. Her hand unconsciously moved to her forehead, slightly blocking her eyes from meeting his.
Daniel just smiled cheerfully. "You don't need to feel burdened. Actually, you were very responsible and took great care of me. I've always been grateful to you."
That's really not necessary!
Couldn't he just skip over this and not mention it?
Emily smiled awkwardly. "I didn't mean to hide it from you. I was just afraid of trouble, plus I'm young, so I added some mystery to help get clients! As for the two paychecks, well..."
She wanted to explain.
But she didn't know how to explain that she'd just been reborn at the time and had many things to do, which made her desperately short on money.
Daniel didn't care at all about Emily's "greed." Instead, he comforted her. "I know. A doctor like you is priceless. Besides, compared to my life, that money is nothing."
Emily agreed with that point.
The Smith family's assets were now all in Daniel's hands, and they increased every minute at a rate ordinary people couldn't calculate.
For someone like him, money really was just a number.
The car fell quiet.
There was a strange sense of harmony.
York had found out Emily was that doctor much later. He'd heard their conversation too.
He had only one thought—no wonder Emily and Daniel were meant for each other.
Daniel was truly Daniel—what an eye for people, recognizing Emily at first sight.
What he didn't know was that Daniel had actually recognized Emily through the jade pendant he'd given her.
Since Emily hadn't asked, Daniel wouldn't bring it up.
He'd let her think they were fated, so he could recognize her at first sight.
The car drove smoothly along the main road.
Passing through a long tree-lined avenue, they soon arrived at the villa.
When Emily got out of the car, her steps were somewhat hurried. She didn't even say goodbye to Daniel before heading into the villa without looking back.
Daniel looked at Emily's retreating figure with helpless indulgence, shaking his head.
At times like this, you could really see that Emily was just a young girl who'd recently come of age—genuine, willful, and carefree!
Emily actually felt Daniel's gaze, but she didn't turn around.
Mainly because she was too embarrassed to look back.
She just pretended not to notice.
She went straight to the study.
Then immediately contacted Terry.
"Have you finished the software I asked you to make? Did you find any information on Liam?"
Because of the police report from Bianca and the others, she'd been delayed half a day and hadn't had time to look for Rhett.
And there was also Atticus and Sofia's situation...
"Not yet, but someone provided some leads. I'm following them now!"
Terry was also very focused on this matter.
"Good. Where there are leads, there's hope. We'll find him eventually. Keep at it!"
This was the only bit of comforting news since returning home.
Emily hung up the phone. She'd just been so preoccupied with her embarrassment that she'd forgotten to ask Daniel about Atticus and Sofia.
Daniel had promised to have his people investigate that matter.
Fortunately, Daniel was keeping her concerns in mind. As soon as his subordinate came to report, he immediately passed the information along.
Daniel took the opportunity to make this call.
Over the phone, and with important matters at hand, Emily finally pushed aside that bit of embarrassment.
"Daniel, is this about Atticus and Sofia?"
"We really are on the same wavelength. Yes. My people went to the school and workplace separately to ask around. Atticus and Sofia's supervisors and teachers said they both took leave at almost the same time, claiming a family member was seriously ill. My people continued investigating and found they went back to their hometown together."
Emily knew that the hometown Daniel mentioned was a village deep in a remote mountain area.
Once you entered that place, unless you were a local child, it was very difficult to escape once you got in.
Emily's expression darkened. One troubling matter after another was leaving her physically and mentally exhausted.
"I'll have people go investigate locally and make sure to bring Atticus and Sofia back safely."
Daniel sensed the person on the other end of the phone breathing harder, clearly worried. His heart ached that she was always thinking of and running around for others' problems. He said in a deep voice, taking on this responsibility.
"No, please have your people continue investigating, but don't act immediately. When the time comes, I'll go there myself!" If his people got trapped there, she'd blame herself.
Besides, only by going herself would she feel at ease.
Daniel heard the implication in her words. His gaze darkened, and he said in a low voice, "Alright!"
But in his heart, he'd made a decision—when the time came, if she was going, he'd go with her.
He absolutely couldn't let her take such risks.
The trip to Zephyria—he'd almost lost her, and it still haunted him.
He knew he couldn't bear the pain of losing her.
After hanging up, Daniel closed his eyes to rest.
But the door was knocked on inappropriately.