Chapter 66

Emily Smith tossed and turned in her room until late at night before finally falling asleep. When she woke the next morning, the apartment was eerily silent. William Johnson didn't even glance her way, treating her as if she were invisible.

She ate breakfast alone in silence before taking the crowded subway to work.

Friday's workload was particularly heavy. At lunch, she only managed a few hurried bites before returning to her desk. Around four in the afternoon, just after finishing a supplier meeting, her office phone rang. The caller ID showed Robert Miller's extension.

"There's a gathering after work. Want to join?" Robert's voice carried a hint of anticipation.

Emily's fingers tightened around the receiver. She needed more clues—it was worth the risk. "Sure," she heard herself say.

As she packed up near the end of the workday, William's extension suddenly flashed on her phone. She hesitated for two seconds before answering.

"Meet me in the basement parking garage." His voice was icy.

"Sorry, I already have plans tonight." Before she could finish, dead silence filled the line.

Seven or eight seconds later, William's voice came through, laced with unmistakable jealousy. "Is it that Daniel again?"

"It's a cowork—"

Click. The line went dead.

Emily waited twenty extra minutes before leaving the office. The basement garage was dimly lit. She had just located Robert's black Lexus when the elevator doors dinged open behind her.

William stood inside the elevator, his hawk-like gaze locking onto her slender figure dozens of meters away. When he recognized the license plate, his expression darkened instantly.

"Have someone tail Robert's car," he ordered Sam Wilson, his voice terrifyingly cold.

Inside the car, Emily forced herself to remain calm as she made small talk with Robert, subtly steering the conversation toward the economic case from seven years earlier. When she mentioned it for the third time, Robert gave her a knowing smile.

"Emily, why are you so interested in this?" he asked as they stopped at a red light, turning to study her face.

Her heartbeat quickened. She decided to gamble. "Because Henry Johnson was my father."

Robert nodded, unsurprised. "No wonder you looked familiar." When the light turned green, he suddenly pulled over.

"If I tell you the truth," he leaned closer, his breath warm against her cheek, "how will you thank me?"

Emily maintained her sweet smile, though a cold glint flashed in her eyes. "What would you like, Manager Miller?"