《Let Me Go Ex (Emma annd Braydon)》 Chapter 1 At thew firm, Emma Corsie finished signing all the documents. She nced at the nk space where the husband''s signature was supposed to go, then looked up and asked the attorney, "Is it okay if I sign for him?" Thewyer hesitated, pushing up his sses. "Only if you have his explicit consent.'' She paused, then pulled out her phone and dialed Braydon''s number. A woman''s voice answered- Caitlin, sweetly whining, "Braydon, I''m craving dessert from the west side of the city..." Emma felt a sharp pain in her chest but forced herself to stay calm. "There''s something I want to discuss with you." Soon, Braydon''s deep voice came through. "What is it, Emma? I''m really busy right now. Whatever it is, just handle it." "You''re saying I can decide on your behalf?" He chuckled softly. "Of course. We''ve been married for years. Haven''t you always handled everything at home?" "In that case, I''ll take care of it." After ending the call, Emma lowered her gaze and carefully signed Braydon''s name in the space. As she was leaving, thewyer reminded her, "Mrs. Lederer, the divorce will take effect in a month. You can still withdraw it if you change your mind." She smiled, the sound barely audible. "No. I won''t regret this." This marriage was over. From thew firm, she got in a cab and headed straight to the hospital. "Hi, I''m here for an abortion." "Are you sure?" the doctor asked after ncing at her chart. "The baby is perfectly healthy." "I''m sure." The cold tter of surgical instruments sent chills down her spine as shey on the operating table. She closed her eyes, remembering the way Braydon used to chase after her. Back in college, during the wee ceremony, he was giving a speech as student council president- but the moment he saw her, he forgot all his lines. Everyone said the heartthrob of the finance department had finally fallen hard. The guy who''d never shown interest in women pursued her relentlessly for a full year. On the first snowfall of the year, he stood outside her dorm with 999 roses, waiting all night in the snow. One stormy night, she casually mentioned craving cake from the west side, and he drove across half the city in pouring rain to get it for her. But what moved her most was the school anniversary g. She was performing a piano solo when a key jammed, freezing her in ce in front of the entire crowd. Then Braydon walked right onto the stage and sat beside her. "I''ll y with you," he whispered. His long fingers touched the keys, and together, they finished "Dream Wedding." The audience erupted in cheers, but he only looked at her and said softly, "Emma, I can''t imagine a life without you." That was when she fell for him. And he kept his word. From dating to marriage, he treated her like a treasure. The only thing she couldn''t quite get over was Caitlin, who was always lingering in the background. "I only see Caitlin as a sister," he''d say. "Her grandfather once saved mine. Now that the Ritchie family has fallen on hard times, I can''t turn my back on her." Emma believed him. But little by little, Caitlin became a shadow between them. She lost count of how many times she had to make way for her. Last year on her birthday, Braydon had promised to take Emma to see the Northern Lights, but canceledst minute because Caitlin had a fever. On their anniversary, Emma had prepared a whole night of surprises- only for Braydon to ditch her after Caitlin called, scared of thunder. Even when Emma had a 39-degree Celsius fever, Braydon was off riding a Ferris wheel with Caitlin, happily helping her post stories on social media. She put up with it. Over and over. Until now, when he even denied their child for Caitlin''s sake. If that''s how it was going to be, then she didn''t want the child. And she didn''t want Braydon either. When the operating room lights went out, Emma felt like a piece of her soul had been taken away with them. She leaned against the wall as she walked out, her legs still shaking, a dull ache radiating from her abdomen. But then, as she turned the corner, she froze, staring at the scene in front of her like she''d stepped into a nightmare. There, on a bench, Braydon was kneeling with one car pressed to Caitlin''s gently rounded belly. "The baby just kicked me!" Caitlin''s eyes lit up as she giggled. "Braydon, they say babies who kick a lot are smarter!" Braydon smiled and gently caressed her belly. "I just want the baby to be safe and healthy." Emma''s grip on her medical records tightened. The paper crumpled in her palm with a strained rustle, like the sound of her heart breaking into pieces. She should''ve stormed over, should''ve demanded to know if he realized that while he was doting on another woman''s child, their child was being torn from her body by cold steel instruments. She should''ve asked if he remembered how thrilled he''d been when he first found out she was pregnant, how he''d lifted her and spun her around with joy. But Emma did none of that. She just stood there in silence, watching them bask in the sunlight like the perfect couple. All her anger, pain, and resentment slowly dissolved into one overwhelming emotion- exhaustion. She turned to leave. And just then, Braydon''s voice called out behind her. "Emma?" He sounded surprised. "What are you doing at the hospital?¡± Chapter 2 "I..." Emma let out a sarcasticugh. She was just about toe right out and say she was at the hospital for an abortion when Caitlin suddenly walked up and sweetly linked arms with her. "Emma''s pregnant too, of course, she''s here for a prenatal checkup!" Caitlin beamed, then turned to Emma with a guilty expression. "I''m sorry, Emma. I''ve been monopolizing Braydontely... But after what I went through, my mental state has been a mess. If people found out the baby I''m carrying belongs to those kidnappers, I''dpletely fall apart..." This book had been added on your bookshelf. Her eyes began to well with tears. I had no choice but to let Braydon be the father. If you hate me, just hit me, okay?" Before Emma could respond, Braydon cut in with concern in his voice. "Don''t say that. I already talked to Emma-gossip will pass. She''s very understanding, so she won''t mind." Emma closed her eyes for a moment. Yes, she was incredibly "understanding." So understanding that she was ready to divorce him and step aside-so they could be together for real. "You''re right. I don''t mind," she said calmly, ying along. Caitlin instantly broke into a teary smile. "That''s a relief. I''d feel awful otherwise." Then she clung to Emma''s arm again. "Since we ran into each other, why don''t we all grab a bite together?" Emma wanted to say no, but she was still weak from the surgery. Before she knew it, Caitlin was half- dragging her out of the hospital. At the restaurant, Caitlin kept putting on a show of being difficult and fussy. "Braydon, this smells awful... I feel like throwing up... "I wanted something sour. This is way too spicy..." Braydon stayed patient and gentle the entire time, offering her water, and rubbing her back. Emma watched in silence, her chest tight with difort. This book had been added on your bookshelf. She wasn''t sure if it was the antermat of the surgery or the emotional blow of seeing them like this. Halfway through the meal, the crystal chandelier above them gave a sudden, ominous crack- and it was falling straight toward Braydon. "Braydon, watch out!" Caitlin screamed and dove toward him. The chandelier crashed onto her back, shattering into a spray of ss. "Caitlin!" Braydon''s expression changed instantly, his voice trembling with panic. "As long as you''re okay..." Caitlin murmured weakly, leaning into his arms. She slowly reached out her bloodied hand. "My grandpa once saved your grandpa. And now ve saved you. I guess that makes it full circle..." "I won''t let anything happen to you. I swear I won''t!" Braydon''s eyes turned red as he scooped her into his arms and bolted out the door. He was in such a rush that he didn''t even see Emma standing in the hallway. His shoulder mmed hard into her. Thud! The impact knocked her to the floor. Her forehead hit the corner of a table, and blood started trickling down. But she didn''t feel any pain. She just sat there dazed, staring nkly at Braydon''s retreating figure. In a haze, she remembered the day they made it official. Braydon had been so overwhelmed with joy he teared up, holding her tightly and whispering over and over, "Emma, from now on, you''re the only one I''ll ever see in a crowd." "What a joke," she thought. Emma wiped her face and was startled to find tears. She gave a bitter smile. She leaned against the wall and slowly pushed herself up, her steps heavy and unsteady as she stumbled back toward the hospital alone. After getting her wound bandaged, she was about to leave when she ran into Braydon outside the operating room. A nurse rushed out, flustered. ¡°Mr. Lederer, the patient''s hemorrhaging badly. Her blood type is Rh- negative, very rare. Do you have any family members who can donate?" Braydon''s face went pale. Then he looked around and spotted Emma. His eyes lit up instantly, and he ALTIST over, grabbing her wrist. Emma, I remember you''re Rh-negative, right? Caitlin got hurt saving me. Please-you have to help her." Emma felt a chill run down her spine. He knew she had anemia. Last year, she copsed because of it, and he''d been so worried he nearly tore the hospital apart. But now, he wanted her, someone anemic, to donate blood for another woman. "It''s just a little," Braydon said urgently, tightening his grip. "She can''t wait any longer!" Before Emma could respond, he had already shoved her forcefully into the blood donation room. Chapter 3 The moment the needle pierced her vein, Emma shut her eyes. Six hundred milliliters of blood was drawn quickly. Her face grew paler with each passing second. Braydon stood nearby, anxiously staring in the direction of the operating room, not even sparing Emma a nce. By the time the blood draw was over, Emma''s legs gave out beneath her. She nearly copsed. Only then did Braydon snap out of it and rush to support her. "I''m sorry, Emma....... I know you''re worried about the baby. Don''t worry- the nurse knows what she''s doing. If you''re still unsure, I''ll have the doctor run a checkup right now." Without giving her a chance to refuse, he took her straight to the examination room. A short whileter, the doctor came out holding the results. Braydon immediately stepped forward. "How''s the baby?" The doctor looked surprised. "Baby? There''s no....." "Mr. Lederer!" A nurse suddenly came running out. "Ms. Ritchie has been calling your name throughout the procedure. Could youe in and be with her? It might help strengthen her will to fight." Without hesitation, Braydon turned on his heel and hurried into the operating room. The doctor nced at Emma, hesitating. "Mrs. Lederer, Mr. Lederer... He doesn''t know you already terminated the pregnancy?" Emma simply smiled and shook her head. "No. And there''s no need for him to know. Not ever." By the time she left the hospital, the setting sun bathed the sky in shades of orange and pink. Emma, pale and weak, gazed up at the glowing clouds. She suddenly remembered how, back in college, Braydon once promised to take her to see the most beautiful sunset in the world. The sunset was still here. But they could never go back to what they used to be. Emma spent the next week recovering at home. The blood loss had taken a serious toll. She was constantly dizzy, and even getting out of bed became a struggle. The housekeepers were so worried they wanted to call Braydon, but she stopped them. "There''s no need," she murmured, leaning weakly against the headboard. "He''s busy." She knew exactly what he was busy with-most likely doting on Caitlin. Caitlin was posting Stories every day, unting how attentive Braydon was. He fed her himself, took her to every prenatal appointment, and even went out in the middle of the night to buy her cravings... Braydon was so good to her that he seemed to havepletely forgotten who his wife was. Then, one day, Braydon finally came home. "A buddy of mine in the circle is throwing a baby shower for his kid," he he stood in front of t Ve wardrobe picking out a tie. "Emma,e with me." Emma said nothing. She quietly got changed and followed him out the door. But when she opened the passenger-side door, she was met with the sight of Caitlin already sitting there. "Emma," Caitlin said with an apologetic smile, "I''ve been cooped up in the hospital too long, and asked Braydon to bring me along. I get carsick, so I have to sit in the front... You don''t mind, do you?" Emma''s hand froze mid- air for a moment before she slowly pulled it back. "No, I don''t mind." She quietly took a seat in the back, eyes fixed on the two figures in front of her. Braydon adjusted the air conditioning for Caitlin and handed her a pillow to rest against. All the tenderness that once belonged to Emma now belonged to someone else. At the party, Braydon stayed by Caitlin''s side the entire time, oblivious to the way everyone was looking at Emma. She could hear the murmurs around her, like needles pricking her skin. "Poor Mr. Lederer... He loved his wife so much, but she ended up pregnant with a kidnapper''s baby..." "Didn''t they say she was assaulted?" "Assaulted? Ms. Ritchie was kidnapped, too, wasn''t she? Howe nothing happened to her? Emma must''ve seduced someone to save her skin." "I always knew she was trouble. Probably threw herself at one of the kidnappers, to survive. And now M Lederer''s in so much pain... He only slept with Ms. Ritchie because he was drunk, and now she''s the one carrying his baby..." Chapter 4 Emma''s face was pale, her fingernails digging deep into her palms. She hadn''t expected the rumors to spiral out of control this far. In everyone''s eyes, she''d be a disgraceful viin in someone else''s story. Just as she turned to leave, a group of socialites blocked her path. "Mrs. Lederer, where are you going? The party''s just getting started. "Come hang out with us!" Their words sounded friendly, but their actions were anything but. Someone deliberately spilled red wine on her dress. Another "identally" bumped into her. Then, without warning, someone shoved her straight into the pool. Ssh! The icy water swallowed her whole. The stinging sensation as water flooded her nose made her struggle instinctively. She wed at the edge of the pool, trying desperately to pull herself up. Just as her fingers brushed the edge, a hand with bright red nails shoved down on her head. "Help... Help me..." "Help? Who''s going to help you? Do you even realize how many women in this circle would kill to have Braydon? He loved you so much- treated you like his whole world- and this is how you repay him? You''re nothing but a filthy slut. You should just die here!" The water surged into her nose again, choking her breath. Everything started to go dark. But what truly suffocated her wasn''t the drowning-it was their words. They called her shameful. Loose. Said Braydon loved her like his life. What a joke. "What the hell are you doing?" A furious voice suddenly boomed out. The pressure on her head vanished. Through the blur of her vision, Emma saw Braydon charging toward her like a madman. She almostughed. "What was he so panicked about? Wasn''t this the mess he created?" she thought to herself. Braydon pulled her out of the water, face dark with rage as he turned on the crowd. "Are you out of your damn minds? Youid a hand on my wife?" "Mr. Lederer, we just couldn''t stand seeing her betray you like that..." "Enough!" Braydon snapped, not even bothering to exin what had happened. His voice was cold. "Even if the child Emma was carrying was the kidnapper''s, I still love her. always have-and that will never change!" Gasps of admiration followed. "Mr. Lederer is so devoted..." Amid the whispers of awe, Braydon scooped up Emma, soaked and trembling, and stormed out of the party. In the lounge, he brought her a dry towel and gently began drying her hair. "Emma, I know you''ve been wronged. This is all my fault." His voice was soft. "I promise- something like today will never happen again. "Just hang in there a little longer, okay? Once Caitlin has the baby, I''ll send her overseas. Then everything will go back to the way it was between us." But Emma didn''t believe that. There was no going back-and no future either. "I''m going home," she said,pletely drained. Braydon paused. "The party''s still going on. It wouldn''t look good if we left together right now. I''ll have the driver take you back first. I''lle backter to be with you, alright?" Emma couldn''t tell if he meant it wouldn''t look good or if he just didn''t want to leave Caitlin alone. She let out a soft, bitterugh but didn''t bother confronting him. She was too tired. She turned and left. As soon as Emma returned to the vi, she began packing her things. One item at a time, she erased every trace of herself from this house. She didn''t know how long she''d been at it, but just as she closed thest suitcase, the door burst open. Braydon stood in the doorway, eyes widening in rm at the sight of the luggage strewn across the floor. "Emma, what are you doing? Why are you packing your things? "Where are you going?" Chapter 5 But she forced a faint smile and said nothing. In the days that followed, headlines about Braydon''s affection for Caitlin were everywhere. "Lederer Group CEO Spends a Fortune for Love" "Braydon Buys Late-Night Desserts for Caitlin" "This Is What True Love Looks Like" Thement section was brutal. "How does that tramp Emma still have the nerve to show her face?" "Heard the kidnappers passed her around all night. Disgusting!" "Poor Mr. Lederer-cheated on and still ying the good guy!" Eachment cut into Emma like a knife. She shut off her phone and silently told herself, "This will all be over soon." Once her bags were fully packed, she arranged a final dinner with a few close friends. They were among the few who knew the truth. The moment they saw her, their eyes welled up with anger and sympathy. "Braydon chased after you so fiercely back then... And now he treats you like this?" "Exactly. And what''s with ''just endure the rumors for now''? Doesn''t he know gossip can ruin a person''s life?" Emma just smiled and shook her head. "It''s fine. It''ll all be over soon." Only then did her friends start to rx a bit, though they still clutched her hand, eyes full of heartache. "You''re amazing, Emma. You deserve the best. If Braydon couldn''t cherish that, then he deserves to lose you forever." The farewell dinner was bittersweet. Afterward, they hugged one by one. Emma watched each of them leave before stepping out of the restaurant herself. She had just reached her car when two figures suddenly broke through the crowd and dropped to their knees in front of her. "Ms. Corsie, we''re begging you, please let Caitlin and Braydon be together!" Caitlin''s parents sobbed bowing over and over. "She''s loved Braydon since she was a child, but she always knew his heart belonged toyou, so she stayed silent all these years... "But now you''re the one who betrayed Braydon and broke his heart, betrand Caitlin''s carrying h baby. t you let them be a fam Emma''s face turned ghostly pale. She tried to leave, but Caitlin''s mother clung tightly to the hem of her dress. A crowd began to form. People started whispering. "Is that the Mrs. Lederer who seduced the kidnappers?" "She''s shameless. Still has the nerve to show her face in public..." Suddenly, an egg hit Emma''s shoulder, and yolk oozed down her white dress. Then came a barrage-rotten tomatoes, half-drunk milk teas, even rocks- flying straight at her. Emma tried to escape, but Caitlin''s mother still had a death grip on her skirt. She yanked hard to break free. Caitlin''s parents suddenly threw themselves backward, and Caitlin''s father''s forehead conveniently mmed against the curb-blood poured down his face. The crowd instantly exploded, voices rising in shock. "Oh my god! Emma hurt someone!" Chapter 6 The crowd was growingrger by the second. People started hurling things at her- whatever they had in hand. Emma couldn''t dodge fast enough. In the chaos, she had no choice but to help the driver carry Caitlin''s parents into the car and rush them to the hospital. As soon as they entered the emergency room, Caitlin stormed over and pped Emma hard across the face. "You said you didn''t hate me, but now you''re trying to kill my parents behind my back?" Caitlin was crying uncontrobly. "Emma, how could you be so cruel?" Emma opened her mouth to speak, but before she could say a word, she caught sight of a familiar figure out of the corner of her eye. Braydon walked up quickly and held onto Caitlin, who was on the verge of copsing. "Caitlin, don''t get so worked up- it''s not good for the baby." As he steadied her, he looked at Emma. His brow was furrowed, his expression full of disappointment. He didn''t even try to hide it. At that moment, Emma felt a chill spread through her entire body. He didn''t see the bruises on her. He didn''t even ask. He just... didn''t believe her. "Emma, you really..." Before he could finish saying "disappointed me," Emma suddenly burst outughing. Sheughed so hard her body trembled, and the tears ran into the cut at the corner of her mouth. He wouldn''t even listen to a single word of exnation before passing judgment. "That''s right! I''m vicious! I''m reckless! I''m heartless! I''m beyond redemption- I should just die, right?" Her voice rose sharply, echoing through the hospital corridor. "Is that what you want to hear?" Braydon froze, clearly taken aback. A flicker of panic crossed his eyes. "Emma, I..." "Braydon!" Caitlin suddenly slumped weakly into his arms. ¡°I... I feel dizzy..." Braydon instinctively caught her, and when he looked up again, Emma was already walking away. She moved fast, her white coat ring behind her like the broken wings of a butterfly. A wave of unease washed over Braydon, and he almost chased after her, but Caitlin let out a soft whimper in his arms. "Don''t go..." she murmured, clinging to his shirt. "The baby... Our baby..." Emma heard themotion behind her but didn''t turn around. The moment the elevator doors slid shut, she finally let herself sink to the floor, burying her face in her hands. So this... this was what it felt like when your heart truly broke. Even crying didn''t make a sound. When Emma got home, she buried herself under the covers. That night, she had a long, vivid dream. In it, she saw all the ways Braydon used to love her. Under the cherry blossom tree on campus, he held her hands and said, "I can''t imagine a life without you." At their wedding, his hands had trembled as he slipped the ring on her finger, his eyes red with emotion. When he found out she was pregnant, he lifted her into his arms and spun her around the living room, beaming with joy. But in the blink of an eye, the dream twisted into something else- Braydon shielding Caitlin. He took drinks for her, bought her medicine, and in front of everyone, imed the child in Caitlin''s belly was his. Bang! A loud crash startled Emma awake. It was already dark outside. From downstairs, she heard the tter of footsteps and Caitlin''s sugary,manding voice. "Move that sofa to the sunroom. I want to sit in the sunlight. "I don''t like that nt-get rid of it. "And change the curtains. I want them in my favorite shade of blue.¡± Dragging her exhausted body out the bedroom, Emma opened the of one door-just in time to see Braydon walking up the stairs holding Sin''s pillow. Their eyes met. Braydon stiffened. "Caitlin''s parents are in the hospital because of you,¡± he said bluntly. "They didn''t want her living alone, so In I let her move in. Just until the baby Emma listened in silence, her face nk. She didn''t even look at him. Her eyes stared straight through him as if he were a stranger. So this was what it felt like-pain so deep it hollowed you out. She felt nothing now. Numb. Empty. Not even enough energy left to be angry. She turned to walk away, but Braydon suddenly called after her, "Emma..." His voice carried a familiar hesitation-the same tone he used after their arguments when he wanted to apologize but didn''t know how. "Braydon!" Caitlin''s syrupy voice rang out at just the right moment. "The baby just kicked again! Come feel it!" Braydon stopped in his tracks. Emma heard him let out a quiet sigh, then the sound of his footsteps retreating. She knew exactly what he was thinking. He was telling himself that everything would be fine once the baby was born. That for now, he just had to go along with Caitlin. Just like what he always said in the past. "Just hold on a little longer. It''ll all be over soon. Once this blows over..." But this time, Emma didn''t want to wait anymore. Chapter 7 In the days that followed, Emma lived like a ghost in her own home. She watched as Braydon bent over backward to please Caitlin- how he came up with new ways every day to make her smile, how he prepared her tonics, and how he even pushed backpany meetings just to cheer her up. One day, when Braydon was out, Caitlin deliberately blocked Emma''s path, her nose in the air as she gloated. "So what if you married Braydon? He promised me that this baby will carry hisst name- and more than that, he''ll be the sole heir to the Lederer Group! And the one you''re carrying? Just a bastard." Emma was headed downstairs to get a ss of water. Without even ncing at her, she turned slightly to move past. That indifference set Caitlin off. "Emma, are you still pretending to be better than everyone when you''re already this pathetic?" She suddenly lunged forward and shoved Emma hard. Caught off guard, Emma stumbled backward. Everything spun. Then came a dull, sickening thud as the back of her head struck the stair railing-and the world went ck. When she woke up, she was already in the hospital. Braydon stood at the bedside, and the first thing out of his mouth was a harsh usation. "It wasn''t enough that you got Caitlin''s parents hurt- you had to push her down the stairs too? Are you seriously telling me you didn''t know she was pregnant?" Each word stabbed her straight through the heart. Emma gave a shakyugh, her whole body trembling from it. "Braydon," she rasped, "do I look like an idiot to you?" "What?" "If I wanted to hurt her," she said slowly, propping herself up, "why am I the one lying in a hospital bed right now?" "Because you panicked after pushing her and threw yourself down the stairs to make it look like an ident!" Braydon''s eyes burned with disappointment. ¡°Emma, I don''t even recognize you anymore. You agre He turned toward the door. "I''m noting back. You need to think about what you''ve done." With that, he walked out, mming the hospital room door behind him. Emma stared at the ceiling, her eyes welling with silent tears. She took a slow, steady breath and repeated to herself, "It''s almost over. Just a little longer." The day she was discharged was also the day the mandatory divorce cooling- off period ended. Emma went straight to the courthouse and picked up the divorce certificate. Back at the house, she began packing up her things, finally ready to leave it all behind. As she dragged her suitcase downstairs, Braydon walked in unexpectedly. "What eyeing of the you doing?" He frowned, got out hospital, and you''re alret luggage. "You just SWO donating stuff again?" He thought she was once again giving away all the luxury goods he''d bought her. Emma didn''t bother exining. Braydon stepped closer and pulled out a gilded invitation from his suit pocket Caitlin''s kind-hearted-she''s letting bygones be bygones. It''s her birthday today. Grab a nice gift ande with me." Emma was about to decline when his phone rang. Caitlin''s sweet voice floated out. "Brayd¨°n, where are you? Everyone''s waiting..." "I''m on my way," Braydon replied warmly, then turned to Emma. "It''s getting date. I''ll head over first. You go finish your ''donating'' and meet us there. Don''t forget the gift." With that, he walked out. '' Emma stared after him, then suddenlyughed. Oh, she''d bring a gift, alright-one that no one would ever forget. She ced the divorce certificate and the miscarriage report neatly into a gift box and called a courier. "Deliver it to this address," she said calmly. "Make sure they open it in front of everyone." Once the courier was gone, Emma rolled her suitcase out the door without looking back. The sun was shining brightly. She took a deep breath and stepped forward into her new life. Chapter 8 Everyone knew Braydon liked Caitlin- what they didn''t expect was just how far his affection for her would go. It was only a birthday party, yet Braydon had flown in Caitlin''s favorite international pop star to perform live. Influential figures from all corners of society had shown up, and the entire event reeked of extravagance. The banquet hall was opulently decorated- crystals and diamonds sparkled in every corner, and even the roses flown in from France were dusted with tiny gems. At the height of the celebration, Caitlin appeared at the top of the staircase, dressed in a custom- made blue gown. The dress was tailored perfectly to conceal her baby bump while highlighting her figure. The moment she appeared, all eyes in the hall turned to her. With a satisfied smile, Caitlin ced her hand in Braydon''s as he offered it to her. Just as she was about to step down the final stair, a yellow- d figure burst into the hall. "Hel... hello... Are you Mr. Braydon Lederer? I have a delivery for you." The deliveryman panted, breathless from running. Braydon frowned slightly but kept his voiceposed. "Sorry, I''m a little busy right now. If it''s important,e backter." He gestured to the butler to take the deliveryman away. "But Mr. Lederer," the man said quickly, "Ms. Corsie specifically told me to hand this to you personally. And she said you must open it right here, in front of everyone." At the sound of Emma''s name, Braydon froze. He suddenly remembered her voice that morning. She''d sounded calm, distant- just like she always did when she had no intention of getting involved. After five years of marriage, he knew her well enough to recognize that tone. There was a time when he might''ve coaxed her, tried to cheer her up. But things were different now. She''d hurt Caitlin too many times. If she was sincere about making amends and had brought a gift for Caitlin, he was willing to let it go for Caitlin''s sake. But if she was just brushing him off with another excuse, then he''d continue to keep her at arm''s length until she finally admitted fault. Now her gift had arrived right on time. But Emma herself? Nowhere to be seen. "Where is she?" Braydon asked as he took the box, his gaze drifting toward the entrance. Under the flower-covered archway at the banquet hall doors, there was no one- just space. The deliveryman hesitated. He tried to recall what Emma had told him but came up nk. She hadn''t left any message about where she was going And he had other deliveries to make-he couldn''t afford to wait around. So he made something up on the spot. "Ms. Corsie said once you open the box, you''ll understand everything." , Braydon looked back at the package in his hands, just as a slender, fair handnded gently on his. "Braydon." He turned to Caitlin, concern softening his features. "What is it?¡± She bit her lip, eyes filled with hesitation. "Everyone''s waiting for the cake. Wouldn''t it be better to open giftster?" Her heart pounded with unease. All the other guests had sent their presents before the party, and they''d been neatly ced in the corner, to be opened when she had time. But Emma''s gift-delivered right in the middle dir the party, handed directly to Braydon, with the specific request that he open it himself and in public-felt like a warning sign. Something about this box felt dangerous. the fear that once it was opened, she''d be exposed, dragged down into some kind of abyss she couldn''t climb out of. It gnawed at her nerves- That''s why she had to stop him. Distract him. Get him to cut the cake instead. As long as Braydon made the announcement in front of everyone that the child she carried was his only legat heir, and signed the documents securing the inheritan then the Lederer family''s fortune would be tied to her baby and to her. ?wnovel At that point, it wouldn''t matter what was inside the box. No one-not even Emma-could threaten her again. Chapter 9 The more Caitlin thought about it, the more excited she became- but on the surface, she still wore the same concerned expression as if she were only thinking of him. To her surprise, Braydon didn''t listen to her this time. Instead, he gently patted her hand to reassure her. "It''s alright," he said. "It''s just a small gift." He looked at her, voice warm and steady. "Remember what I told you the other day? I''d ask Emma to bring a gift and apologize to you. And if you weren''t satisfied, I''d keep ignoring her until you were. Let''s see if this gift is enough to make you happy." As soon as he said that, the guests below began to murmur, all eyes turning curiously toward the stage. Their social circle was small, and some of them had wives with less-than- ster reputations. But no matter what happened at home, most men would still protect their wives'' dignity in public. After all, nobody liked airing their dirtyundry. This was the first time they''d ever seen someone like Braydon- about to open a gift from his wife that was meant as an apology to another woman, and doing it right in front of everyone. The photographer, sensing the drama, quickly pointed the camera at the box in Braydon''s hands. As Braydon slowly lifted the lid, the entire room held its breath. Then, the box was fully opened, and what emerged on the screen behind him was a document stamped with the official seal of the courthouse. A finalized divorce agreement. The room erupted into chaos. Braydon froze, his hand still in the air. The smile on his face disappeared in an instant. He hadn''t expected this at all. It wasn''t just any divorce papers. It was an official, processed, and already finalized document. Which meant Emma had divorced him. Just like that. A few of his friends in the audience rushed up to the stage, cheering like it was the best news they''d heard all year. "Braydon, this is great news! Congrats, man, you''re finally free!" "Yeah! You finally got rid of that bitch!" "When you and Caitlin get married, I''m calling dibs on best man!" Laughing and shoving him yfully, they reached into the box and pulled out the remaining items. "Guess she had a shred "Whoa, look at this-confirmation of an abortion!" left. At Moneyeast she knew how to of the baby. Now you won''t harid waste money raising some bastard!" "Hahahaha!" Theirughter rang loud and unfiltered across the hall, but none of it registered with Braydon. His cars were ringing. It was as ifthe entire world had gone silent. The word "abortion" hit him like a punch to the chest. His heart elenched so tightly he could barely breathe. "Abortion?" His voice trembled. He wasn''t even sure he''d spoken aloud. "Who had an abortion?" He repeated the question, louder this time. Everyone thought he was just overwhelmed and quickly handed him the confirmation letter, Emma''s name signed clearly at the bottom. "Emma! Braydon, look closely!" "You''re free now, man! Truly free!" "Congrattions!" Their voices blended into one big roar-but Braydon no longer heard any of it. His vision blurred. The room swayed. He felt like the floor beneath him was falling away. She did it? Emma terminated the pregnancy? Did she give up on their child? He couldn''t ept it. He refused to believe it. That child was something they had waited five long years Emma had prayed, iried every strange remedy, and suffered through so much just for the chance to be a mother. He had done everything he could too-donating to charities, performing good deeds-just to help them have that miracle. Why would she give that up now? "No... No way... That''s not possible..." Braydon murmured, his voice barely audible. In his mind, he kept seeing her, Emma, with a soft smile, gently caressing her belly. She had looked so full of hope, so ready to wee new life. She wanted that baby. How could she have possibly chosen to let it go? Chapter 10 Braydon''s odd behavior did not attract the attention of those around him; they simply thought he had gotten too excited. Finally, someone picked up the voice recorder ced at the bottom of the box and pressed the y button. This press was like opening Pandora''s box, everything became uncontroble... This recording pen, in fact, would be more suitable to be called a projector. The person who happened to be holding the pen aimed the camera at the big screen. After a snowke fell, a scene slowly unfolded before everyone''s eyes. Perhaps due to the covert filming, the footage was a bit shaky. The camera was quickly pushed slowly into the room. As the camera zoomed in, two intertwined figures slowly appeared in front of everyone. Thest familiar face appeared before everyone - it was the hostess of the party, Caitlin! The man who was kissing her, however, was a strange and creepy face! Like a bolt from the blue, the whole audience was shocked. Dozens of invited journalists smelled the scent of news and quickly aimed their cameras at the big screen, frantically pressing the shutter button! "Oh my god, I thought today was just going to be a regr birthday party, I didn''t expect to eat such a big watermelon!" "I had a feeling that this was definitely going to explode!" "Stop talking and start shooting, it might be gone in a moment!" The people who were originally ecstatic on stage also stiffened their bodies, awkwardly looking towards the hosts of the banquet. However, Braydon and Caitlin also froze in ce. One did not expect it, the other was frozen in ce due to immense fear! On the screen, the video continued to y. In the room, the kidnapper finally released Caitlin with a smirk only after she was almost suffocated from being kissed. "Howe I couldn''te? After all, I am the biological father of the child in your belly!" "Wife, you are amazing. Just by telling a little lie, you managed to drive a wedge between that couple and even made the man willingly raise our son." "Once our son bes the heir in the future, we will take the opportunity to get rid of that man....." D Suddenly at this moment, the sound of the vase falling to the ground abruptly interrupted the flirtation between the two inside. With a shout, the screen suddenly went ck! The brother holding the recorder had a gut feeling that he had caused trouble, so he quickly threw away the recorder in his hand. At the moment when the pen touched the switch for the loop yback, the video started ying again. "No, no, please turn it off quickly!" This time, Caitlin finally realized what was happening, and her once beautiful face twisted into a grimace. But no one stepped forward, they just silently backed away and watched her go crazy. Finally, Caitlin seemed to remember something, and suddenly ran to Braydon, grabbing his hand and bursting into tears. "Braydon, no, it''s not like that, it''s all because of P..." "How could I do such a thing when I loved you so much?" "Do you believe me or not?" The man just looked at her quietly, his eyes pure ck and filled with hostility, staring at the person in front of him as if he were looking at a dead person. Finally, he viciously threw the abortion book in his hand at Caitlin''s face, csharp edge of the paper cutting her fair skin and leaving a deep bloodstain on her face! Braydon looked at Caitlin, who was staring nkly with eyes swollen from being hit, a nameless anger and sadness rising in his heart. He always thought that Caitlin was still the pure and kind little girl in his memory. They grew up together since childhood, she was always clinging to him. Later, the Ritchie family fell on hard times, and because Caitlin''s grandfather had saved his we'' grandfather''s life, he endured her in every way. Who would have thought that she would y such a trick! He couldn''t help it anymore and pped Caitlin in front of him to the ground: "Bitch!" Chapter 11 As if finding an outlet, Braydon kicked Caitlin''s stomach hard with his dress shoes. Caitlin''s cries and pleas only served as his excitement, as he pressed harder and harder until the bright red flowers bloomed beneath her. The strong smell of blood filled the nostrils of everyone present, but no one dared to step forward to stop it. Caitlin''s screams grew quieter and her eyes gradually fell into a dead silence. The Ritchie family fell on hard times, and at first, she just wanted to live a good life by taking advantage of his guilt towards her. However, once a person''s desires are nurtured, they be uncontroble. Caitlin began to feel jealous of Braydon, jealous of anyone who seemed to be doing better than her, including Emma. Why do they get to live a luxurious life without doing anything, while she has to work so hard to climb up but still ends up struggling in the mud? Jealousy drove Caitlin to lose her sanity. She began to cooperate with the kidnappers, exchanging her body, which had been vited, for Braydon''s guilt and Emma''s departure. Just as she was on the brink of sess, a video came along and ruthlessly knocked her back down into the abyss. Caitlin''s meaning became increasingly unclear, but Braydon, who could kick her, was still not satisfied. He lifted her up again, hisrge hands with distinct knuckles squeezing her neck tighter and tighter. The oxygen in her lungs was getting thinner and thinner, her whole face started to turn pale. Just when Caitlin thought she was about to pass out, Braydon roughly threw her to the ground and used the handkerchief handed to him by the butler to wipe off the scent she had left on his hands. "First take him to the hospital, as long as he doesn''t die, then send him directly to prison when hees out." Caitlin''s originally lifeless eyes suddenly filled with fear upon hearing the word "prison". No, no, she didn''t want to go to jail! Although it was only a few short months, Caitlin had already gotten used to this luxurious lifestyle. Although she had already lost touch with Mrs. Lederer''s identity, and although she could no longer rely on the child in her belly to secure Braydon''s multimillion-dor fortune. However, in the past few months, Braydon has already bought her countless luxury handbags, jewelry, and even cars and houses. Even if she left Braydon in the future, she could still start over somewhere else by selling these things. Now Braydon is going to send her to jail, leaving her with nothing, which is even more painful than killing her. Ignoring the pain in her abdomen, Caitlin struggled to get up from the ground and reached out to grab Braydon''s thigh, pleading. However, Braydon''s bodyguard took the lead and dragged her out. "No, don''t!" "Braydon, you couldn''t treat me like this!" The heart- wrenching screams sent shivers down the spines of those around, leaving them feeling infinitely deste. Just a second ago, Braydon was still holding Caitlin high and proiming his love for her to the whole world. The next second, he violently threw her to the ground, venting his hatred and disgust towards her. Love and hate can change in an instant. The incident of that day ultimately did not spread. The Lederer Group spent a lot of money to suppress this news, and now there is no longer any keyword rted to it online. At first nce, the whole New York seemed calm, but underneath it was a stormy sea. Caitlin and the kidnappers were both sent to prison by the Lederer and all the assets given to the Group, Ritchie family by Braydon were also recovered. Caitlin''s parents were originally going to make a scene in front of the Lederer Group, but they were quickly stopped by the security guards and had to flee. And the people in the circle didn''te forward to mock, just quietly watching this farce. Just when everyone thought Braydon''s joke shoulde to an end, the Corsie family from the south arrived. Because the Corsie family lived far away from New York and led a reclusive life, they initially did not know about what Braydon had done Emma. Until Emma appeared in front of everyone with injuries all over her body... That night, the Corsie family chartered a ne and stormed into Braydon''s vi with a group of people. Chapter 12 The vi, brightly lit, was in a state of chaos. The Corsie family went crazy swinging hammers and smashing the vi into pieces. Reporters from various newspapers frantically pressed the shortcut keys. Emma''s older brother, Waylon Corsie, pinned Braydon to the ground and punched him repeatedly, his eyes turning bloodshot with hatred. "I, the beloved daughter of the Corsie family, was actually treated so badly by you!" "Are you looking for death?" The Corsie family discovered all of Emma''s hidden past on their way here. The Corsie family''s respectable and innocent daughter was unexpectedlybeled as a harlot by Braydon. And all this just for the sweetheart he was vited by the kidnappers! Waylon was getting angrier and angrier, his grip getting tighter and tighter. If his wife hadn''te up to stop himter, Braydon''s funeral might have been tomorrow. Without even looking at Braydon, who was covered in blood, Waylon stood up and ordered the people he had brought to continue smashing. When Emma left in a hurry, she couldn''t take many things with her. Since she couldn''t take it with her, she decided to smash it all, as if the Corsie family''s daughter had never married into the Lederer family. Finally, looking at the messy room full of books, Waylon finally called a halt to the Corsie family. He looked coldly at Braydon, who was lying on the ground gasping for breath, and said word by word. "From now on, the Corsie family, our Emma and you have no more connection. If you dare toe looking for her again, you will be facing a dead end!" This decisive words hit Braydon like a bolt from the blue, leaving his mind nk. No, you can''t! He absolutely could not lose her! Braydon struggled to crawl away from the ground, but the next moment he fell heavily to his knees because of the injury on his leg. His eyes were full of pain and pleading: "I had my reasons for everything in the past, I can exin it to Emma!" "Please give me a chance to exin to her!" "Hardship! Waylonughed at Braydon''s words, "What hardship could you possibly have?"" "You like to y the role of a father to other people''s illegitimate children so much. Isn''t my sister divorcing you just perfect for you? Now what else do you want to exin? Don''t tell me you can''t bear the current reputation and want my sister back as a shield!" Braydon kept shaking his head, feeling like his throat was blocked, too bitter to say a word. No, it wasn''t like that. He wanted to go tell Emma that he had been deceived by Caitlin before, which was why he had thought she was pitiful and had mistaken her child as his own. He thought that as soon as Caitlin''s child was born, he would take Caitlin''s child under his wing and raise it himself, while giving Caitlin money to go abroad. He would also take the opportunity to hold a press conference to rify the facts of the past and clear the name of his and Emma''s child. But before Braydon could do any of this, Emma had already aborted the baby, divorced him, and left him for good. Braydon didn''t understand why Emma loved him so much. He had told her that if she could just be patient a little longer, everything would work out in the end and they could live happily ever after. Why couldn''t she wait? help but mockingly say on the side, "If you cheat, you cheat. What else is there to exin?" Waylon''s wife couldn''t JouTs "Braydon, you did nothing except not sleeping with Caitlin. You adopted a bastard as your own child, calling your own child a bastard. You unted around with other women, while letting your wife bear the me. You really are something, taking all the good reputation for yourself and leaving all the bad to my sister. Our Corsie family was blind to have ever chosen someone like you!" One sarcastic remark after another was like nails piercing him all over, leaving him in excruciating pain. He hung his head like a soulless puppet, allowing the Corsie family to scold and beat him. Waylon''s wife also said she was tired, and she looked at the man in front of her and finally said, "I''m done." "Braydon, if you hadn''t said you didn''t like Emma in the first ce, we wouldn''t have married her to you." Chapter 13 How could Braydon not like Emma? He loved her to death. The Corsie family members did not want to waste any more words with such people, so they simply set the entire vi on fire. The dirty vi should not have existed. Watching the raging fire all around him, Braydon finally came to his senses. His first reaction was not to escape, but to rush into the fire to rescue the shattered wedding photos. That was evidence of his love for Emma, absolutely cannot be destroyed! The servant who was trying to escape saw this scene and shouted in fear, instinctively trying to stop him. The next moment, a deafening explosion suddenly rang out. "Bang!" "Sir!" The fire set by the Corsie family spread from the Lederer family to the entire New York. The huge lie that Braydon had spent a great deal of effort spreading in the past has finally been uncovered, and the truth buried in the darkness has resurfaced. At that moment, everyone realized that Caitlin and the kidnapper were actually a couple, and the baby in her belly belonged to the kidnapper. And the baby in Emma''s belly was Braydon''s biological child. People then realized that they had been yed by Braydon, and they had also used the wrong person of insulting them. However,pared to the outrage when Braydon initially imed that Emma''s baby was illegitimate, everyone has now be silent and reserved. Online news, discussions, andments about Braydon and Caitlin''s sweet rtionship were all deleted, and advertisements rted to the two of them were also taken down from various locations in the city. Those who had originally insulted Emma one by one retracted their dirty words and began to leave apologies under the Corsie Group ount. However, the Corsie Group chose to close thements section, and the group of people who had been the most vicious in criticizing Emma were all sent to prison by them. In addition, those who had bullied Emma in the past were also warned and dealt with ordingly. Those yboys all turned pale, watching as the stocks of their ownpanies plummeted one after another. When they found out that the Lederer family''s vi had been burned and Braydon had been beaten, they knew they would also be in trouble. However, they did not expect that their actions towards Emma were not as extreme as Braydon''s, but they still received such a heavy punishment. Overnight, New York changedpletely. Once the Lederer family was the only one admired by the aristocracy, but many of them began to distance themselves from the Lederer family. Some shareholders of the Lederer Group also chose to withdraw their stocks when they saw the situation was not favorable. The Lederer family, with a hundred years of history, was pushed to the edge of a cliff by the crowd. Braydon was so worried that he spent the whole day sleeping in the office, still not fully recovered from his illness. I called each shareholder who had previously been associated with the Lederer family, begging them toe back. But they were all rejected by them. Braydon was willing to let his wife of five years bear the me for an old me, so those people will eventually be betrayed by him. On that day, Braydon was finally shot in the forehead by the bullet that was fired earlier. He used to naively believe that he could retract all the lies he had told, but now these lies have flowed into the sea like a river. The giant waves formed by them were dragging him into the abyss. The Corsie family did not tell Emma about Braydon''s plight, they didn''t even mention him in front of her. Just on the day he returned to Seattle, he casually mentioned to her that everything had been resolved and he wouldn''te looking for her again in the future. Emma didn''t mind either, she had her own things to do now. The Corsie family, like the Lederer family, was also arge family, with rtionships between family members being even moreplex. Although Emma never mentioned her divorce to anyone, the Corsie family''s Aunt, who had always looked down on Emma''s family, took every opportunity to mock her. At one moment they said Emma was unwanted because she was second-band, and at another moment they said a divorced woman like her staying at home would affect the marriage prospects of other brothers and sisters. Emma''s mother, Lena Corsie, was so angry that she immediately pped Aunt''s face and scolded her for not speaking if she had nothing to say. Her father, Tristin Corsie, was present at the scene. He didn''t say anything, just looked deeply at Emma. But Emma still understood Tristin''s meaning. Tristin herself was stubborn in her thinking, believing that all children must be married for a family to prosper. Now that she is divorced, Tristin is probably not happy. Sure enough, not even two dayster, the Corsie family received a phone call from the old housekeeper, who was urging Emma to go on a blind date. Tristin was so angry that he mmed the phone down on the spot, saying, "I don''t even want to think about it!" After saying that, Tristin turned tofort his little daughter, "We are not poor, you can stay at home for as long as you want." "Don''t listen to the person in the old house." Speaking of which, Tristin had been tolerating the people on the other side of the old house for many years. If it weren''t for the deep interests between them, theyil havee out and set up their own household long ago. Although they still have a connection to the old house, they don''t usually go there much except for during holidays. I never took Tristin''s words to heart. "Yes, Emma, don''t worry about what others say, just live your own life." Emma looked at her loving parents and felt warm in her heart. While she was hiding her past to prevent her parents from worrying, her parents were silently supporting her from behind the scenes. After resting at home for a month, Emma picked up her abandoned career and started painting in the studio again. Emma was free- spirited and intelligent, especially gifted in art. Before she turned fifteen, one of her paintings was able to be auctioned for over a billion dors. Butter, she had to put down her paintbrush in order to be a good Mrs. Lederer. Now Emma has thrown herself back into the creation of her work, perhaps because she was too immersed in her art to notice how messy the studio had be. The studio was located on the third floor of the Corsie''s manor, overlooking the backyard. Whenever Emma felt exhausted, she would walk to the balcony and sit on the rocking chair, snacking on treats while admiring the flowers in the garden. It was so peaceful on her side, while downstairs in the hall it was so lively. After spending some time with Emma, the Corsie family members all went back to work, so the household affairs were all decided by the housekeeper. Looking at the piles of gifts in front of him, the butler frowned and said, ¡°Is it from him again?" The servant hesitated and said, ¡°Last time you said not to let any gifts in, so we haven''t epted any since then." "Who knew he would again send the gift in someone else''s name, because that person had some business dealings with us, the Corsie family, so it was not ovi refuse. But rest assured, housekeeper, we did not bother the youngdy with these matters." The butler sighed and said, ¡°Just throw them all out and say hello to the people around, don''t help him deliver them anymore in the future." Around a corner of the tree- lined avenue outside the Corsie''s manor, there was a very understated luxury car parked. In the dark carriage, the assistant, with a look of embarrassment, spoke to the man in the back seat. "Sir, the gift we borrowed someone to deliver has been lost again." In the back seat, Braydon finally opened his eyes, his low voice devoid of any emotion: "Continue." Assistant opened his mouth, but in the end, he didn''t say anything. Chapter 14 When the Lederer Group was in danger, it was Sir Lederer, who was far away in another country, who rushed back to take charge. Due to the extreme dissatisfaction of shareholders and the public with Braydon, Kade took the opportunity to kick Braydon out of the power center. He now has nothing except for the stock of the Lederer Group. But Braydon didn''t care and flew directly to Seattle to find Emma. Because all of Emma''s contact information had been deactivated, Braydon, unable to reach her by phone, had to drive to the Corsie''s manor every day to wait outside. But after all this time had passed, he not only failed to catch a glimpse of Emma''s shadow, but also found that the gift he had sent in had been thrown out untouched by the Corsie family. Braydon didn''t mind either, he just felt that there was still plenty of time, and one day he would win her back. Since he had nothing to do back in New York anyway, he might as well just stay here and who knows, he might even have a chance to see Emma. However, it is not known why the Corsie family greeted all of Seattle. Every house that Braydon set his sights on was inexplicably bought by someone else or not for sale. In the end, he could only purchase a dpidated vi in the deste northern wilderness,pletely opposit Not only the house, but Braydon also faced difficulties in other aspects in Seattle. Originally, he had nned to ask for help from an old friend to arrange a meeting with Emma, but those who had heard the Corsie family''s call also refused to see him directly. Braydon had also nned to buy a gift for Emma directly in Seattle, but every jewelry store he visited gave him the same answer - sorry. Reluctantly, Braydon had to have someone send gifts from New York every day. He invested so much time, money, and even his heart, but the Corsie family still ignored him. Just as Braydon took out his phone to browse for the next batch of new gifts, Kade''s phone rang. The content of the phone call was simple, Kade asked him to go back for a blind date. Kade''s exact words were that although Braydon is now useless the Lederer family must have a new, bloodline heir. So he must marry again and have a child immediately. And back then, there weren''t many people willing to marry him after that incident. Now, the only one willing is a true heiress brought back from the countryside by a certain family. Although the house was small, it was still a good choice. Not to mention that Kade is getting old now, the matter of training a new heir is bing urgent. On the other end of the phone, Braydon closed his eyes and tried to suppress the frustration in his heart. He knew that he no longer had the powertopete with Kade, so he could only do his best to calmly respond to Kade''s words. "Dad, I will not marry and have children with any other woman. My wife can only be Emma, and my children can only be born by her." But Kade didn''t care. "Hmph, no matter what you think, if you don''te back within a month, then I''ll have to take matters into my own hands." Watching the phone call being abruptly ended, Braydon clenched his hand around the phone with such force that even his knuckles began to turn white. No, he wouldn''t let Kade manipte his life! Braydon casually tossed his phone aside and his gaze returned to the Corsie family''s front gate outside the car window, a look of determination shing in his eyes. He was determined to win Emma back! Perhaps spurred on by Kade''s phone call, Braydon''s pursuit of Emma became even more intense. Braydon, who used to only ask others for help in giving gifts, now actively seeks out opportunities to get closer to Emma. In order to see her, Braydon even attended a business cocktail party that he used to despise. In the past, Braydon used to be the center of attention whenever he appeared, but now no one is willing to pay him any attention. Braydon didn''t care either, just stood in the corner with a ss of champagne, looking for that familiar figure. Chapter 15 Beforeing, the assistant had already created a table of all the locations where Emma was likely to appear and sent it to Braydon''s phone. And at today''s party, not only did Emmae, but she also took the stage as a special guest to give a speech. However- Braydon raised his hand to check his watch, and it had been exactly two hours since the banquet started. But there was no sign of Emma anywhere in the whole venue. He even had some doubts about the authenticity of the form given to him by his assistant. Thinking of this, Braydon picked up his phone and went out to call his assistant. Just as he closed the balcony door, the whole room suddenly erupted. Emma came. As a special guest invited by the host of the banquet, Emma immediately became the center of attention as soon as she entered the room. The guests approached her while raising their champagne sses to greet her. Emma smiled and nodded in response as she followed the waiter''s guidance upstairs. And at that moment, the closed balcony door was slowly pushed open by arge hand. At the end of the crowd, Braydon caught sight of the red figure at a nce, but his phone slipped from his hand and fell to the ground. "Bang!" The assistant on the other end of the phone, who had been reporting diligently, quickly called out Braydon after hearing themotion on this end. "Sir, sir, what''s wrong with you!" But Braydon could no longer hear his assistant''s words, his heart and eyes were filled only with her figure. After not seeing each other for several months, Emma had changed a lot. The gentle and obedient woman she used to be had now be aloof and distant. But those eyes, that smile, still remained a familiar image in his memory. The umted longing burst out like a flood, overflowing every corner of Braydon''s body. His palms were slightly sweaty, his throat tightened, and his mind kept shouting to rush up and hug her! He had been waiting for her for so long, and now isn''t it a good opportunity to reunite with her and express his feelings? However, Braydon''s rationality told him, no, it''s not possible. What he did back then had already been enough to disappoint Emma. He wasn''t sure how to approach her in order to regain her attention. Braydon stood still, his hands clenched into fists. Until Emma''s figure was about to disappear behind the gates at the end, Braydon finally let go of his rationality and rushed forward! "Emma!" "Boom-" Unfortunately, Braydon was ultimately a step toote, as door mmed shut just before he made a sound. His shout did not attract Emma''s attention, but instead caused everyone to look towards him. Their eyes were full of disgust and disdain, as if they could see right through him. The look of disdain on their faces made her feel like she was nothing but garbage. "Who on earth let this kind of person in?" "How could he still have the nerve to go find Ms. Corsie? Is he shameless?" "I don''t know what Ms. Corsie saw in him back then, to actually be willing to marry someone like him.¡± The scene was almost identical to when Emma was surrounded and attacked in the past. Braydon''s appearance was like a lit fuse, causing everyone to be angry and pointing fingers at him. Even though Braydon grew up in this environment since he was young, he still cannot ept it at this moment. These words were like sharp arrows Pis heart, causing him to es feel much pain that he could hardly catch his breath. Suddenly, he remembered a long time ago when he and Emma were lying on the ground in a sorry state, looking at each other with their bodies all wet. Was she even more miserable and broken than he is now? They looked at him angrily, pointing at him with dissatisfaction, pushing him step by step towards the cliff. "Plop!" The next moment, Braydon stepped on empty space and fell into the pool, enveloped by the cold pool water. But those people did not look at him, nor did they mock him, they just scattered around as if the tide had receded. Braydon struggled in the pool for half a day before finally climbing out after swallowing a bellyful of water. He was gasping for breath on the shore like a fish out of water. At this moment, there was anothermotioning from the crowd ahead. Originally, Emma was respectfully escorted down by the host of the banquet. "Emma!" Unfortunately, his weak cries were deemed unnecessary amidst thepliments of the crowd. Emma didn''t hear at all, she just walked straight towards the front door. "Emma!" Watching her resolute figure walking away, Braydon felt a wave of inexplicable panic and fear in his heart. He struggled desperately to climb up from the floor. Before he could catch up, a strong gust of wind blew towards his face! "Dong!" Chapter 16 Waylon had warned Braydon a long time ago not to get close to his sister. But he didn''t expect Braydon to be so shameless, daring to sneak into the private banquet. His sister almost saw him. Emma had already suffered so much hardship and hurt by Braydon in the past, that Waylon didn''t even dare to think about the consequences if Emma were to see Braydon again. So when Waylon saw Braydon about to catch up, he punched him directly. Braydon, lying on the ground, suddenly vomited a mouthful of blood. He struggled to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth and tried to get up. But Waylon didn''t give him the chance at all. The guests next to them had already scattered when they saw that something was wrong, leaving only two men in the empty hall. Theyy on the ground, their face covered in blood, barely breathing. Another hand dripping with blood stood on the side, watching coldly. "Braydon, I warn you, don''t let me see you again in the future, or I''ll beat you every time I see you!" It wasn''t until Waylon had been gone for a long time that Braydon finally reacted, letting out a bitterugh. Did he not see Emma? It was impossible, he couldn''t do it at all. In the Corsic family''s car, Emma yed on her phone for a long time before she finally saw her brother walking towards her. "What did you go to do?" Emma asked curiously. Waylon was stunned for a moment, then quietly tossed the blood- stained handkerchief out of the car window and spoke calmly. "Nothing much, I ran into an acquaintance and chatted with him for a few minutes." "Acquaintance? Emma suddenly leaned in towards Waylon, her suspicions rising. "I remember that this party was full of new faces, you didn''t know anyone here, could it be that you-"" As Emma''s tone lengthened, Waylon''s heart also lifted. He was afraid to hear that name from Emma''s mouth. If she really knew that Braydon hade to Seattle to find her, how could he get past this? Waylon felt very anxious, but he didn''t show it on his face. "What is it?" "Could there be someone outside, huh?" Waylon angrily knocked on Emma''s head and said, "What are you thinking about all day long?" Emma pouted and held her head, pretending to be unhappy, "Isn''t this boring?" Talking about this makes Emma angry. "It''s not your fault, I''m an adult now. It''s just a divorce, I''m not doing anything wrong. Yet you keep restricting me at home, following.me wherever I go. I don''t understand, is there a wild beast outside waiting to devour me?" Waylon thought to himself, "Isn''t Braydon just a ferocious beast?¡± But he didn''t say anything, just patiently patted his little sister''s head and coaxed her patiently. "Sweetheart, it''s been almost five years since youst spent time with us. Can you stay at home and spend some time with us?" Waylon has already greeted Kade, who is far away in New York, and believes that Braydon will soon be forcibly taken back to New York. By that time, he would no longer stop his sister from going wherever she wanted. After hearing her brother''s words, Emma also felt a twinge of guilt in her heart. In the beginning, she married into a distant family, because the journey was long, and her parents were in poor health, so they had very little time to meet. And neither she nor her parents wanted the other to worry about them, so they would hide as much as they could. A few words on the phone and then silence would fall on both ends. In the end, he could only hang up the phone helplessly. But when Emma came back, she realized that her parents still had so much to say to her. Even my brother and sister-in-