Emily’s jaw dropped. “So… Michael Thompson is my husband! I’m that mysterious wife!”
Alex, looking terrified, stammered, “That seems to be the case! Oh my god! I won’t get fired for knowing too much, will I? I’ll inform Mr. Thompson right now!”
“Wait a second!” Emily said, grabbing her phone as it rang. “I need to take this call. Hello? Tomorrow morning? Divorce. Fine.” She hung up. “Michael Thompson wants me at 10 a.m. tomorrow. Wear the rosemary and finalize the divorce.”
Must be Mr. Thompson, Alex thought. “Should I notify him now?”
“No need,” Emily said, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “I’ll surprise him myself.”
“Understood,” Alex replied, still reeling.
The next morning, at the County Clerk’s Office, Michael was waiting. “Mr. Thompson, you’re on your own now.” Alex said.
“Waiting for someone?” Michael muttered. Then he saw Emily. “Emmy! Why aren’t you resting at the hospital? What brings you here? Are you feeling better?”
“You’re here to get divorced,” Emily said, a small smile on her face.
“Exactly,” Michael replied. “I’m finalizing this divorce today. You’re my wife. The stingy boss you mentioned is actually me. The clumsy subordinate you mentioned? That’s me. Let’s go and get divorced.”
Emily, tears welling in her eyes, said, “Good thing it’s you. So are we still getting divorced?”
Michael pulled her into a hug. “I won’t get divorced.”
Suddenly, Alex rushed in, looking frantic. “Mr. Thompson, Mr. Thompson! Our company’s funds were embezzled by Olivia Bennett!”
“What?!” Michael exclaimed. “How did she get authorization?”
“The old man approved her!” Alex replied.
“How could I forget about that?!” Michael groaned. “Did you call the police?”
“We’ve already called the police! They’re already on their way to arrest her!”
“Understood,” Michael said, his face grim. “Mr. Thompson, the police have intercepted Olivia Bennett at the airport. They want us there immediately.”
“All right, let’s uh, let’s head over now,” Michael said, taking Emily’s hand.
Just then, his phone rang. It was Grandpa. “Hello? Your secretary said you’re sick! Which hospital room are you in?”
“Grandpa, I’m not sick!” Michael exclaimed. “Who said I was hospitalized?”
“Your secretary, Sophia, told me!” Grandpa insisted.
“Sophia?!” Michael’s eyes widened. “Grandpa, she’s a wanted criminal now, don’t you…” The line went dead. “Hello? Hello? Hello? What’s wrong?!”
Alex, panicked, said, “Grandpa is with Sophia!”
Michael turned to Alex. “Taylor Green, take Emmy to the police station. I’ll send you the location later.”
Emily, seeing his concern, said, “I’m coming with you.”
“Okay, let’s go together then,” Michael replied.
Meanwhile, Sophia was with Grandpa, who looked unwell. “Michael, why aren’t you here yet?! I’ve been waiting forever! If you don’t come soon, this old man will kick the bucket!”
“What did you do to my grandpa?!” Michael demanded, arriving on the scene with Emily and Alex.
Sophia laughed. “I didn’t do anything! He got sick on his own! Where the hell are you?! You really don’t get me! I love you so much! It’s obviously 520!”
“I love you too! Just come already!” Michael pleaded, trying to keep her calm.
“I’m waiting for you!” Sophia shrieked.
“You’re insane!” Emily whispered.
Grandpa, looking at Sophia, said, “Grandpa! Do you believe it? I’ll make this old man bleed out right here!”
Michael stepped forward. “Sophia, take your grudge out on me! Don’t hurt grandpa!”
Sophia looked at Michael, a twisted smile on her face. “How could I bear to treat you like that? I adore you too much for that! What do you really want? I want you, Zaram!”
“Okay, I’ll trade places for grandpa!” Michael said, stepping forward.
“Michael, let’s swap then!” Emily said, trying to help. “It’ll be fine.”
Sophia chuckled. “Well played, Michael Thompson! Guess who I really am, and I’ll let you switch.”
“What’s there to guess? You’re Sophia! Can we trade now?” Michael said, exasperated.
“Wrong guess!” Sophia shrieked. “You don’t remember me at all! But I’m hopelessly in love! Come closer. Time to make the trade. Naturally. By the way, friendly reminder. If that old man doesn’t get treated, he’ll die soon.”
“Emmy, take grandpa to the hospital first!” Michael commanded.
“Okay, wait for me! I’ll come back to save you!” Emily said, helping Grandpa away. “Let’s go, grandpa!”
Sophia smiled, a triumphant glint in her eyes. “The nuisances are gone. Now it’s just us two. You know what I want, don’t you? You want us to die together.”
“You guessed right!” Michael said, looking at her, a strange sadness in his eyes. “You really do understand me best. Since I can’t have you in life, I’ll claim you in death. In death? You’ll finally be mine!” She pushed him towards the edge of the abandoned building. “Go over there!”
Suddenly, Michael woke up in a hospital bed. “Whoa, Michael. You’re awake!” Emily said, sitting beside him, her eyes red.
“Are you feeling any pain?” she asked.
“My head hurts,” Michael mumbled.
“The doctor said you have a mild concussion,” Emily explained. “Some rest should help. Good thing I alerted Taylor Green and the police. That was the fifth floor. You just jumped off like that? If anything happened to you, I wouldn’t want to live either!”
“Don’t talk nonsense!” Michael said, trying to sit up. “Even if I die, you must keep living well!”
“Ugh, trying to make me angry again?” Emily said, a small smile touching her lips. “Fine, I’ll stop talking.” She then remembered. “Where’s grandpa?”
“Grandpa’s fine. He’s in the next room,” Michael replied. “Oh, right. Sophia’s been sent to a mental institution.”
“Mental institution?!” Emily exclaimed. “The police investigation shows the real Sophia lives abroad. The Sophia we knew is actually Ava. She’s a psychiatric patient escaped after being abused at the institution. Then she stole Sophia’s identity to join Thompson Enterprises.”
Ava, Michael thought, the name triggering a distant memory. He remembered a cold day in a back alley in downtown Los Angeles, years ago. A young woman, clearly homeless, was huddled, shivering. “Where did this beggar come from? Dare to steal my food?” a group of bullies sneered. “This beggar’s kind of pretty. Want some? Take off your clothes if you want it. I’ll buy you more.” They laughed.
Michael, a young man then, had stepped forward. “Enjoying the food, okay? Hey. Mind your own business, punk! I suggest you scram right now or I’ll call the cops!” He had offered the girl some food. “A young lady like you should stay away from drunkards. Got it? Hungry. Food? Wait here. I’ll be right back.”
He remembered telling her to go to the police station nearby. “Okay, grandpa. I understand. I’ll be back soon. Go that way. There’s a police station 500 meters ahead. Ask the police for help there. Understood? I’m Ava. What’s your name? Michael Thompson.”
Michael. Ava. Now I remember. So it was her. So that’s how it is. No wonder she kept making you say her name.
Grandma entered the hospital room, carrying a bag. “Grandma! What brings you here?” Emily asked.
“Brought you some homemade snacks! Made them myself! Healthy and hygienic!” Grandma beamed.
“Grandma! Your cooking is simply amazing!” Emily gushed. “Even better than restaurant food!”
Grandma chuckled. “Look at this kid. Always know how to sweet talk. Really? Heard you fell from the building. Trying to save grandpa. Such a filial child. Unlike Emmy’s husband. Never comes home all year. I’m sure he has… a mistress outside. What a scoundrel.”
Emily looked at Michael, mortified. “Grandma? What affair? That’s nonsense. Non-existent.”
“Who told you that?” Michael asked.
“The son-in-law next door,” Grandma said. “From Aunt Guo’s family. He never comes home all year. Out of nowhere. They say he’s having an affair. Her daughter cries daily. Heartbroken.”
“Grandma?” Emily said, trying to change the subject. “I believe… Emmy’s husband… wouldn’t do such things.”
“What do you know? He’s nothing like you!” Grandma retorted. “By the way, aren’t you two planning… to be together after divorcing? Hurry up! I want great-grandkids!”
“Grandma!” Emily exclaimed, a deep blush spreading across her face. “Actually… He’s the one who never comes home. He… He’s your husband of one year.”
Grandma looked at them, then blinked. “I must be… getting senile. Need more sleep. I’ll sleep properly at home. Reset my sleep. Sleep again? Grandma’s still confused. Let me explain.”
The next morning, Grandma called out, “Grandma? Is Emmy awake?”
“Grandma? What is it? Is Emmy up yet?” Michael asked.
“Still asleep, probably,” Grandma replied.
“Grandma? Breakfast’s ready! Eat first. I’ll wake her.” Michael walked into their bedroom. “Get up! Five more minutes! Wake up! Today’s Ethan and Lucas’s kindergarten sports day! Can’t be late!”
“Grandma will go on my behalf!” Emily mumbled, still half-asleep.
“Not going! I’m meeting Grandpa Thompson for Tai Chi! I’m leaving now!” Grandma called out.
Michael leaned over Emily. “Emily Carter, if you don’t get up… I’ll use extreme measures. Rise and shine!”
Emily, finally opening her eyes, saw Michael’s face close to hers. “Michael Thompson! I can’t take this anymore! I want a divorce!” she declared playfully.
Michael chuckled, pulling her closer. “Emily Carter, are you looking for a spanking?”
“You… You are…” Emily stammered, then smiled. “Just kidding with you. I’m mad at you, Michael Thompson.”
“Don’t be angry, okay?” Michael said, kissing her forehead.
“Not angry. Then I’ll ask you two questions. Answer right and I’ll forgive you.”
“Go ahead,” Michael said.
“First one. When did we first meet? Month and date?”
Michael paused, thinking hard. “May 21st.”
“When did you start liking me?” Emily asked, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
“I… Can’t answer, huh? Now I’m really angry!” Emily teased.
Michael pulled her closer, his voice soft. “Not angry anymore. From the moment I first saw you, I already liked you. Blame your ridiculously handsome face. I was totally smitten by your looks. Mr. Handsome. Mr. Perfect. You’re forgiven.”
Emily smiled, snuggling into his embrace. “Let’s get breakfast. Let’s go.”
Five years later, in a mental institution, Ava looked at a picture of Michael. “Five years. Ava missed you so much. I know. You don’t like this face of mine. So this time… I’ll become the person you love. And come back to you.”
