“It’s nothing,” Emily replied, retrieving her broken phone. “Got scolded by my stingy boss.”
“Seems like every time we talk, you end up mentioning him,” Michael said, a hint of annoyance in his voice. “If you really hate him that much, come work at my company.”
Emily chuckled. “Actually, I don’t hate him that much.”
“So you like him?” Michael asked, a hopeful note in his voice.
“Well, maybe a little.”
Michael sighed. “Looks like we’ve both fallen for someone we shouldn’t.” He then turned to Alex. “President Thompson, the money tree. I’ve got something to handle. Gotta go.”
Alex, looking at the money tree, muttered, “President Thompson, the leaves on that expensive money tree you bought… Emily Carter is almost plucking all the leaves off.”
Emily, still at her desk, heard this. She smiled. Emily Carter. Looking forward to meeting you, Madam Thompson. I’ll find out soon. The mysterious wife of Mr. Thompson. Is it really you? Emily Carter.
Three days later, Michael called Emily. “Emily Carter! Didn’t we agree to divorce in seven days? There’s still three days left. Why the rush? You invited me to the cafe. Let’s just meet and talk face to face.”
“Hello? Hello,” Emily said, picking up the phone. She heard a knock at the door. “Was someone at the door earlier? There’s a lady on the phone outside.”
“Wasn’t it you who arranged this?” Michael asked, confused. “Then who…”
Emily looked out the door. It was the woman from the hotel. Oh. That mistress from last time.
Michael’s voice came back. “In three days, we’ll meet at number six Xingyang Road. First accompany me to see Grandpa. After explaining the situation to him, we’ll go to the County Clerk’s Office to divorce.”
“Fine. See you in three days,” Emily replied, hanging up. I’m still curious about what his mistress looks like. Should we go take a look?
She shuddered. “No way. Last time I was mistaken for a homewrecker. They beat me up pretty bad. Maybe next time.” She still managed to get away.
In three days, I’ll be single again, Emily thought, a strange mix of emotions swirling inside her.
Later that day, Grandma called. “Emmy! What is it, Grandma?”
“That boss who brought you home last time,” Grandma said excitedly. “He seems to be downstairs now. Maybe he needs something from you.”
“Mr. Thompson is downstairs?!” Emily exclaimed, rushing to the window. “Grandma, please go back inside! I’ll go check on him.” She hurried downstairs.
“What are you doing here?” Emily asked Michael. “How did you know I was here? Obviously, my grandma saw you from upstairs.”
“What do you really want from me, Emily Carter?” Michael asked, his voice soft but intense. “I love you. I know you feel the same. Why can’t we be together?”
“We’re both married already!” Emily protested, her heart pounding. “I won’t become a homewrecker who destroys families.”
“You’re not breaking up my family,” Michael said, stepping closer. “My marriage is fake. I only did it to appease my grandfather and secure the family inheritance. Found a contractual spouse. We only met on our wedding registration day. I don’t even remember her face.”
“A sham marriage?!” Emily gasped. “That’s exactly my situation! Give me three days, okay? I’ll finalize the divorce with her.”
“Wait, hold on!” Emily said, her head spinning. “This is too much to process. My husband and I are in a sham marriage, too.” She looked at him, a sudden thought striking her. “Did you used to be called Olivia Bennett? Did you change your name before?”
“I never changed my name. I’ve always been Emily Carter,” she replied.
Michael smiled. “At least now I know. We’re both in fake marriages. After we both get divorced, let’s be together.”
Suddenly, Alex Johnson ran up to them, looking frantic. “Hell must be freezing over! What is it?” Michael demanded.
“Mr. Thompson, you asked me to investigate the drugging incident. It was indeed Sophia’s doing!” Alex blurted out.
“Bring her to my office! Understood?” Michael commanded, his face hardening.
“You wanted to see me, Mr. Thompson?” Sophia asked, feigning innocence, when she arrived in Michael’s office.
“You’re the one who drugged me, aren’t you?” Michael’s voice was cold.
“It wasn’t me! I didn’t do it!” Sophia insisted. “Did that Emily Carter poison your mind against me?!”
“I called you here not to listen to your excuses,” Michael said, his voice cutting her off. “I overheard everything. You’re fired. Pack your things and leave immediately.”
Sophia’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Mr. Thompson, I’ve served you for so many years! Don’t I deserve some credit?! Now you want to drive me away because of Emily Carter?!”
“Not pressing charges is me being generous,” Michael replied, his voice chillingly calm. “Or would you prefer legal consequences? Oh, and find me a lawyer tomorrow. Have them draft divorce papers. I’ll be officially divorced in two days.”
Sophia, defeated, left the office. Alex, who had been listening, asked, “Mr. Thompson, are you planning to be with Emily Carter after divorcing?”
Michael smiled. “We both entered sham marriages. We agreed that after ending these marriages, we’d officially be together.”
Alex, still reeling from the revelation, thought, Mr. Thompson and his wife have a fake marriage. No wonder she’s so indifferent toward him. This won’t do. I must stop Mr. Thompson from being with Emily Carter.
Sophia, packing her things, saw Alex. “What are you doing here?”
“Alex Johnson, please beg Mr. Thompson for me!” she pleaded. “I was just confused for a moment!”
“I can’t help you with this,” Alex said, his voice firm. “You should pack your things quickly and leave the company.”
Sophia scoffed. “What’s there to be proud of? Once I’m with Mr. Thompson, you’ll be the first to go.” She then saw something on Alex’s desk. “What are you looking for? Can’t I just pick up a pen?” She picked up a document. “Marriage certificate? It can’t be. No. It’s Mr. Thompson’s marriage certificate!”
“This is my personal item,” Alex said, trying to snatch it back.
“I don’t believe you! Show me!” Sophia demanded.
“Why should I show you? This is my private property!” Alex retorted.
Sophia, now with the certificate, thought, Seems Mr. Thompson and Emily Carter don’t know who their sham marriage partner really is. If Mr. Thompson finds out Emily Carter is actually his wife, we must keep them from finding out.
Suddenly, Emily walked in. Something’s fishy. She claimed to look for a pen but found a marriage certificate instead. “You won’t show me? I’ll see it anyway!” she declared, grabbing the certificate from Sophia.
“What are you doing?!” Sophia shrieked. “You scared me!”
Emily looked at the certificate. “This is the certificate Sophia just found. She says it’s hers. But I suspect it might actually be yours. Let’s check and find out.”
Sophia, panicked, snatched it back. “Makes sense! Emily Carter, what are you doing?! Why is this empty?!”
“Emily Carter, how dare you go through my stuff?!” Sophia exclaimed, trying to feign outrage. “This is utterly disrespectful!”
“I thought this was Mr. Thompson’s marriage certificate,” Emily said, genuinely confused. “Why is it blank?”
“This is my friend’s discarded marriage certificate!” Sophia lied. “Of course it’s blank! I’m apologies. I misunderstood you.” She looked at Emily, a smug look returning to her face. “You’re no match for me, Emily Carter. Michael Thompson belongs to me alone. I’ll never let you be together.” When they finalize their divorce, they’ll have to meet in person. The truth will come out then.
Meanwhile, a private investigator, Miss Rodriguez, was reporting to Sophia’s co-conspirator, Nicole. “Miss Rodriguez, I discovered Mr. Thompson arranged a sham marriage with someone named Olivia Bennett. But somehow they never officially registered it. Here’s Olivia Bennett’s photo.” She handed Nicole a picture.
“Miss Rodriguez, is this information satisfactory?” Nicole asked.
“Very satisfactory. Thank you, Miss Rodriguez.”
“Call me again for future jobs.”
Nicole looked at the photo of Olivia Bennett. “Olivia Bennett. So you’re the one looking for me? Let me make this clear up front. I don’t take jobs under $100K.”
Sophia handed her a black card. “This card has a million in it. Do me a favor. Emmy.”
The next morning, Grandma looked at Emily. “Emmy, you dressed up so fancy! Got a hot date?”
“Not a date, Grandma. It’s a divorce,” Emily said, trying to sound brave.
“Fine, Grandma. Divorce is good! After you split up, snatch that boss of yours back! Grandma’s quite fond of him.”
Emily smiled weakly. “I’ll do my best. Don’t wait dinner for me.”
“Be safe out there,” Grandma called after her.
At the County Clerk’s Office, Emily was waiting when a woman approached Michael. “Emily Carter! Emily Carter! Husband!” she exclaimed.
Michael, confused, looked at her. “Who are you?”
“I’m Olivia Bennett, your wife!” she declared. “Weren’t we supposed to meet here today?”
Emily’s eyes widened. She’s Mrs. Thompson? The CEO’s wife?
Michael looked at Olivia, then at the photo Alex had given him. “You’re nothing like I imagined.”
Olivia, undeterred, said, “Maybe I had some minor cosmetic work.” She then turned to Emily, a sneer on her face. “So you’re the mistress! Waiting to steal my husband once we divorce? Shameless homewrecker!”
“Olivia Bennett!” Michael said, his voice sharp. “Watch your language! Our marriage is a sham! This is only our second meeting! I have no feelings for you!”
Emily, still stunned, stammered, “You’re mistaken. Mr. Thompson and I are merely superior and subordinate. I just happened to pass by today.”
“Then get the hell away from here!” Olivia shrieked. “You’re an eyesore! I have things to do. You two talk!”
Emily, utterly fed up, turned to leave. “Emily Carter! Don’t you dare!” Michael grabbed her arm. “Her behavior and the person in the phone don’t match at all. The person in our chats is nothing like you. Are you even Olivia Bennett?”
Olivia pulled out her ID. “This is my ID. People change. Women especially.” She snatched the divorce papers from Michael. “Let’s get this over with.”
Emily’s phone rang. It was her «husband.» “Why did you hang up? We agreed on 10 o’clock, right? Did something happen?”
Olivia, seeing Emily’s phone, lunged at her, knocking it to the ground and breaking it. “What’s wrong?! You broke my phone!” Emily cried.
“If the phone wasn’t broken, how’d you mistake my identity? It’s just a phone! You can afford a new one!” Olivia scoffed. “Let’s go. Eat first.”
Emily, furious, said, “I need to fix my phone first.”
“How long will repairs take?” Michael asked.
“About an hour,” the clerk replied. “I’ll bring it over once fixed.”
“Okay. I’ll be in the private room,” Michael said to Olivia.
“Understood,” Olivia replied, giving Emily a menacing look. You don’t want this phone repaired. You get what I mean?
Emily watched her go. Are you crazy?
Michael, waiting in the private room, grew impatient. Forget it. I’m done waiting. He pulled out the divorce papers. “Here’s the divorce papers I drafted. As of today, our one-year sham marriage is terminated.”
