Olivia, who had just entered, snatched the papers. “I won’t leave!”
“Olivia Bennett, what exactly do you want?” Michael asked, exasperated.
“I don’t want a divorce!” Olivia declared.
“Didn’t we already agree on this? How can you go back on your word? Didn’t you say you had someone else too?”
“I lied to you!” Olivia retorted. “I only care about money. Aren’t you divorcing me just to be with Emily Carter? I refuse! If I divorce you, I’ll get nothing at all!”
“I’ll add 10 million in compensation,” Michael offered.
“Not enough! I want 100 million!” Olivia demanded.
“That’s impossible!” Michael exclaimed.
“You’re the prestigious Thompson Enterprises! Can’t afford 100 million? Yuko, before meeting you, I thought you were an intelligent woman. Never expected this greedy side of you.”
Olivia’s face fell. Yuko?
Michael’s voice hardened. “Let me make this clear. This divorce will happen whether you agree or not. If you keep causing trouble, you’ll get nothing.”
Just then, the door burst open. “What’s going on here? Grandpa!”
Grandpa, seeing Olivia, beamed. “Arguing? Not at all! You’re here, Grandpa! I’m Olivia Bennett, your grandson’s wife. Good, pretty, and graceful! That brat kept hiding you from me!”
Olivia, playing along, smiled sweetly. “Meeting you for the first time. You’re so distinguished. Now I know where Michael gets his looks. He takes after you!”
Grandpa chuckled. “Of course! I raised this boy since he was a child! Olivia, come here.” He pulled out a wad of cash. “This 3 million is my welcome gift for you! Take it!”
“Thank you, Grandpa!” Olivia beamed, taking the money.
“What are you doing, brat?!” Grandpa snapped at Michael. “This is for your wife!”
“Grandpa, she’s not your granddaughter-in-law!” Michael protested. “I’m divorcing her!”
“What?! You want a divorce?! No way! I disagree!” Grandpa exclaimed. “Why divorce when things are fine? She’s such a good granddaughter-in-law!”
“Grandpa, we never really had any real connection!” Michael insisted. “We only got married to appease you!”
“I won’t allow this divorce!” Grandpa declared. “Feelings can grow with time! Trust me! I won’t let you divorce!”
“Grandpa, she’s just a gold digger!” Michael tried to explain. “You don’t know what she demanded for the divorce. 100 million!”
“What?!” Grandpa looked at Olivia.
Olivia, panicked, said, “No, Grandpa, that’s not true! I just don’t want a divorce!”
“Liar!” Michael spat.
“Enough arguing!” Grandpa commanded. “I’ll settle this. No divorce between you two!” He then turned to Olivia, a twinkle in his eye. “Grandpa, I just brewed this tea. Smells wonderful! Try some.”
Olivia, seeing her opportunity, said, “Grandpa, I want to work at Thompson Enterprises! First, to bond with Michael. Second, I can learn the company operation. I could support Michael too!”
“That’s perfect!” Grandpa declared.
“I object!” Michael said.
“What’s your problem, punk?!” Grandpa retorted. “I’m the one who decides! Start at Thompson Enterprises tomorrow! Thank you, Grandpa!” Olivia beamed.
Just then, a waiter approached Michael. “Your phone’s fixed.” Michael took his phone.
Olivia’s face fell as she remembered. What’s wrong with it? I dropped it earlier. Oh no, how could I forget? Wasn’t she here? Is she an imposter?
Michael looked at Olivia, a thoughtful expression on his face. He remembered the phone call from yesterday, and how his «wife» had insisted her phone was stolen. He also remembered Olivia’s reaction to the name «Yuko.» Take care, Grandpa.
He turned to Olivia. “You’re not the person I should marry. Who are you, really?”
Olivia, regaining her composure, said, “I’m your wife! You saw my ID, didn’t you?”
“If you’re my spouse, who sent me this message?” Michael asked, showing her the text from Emily about the divorce.
“My phone was stolen on the way here!” Olivia insisted. “This is clearly a scam!”
“Really?” Michael challenged. “If you don’t believe me, call them yourself! You’re rich anyway! Scams won’t hurt you! Save my new number.”
“No need,” Michael said, his voice flat. “Other than divorce, I want no connection with you.”
Olivia, seeing Michael walk away, quickly called Sophia. “Hey, it’s done! Come over! He completely believes now that I’m his wife! I deleted Emily Carter’s number from his phone, but Emily Carter still has his contact info. That’s still a risk.”
“I’ll handle it,” Sophia said, a sinister smile on her face. “Her phone will disappear.”
“Good,” Olivia replied. “You want him, I want money. Pleasure doing business.”
“Likewise,” Sophia said, hanging up.
The next day at Thompson Enterprises, the office was once again buzzing. “I heard Mrs. Thompson is joining the company!”
“Seriously?! Aren’t they getting divorced? Our intel was wrong! The Thompsons’ marriage is rock solid!”
“Some scheming women spread rumors,” another colleague commented. “The wife and the mistress under one roof? How dramatic! Some people will get schooled by the real wife!”
“She promised to divorce her. Was that all lies?” Emily muttered, confused and hurt.
Just then, Olivia Bennett, looking elegant and poised, walked into the office. “Mrs. Thompson’s here! True CEO’s wife! Elegance, flawless beauty, and glowing skin! Right? Such regal presence! Miles above us commoners!” the sycophants gushed.
Olivia smiled, basking in the attention. “Enough with the flattery. You’re making me blush. Emily Carter.” She looked directly at Emily, her eyes cold. “Thanks for keeping my husband company. Now that I’m back, your services won’t be needed.”
“Well said!” Sophia exclaimed, stepping forward. “Some people. Dressing fancy doesn’t make you human. Playing homewrecker. Shame on our gender. With such a stunning wife, why would Mr. Thompson settle for trash? Just his plaything. Summoned and dismissed at will.”
The office erupted in laughter. “Ha ha ha! Finished? Touched a nerve?”
Another colleague added, “If by some miracle, you become Mrs. Thompson, we’re all doomed!”
“Her? If that gold digger wins, I’ll kneel and call her grandpa!”
Olivia, enjoying the spectacle, smiled. “Not very popular, are we? Perfect timing. I don’t tolerate snakes in my garden. Starting today, you’re demoted to market team support. No slacking. I said let go of me!” She grabbed Emily’s arm, pulling her towards the marketing department. “Work hard. No leaving until it’s done.”
Suddenly, Michael Thompson burst into the office. “Emily Carter! Get the car ready!”
“Right away, Mr. Thompson!” Alex replied, confused.
Michael picked Emily up in his arms. “Put me down!” Emily protested, surprised.
“No,” Michael said firmly. “Let me down!”
“I’ll take you to the hospital.”
“I said put me down! What’s wrong with you?!” Emily demanded.
“What’s wrong with me?!” Michael retorted. “Answer me! Did you get divorced?”
“There’s been a delay,” Emily admitted. “Just give me more time. I’ll divorce her as soon as possible.”
“Are you playing me?” Emily’s voice trembled. “The whole company now says I’m being the other woman! That I ruined your marriage!”
“Who said that? Tell me! They’ll regret spreading rumors!” Michael said, his eyes blazing.
“That doesn’t matter!” Emily cried. “Neither of us is divorced yet! Keep your distance from now on! No more contact!”
Michael looked at her, hurt. “You’re not divorced either. Why? Is he unwilling? Or are you reluctant?”
“I don’t owe you an explanation!” Emily said, pulling away.
“Where are you going?!” Michael asked.
“I’m in marketing now! I need to work!”
“Who transferred you to marketing?” Michael asked, genuinely confused.
“No one! I asked for it myself! Anything else? I’m leaving.” She walked away.
“I’ll take you to the hospital for a checkup!” Michael called after her.
“No need! I can go myself!” Emily replied, hurrying out.
Michael turned to Alex. “Mr. Thompson, find out who Emily Carter’s husband is. Warn him. Tell him to stay away from Emily Carter.”
“Mr. Thompson, is this appropriate?” Alex asked, surprised.
“Just do as I say!” Michael commanded. “Understood. Also, transfer Emily Carter back to the design department and investigate when the company is spreading rumors, fire them all!”
“Yes, sir!” Alex replied.
Meanwhile, Olivia was talking to Sophia. “Didn’t you promise to teach her a lesson? Why is she still unharmed? I did confront Emily Carter for you. But Michael Thompson keeps desperately protecting her. He even fires employees who bullied her. If the old man hadn’t protected me, I’d have been expelled.”
“What’s so special about Emily Carter?” Olivia scoffed. “Men are a dime a dozen! If you have money, you can have as many as you want! Why be so obsessed?!”
“You don’t understand,” Sophia said, her eyes fixed on the office. “He’s different from other men.”
“I’ve made arrangements,” Olivia said, a wicked smile on her face. “This time I’ll make her pay.”
Emily was walking to the hospital alone. “I said don’t follow me! I’ll go to the hospital alone!”
Suddenly, two men grabbed her. “Hey, beautiful. Not feeling well? Let us check you out.”
“You wanted money, right?” Emily said, trying to stall. “I have money! I’ll give you as much as you want!”
“Did I say we’d let you go for money?” one of the thugs sneered. “That chump change of yours won’t even cover our pocket change!”
“Boss, aren’t you just after money?” the other thug asked his leader.
“My place is right up ahead! Let me go get it for you!” Emily pleaded.
“No need for that! Just keep us entertained and we’ll let you go, right?” The thug grabbed her again. “You’re choosing the hard way, huh? I’ll take care of you right now!”
Suddenly, a woman’s voice cut through the air. “What are you doing?! Let her go!”
The thugs froze. “Sister Na doesn’t allow us to touch him!” one of them said. “Fall back!” They released Emily and ran off.
Michael, who had been following Emily, rushed to her side. “What took you so long?!” Emily cried, relief washing over her. “I was terrified!”
“I’m sorry,” Michael said, pulling her into a hug. “I should have come sooner. Let’s go. I’ll take you to and from work from now on.”
Later, back at Emily’s apartment, Michael was still looking worried. “Why did you come here today? Didn’t you faint this morning? I came to check on you. Sorry for being harsh earlier.”
“It’s fine,” Emily said softly. “It’s about Olivia Bennett, isn’t it?”
Michael sighed. “I didn’t divorce her today because she demanded 100 million in compensation.”
“100 million?!” Emily exclaimed. “She’s being outrageous!”
“My mistake was not signing a pre-nup when we married,” Michael admitted. “Now we’re headed for court.”
“Why didn’t you divorce then?” Emily asked, a flicker of suspicion in her eyes. “Is it because you can’t bear to part with it?”
“Are you insane?!” Michael retorted, frustrated. “I’ve tried reaching him. But his phone’s dead. Maybe something came up. Give me your phone. Let me try contacting him.”
Emily hesitated. “Those guys just snatched my phone.”
“It’s okay,” Michael said. “I’ll get you a new one. A brand new phone. Ten of them.” He looked at her. “Do you still remember his number?”
