Emily remembered her «husband’s» number. “I remember.”
“Never mind,” Michael said, seeing her hesitation. “I’ll contact him myself.”
“Fair enough,” Emily said. “I should head home now. It’s getting late.”
“Sure is late,” Michael agreed, then reached out and gently smoothed her hair. “Wait a second. Your hair’s messy. If you go home looking like this, grandma will worry.”
Emily felt a jolt. “Why can’t I move my hand?!”
Michael smiled. “Good night.”
Emily, flustered, said, “I should really go now.”
As she left, Grandma called out, “Emmy, your bag?”
Is this what sweet love feels like? Emily thought, her head spinning. No way. I need to divorce my secret husband ASAP.
Meanwhile, Michael was home. Olivia had made him chicken soup. “Honey, I made this chicken soup for you myself. Try some.”
“Get out!” Michael snapped, pushing it away. “What’s wrong?! You’re not my wife at all!”
Olivia looked shocked. “Why is he doubting me again? What nonsense are you talking?! If I’m not your wife, then who is?!”
“Are you sure?” Michael challenged. “If you’re really my wife, then who sent me messages asking to file for divorce?”
“I already told you! My phone was stolen!” Olivia insisted. “This is clearly a scam message! Look carefully! The number they used is completely different from yours!”
“Fine,” Michael said. “Since you claim to be my wife, what’s the phone number I used to contact you? Recite it now.”
Olivia stammered. “Isn’t your number the one ending with 8128?”
“Wrong,” Michael said, his voice cold. “That’s my work phone. Not the private number I use with you.”
“You have so many private numbers! How could I remember them all?!” Olivia cried.
“Then I’m calling the police,” Michael said, pulling out his phone. “Explain this to the officers. In this day and age, scammers dare target me?!”
Olivia, panicked, grabbed his phone.
Meanwhile, Emily was waiting for her «husband» at the cafe. Waited so long. Why hasn’t she shown up? She pulled out her phone and dialed. “Hello? That’s the same voice from before!” She recognized the woman’s voice. “Olivia Bennett is definitely an imposter, Penang! I’m sorry. I mistook someone else for you. Didn’t mean to stand you up.”
“It’s fine,” her «husband» replied. “Let’s just reschedule. How about tomorrow?”
“Hmm. We’ll do as you said. Wear purple rosemary flowers.” Emily said, remembering Michael’s earlier comment.
“After the divorce tomorrow, we’ll settle accounts with Olivia Bennett. Purple rosemary?”
Emily, intrigued, thought, Want to settle scores with me? You’re bound to be disappointed. She then heard Sophia on the phone. “Help me put on a show tomorrow. You’ll be rewarded. Purple rosemary.”
The next day, Emily saw Sophia wearing purple rosemary flowers. “Purple rosemary? Why are you here? We just met yesterday. And you’ve already forgotten me?”
Sophia looked at her, confused. “Why are you wearing rosemary?”
Emily smiled. “Didn’t you say we’d meet today? Each of us wears a purple rosemary. I’ll be wearing it. To meet him at the registry office. To cover up this lie. But Emily Carter must disappear. Okay. I’ll handle Emily Carter. And make her vanish completely.”
At the County Clerk’s Office, Emily and Michael met. Michael looked at Emily, then at the purple rosemary in her hair, then at the rosemary Sophia was wearing. “How could it be you?!” he exclaimed.
Emily smiled. “It’s always been me. I’ve always been your wife. But you never trust me. So I played a little game with you. Fun, isn’t it?”
Michael’s eyes widened. “So that message yesterday was also from you?”
“Yes. I sent that message. Oh, that’s my new number. Save it as wife.”
Michael, still reeling, retorted, “In your dreams! Let go of me!”
Sophia, who had arrived, watched the scene unfold. She grabbed Emily. “What are you doing?! Let go of me! What are you doing?!” She then turned to Michael. “All right, since you’re here. Go file for divorce now!”
“Divorce?” Michael said, his eyes fixed on Emily. “Fine. But prepare a hundred million now. Or… Two hundred million!” He was challenging Sophia.
Sophia, furious, pulled out her phone. “You, uh…”
Just then, Alex Johnson burst in, looking panicked. “Hello? Mr. Thompson! Emily Carter’s grandma is at the office! She can’t reach Carter! Understood! I am coming now!”
Grandma, tearful, said, “Grandma! Emmy is in trouble!”
Michael turned to Grandma. “Grandma, tell us what happened!”
“This morning, she went to file for divorce,” Grandma explained, crying. “Shortly after she left, I called her. I told her to buy me two pounds of braised pork on her way back. But during the call, it suddenly went silent. The line went dead! Just static! She must be in danger! That awful husband of hers must have done something!”
Michael’s face was grim. “Who’s Emily Carter’s husband? Any leads? Not yet.” Alex said.
“Call the company-issued phone number,” Michael commanded.
“We tried that! No answer!” Alex replied.
“Try her personal!” Michael said.
“Grandma, call Emmy again!” Emily urged.
“I’ll try,” Grandma said, dialing.
“Grandma, give me the number! I’ll dial it!” Michael said, his voice urgent.
“It’s 165 ending with 1306,” Grandma said.
“What’s the full number?!” Michael demanded.
“Are you deaf at such a young age?! The one with number 165 ending with 1306!”
Michael dialed. The phone rang, and then he heard Emily’s voice. “Emily Carter, where are you?! Say something!”
A distorted voice came through the phone. “It’s you, Mr. Thompson. Who are you? Is Emily Carter with you? Name your demands. Any demand will do.”
“Then I want you,” Michael said, his voice chillingly calm.
“Listen carefully! Fine! I’ll make you hear clearly!” the voice sneered.
“Emmy, are you okay?!” Grandma cried into the phone.
“If you want her safe, trade yourself for her! I’m at the Westside Abandoned Warehouse. Don’t be late!”
“Okay, I agree,” Michael said, his voice firm.
He hung up. “Hello? How’s Emmy?” Grandma asked.
“Grandma, it’s fine! Just a prank someone pulled! You should go home and wait. I’ll bring Emily Carter back.” Michael turned to Alex. “Alex Johnson, escort Grandma home!”
“Ma’am, come with me,” Alex said, taking Grandma’s arm.
“Bring Emmy back safely!” Grandma pleaded.
“Understood,” Alex replied.
Michael turned to his security team. “Mr. Thompson, we found him!”
“Where is she?” Michael demanded.
“The signal’s very weak. Southside Warehouse. Police are already on their way.”
“Southside,” Michael muttered. “Nicole told me to go West. Probably trying to mislead us. Weak signal. She’s not on ground level. But underground.” He then looked at the blurry image from the warehouse security feed. “Mr. Thompson?”
Meanwhile, Emily was tied to a chair in a dimly lit, damp underground area of an abandoned warehouse on the Southside of Chicago. “Tell me,” a cold voice said. “How many scars would these three cigarettes leave on your face? Would your face be riddled with holes?”
“We have no grudge! Why are you doing this?!” Emily pleaded.
“No grudge? How can you say that? Look closely! Who am I?!”
Emily, struggling, squinted at the woman’s face. “Sophia…”
Sophia’s eyes blazed. “You stole everything from me! Took what mattered most! Don’t you deserve to die?!” She raised a heavy stick. “Emmy! I’ll destroy you right now!”
Michael burst into the room. “I never meant to hurt you!” He ran towards Emily, shielding her as Sophia brought the stick down.
“I’m fine,” Emily said, pushing him away. “Let me see. It doesn’t hurt.” But a trickle of blood ran down Michael’s forehead.
“Why so much blood?!” Emily cried, horrified.
Sophia laughed, a crazed sound. “Michael Thompson! What a useless man! Can’t even protect the one you love!”
Michael crumpled to the ground, unconscious. “What’s wrong? Why are you crying?! Do I have a terminal illness?!” Emily cried, thinking he was dying.
Later, in a hospital room, a doctor spoke to Emily. “Doctor, how is she?” Michael asked, a bandage on his head.
“The abdominal trauma from the impact caused an accidental miscarriage,” the doctor explained gently.
“Miscarriage?!” Michael gasped. “Are you saying… She was pregnant?!”
“You didn’t know,” the doctor said, a hint of accusation in his voice. “Almost two months along. As the father-to-be, you should have been more careful. Miscarriage causes both physical and psychological trauma.”
Michael looked at Emily, tears welling in his eyes. “This is my fault.”
“Doctor,” Emily said, regaining consciousness. “She didn’t know about the pregnancy! Can we keep this from her?”
“Don’t talk nonsense,” the doctor said, looking at Michael. “The doctor said you have food poisoning. You need months of proper rest.”
Emily, hearing this, breathed a sigh of relief. “You scared me to death! I thought I was dying!”
Michael, trying to keep up the charade, said, “I’m sorry. I failed to protect you.”
“Silly,” Emily said, touching his face. “You did your best. They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. See? I’m perfectly fine.” She paused. “By the way. Have they found Sophia? Sophia. She’s the one who kidnapped you. She’s the one who hit me with a stick.”
Michael’s face hardened. “Sophia. I need to handle something. Get some rest first. I’ll be right back.”
“Mr. Thompson,” Alex said, entering the room. “How’s assistant Emily?”
“Nothing serious,” Michael replied. “Did they catch the culprit?”
“They almost had the suspect,” Alex reported. “When some thugs barged in and blocked the police. They told police Sophia’s the killer.”
“Sophia?!” Michael exclaimed. “How could it be her?!”
“I’ll offer 30 million to help capture Sophia,” Michael declared. “Anyone who provides leads will be rewarded.”
“Understood,” Alex replied.
Michael looked out the window. “Good. Sophia, you hurt my family. You’ll pay for this.”
Later, Emily was in her hospital room when Sophia walked in, carrying a plastic bag. “I told you not to buy anything! I can’t finish all this food!” Emily said, annoyed.
“What are you doing here?” Emily asked, seeing Sophia.
“Heard you were hospitalized. Came to check on you,” Sophia said, pulling out some bruised fruit. “These fruits. Just throw them away if you can’t eat them.” She placed them on Emily’s bedside table. “I just picked them up from the trash. Thought they matched your vibe.”
“You’re not welcome here,” Emily said, pushing the fruit away. “Take your trash and get out!”
Sophia smiled, a cruel glint in her eyes. “I really envy you. Lost your child. Yet still so carefree.”
Emily froze. “What child?”
Just then, Grandma walked in, carrying a thermos. “This time it’s lotus root and pork rib soup! Grandma taught me how to make it! You’ll love it! Call grandma after you finish eating! Don’t make her worry.”
Emily looked at Sophia, then at Michael, who had just entered. “Are you hiding something from me? How could that be? What’s wrong? Our baby? Where’s our child? Did we lose our baby?! Say something! Say something!” she cried, tears streaming down her face.
Michael, unable to keep the secret any longer, pulled her into a hug. “It’s my fault for not protecting him! It’s all my fault! I failed to protect him! I should have protected him!”
“It’s okay,” Emily sobbed, clinging to him. “This is my fault. We can have another child.”
Olivia Bennett, who had been listening at the door, smirked. “Olivia Bennett claimed you didn’t want the baby. You told the doctor to terminate it.”
Michael looked at Olivia, his eyes blazing. “Olivia Bennett is lying! I know! Sophia caused our baby’s death! It was Sophia! She’s already wanted by police. She’ll face justice.”
He then turned to Emily, offering her a spoonful of soup. “Open up for another one.”
Alex Johnson, looking nervous, entered the room. “Mr. Thompson, I found something. Uh, maybe I should leave first.”
“This better be important,” Michael said, his voice grim.
“It’s crucial! It concerns Olivia Bennett!” Alex blurted out.
“Since when is Olivia Bennett important?” Emily scoffed.
“I swear! I have no feelings for Olivia Bennett! We’re completely unrelated!” Michael declared.
Alex, taking a deep breath, said, “Mr. Thompson, you and Olivia Bennett were never married! My investigation shows her marital status is listed as unmarried. There was a mistake in the paperwork years ago. You and Olivia Bennett were never legally married. Your legal wife is someone else.”
Emily gasped. “What?! Mr. Thompson is truly something! Can’t even recognize his own wife! You even fell into someone else’s trap!” She looked at Michael. “This is pretty common, right? You don’t even know who your own husband is!”
“I’m not like you!” Michael retorted. “I definitely know who my husband is!”
“Grandma told me you’re clueless!” Emily shot back.
“Why does she tell you everything?!” Michael exclaimed.
“Can’t be helped! Grandma simply adores me!” Emily replied, a playful glint in her eyes. “Your top priority now isn’t finding the real wife and getting divorced.” She then smiled mischievously. “Let’s make a bet! Whoever gets divorced first loses and moves in with the winner! If you lose, you’ll be moving into my place!”
“Okay!” Michael said, rising to the challenge. “As Thompson Enterprises’s CEO, finding someone will be a breeze!”
“Oh, really?” Emily scoffed. “I have my mystery husband’s number! One call will prove it!” She pulled out her new phone and dialed. It rang and rang, then went straight to voicemail. “What’s going on? Assistant Emily, your situation usually means you’ve been blocked.” Alex said.
“Why would he block me?!” Emily exclaimed.
“Actually,” Michael said, a smug look on his face, “I gave her a black card, checking the bank records. We’ll locate her instantly. Don’t cry when you lose. Pack Mrs. Thompson’s belongings.”
“Right away, Mr. Thompson!” Alex replied, heading out.
Emily, furious, tried again. “How dare he block me! Make a call for me! All right!”
“What’s the number?” Michael asked, taking her phone.
“56583!” Emily rattled off.
“Say that again?” Michael asked.
“1565836!”
Michael looked at the number, then at Emily. “Is this really your husband’s number? This is Mr. Thompson’s number.”
“No way!” Emily exclaimed. “I know this isn’t his phone number!”
“This is Mr. Thompson’s private number,” Alex said, returning. “Only a handful of people have access.”
“Then check this card for me!” Emily demanded, thrusting her black card at him.
Alex looked at the card. “This card also belongs to Mr. Thompson.”
