Chapter 3

Emily had just finished everything for the day and was about to hail a cab home when her phone rang. It was William. "Emmy, you're not home? Where are you? I'll come pick you up." Not wanting him to know she'd been planning to leave, Emily gave him the address of the nearest mall and said she was out shopping. William showed up in no time and drove her straight to a hotel, saying he wanted to make up for the anniversary they'd missed. The moment they stepped out of the car, Emily noticed a sign at the entrance with both their names printed on it. Just beneath it, in bold letters, it read, "Celebrating Nine Years Together." William followed her gaze, and his expression faltered as he registered the mistake. "It must've been the hotel's mistake. They probably got the year wrong. Don't be mad, Emmy." Emily lowered her eyes and said nothing, silently continuing toward the entrance. The hall inside was lavishly decorated, alive with guests and the unmistakable air of celebration. As soon as they stepped in, the crowd surged forward with glasses of wine, offering congratulations laced with envy. "Mr. Silverstein, happy ninth anniversary to you and Ms. Caldwell. May today be filled with joy, and every year that follows even more so. Here's to a love that lasts a lifetime, and never drifts apart!" "You're throwing a party just to celebrate your dating anniversary, and inviting everyone to share in the love. The bond you share is truly worth more than gold!" Emily forced a polite smile at their flattery as she scanned the room. Aside from the glaring mistake about it being the ninth anniversary, the cake was mango, which she was allergic to. The flowers in the baskets were already wilting, and the servers kept fumbling, bumping into guests like it was their first day on the job. She surveyed the chaotic, carelessly arranged venue and remembered every party William had once thrown in her honor. Back then, he had personally overseen every detail—from the floral arrangements and curated menus to the servers' manners and the seamless flow of the party. Everything had been flawless. But this? This was supposed to be a simple anniversary party. How had it unraveled into such a disaster? As she watched yet another guest get splattered with wine, she finally broke her silence. "Who planned this party?" Rosie Burkhart, William's secretary, lowered her head slightly. "It was Mr. Silverstein's assistant, Aria Rayburn. She handled the planning." At the sound of that name, Emily froze. William noticed the shift in her expression and the fact that the party had been a mess. He quickly stepped in with an explanation. "Aria's my new assistant. It was her first time organizing a party. A few slip-ups were inevitable. Don't let it get to you, Emmy." This was William—the man notorious for his ruthless standards and zero tolerance for error. Normally, a mistake like that would've earned someone a scathing reprimand. And yet, here he was, brushing it off with a few gentle excuses. Why? Emily didn't have to wonder for long. Without a word, she turned and made her way backstage to change into her evening gown. But the moment she opened the box on the table and saw what was inside—a faded, tattered gown—her breath caught in her throat. On the way to the hotel, William had told her that the gown and the jewelry were ready, all in her favorite style. So what was this? A crumpled heap of fabric that looked like it came straight out of a thrift store? Still in her original outfit, Emily walked back into the hall and spotted Aria right away. There she was, draped in a couture gown that shimmered with pearls, and wearing a full set of diamonds that caught the chandelier light so fiercely it was almost blinding. Every head in the room had turned to look at her. Clutching the hem of her skirt, she gave a playful twirl in front of William, her voice syrupy sweet. "Don't I look pretty, Mr. Silverstein?" William let out a noncommittal hum, the corner of his mouth lifting in amusement as he instinctively leaned in to kiss her. But then his eyes landed on Emily, standing just a few steps away. He straightened at once, the tension in his voice betraying a flicker of unease. "Emmy, why aren't you changed? Anyway, this is my assistant, Aria Rayburn."