Chapter 6

Three days later, Emily hurried back to Lockridge Group once more. George glanced at her request form and offered a professional, insincere smile. "What a pity, Mrs. Lockridge. The Vice CEO is abroad on business. Could you perhaps wait a little longer?" "My mom can't wait any longer! Please, I'm begging you to just approve part of the money for now…" Her voice cracked with desperation. Still, George shook his head. "Mrs. Lockridge, you know better than anyone that Mr. Lockridge hates people who break the rules." When Emily walked out of the office, her legs felt numb and soft. Standing atop the stairs, she stared blankly at the endless tide of people coming and going. Then, she laughed so hard her chest burned and her heart ached. In the end, she found herself at an old pawn shop in Westfield. The shop owner took her wedding ring and peered at it through the magnifying glass. His eyes widened in shock as he exclaimed, "This diamond ring's worth a fortune! Are you really willing to sell it for just a million!" Emily looked down at the ring she'd once treasured and whispered, "Yes, but on one condition—no paperwork. I need the money now for urgent use." After selling the ring, she rushed to the hospital with the cash in her bag. As she handed over the payment, the sunset fell warm and golden on the glass window. Emily couldn't help looking down at her empty ring finger. Once, there had been a dream resting there, but now all that remained was a faint pale mark. The surgery was a success. When Eleanor finally woke up, the weight crushing Emily's chest eased a little. Opening her eyes, Eleanor saw Emily's exhausted face and couldn't help but sigh in distress. "Emily, Noah hasn't come once, has he? You and…" Emily's eyes welled up with tears as she whispered in a trembling voice, "It's fine, Mom. I've decided to divorce him." Eleanor's eyes were filled with pity and regret. "I thought you'd be happy, and that's why I agreed to the marriage. But now, it's clear that you two were never really from the same world. "It's better this way. Leaving him is for a better choice." She gently held Emily's hands. Emily nodded and leaned gently into Eleanor's arms. After that, she stayed by Eleanor's side day and night until the latter fully recovered. Then, Emily sent her back to her hometown. The moment she stepped into the Lockridge residence, her phone lit up with a call, and Noah's name was displayed on the screen. She stared at it for three seconds before picking it up. "There's a family dinner tonight. Be there." His voice through the speaker was so cold and flat that it sounded nothing like a husband talking to his wife. Emily's fingers tightened around her phone. He hadn't even asked how Eleanor's surgery went, and George clearly hadn't bothered to tell him, not that it mattered anymore. She hadn't planned on attending the family dinner, but she owed it to herself to visit Penelope one last time before the divorce, so she said yes. After arriving at Lockridge Manor, she found that Noah had brought Bella with him. The Lockridge family's expression turned grave the moment they saw Bella. All these years, Emily had played the role of a perfect wife, dutiful and gentle to everyone in the family. The elders had always liked her. Penelope held Noah's hand and earnestly said, "Noah, Emily's your wife, and you ought to appreciate her." The others echoed her and vaguely hinted at the fact that Bella shouldn't be here in the first place. Bella's eyes instantly filled with tears as she aggrievedly said, "I'm sorry. I didn't realize I'd be so unwelcome. If that's how everyone feels about me, I'll just leave and not cause trouble for any of you…" With that, she turned and stumbled out as if she'd suffered a crushing humiliation. "Bella!" Noah's expression fell. He was about to run after Bella when Penelope couldn't help but snap, "Noah, you'd run after another woman in front of the entire family? Do you care nothing for Emily's dignity?" Noah froze and glanced back at the pale Emily. Something stirred within his chest. But in the end, he still turned away and walked out the door, trampling Emily's dignity underfoot. After a dead silence that followed, Penelope sighed. Then, she took Emily's cold hand and patted it gently. "Silly child, I knew it was just anger talking when you said you wanted a divorce. "Don't mind him. He'll come to his senses and see your worth one day." Emily shook her head and calmly replied, "It wasn't anger, Penelope. I'm serious about getting a divorce. "He's always loved Bella, and now that she's back, I'll step aside and let them have each other." The Lockridges exchanged glances and could only manage a quiet sigh. "One day, he'll regret losing the one person who ever loved him unconditionally!"