C5 No way

"No way..."

The voice, the fragrance, and those deep, cold eyes, with an air of sternness and authority even more pronounced than four years ago, were all unmistakably him. Her memory slowly drifted back to that night of her eighteenth birthday-the man's dark eyes, full of meaning as they looked at her, his thin lips kissing every inch of her skin, and the subtle, beautiful smile that played on his lips as he left his mark on her... The image of him sleeping soundly intertwined with her memories of the past and present.

Emily gripped the ring tightly, wondering if she had been imagining things or if she had really seen him again. Four years had passed, and memories had faded, not to mention that she had been drugged at that time, making it impossible to be certain.

That day, she had been in a state of panic-drugged and spending the night with a stranger, only to return home and witness her boyfriend's betrayal and her father, whom she dearly loved, being driven by money.

Emily had never imagined she would become pregnant and raise a child alone. Now, if the man from back then was indeed him, would he accept Noah? Emily had initially planned for her and her child to rely solely on each other, never intending to find a father for her son. But the cruel leukemia and Noah's sad eyes when he saw other children with their fathers broke her heart.

Noah was very smart and didn't ask about his father for fear of making her sad, but she knew how much he must have suffered from not having a father. If Emily had the chance to meet that man again, she wanted to take a chance and get his DNA tested using a sample of his hair.

"Ting!"

The notification sound of a message brought her back to reality. She checked her phone and saw that it was Isabella asking about the interview. Emily hurried into the TV station.

Meanwhile, after Lucas got into his car, he saw Emily rushing away. A faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on his lips. His voice was cold and firm as he spoke to the driver,

"Go."

By the time they arrived, it was already a few minutes late. Inside, only a few people remained. Emily quickly grabbed the arm of a nearby girl and asked if the interviews had finished. The girl, noticing Emily's beauty but dressed in simple clothes for the interview, looked at her disdainfully.

"I don't know!"

Emily, flustered, looked around for the interview room, only to stumble upon two people being intimate in a corner. She thought to herself how small the world was-people she didn't want to see kept appearing before her. In the same affectionate and reserved manner as before, James and his companion gazed at each other with deep affection, openly embracing in broad daylight.

Emily felt as though she was witnessing something utterly disgusting. She scoffed and turned to leave, but just then, James looked up and saw her. His eyes displayed a range of emotions-shock, surprise, embarrassment, and ultimately, a forced calmness.

Sophia was unexpectedly pushed aside. Frowning, she looked up at James and followed his gaze, seeing Emily. She was just as astonished. The sister she thought had disappeared four years ago was suddenly back?! James's lingering gaze at Emily seemed full of emotion, completely ignoring Sophia. Anger and jealousy rose within her-how could James still be yearning for that arrogant, promiscuous woman after four years?

Moreover, Emily had returned to the country out of the blue. Sophia glanced at Emily's simple shirt and black pants, dismissing her as someone who couldn't possibly compare to herself, the distinguished young lady of the Smith family. Sophia pulled James away, deliberately sneering at Emily as she passed by.

Afterward, she intimately linked arms with James, feeling a sense of satisfaction but beginning to mentally calculate her next move. Emily ignored her.

Today had already been challenging enough, and she had finally managed to get an interview opportunity, only to arrive late. The two security guards, despite Emily's beauty and poise, refused to let her in, citing the end of the interview period. They pointed out that while she was beautiful and had an aura, arriving late showed a lack of professionalism.

"I truly didn't mean to be late. Please let me in..."

Emily tried to explain.

"Miss, don't make things difficult for us. We're just doing our jobs. Being late for an interview, no one cares about your reasons. There are plenty of people who want to get in here and can't... Please leave."

Emily wouldn't give up. "Please, I beg you. It took me a lot of effort to get here... I'm sorry, please let me in."

Inside, Charlotte had heard the commotion outside. Suddenly, Emily's voice reached her ears. Charlotte spoke up.

"Let her in."

The two security guards finally stopped blocking her. Emily let out a sigh of relief, adjusted her clothes, and noticed a button had come undone. She quickly fumbled to fix it before hurrying inside. She entered with her head down, too nervous to look up, feeling the anxiety building inside her.

"Stay calm, Emily! You've worked as an editor in the U.S. before, there's no reason this interview should be any different."

Facing the four members of the interview panel, Emily still hadn't looked up, her gaze fixed on their feet. Sitting in the middle was Charlotte, the editor-in-chief of S Broadcasting Station, the one who had just called her in.

Charlotte was infamous at S Broadcasting Station, known as the "Demon Lady." A perfectionist, she tolerated no mistakes, no matter how minor. She especially despised anyone who was late and wasted time. Yet today, she had made an exception for Emily.

"Look up."

Charlotte's cold, emotionless voice echoed.

Emily's hand, holding her portfolio, began to sweat slightly, but as she raised her head, she forced a bright, confident smile. Her large, sparkling eyes curved at the corners when she smiled, and her face, with its oval shape, high nose bridge, and small heart-shaped lips, exuded a lively, confident glow. Even though she was dressed in a simple shirt and black pants, she stood out in a way that was uniquely her own.