The CEO's Empathy Pregnancy Pains

Candice's eyes were glued to the hands of the two people in front of her.

She was sharp enough to see what was happening.

She had walked right into a mess today.

These two were even more tangled up than Archibald had described. They were divorced, but clearly still had unresolved feelings.

It was obvious neither of them wanted to back down, which is why things had gotten to this point.

"Uh, sorry, I think I'm intruding. I'll just go," Candice said, feeling a pang of sadness. But she knew she shouldn't stay and be a witness to their complicated relationship. She turned to leave, but Emily called out to her just in time.

"Ms. Gonzalez, right? Please don't get the wrong idea. Michael and I are done. I invited you here not to start a fight, but to clear things up so you can be with him without any worries."

Emily then decisively let go of Michael's hand and spoke to him with a serious and solemn expression. "See? If you keep this up, you're not just hurting me. Michael, move forward. Don't let our future be ruined by the past."

With that, Emily's eyes flashed with determination.

She turned and went upstairs, slamming the bedroom door behind her, leaving Michael standing there, stunned.

How did it come to this?

They were so attached, yet their relationship was so toxic. Candice couldn't understand why they couldn't just talk things out.

Why did they have to torture each other like this? Wasn't it unfair to themselves?

Candice felt it wasn't the right time to talk to Michael.

He was still hung up on his ex-wife, and getting involved would only complicate things. So, Candice decided to leave quietly.

Strangely, she didn't feel angry or disappointed, just a sense of pity for everyone involved.

They were all just people tormented by love.

As Candice was about to leave, she heard the door open, and Michael called out to her.

"Are you Candice from the Gonzalez family?"

Candice stopped in her tracks, surprised and delighted. "You know me?"

Michael and Candice left together.

From the bedroom window upstairs, Emily could see the whole scene clearly.

Even though they were far away and she couldn't see Michael's expression, Candice's bright smile brought a twinge of sadness to Emily.

She gripped the curtain tightly, her emotions in turmoil.

She had hurt herself again, and she knew it.

Meanwhile, Archibald had been lying on the office couch for a long time, unable to sleep.

Staring at the plain ceiling, he felt an overwhelming sense of oppression.

He suddenly got up, deciding to go see Emily.

He couldn't just cut her out of his life completely, as Celeste had suggested.

How could he forget her that way?

He would only miss her more intensely, wanting to see her.

Archibald left the studio quickly.

He hadn't been able to reach Dean for the past few days, so he had been managing the studio alone.

This was their first business in Emerald City, and Emily had helped them. He couldn't just let it go to waste.

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Archibald had just left the studio. Unexpectedly, Dean arrived at the studio shortly after.

His sports car, his only remaining asset, gleamed in the sunlight, but it couldn't distract from the exhaustion in Dean's eyes.

The staff recognized Dean by his car and hurried out to greet him.

They didn't know what had happened between the brothers and thought Dean had just been busy.

"Mr. Dean Lancaster! You're back! Please come in and check on the business!"

Dean forced a smile and nodded, but he felt lost inside.

He didn't want to go into the studio.

After his big fight with Celeste, he had decided to leave the Lancaster family and Emerald City to live his own life.

The studio no longer felt like his.

"Maybe another time. I have some things to take care of today."

Before the staff could respond, Dean started his car and sped away.

He was out to get dinner for Sophia.

She had been craving the sour plums from Magnolia Drive for days.

But she had been in a bad mood, constantly getting calls from the hospital about her father.

She had been lashing out over the phone and didn't want to go out.

So Dean went to get the plums for her.

Meanwhile, Sophia was leaning against the floor-to-ceiling window in their hotel room, smoking and staring out, tears in her eyes. She didn't even look up when she heard the door.

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Seeing her like this, Dean felt a pang of sadness.

He had only recently learned about Sophia's past.

These two people, who had been using each other, were now starting to feel a genuine connection.noveldrama

Dean handed the bag of sour plums to Sophia.

Her eyes welled up with tears, and they fell silently onto the carpet.

"You went out just to get these?"

She put out her cigarette and took the bag.

She picked up a plum and put it in her mouth, the sour taste bringing a wave of

emotion.

Looking at Dean, she softly said, "Thank you."

Dean knelt in front of her, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, and chuckled. "We're so close, no need to thank me."

Sophia felt a warmth in her heart.

As they looked at each other, the setting sun cast a warm glow over them, creating a moment of unexpected tenderness.

The sunlight seemed to wrap them in a comforting embrace, dispelling the shadows in their hearts and healing them.

Dean might have developed feelings for Sophia.

But Archibald had no idea.

As he rushed to see Emily, he still tried calling Dean.

After several unanswered calls, Archibald knew Dean was still mad at him.

With no other option, Archibald left a voicemail.