Emily listened and smiled lightly. She had loved him since childhood, but he was like a star beyond her reach.

"Will you move out after the divorce? Do you need help finding a place to stay?" Her friend asked.

Emily sighed, lazily leaning on the window, and said faintly, "I will probably move to my mother's place."

"Ah, Emily…"

"Let's hang up for now!" she interrupted.

From the corner of her eye, Emily saw a person downstairs. He stood there in a silver robe, his posture relaxed yet striking. She quickly averted her gaze and ended the call.

He was undoubtedly handsome, with a powerful presence that matched his impeccable lineage. She had always admired him, but his heart had belonged to someone else.

Emily was a few years younger than him. She was able to marry him thanks to a good relationship between their grandparents. And, more importantly, thanks to the woman he admired being ill.

The Clinton family could never accept a woman who couldn’t bear children as their daughter-in-law. Emily had become the convenient choice. He had agreed to the marriage for the sake of the woman he truly cared for.

She was his wife in name only; he helped her deal with the matters of the Robert family and also took care of her mother.

In this way, all parties got what they wanted.

"The divorce agreement states that this property is yours," Jake said casually.

A luxurious apartment in the heart of the city, worth millions. How generous of him.

Emily smiled. "I'm not sure Zoe will be happy about that."

Jake caught the fleeting indifference in her voice when she mentioned Zoe. However, he simply turned and walked towards the kitchen.

Emily glanced at her wristwatch. It was already ten o'clock!

When Jake returned holding a glass of red wine, she spoke up, "Mr. Ye, I should..."

"Have a drink!"

"..."

"No?"

"..."

Emily stepped forward, awkwardly taking the wine glass.

Why would he think she, a woman in her twenties, wouldn't drink wine?

She took a slow sip. High-end alcohol was easy to drink, and she stood beside him with her eyes cast down.

Jake looked at her. "You're twenty."

"Twenty-three!"

She was really young when they got married.

Jake nodded, sizing her up. She was still in black trousers and a long shirt, but this time, the style of her shirt was different, a more ladylike fashion.

Jake nodded, his gaze assessing. She was dressed in black trousers and a long blouse, but the style was different now—more refined, more womanly. He had always known she was beautiful, almost too beautiful, but tonight she seemed different.

After the two finished their wine, Emily decided to bid farewell: "It's late; I shouldn't bother Lord Ye from resting!"

"Grandfather's men are outside; there's nowhere you can go tonight!"

"..."

Emily stared at him in disbelief, while Clinton Jake smiled softly, "Just like old times!"

Zuo Emily watched him ascend the stairs, an icy breath unwittingly drawn into her lungs.

Just like old times? Does that mean she'd sleep in the bed and he on the sofa?

Logically speaking, even though his grandfather's people were on the lookout downstairs, it was a large house, and the massive sofa nearby would suffice for her.

"You don't think I'd sleep on a bed that you've slept on, do you?"

Clinton Jake seemed to have noticed her concern, reminding her from his lofty position on the steps.

Emily: "..."

The thought that this could be the last time they were alone, she couldn't convince herself not to go with him!

It was summer, so it wasn't cold.

After getting comfortable, it was really as if they were newlyweds again.

But in the dark of late night, who was it that was standing by her side, looking down at her from high above?

---

The next day at noon, Emily met with Zoe and another mutual acquaintance at an upscale restaurant. She had already been warned by Jake, so she was composed.

"It’s been so many years!" Zoe took her hand with a warm smile. "You’ve grown into such a lady."

Emily smiled back lightly, "Mm!"

Emily had always grown up trailing behind them. However, one disadvantage of growing up together is that they always saw her as a child.

As soon as she stepped into the private room, before she could even sit down, Zoe asked her, "Our dear Emily is so pretty; there must be many handsome guys chasing after you overseas!"

"Yes! But I only fancy one!"

Emily responded with a smile.

There was an immediate silence in the room.

Seeing the strange expressions on Zoe and Clinton YanYe's faces, Emily quickly added with a smile, "He’s a senior at my university, just one year ahead of me."

Zoe is visibly relaxed. "Oh! A senior, is he good to you?"

By this time, the three of them had already sat down.

Jake's gaze was fixed on Emily's face. Emily, hearing him, carefully watched the special tableware on the table, afraid to misspeak. "He's good. All the female students like him, but he says I'm the most special; he likes only me!"

"That's wonderful! He must truly love you then. Make sure to hold onto him tight."

"Mm!"

Responding, Emily subconsciously glanced towards the person diagonally opposite her.

He was already ordering food, but all the dishes were the ones that Zoe could eat.

"Jake, my diet is quite bland; you're kind enough to accompany me, so why not ask Emily to join me as well?"

Zoe gestured to hand the menu to Emily as she finished speaking.

Emily simply laughed: "This is plenty. I usually stick to a vegetarian diet!"

Upon hearing Emily admit to her vegetarian diet, both Zoe and Jake could not help but give her a curious glance.

She was once a person who could never get enough of meat.

"I switched to a vegetarian diet later!"

What Emily just said was true.

She became a vegetarian starting from her first day abroad.

It seemed like being a vegetarian made her more at ease.

"Your aunt's health isn't good, so you'll have to stay here for quite a while, won't you? Won't your boyfriend worry about you?"

During dinner, Zoe ate little but never ceased to ask after her.

"With the convenience of today's transportation, if you decide on it, you can go meet him immediately!"

Emily responded to her.

"Oh indeed! But does he know that you've been married?"

Zoe continuously asked.

Upon hearing this, Emily unintentionally glanced at Jake, whose dark eyes were steadily on her.

"I'm considering telling him after the divorce!"

As she was picking up vegetables for herself, Emily replied, lowering her gaze.

"Well, that's also a good idea. You shouldn't have any worries. At worst, Jake Ye and I will visit him personally to clear the confusion for you... Besides,"

Suddenly, Zoe paused.

Curious, Emily looked at her.

Out of the blue, Zoe chuckled, "During your first time, he must've already known that you're a virtuous woman!"

"..."

For some loss at where this conversation had turned, Emily didn't respond. Being young, she found it hard to follow.

Jake served some food for Zoe. "Let's eat something first."

Seeing his considerate behavior, Zoe said to him, "I feel bad for making you look after me all the time. Truthfully, I've been thinking, a woman as good as Emily, it would be nice to have her take care of you if something happened to me."

"Zoe!"

Jake put down his chopsticks to call her.

"I know, I know you're reluctant, and I know this is unfair to Ah Emily. It's all my fault."

Tears suddenly flowed down Zoe's face as she broke down into a sob.

An embodiment of Little Sister Lin?

Emily stopped talking, quietly focusing on eating the rice in her bowl.

This meal was basically to alleviate Zoe's concerns about her. Emily clearly understood Jake’s intentions. She handled the situation patiently. Thankfully, an hour-long meal wasn’t too hard to endure.

Zoe was terminally ill. That was why Jake wanted to take her away after dinner. Zoe, even in her condition, was still concerned for her. "Ah Emily, wouldn’t you like Jake Ye to escort you?"

"No need; I have to go somewhere else. I don't want to play the third wheel between you and Young Master Ye!"

Emily waved her hands while speaking.

"If you're calling me Zoe, then stop calling Jake, Young Master Jake. Call him brother-in-law!"

"......"

Emily froze. Unconsciously, she glanced at Jake, whose expression remained unreadable.

For the sake of avoiding tension, she finally said, "Sister Zoe... brother-in-law."

Jake’s lips pressed into a thin line, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer than necessary.

And for the first time, Emily wondered—was this really the end?