Emily’s brows furrowed, a deepening shadow of confusion painted on her face. With hasty hand movements, Daniel scribbled something on the paper.
“I’ll… explain everything later, at home,” Emily said in a trembling voice, her eyes trying to catch every stroke of Daniel’s hasty pen on the white paper.
Without answering, Daniel’s grandfather immediately disconnected the phone. Emily’s heart was racing, irregularly. Her mind was becoming very chaotic at the moment.
“How is this, sir? What’s going to happen to us?” Emily’s voice trembled, full of doubt. “I don’t think your grandfather will like me. Are we really ready to go this far… to get married?”
Then, in a lower, almost whispered tone, Emily added, “And the media… How did the media find out that we were planning to get married?”
“Because I told the media about it,” Daniel said in a calm but sure voice.
“But why did you do that?” asked Emily, not understanding Daniel’s actions.
“Because Grandpa wouldn’t easily approve of me marrying someone from the commoners,” Daniel replied in a relaxed and bold tone.
“By announcing our marriage to the media, he won’t be able to object to a wedding plan that’s already in the public eye,” Daniel continued.
Emily bit her lip, anxiety clearly depicted on her face. “But what if the media or other people find out that our marriage is just an agreement?”
“No one will ever know,” Daniel replied briefly.
After Daniel left, a curious Emily took her cell phone out of her pocket. With trembling fingers, she opened the social media app, scrolling through the latest news about Daniel. There was an interview Daniel had done with a famous host last night-when both of their souls were in their original bodies.
The conversation initially centered on Daniel’s business success, but before long, it took a more personal turn. The host asked in a curious tone, “Does your future wife also come from a famous business family?”
Calmly, Daniel replied, “No, she’s not. She’s just an ordinary woman. However, I love her very much.”
Emily closed her eyes for a moment, feeling the weight of Daniel’s words. The announcement, now widespread on social media. “What should I do now? Why does my peaceful life, my existence that no one even cares about, now have to end like this?” she said as she buried her face in Daniel’s desk.
***
That afternoon, in the crowded cafeteria, Daniel, who was in Emily’s body, took one seat, trying to blend into the crowd. Not long after, a coworker approached.
“Did you know that Mr. Daniel is planning to marry a woman?” the coworker asked in a tone full of surprise.
Another immediately chimed in, “Yes, I heard that too. I thought he wasn’t interested in women all this time.”
“But he said he’s going to marry an ordinary woman,” chimed in another.
The news, it seemed, had become a hot topic of conversation among the workers.
Daniel, who heard their conversation, could only enjoy his meal quietly, not showing any reaction. However, his calmness was disturbed when one of his coworkers touched his hand.
“Did you know about this, Em? You’re his secretary,” the coworker asked, her eyes searching for an answer in Emily’s gaze.
“Sorry, I didn’t know about this,” Daniel replied.
Daniel didn’t let the gossip disturb his peace and quickly finished his meal. As he left the cafeteria, his steps were steady and measured.
Daniel, who had just left the cafetaria, made his way to the elevator to return to his room. There, he bumped into Mia, who had just gotten off and was about to go to the cafeteria to eat. When Mia saw Daniel, she immediately prevented him from leaving by gripping his hand tightly.
Mia looked at him with a serious gaze. “We need to talk. Follow me,” she said, her voice showing urgency.
Without waiting for consent, Mia led Daniel to a quieter corner, away from the crowd and any ears that might be listening. She folded her arms across her chest, her eyes unblinking as she stared at Emily with Daniel’s soul trapped inside.
Daniel still looked calm and unintimidated. “What do you want to talk about?” he asked, his voice remaining calm and controlled.
“What is your relationship with Mr. Daniel?” asked Mia with an intimidating look.
“None of your business,” Daniel replied firmly, his voice cool and controlled.
Mia smiled sarcastically. “Don’t tell me this secretary position you got is also because you seduced him?” she said, trying to provoke.
Daniel looked at Mia with an unwavering gaze, unprovoked by Mia’s words. “Your opinion doesn’t change the facts or my position,” he said calmly. “Now, if you don’t mind, I still have a lot of work to do.”
“Don’t forget about the video of you in my hands, Em. You didn’t forget that, did you? You’re getting bolder and less submissive,” Mia said in a threatening tone.
Daniel paused for a moment, Mia’s words holding him back. Those words triggered Daniel’s memory of Emily’s delirious sleep, a nightmare that mentioned Mia’s name. With measured movements, Daniel turned around, stepping back towards Mia. The face Emily wore was now smiling, a cold and meaningful smile.
“What’s so funny?” asked Mia, confusion written all over her face.
Daniel leaned closer, almost whispering, his voice low but clear. “Does Mr. Morgan know about his daughter’s behavior?” he asked, his firm voice containing a veiled threat.
Mia paused, surprised. Her facial expression changed from intimidation to concern. Daniel, though in Emily’s body, took control of the situation, Emily’s cold eyes staring at Mia, as if challenging her to answer.
“You know that Mr. Morgan is one of the most influential figures in the city,” Daniel said in a calm but powerful voice. “He has a reputation to maintain, and a scandal could ruin it all.”
Mia swallowed, her face turning pale. “How do you know Dad?” she asked, her voice shaking slightly.
“Imagine Mr. Morgan’s reaction if he found out that his daughter had an abortion, earned money through unethical means, and had a habit of bullying people,” Daniel continued, each word spoken with cold precision.
Mia laughed after hearing Daniel’s words. “What’s the proof? You have nothing to prove your words.”
“Proof?” Daniel said calmly, but there was a sharp glint in his eyes that couldn’t be ignored.
Daniel took out his cell phone and showed all the evidence he had. “This is a photo of a copy of the medical records from the clinic, with your name and date clearly showed, as well as the doctor’s signature stating that you had an abortion there.”
Mia stared at the photo Daniel showed her, her heart pounding. The document was a clear copy of the medical records, with details that could not be denied.
“Do I need to provide any more evidence?” asked Daniel in a tone that contained a hint of challenge.
“Do you still remember the man who threatened you when you sold your body to him? He has a video of you guys being…”
“How did you find out about all this?” said Mia with her emotions shaken, her voice trembling, reflecting the chaos raging inside her.
“Why?” murmured Mia, her voice barely audible. “Do you want to take revenge on me for what I did to you all these years?”
“I’m not interested in taking revenge on you,” Daniel replied calmly.
“So, what do you want from me?” Mia stared at Daniel with a piercing gaze, cornering Emily’s body that had Daniel’s soul in it.
“My video that you have,” Daniel replied, his voice calm but reassuring.