The CEO's Empathy Pregnancy Pains
Chapter 162 Let Bygones Be Bygones

Alice got the hint right away and grabbed Bryan's hand, ready to leave. "Bryan, that's enough. We're outta here!"

But Bryan was still fuming. He turned on Michael, snapping, "Misunderstandings? I don't think so. Maybe knowing you was a mistake from the start."

It wasn't until Alice practically dragged him away that things started to chill out. The crowd slowly began to disperse.

Emily let out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness things didn't get too crazy, and Penelope's jewelry exhibition was still intact.

But Bryan's parting words probably stung Michael.

Emily glanced over, and yep, her fears were confirmed.

Michael gave a bitter smile and looked down, hiding his expression.

"You okay?" Emily asked, feeling a pang of sympathy.

Michael slowly lifted his eyes, filled with a mix of emotions. "Shouldn't I be asking you that?"

With that, Michael took Emily's hand and led her out of the main exhibition hall.

The night was dark, with stars scattered across the sky like tiny pearls.

Emily and Michael stood in the yard, and every now and then, a guest would pass by, either greeting Michael or commenting on how great they looked together.

And they did look great-Emily in her pink dress and Michael in his white suit. They were quite the pair.

Michael was only half-listening to the guests; his mind was clearly elsewhere.

He just wanted to know why Emily had instinctively protected him.

When he asked her, he didn't think it was a big deal; he was actually curious about her answer.

But Emily stood there, silent for a long time.

After all, Michael had never loved her. How could he understand what it felt like to love someone? Loving someone meant protecting them no matter what, right? What other reason could there be? Emily finally said, "I didn't think much, just hoped... things wouldn't get too out of hand."

Michael wasn't thrilled with that answer, but he wasn't dumb. He knew Emily was looking out for him, so he let it go.

With a deep sigh, Michael started to open up about the past. "Bryan and I used to be really close. We were supposed to start a company together after graduation, and he agreed. But then everything changed." "I heard a bit from Veda. She said... Bryan backed out after signing the agreement, leaving you to pay six million dollars in compensation. That's no small amount," Emily said, starting to open up too.

When it came to Bryan and Michael, she always thought it was best to clear the air. Otherwise, there'd always be misunderstandings and unresolved issues between them.

Michael added, "For me, it's a small amount now. But back then, I had no contact with my family and was on my own. Six million dollars was an unimaginable amount for a recent grad."

"I'm not blaming him, but someone who pushed me into the abyss doesn't deserve to be my friend. Some people say he might have had his reasons, but what about me? Did I deserve to endure all this?" Michael practically gritted his teeth as he finished his sentence.

It was clear that those few words couldn't capture the countless hardships he'd been through.

And Bryan, his best friend, had abandoned him at his lowest point.

Emily never realized Michael had gone through so much alone. She got why he hated Bryan. But why did Bryan treat him that way?

Emily was curious but didn't dare to ask. She just listened as Michael continued. "The girl you saw earlier is Alice. She grew up abroad, so she's pretty open with her manners. Every time she sees me, she hugs and holds hands, which seems normal to me."

"But Bryan doesn't get it. He always thought I wanted to pursue Alice, even after I had a girlfriend, even now that I'm married. He still thinks my intentions towards Alice are shady."

Michael chuckled. "He's quite persistent. I've never seen him care so much about any girl, except Alice. Even after all these years without contact, he still loves her."

So it was all because of Alice. She was indeed a carefree girl, having lived abroad for years. No wonder she couldn't see Bryan's subtle love.

And she knew very little about the misunderstandings between Bryan and Michael. But that was good; it meant fewer troubles.

Thinking about all this, Emily couldn't help but sigh. 'One misunderstanding after another, when would they ever be resolved?'

Michael said, "Why are you sighing? I never thought about reconciling with Bryan. His misunderstanding shows that in his heart, that's the kind of person I am. It's better this way; some people are just meant to be strangers." Emily was surprised that Michael could sense what she wanted to ask. But she also felt sad that Michael had carried so much pain in his heart that even Mason probably didn't know about his hidden struggles. Emily asked, "And what about Alice?"

Emily didn't know why she suddenly asked this. Maybe out of curiosity, maybe to see how much Michael knew about this fiery girl.

After all, they grew up together, always close like family. It was a relationship Emily could only envy. Compared to their current lifeless marriage, she would rather be just friends with Michael like Alice. Meanwhile, Michael looked at Emily.

As they gazed at each other, Emily noticed Michael's eyes were filled with tenderness, gradually becoming more intense, like sparks igniting on a calm sea, touching her gaze. Emily's eyelashes fluttered, and her cheeks turned slightly red. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Michael chuckled softly. "I think your question is interesting. I'm not Alice, how would I know what she's thinking? But from her behavior towards you... I don't think she likes me."

With that, Michael turned his head, his gaze drifting into the distance. "Of course, if she liked me, it would be normal. After all, I'm quite extraordinary, much better than Bryan!" Hearing this, Emily couldn't help but frown, speechless.