Chapter 2 Miss Morris Returned

Emily paused for a moment to gather herself, then turned on the laptop. With swift keystrokes, she navigated through the surveillance system, meticulously erasing every trace of her presence.

She had come with her past shrouded in mystery and intended to disappear like that.

"Sir, Ms. Green has left!"

The next morning, Braiden received the update and came back to the mansion from the hospital.

Upon entering the room, he was met with the familiar, refreshing scent of roses, a fragrance distinctly Emily's.

He had seldom ventured into the master bedroom, a space Emily had taken pains to personalize. Unlike the rest of the house, this room radiated warmth and comfort, marked by bright yellow sheets and an overall tidy appearance that was quintessentially hers.

Yet, Braiden didn't stop to soak in the ambiance. He made a beeline for the bedside table.

There, he found the divorce papers, already signed by Emily, alongside the untouched check for ten million dollars he had prepared for her.

Then, a delicate, rose-shaped seal caught his eye, his name elegantly inscribed at its base. The petals of a white rose were carved with such precision that they seemed to come alive, a testament to the artisan's skill. He couldn't help but touch it, marveling at the feel of the high-quality jade, its cool, clear surface soothing against his skin. Uniquely, the jade bore red streaks that pooled at its base, mimicking the sunlit bloom of a red rose. It was both enchanting and beautiful.

He knew of Emily's fondness for roses. There had been an entire garden of them in the yard, yet he had never thought to present her with a single rose.

Beneath the seal lay a letter. He picked it up, unfolding it to reveal a message penned in her elegant handwriting. "Happy third anniversary. Braiden, goodbye."

The words struck him, especially as his gaze fell on the calendar beside the bed. April 10th was their marriage anniversary. Three years had passed in the blink of an eye.

Clutching the exquisite piece of jade, he was lost in thought, wondering how Emily had gotten her hands on such an expensive gift.

Despite his provision of a generous monthly sum for her, she had rarely used the money. Her basic needs for food and clothing had been well met, leaving her with few expenses.

As Braiden listened to his assistant's briefing, a contemplative look crossed his face. "Find out where she went," he instructed in a low voice. "Keep an eye on her recent activities. Should this be a scheme by a rival, ensure she is brought back."

Could the story of Emily being an orphan from the countryside be the truth?

***

Three days later, in Merden.

The Morris Group's headquarters, nestled within the Crest Building, was abuzz with activity. Employees hurried about as the higher-ups convened in the lobby, eagerly anticipating the arrival of their new CEO.

Just two days prior, the Morris Group, teetering on the edge of bankruptcy after a dramatic stock market downturn, had found itself unexpectedly rescued. A mysterious figure had stepped in to purchase the company at a premium, ensuring that employees kept their jobs. But the employees were now feeling a fresh wave of uncertainty.

"Who could our new CEO be? Male or female? Any idea about their background?" one of the employees asked.

"Even the top brass is in the dark about our new CEO. It's all very secretive. I'm holding out for a dashing male CEO to come to our rescue."

"Imagine if we ended up with a female boss," another said.

"Get real. What are the odds? Might as well wish for the dead daughter of the Morris family to make a comeback."

Suddenly, someone said aloud, "The new CEO has arrived! Quiet down!"

The lobby's air thickened with anticipation as all eyes were fixed on the entrance. A sleek black Rolls-Royce pulled up, and the vice president himself stepped forward to open the car door.

Emerging from the vehicle was a woman.

Her black high heels made contact with the ground first, revealing a figure with neatly styled short hair clad in an impeccable white suit. She rose to her full height, and her refined makeup accentuated her striking features.

For the senior executives who had devoted nearly a decade to the Morris Group, her face was unmistakably familiar. They gasped in collective disbelief. "M-Miss Morris..."

Standing at the entrance, Emily greeted them with a smile, her red lips parting to say, "Hi, long time no see."