"Daddy, me! Me! Take me!" Ian had never spent a night outside before. Aaron got to live at Emily's place alone the last time, which made him jealous for a long while. He was jealous that Aaron was so sweet to Emily and also hoped that he could stay at Emily's place the next time. So, the moment he heard Derek's words, he jumped up anxiously.
Derek looked at Ian, who was bouncing around his legs. He decided to persuade Emily from a different angle, "Aaron misses you very much. The shrink said he should spend more time with you. I've been very busy recently, and I think it's good for him to stay at your place for a night. Besides, Ian wants to go with Aaron as well. He has never been apart from Aaron, and they both want to see you badly."
Emily hesitated. She could reject Derek directly if it was him who wanted to stay at her place. However, for some reason, she was always soft-hearted when facing the two kids. Aaron and Ian always reminded her of Chris and Diane.
Emily's silence made Derek nervous. It was a lot more stressful than expanding his company and taking on a one-hundred-million-dollar project.
"Alright then. But I'm busy these days. I guess you can bring them over on Friday," Emily finally compromised. She couldn't bear to say no to the cute kids.
Derek revealed a triumphant smile when he heard her reply, but he soon concealed it.
"Awesome! I'm going to have a sleepover at Emily's place! Me and Aaron together!" Ian ran around Derek and Aaron excitedly.
Aaron also had a look of anticipation in his eyes.
Derek wanted to go with them as well, but he could not say it out loud.
Meanwhile, after hearing the news, Diane had forgotten the story she was about to tell. She was both happy and worried. She was happy, since Ian and Aaron would come over, and they could hang out. And she was worried that they would snatch Emily away from her again.
"Mommy, why are you so popular?" Diane said in distress.
Chris kept nodding. He felt the same. He was particularly displeased with Aaron since he would pester Emily every time he came.
Emily held both Diane and Chris in her arms and comforted them, "Then I'll kiss you more these days. I'll tell you one more story every day to make it up to you, my angels."
After Emily finished telling stories, the three hugged each other and fell asleep.
When Emily told Derek she was busy, it wasn't entirely an excuse. She had indeed been busy these days.
Recently, Louise refused the job arranged by her family. She didn't want to participate in the family business. Therefore, Emily had been busy comforting her these days.
The next day, Louise asked Emily out for a drink in the afternoon.
"They've been overprotective," Louise said with a confused expression.
"That's because they love you very much," Emily comforted her. The Norris family was very protective. The entire upper class knew about it.
"But they have no faith in me. In their eyes, I'm useless. I can do nothing." For the first time, there was sadness and grievance in Louise's voice. She sounded lonely and hurt.
"That's not true. You are outstanding. Come on, you are a distinguished graduate of Stanford University. Do you know how many people look up to you?" Emily cupped Louise's face and made Louise look straight into her eyes.
"They just don't want to see you getting hurt. Maybe it is because they care too much about you. Now that I have two children, I can understand why they are doing this. Although I can't say that I agree with them, I have to admit that I have begun to see things from a different perspective now," Emily continued. Louise's family doted on her very much. Perhaps it was too much. Being over-protective was hurting Louise to a certain extent.
"They thought I was throwing a tantrum by not wanting to accept the job. The truth is, I don't want every bit of my life to be exposed to them." Louise looked sad. "Maybe I need time to prove myself."
Emily hugged Louise. Right now, Louise looked lost.
"You may need a chance to prove yourself so that your family will understand that you have grown up. You are no longer a child that needs their protection," Emily comforted her softly.
"Let's not talk about it anymore. You belong to me today. Cheers." Louise got up from Emily's arms and reached out for her glass.
"Stop looking. I'll get you another one." Emily snatched the glass from Louise. From previous experience, Emily was cautious about what her drinks were. The wine had been out of their sight for a long time, and she would not let Louise drink it.
Emily struggled through the crowd and brought a glass of wine back to Louise.
"You're so good to me. It's great to have you back," Louise rested her head on Emily's shoulder and said genuinely.
Someone saw Louise and Emily while they were chatting heartily.
"Jenny, look! Is that Louise?" A woman nudged Jenny's arm. Her name was Jessica, and she was always with Jenny. Her family saw the Evans family as their backer.
Jenny was holding a bottle, drinking. She was in a bad mood today. Nick had not been nice to her. He had been cold to her on several public occasions, and people were starting to say that the Field family had refused to unite the Evans family by marriage. She finished a bottle of beer, picked up another one, and continued to drink.
Jenny thought bitterly, 'Nick, you bastard! Am I not good enough for you?' She drank fast and choked.
"Jenny, stop drinking. Look over there." Seeing that Jenny was ignoring her, Jessica took away the bottle in Jenny's hand.
"Give it back to me! I want to drink!" Jenny stretched out her hand to snatch the bottle back. Nick didn't want to marry her. Couldn't she drink her sorrow away?
Suddenly, Jenny saw Louise and Emily not far from them. She was surprised.
Jenny opened her eyes wide to confirm. She thought, 'It's all because of them! Those two bitches! If it weren't for them, why would Nick be so cold to me?' At the thought of what happened at Nick's birthday party, she blamed it all on Louise and Emily.
All of a sudden, Jenny found an outlet. She made up her mind that Louise and Emily wouldn't get away easily today. She asked the people around her to come over and told them her plan in a low voice.
After a while, Emily went to the bathroom. She ran into an acquaintance the moment she came out of the stall.
Jenny stood at the door with her arms crossed and a few of her followers beside her.
Emily paused for a moment. Then she walked straight to the sink to wash her hands as if they didn't exist at all.
Emily's calmness infuriated Jenny, who was surprised that Emily was still so composed in this situation. She hated Emily's calm expression because it was something Nick appreciated, which she didn't have.
"Excuse me." After Emily washed her hands, she wanted to leave, but Jenny and the others blocked the way.
"Aren't you going to talk to me?" Jenny leaned against the wall and said maliciously.
"What do I have to talk to you about?" since Jessica wanted to grab her, Emily patted Jessica's hand and said coldly.
Jessica was frightened by Emily's gaze. Her hands froze.