Farewell to Love: The CEO's Desperate Chase novel Chapter 312

Emilia rounded the corner, her clenched fists trembling uncontrollably. Still, she didn’t stop. At last, she spun on her heel and slipped into the restroom.

She twisted on the tap and pumped soap onto her hands, scrubbing away the blood that clung to her skin.

She was alone here. The only sounds were the rushing water and her own breathing.

Emilia washed her hands with a meticulous care, cleaning each finger, inside and out, until every trace was gone.

When she finally turned off the water, the quiet settled heavily around her.

Then, suddenly—

A single tear fell, landing on the back of her hand.

Then another, and another. The drops kept coming, silent and unstoppable.

Emilia lifted her head and stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her lips were pressed into a stubborn line, that old defiant look still on her face, but her eyes were rimmed with red.

She’d known happiness as a child, but everything changed after her father died.

The Dennis family fell into ruin. Her mother dragged her from place to place, never settling, until eventually remarrying.

Her stepfather had been cruel, venting his anger on her at the slightest provocation—he'd nearly beaten her to death.

Then he appeared, and pulled her out of that nightmare.

She’d believed he would be her salvation.

Even though her mother had stopped acknowledging her as a daughter after that, Emilia thought it was enough—she still had him. As long as he was there, she could endure anything.

She’d thought he understood her, that he knew all she wanted was a simple, ordinary happiness. But in the end, he shattered everything.

The woman in the mirror wept in silence, refusing to make a sound, the tears running freely down her cheeks.

The old staff of the Dennis family had left behind more than just memories. Hidden among her father’s legacy was an encrypted information system—a black box, along with other secrets.

Now, all she needed was a little more time—a little more patience. She had to prove her value, to make herself indispensable.

When she looked up again, Emilia was calm.

She wiped away her tears, steadied herself, and offered the woman in the mirror a small, determined smile.

In a few minutes, she’d need to pick up Bella from Joyce’s office, and she wanted to be at her best.

After standing there a moment longer, Emilia was sure she’d regained her composure. She stepped out and made her way down the hall toward Joyce’s office.

From a distance, she could already hear Bella’s bright, cheerful voice—Bella was laughing.

Emilia couldn’t help but smile. It sounded like she and Joyce were having a great time.

She kept walking, quietly now, curious to see what they were up to before letting them know she’d arrived.