The Double or more Life of the Fake Heiress (Mirabella)

Hearing the beep of the phone hanging up and the harsh words Bernardo had just thrown at her, Summer stood frozen, her face pale, her body feeling as heavy as lead. She couldn't move.noveldrama

How could she possibly go see Zach now? She didn't have the guts. Even if she did, she'd probably get kicked out before she even got through the door.

Going back to her foster parents was a dead end, too. They'd moved away, and she had no clue where to find them. Calling them was likely pointless; they wouldn't answer anyway.

Tears welled up in Summer's eyes, a wave of despair washing over her. The bell for the last class of the morning rang, and she trudged back to the classroom, feeling utterly lost.

*InElsewhere at midday.

"Here's the acquisition proposal for The Insight Times that the VP just brought back," the assistant said respectfully, placing the contract on Emmitt's desk.

Emmitt was slouched in his chair, one hand massaging his forehead. His face was pale and he looked exhausted. After a moment, he lowered his hand and glanced at the proposal on the desk.

"Mr. Emmitt, are you alright?" the assistant asked with concern.

Emmitt shook his head slightly, his voice hoarse, "I'm fine." He slowly picked up the acquisition proposal.

"I'm a bit puzzled. Huachen is just a small news agency. Why the rush to acquire it? Plus, our company has never ventured into the entertainment and cultural sector," the assistant said.

After a pause, Emmitt murmured as if to himself, "Maybe to make amends..." "Huh?" The assistant didn't quite catch his words.

Emmitt waved his hand dismissively, quickly stashing the contract in his drawer.

The assistant, remembering something else, said, "Gilbert Corporation is under temporary seizure due to tax evasion and legal disputes. Summer is the heiress, should we not..."

Emmitt cut him off sternly, "That rotten company isn't worth our money."

The assistant's mouth hung open, stunned.

He had meant to say, 'Should we not lend a hand?'

"Don't bring up the Gilbert Corporation or any name from the Gilbert family again," Emmitt said coldly, including Summer in that directive.

The assistant quickly understood.

Although curious, he knew better than to pry into his boss's personal affairs. So, with a soft acknowledgment, he didn't press further.

Just then, Emmitt's cellphone on the desk rang.

He glanced at it with a flicker of annoyance and didn't answer.

The assistant, sensing his boss's mood darken further, cautiously excused himself and quickly left the office.

The whole company had been under a cloud lately, and he was genuinely afraid of stepping on a landmine.

During lunch, the assistant made his way to the elevator, swiped his card, and headed downstairs.

Back in the office, Emmitt's phone rang several more times. He stayed put, not moving, his hands resting on the armrests, his eyes unfocused.

Eventually, the caller must have given up, as the cellphone finally went silent. But not long after, the landline on his desk began to ring.

It was the extension from the reception downstairs.