The CEO's Empathy Pregnancy Pains

To be honest, Patrick didn't really know Emily at all.

Michael and Emily had been married for three years, but during that time, Patrick was often abroad. Even when he returned home, he mostly hung around tourist spots near Emerald City, enjoying himself. His knowledge of Emily was limited to the occasional snippets Michael shared.

Michael had his own misunderstandings about Emily, which only added to Patrick's skewed perception of her.

Arranged marriages were the kind he despised the most.

Michael had fallen into that trap, but Patrick was determined not to. So, he partied even harder, rarely going home.

But recently, family matters forced him to return.

Looking at Michael now, Patrick realized just how out of touch he was.

Michael's face grew darker, and he seemed indifferent to Patrick's words. There was even a hint of a cold smile on his lips, as if mocking Patrick's ignorance.

Patrick felt a chill run through him, realizing he might have been completely wrong about Emily.

"Wait, Michael, did you fall in love with her?"

For guys like them, falling in love was the ultimate taboo. They were expected to marry women from wealthy families for business alliances. Falling for an ordinary woman was a big no-no.

And drowning your sorrows in a bar over a woman? That was the biggest no-no of all. But seeing Michael like this, Patrick knew he was in deep.

As Patrick stood there, unsure of what to say, Michael took a long swig of his drink, his eyes distant and filled with a deep, complex emotion.

"You wouldn't understand. I owe Emily."

Owe her?

Patrick was taken aback, feeling like those words hit a nerve.

He remembered breaking up with countless girls, and they often said, "Patrick, you owe me!"

He always thought of emotional debts as a minor and unimportant matter. But hearing the same sentiment from Michael now stirred something inside him.

Maybe he had never really examined his own feelings.

He didn't know what true sweetness was, so he couldn't understand the bitterness either.

Patrick fell silent, looking at Michael with a mix of emotions.

Just then, a waiter approached him. "Hello, sir. Are you Mr. Patrick Wright? The guest at

the next table would like to invite you for a drink. He says his name is Mark Lopez."noveldrama

Mark Lopez?

Patrick had heard of him.

He gave Michael a quick word of advice before following the waiter.

Michael, meanwhile, downed another drink, his eyes growing more unfocused, as if trying to drown all his troubles in alcohol.

But he still glanced in the direction Patrick was heading.

In that brief moment, his pupils contracted slightly, sensing a familiar figure among the crowd.

Meanwhile, Patrick reached the next table, where Mark greeted him with a smile and a raised glass. Mark's face had a shrewd look, and Patrick responded politely, though he was on guard.

"Everyone, let me introduce you to the heir of the Wright family and my good friend, Patrick!"

Patrick nodded to the group, quickly assessing that none of them were decent.

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Of course, anyone hanging out with Mark was likely to be sharp and savvy.

Patrick accepted the drink Mark handed him and addressed the group. "We're all friends here. Let's enjoy the night and drink together!"

With that, everyone raised their glasses, laughter filling the air, and the atmosphere instantly became lively.

Patrick smiled, but his eyes held a hint of unease. 'How did Mark know I was here?'

Meanwhile, Michael sat alone in a corner, his gaze drifting through the crowd, catching glimpses of Patrick and Mark chatting.

He couldn't be bothered with such scenes and silently finished his drink.

The bitterness in his heart grew stronger.

At that moment, a wave of nausea hit Michael.

Could it be because of the strong connection he felt with Emily?

This only made Michael feel worse.

Why?

Why did it seem like he and Emily were always so deeply connected, yet never truly together?

She was pregnant, and he felt her emotions. They should have been the happiest couple in the world!

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Michael stared at his reflection

in the bathroom mirror, wanting to smash it with his fist. He hated himself and the decisions he made back then.

It was all his own doing!

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"Michael?"

A familiar voice called from behind, and Michael turned sharply to see Sophia standing at the door.

Her eyes showed concern.

Seeing the bathroom was empty, she slipped in and closed the door behind her.

"Michael, why are you drinking so much? What if I hadn't run into you? Were you planning to drink yourself into oblivion?"

Sophia always made it seem like she was close with Michael, perhaps still living in the past, unaware that her intentions were long exposed.

Michael now looked at her like a skilled actress, his eyes filled with suspicion and disdain, seeing her every move as a performance.

Sophia was dressed provocatively, but Michael didn't care. He didn't even want to know why she was there.

"None of your business. Get lost." Michael's response was always cold. Sophia's eyes showed a flash of disappointment, but she persisted, speaking softly. "Michael, please, look at me. Can't you see how worried I am? Can't we go back to the way things were?"

"I've always been sincere with you. After all these years, can't you see that..." Sophia's voice trailed off, trying to soften Michael's coldness with her tenderness.

She gently ran her fingers down his sleeve, the touch as light as a feather, and gazed at him, slowly wrapping her arm around his, trying to rekindle old feelings.

But Michael abruptly pulled away, laughing coldly, cutting her off. "The past? You mean the time you seduced me, lied to me, and made me betray my wife and family?"

Michael's voice was icy, each word like a blade piercing Sophia's heart.

He stepped closer, and Sophia backed away in fear.

They were inches apart, but Michael's gaze was freezing, devoid of any warmth.