Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

Victor clapped his hands and strolled over, taking a seat across from me. He crossed his legs and lit up his usual cigarette.

"Making an example out of others, huh? Pretty impressive."

The smell of his cigarette was still as strong as ever, making me squirm a bit.

"Would you like something to drink? Coffee or tea?" I asked, trying to keep it cool.

Victor seemed a bit taken aback by how calm I was, just holding his cigarette without a word.

I called for some tea and kept my cool, not really sure what he was up to. After all, he was Ethan's dad, and I had to show some respect. When the tea arrived, I said, "Enjoy your tea."

Victor didn't budge, just gave me this smile.

It wasn't a friendly one. It was the same look he always gave me, full of disdain and like he could see right through me.

"In just two years, you've become a big-shot CEO. That's something," Victor said.

"Thanks for the compliment."

I knew he wasn't really complimenting me, but I played dumb.

Victor chuckled. "No one would believe that Ms. Russell of the Empire Artistry Group was just a struggling nurse two years ago."

"So, what's your point?" I asked, still smiling.

Victor took a long drag of his cigarette, exhaled slowly, and said, "I underestimated you back then. The more you have now, the bigger your ambition was back then."

I held back my anger and looked at him calmly.

"So, in your eyes, I have to be poor forever to prove I'm innocent? Otherwise, everything I have is just part of some grand plan, right?" I asked.

"Isn't it?"

Victor's tone was so arrogant, like he already knew the answer.

Just as things were getting tense, the nanny called.

She said Hunter had a fever and needed to go to the hospital.

After hanging up, I looked at Victor coldly.

"No matter what you think of me, we have kids now. You need to deal with it. If you can be decent, we'll respect you. If not, that's on you. But we're not letting our kids grow up without both parents because of this." Victor just sneered when I mentioned the kids, seeming to already know about them.

"Kid? Whether it's Ethan's or not is still up in the air."

I stared at him in disbelief.

I knew he never liked me, but I thought maybe now that I was on the same level as his son, he'd change his mind. I guess I was naive.

His rejection of me was so deep, like being with Ethan was a huge mistake.

I nodded, feeling a bit defeated. "I get it. Just like Richard, Benjamin raised him all those years, probably clueless. You think everyone is like you because that's how you are. I get it." Victor's face tightened.

I closed the folder and stood up. "Anything else? I'm really busy."

The kid's situation was urgent, and I didn't have time to try and please someone who'd never be satisfied.

Victor stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray on my desk. Even though I didn't smoke, I kept one there.

After putting out the cigarette, he stood up, trying to keep his cool. He patted his clothes, glanced at me, and walked out like some nobleman on inspection.

I called Dakota, and she said she was stuck in traffic on her way to headquarters.

Just as I was about to grab a cab, Faris pulled up.

In a rush to get home, I jumped in the passenger seat.

"Please, I need to get home," I said.

"I know," Faris replied, sounding indifferent.

I looked at him, surprised. "How do you know?"

Faris just stared straight ahead, silent.

When I got home, the nannies, Hope Brown and Luna Flynn, were ready. They quickly loaded the kids into Faris's car.

Since Hunter had a fever, it was best to take both for a check-up.

I called Ethan at Grace Hospital. The doctor said Hunter's fever was viral and recommended antibiotics. Even though I had my doubts, I agreed because his fever wouldn't break.

Hunter was so young, and finding a vein was tough. The nurse decided to use his scalp. Hope tried to hold him, but he struggled and cried, so I took over. Faris helped hold his hands, but Hunter kept shaking his head.

Ethan arrived, looking rushed. He quickly assessed the situation, set down his jacket, and helped hold Hunter's head still for the injection.

"Hunter, Daddy's here," he soothed. The nurse finally found a vein, and as she inserted the needle, Hunter cried his heart out. It felt like the needle was piercing my own heart.

Once Hunter calmed down, I let out a sigh of relief and noticed Faris had slipped out at some point.

After the injection, Hunter's fever started to go down. I stayed home with the kids for the next two days, skipping the office. I didn't want my career to make me neglect them. Hope and Luna were great, but nannies could never replace a mother's love.

From then on, I mostly worked at the administrative headquarters. I hired a designer to plan a garden there and put a statue of Aurora in a prominent spot. I wanted Aurora to live forever in everyone's hearts and witness the growth of The Empire Artistry Group.

Opening my email, I saw the sculpture company had sent their design sketches.

I was reviewing the sketches and typing my feedback when someone knocked on the door.

"Come in," I said, eyes still glued to the screen.

A moment later, a cup of coffee appeared on my desk.

I looked up to see Yasmin Fletcher, the girl I had transferred to headquarters after she was late that day.

Today, she had her long hair braided, wore light makeup, and was dressed very appropriately.

Seeing me looking at her, she smiled shyly.

"Ms. Russell, thank you for giving me a chance. That day, I really thought you wouldn't want me anymore. I regretted being late the whole way out. I didn't expect you to give me a better opportunity. I'm really grateful."

I smiled faintly. "This incident must be unforgettable, right? I believe you will never be late again."

Yasmin blushed but nodded earnestly. "I won't. I set several alarms every morning now. I definitely won't be late again."

I nodded appreciatively. "Yasmin, attitude determines everything. I have high hopes for you."

Yasmin, filled with confidence, said, "I will do my best!"

During lunch break, I went to the café across from the company and made a phone call.

A short while later, Nora walked in and headed straight to me.

She pulled out the chair opposite me and sat down, coughing lightly with a bit of awkwardness. "Should I call you Emily or Ms. Russell?"

I looked at her. "What do you think?"

"Ms. Russell, is there anything I can do for you?" she grinned silly.

I rolled my eyes at her. "Speak properly."

Nora stuck out her tongue. "With your current status, is it appropriate for me to call you by your name?"

I took a sip of coffee and then said, "So that's why you've been avoiding me lately?"

Nora held her coffee and smiled awkwardly.

"If I still hung out with you like before, holding your arm and clinging to you, what would people think of me? Wouldn't they think I'm trying to curry favor with you?"

"So, to prove your innocence, are you planning to distance yourself from me?" I said.

Nora coughed several times, almost choking on her coffee.

She looked around and then leaned in closer to me, speaking softly, "The way you say it, people might think we're in a relationship. But I like man."

I couldn't help but laugh. She leaned back and laughed too, then put on a face of admiration.

"Emily, you have such good fortune. Aurora saw something in you, and now you're successful in your career. Most importantly, you married such a handsome husband. And me? I don't know if Cupid fell asleep and forgot about me." "Do you want me to introduce someone to you? What kind of person do you like?" I teased.

Nora sighed. "With your current status and different social circle, which of those rich and handsome men you know would be interested in me?"

I smiled and said, "Don't lose confidence in yourself. You're not bad-looking. Just work on improving yourself."

"How should I improve?" Nora stirred her coffee dejectedly.

I said, "Promise me you'll stop blindly chasing celebrities, and I'll give you an opportunity."

Nora's eyes lit up, and she nodded eagerly.

"I won't do it anymore. It was just because I was too bored. Now that I think about it, it's pretty meaningless."

Although Nora could be a bit nerdy at times, she was dedicated and knew The Empire Artistry Group well, having been with the company for a long time. I always intended to promote her.

I appointed Nora as head of HR.

Her first task was to arrange part-time positions for college students, allowing them to work and study at the company.

Nora, newly appointed, was efficient. Once the announcement was made, many college students responded.

On the first day of recruitment, a long line formed at the company's entrance.

As I drove into the company, my gaze swept over the young, vibrant college students and suddenly stopped.