Emmalyn Bennett.

The one he'd never gotten over.

What was she doing here with Andrew? At the office?

Adelina's first instinct was to turn and walk away, but Andrew caught sight of her first.

Seeing her obvious attempt to avoid him, he felt a flash of irritation, and the words slipped out before he could stop them.

"What are you doing here?"

Adelina froze, then looked back. Andrew's brow was furrowed, his unreadable gaze scrutinizing her.

Suddenly, the entire situation felt bitterly ridiculous.

Did Andrew really think she was here to chase after him? What kind of person did he take her for?

She let out a cold laugh. "Maybe because I'm still technically an employee here."

At the sight of Adelina, a flicker of something crossed Emmalyn's face, but it vanished in an instant. Her usual smile slipped back into place as she spoke tactfully.

"Andy, if you two need to talk, go ahead. I can find my own way to the office."

But in the next moment, Andrew caught her by the wrist.

"You're my special consultant. You don't have to go anywhere."

Special consultant?

The words sent a jolt through Adelina.

No wonder Andrew had broken his promise so abruptly.

He had promised her that if she secured the major land acquisition deal on the west side, he would transfer her to a consultant role.

She had worked herself to the bone for that deal—pulling all-nighters to do research, enduring rounds of drinks at business dinners that nearly landed her in the hospital. Yet when she'd strode back into the office, project file in hand, Andrew had casually told her the consultant position had already been filled.

At the time, though hurt, she had believed Andrew was acting in the company's best interest.

Now she saw the truth—she had just been fooling herself.

It was proof of how much Emmalyn meant to him. Enough to make a man who prided himself on his principles abandon them without a second thought.

Seeing them standing together, looking like the perfect couple, Adelina felt like a complete fool for all the years she had wasted.

She pressed her lips together, about to mention her resignation, but Andrew cut her off, his impatience obvious.

"You agreed to the divorce. You signed the papers. There's no going back."

Andrew frowned, watching her with displeasure. He was convinced she was having second thoughts and had come to cause a scene.

To think he'd actually believed she had changed. Yesterday must have been an act—playing hard to get.

And she had clearly overplayed her hand. His contempt for her deepened.

Adelina stared at his cold expression, her hands curling into fists at her sides. Her gaze flicked between him and Emmalyn. "Don't worry, Mr. Harrison. I know my place.I won't get in your way, or Miss Bennett's."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

The mention of Emmalyn brought a flash of cold anger to Andrew's eyes, and his voice turned sharp.

"Ms. Spencer, Andy and I aren't what you think. You've misunderstood," Emmalyn said in her usual soft, demure voice.

If Adelina hadn't been so caught in the middle of it all, she might have actually believed Emmalyn's earnest, innocent expression.

"Emmalyn, you don't need to explain yourself to her," Andrew snapped. "A woman who schemes as much as she does assumes everyone else does, too."

Adelina watched coldly as Andrew shielded Emmalyn behind him, glaring at the woman who was still his wife as if she were an enemy.

Even though she had long given up on him, the sight still sent a sharp pang through her chest.

So in his eyes, she, the wife, didn't even deserve an explanation when another woman was clinging to her husband.

How ironic.

"Move. Emmalyn and I have work to do. Unlike you, who spends her days consumed by jealousy and doing nothing."

Deep down, Andrew never believed Adelina could have anything important to discuss with him.

Facing his contempt, Adelina drew a deep breath, her calm expression hardening into steel.

Seeing her still rooted to the spot, Andrew's last shred of patience evaporated. Just as he was about to lash out again, his personal secretary, Alan, approached them.

When Alan saw Adelina with Andrew and Emmalyn, surprise flickered in his eyes before he quickly masked it.

"Mrs. Harrison, have you already discussed your resignation with Mr. Harrison?"

He held out a freshly printed resignation letter, presenting it to Andrew with deference.

"Resignation?"

A rare look of bewilderment crossed Andrew's face as he stared at Adelina's calm expression. It hadn't occurred to him that she would use resigning as a threat to stop the divorce.

"What trick are you trying to pull now? Don't tell me you plan to quit and then run crying to my grandmother."

He fixed her with a suspicious, searching look.

Without the title of Mrs. Harrison, and now without a job, she probably wouldn't even be able to support herself.

"I'm not as despicable as you think, Mr. Harrison."

Adelina met Andrew's gaze, her own expression unyielding. All her former gentleness and obedience were gone.

Andrew was momentarily stung. An inexplicable irritation rose in him.

"You'd better be telling the truth."

He took the pen Alan offered and signed his name without a moment's hesitation.

"I hope you don't regret this."

"I won't."

Adelina took the letter from him, turned, and walked away. Her steps were light, as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders, with no attachment to the place she had worked for years.

Andrew narrowed his eyes, watching her retreating figure in silence.

Since last night, Adelina had been different. Before, if he'd brought up divorce, she would have fought him tooth and nail.

"Andy, are... are you okay?"

Emmalyn glanced at his dark expression and pressed her lips together.

Her voice shook him from his thoughts, clearing the confusion from his mind.

They were getting divorced now. Whatever happened to Adelina was no longer his concern.

The moment Adelina stepped out of the Harrison Group's main entrance, she felt completely unburdened. The warm sunlight felt like a fresh start, burning away the shadows of the past few years.

She drew a deep breath and made a firm decision: from now on, she would never swallow her pride again.

For the sake of love, she had once lowered herself so much she had nearly forgotten who she was.

A sudden ringtone shattered her thoughts.

Adelina pulled out her phone. The name on the screen made her breath catch.

Paige Smith—her closest roommate and best friend from school. But after marrying Andrew, Adelina had become so absorbed in her new life that she'd drifted away from her old friends. Over the years, they had only exchanged sporadic holiday messages.

Adelina swallowed nervously and answered the call.

A familiar voice burst through the phone.

"Adelina, it's an emergency! You have to save me!"

Hearing the panic in Paige's voice, Adelina furrowed her brow with worry.

"What's going on?"

"I took on a restoration job for this incredibly rare colonial-era painting. I thought it would be easy, but it's a disaster. The damage is so bad, no one in my studio can fix it. I've called everyone I know, and they can't help either. If it were just any client, I wouldn't be this stressed, but my family has a major business deal tied to this. If I can't fix this painting, my father will literally kill me—or at least cut off all my funding. My studio will be finished."

Paige sounded like she was about to cry. "I know you stopped taking commissions after you got married, but I'm at my wit's end. Please, just this once!"

The line went quiet. Paige's hope deflated as she remembered how Adelina had abandoned her entire career for Andrew.

"Ah... forget it. I shouldn't have put you in this position. I'll figure something out..."

"I'll handle it."