Too Familiar

"What kind of strange taboo is this?"

Wesley didn't reply to her. He looked pretty displeased. He took a sip of his coffee, but it had gotten a bit cold. He glanced at the maid, who immediately left to make him a fresh cup.

Emelie looked at the newspaper again and suddenly said, "William is probably reading the news about Faldoria now too."

Wesley immediately looked at her. His eyes were a light amber color under the morning sun, but they held some unfathomable emotion. His lips were pressed into a thin line.

It had been a long, long time since she had mentioned that name.

Emelie's tone and expression remained as usual as she asked, "If I didn't expose you, were you really planning on keeping the answer from me? The Cedonia company I'm competing with for SAM is Cloudex Corporation, right?"

Wesley still didn't speak, but Emelie's lips curled up into a smile. "You don't have to be so surprised. I've known for a long time now. I sensed that it was him the second time we crossed paths."

That feeling was too familiar.

William was a person with a strong presence in every sense. His methods in the business world carried his unique signature. If someone close to him encountered his work, they would immediately recognize it.

She had indeed felt the familiarity of someone close to her. Upon realizing that it was him, Emelie's first reaction was disgust.

She was disgusted with herself. She had been around him for three years and knew his every move. She could always recognize him in the crowd, as naturally as breathing air.

It was just like animals in the wild. Tigers, lions, wolves, cats, and dogs could find their companions through scent.

William probably knew that she could recognize him. Thus, when he had schemed against her or used her in the past, he either had Lyle execute the plans or handed them to Ashton.

However, this time, he had taken it on himself, and she had recognized him immediately.

Emelie sighed. "How could you dare to let me go up against William? Aren't you afraid that he'll find out I'm not dead?"

Wesley's tone was calm yet fragile, like thin ice under the winter sun, as he said, "If he can recognize that the person behind the scenes is you, just as you'd recognized him, I'd think more highly of him."

Emelie laughed. It was true. Over those three, no, four years, the love, hatred, and scars he had left on her were deep.

On the other hand, she had left no trace on William. He didn't recognize her at all.

The maid replaced his coffee, and Wesley tapped the enamel cup with his fingers. "How does it feel to have defeated him?"

Emelie rested her chin on her hand. "I could tell that he didn't put his all into this battle. Maybe because SAM isn't that important to Cloudex Corporation. But regardless, I did win, and it feels good to beat him."

Wesley said, "You did very well on this test."

"Not just this test. I'll win the test three years from now too." Emelie wasn't in a hurry. A sharp glint

flashed in her eyes as she slowly said, "You said it's like hunting prey. It's more fulfilling to fatten them up before you shoot."

Wesley tapped his fingers on the table, making a constant knocking sound, and Emelie looked up at him. He raised his chin and said, "Finish your chicken soup quickly. It'll get cold."

The frost and sharpness in Emelie's eyes immediately melted away. She pouted as though she were a child being scolded by a parent and lowered her head to drink the soup.

She muttered, "Chicken soup is fine, but why does it have to be medicinal chicken soup? It tastes terrible." Wesley's lips curled up into a faint smile. "If you keep on muttering, I'll have Sam come and nag you."Property © of .

Did he just say Samuel? Emelie raised her hands in surrender and quickly finished the soup.

After the maid cleared the dishes, the butler came over and reported, "Mr. Graham, Ms. Hoven, there's a guest outside who claims to be an old acquaintance of Ms. Hoven. He wishes to meet with Ms. Hoven."