The CEO's Empathy Pregnancy Pains

Despite Michael holding the title of "President of the Smith Corporation," Hayden kept

a polite smile as he followed Michael into the office, all the while calculating how to strengthen his relationship with Michael.

He hadn't come up with a solid plan yet, but he failed to notice the cold glint in Michael's eyes whenever he looked at him.

Once inside the office, Michael took the lead, silently sitting behind his desk before gesturing for Hayden to take a seat.

Hayden sat down cautiously, the atmosphere between them tense and heavy, like the calm before a storm.

Michael had no intention of offering Hayden a drink. He felt he had made himself clear at the gate of Emerald Lake Manor, but Hayden seemed to have missed the point, still wearing a smile and pretending to be oblivious. If Hayden wanted to play dumb, Michael would play along.

Michael's eyes were deep and piercing as he slowly spoke. "Just say what you need to say."

Hayden coughed, trying to break the silence, but he still didn't know where to start. He let out a few awkward laughs, his eyes wandering around the office of the Smith Corporation's CEO, secretly impressed by the grandeur.

'No wonder the Smith Corporation is so successful!' He thought to himself.

This only made Hayden more determined to use this opportunity to get closer to Michael and secure more benefits for himself and the Brown family.

After all, a thin veneer of politeness was just a facade. Hayden knew that in this game of interests, money and power were the most effective weapons.

Hayden steeled himself, determined to stay calm and composed despite Michael's icy gaze.

After all, as the saying goes, "A wise man knows when to bend and when to stand firm."

"Michael, I'm really just here to chat. What else could it be?" Hayden began. "It's about Emily. She doesn't want to see me or take my calls. I can't even find a chance to see my grandson. You saw it yourself; I came to visit sincerely, and she turned me away."

Michael watched Hayden's performance intently. He suddenly realized that Hayden and his daughter Sophia were cut from the same cloth: fake sincerity, playing the victim, all while hiding their true motives and schemes.

This might have worked on him years ago, but now, he was immune to such tactics. He just sat there, waiting for Hayden to finish his act.

"What kind of father doesn't care about his daughter?" Hayden continued. "I don't know how much you know about my divorce from her mother, but it wasn't intentional. As a man, Michael, you should understand that. You were once taken with Sophia, and then..."Seeing that Hayden was about to bring up sensitive past events, Michael shot him a sharp look, and Hayden quickly changed the subject with an awkward laugh.

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"Everyone has the right to pursue happiness, right? Just because I divorced her mother doesn't make me a villain, does it?"

Michael knew exactly what Hayden was after. He wouldn't be swayed by Hayden's sob story. He responded calmly, "Mr. Brown, I get what you're trying to do. But when it comes to Emily... you need to back off."

Hayden was momentarily stunned, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. He was displeased with Michael's condescending attitude, but what could he do? He couldn't afford to offend Michael or the Smith Corporation. So, he swallowed his anger, took a deep breath, and softened his tone.

"Michael, that's unreasonable. How am I interfering in Emily's life? She's my daughter; it's only natural for me to see her!"

Hayden's eyes gleamed with cunning as he put on a helpless expression. "Besides, I'm all alone now, and I need someone to care for me. She should be more concerned about me."

Care? Michael almost laughed out loud. After all this beating around the bush, Hayden had finally revealed his true motive.noveldrama

"Mr. Brown, care is a two-way street. How many times have you cared about Emily? Where were you when your ex-wife passed away? Where were you when Emily was pregnant? When she gave birth? You can't always expect to take without giving. And let's not forget what Emily has been through all these years. I imagine you're more concerned about Sophia."

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"If that's the case, you should focus on Sophia. She probably needs your concern more, especially since the Emerald City police station isn't exactly a pleasant place."

Michael deliberately dragged out his words. Hayden's face grew darker, and he was momentarily speechless. Michael's words hit the mark. Since Sophia had been imprisoned in Emerald City, Hayden had considered her a bad omen and had even thought about severing ties with her. He hadn't visited her once, let alone checked on her.

"I'll handle Sophia's situation, but you can't use that as an excuse to stop me from seeing Emily," Hayden insisted.

Hayden's shamelessness was something Michael found hard to admire. "I've never stopped you from seeing Emily. She's an independent person. Who she wants to see or not see is her choice."

"Mr. Brown, you didn't come here just to tell me this, did you? Why don't we talk about something more practical?"

Practical? Now that got Hayden's attention. He had waited a long time, first for Veda and then to see Michael's sour face. He was tired of the pleasantries. But now that Michael mentioned "practical," it meant they were going to talk about money.

Hayden straightened up, ready to listen intently. After all, money was the key to solving real problems.

"Yes, practical! It seems, Michael, you know about the investment project your sister Veda mentioned to me. I've been waiting for a long time. When can we get started?"

Michael's eyes gleamed as he chuckled softly. "Of course, I've heard about it. But unfortunately, most of the Smith Corporation's projects are managed by my sister. I really can't interfere."