The CEO's Empathy Pregnancy Pains

"Still hanging on to that photo, huh?" Michael's question had a teasing edge to it.

Even though his face was expressionless, Bryan noticed the slight twitch of his eyebrow.

The photo on the table was of Michael and Bryan when they were kids.

Emily had found it the last time she visited, and Michael had noticed it too, looking quite surprised at the time.

Bryan had promised them he would throw it away.

Michael knew it was just talk.

And now, it seemed his guess was right.

"Forgot about it. I'll toss it now."

But Bryan wasn't one to back down easily. He mustered up the courage, picked up the photo, and responded awkwardly. Just as he was about to turn away, Michael stopped him.

"No need. I think I look better in this photo. Keep it. Let Alice see it. Maybe it'll make her wonder why she chose you over me."

Michael's words were always sharp enough to sting.

Bryan rolled his eyes in exasperation and tossed the photo back on the table. He looked at Michael, hands in his pockets.

"You didn't come all this way just to talk about this, did you?"

At those words, Michael's face darkened for a moment.

Meanwhile, Leo and his son Roger were having a conversation of their own.

Roger sat respectfully in front of Leo, his back straight, barely daring to breathe. He was half-sober, nodding meekly.

Leo, with only Roger as his son, sighed at his demeanor. "Did you take to heart what I just said?"

Roger nodded repeatedly. "Yes, I remember everything."

Leo snorted and went on, "If you really remembered, you would have taken care of what I asked you to do instead of constantly going against my wishes and doing all sorts of nonsense. You're a disgrace!"

What Loe asked him to do?

Roger suddenly recalled and his eyes lit up as he responded to Leo. "Dad, I remember. I remember everything. I've even found some leads on that matter," Leo perked up at this. "Really? Have you found your sister?"

It turned out Roger had a sister named Vanessa Ward. She had gone missing in Emerald City when she was a child. The Ward family had searched tirelessly for years without success. Disheartened, Leo had moved abroad with his wife.

Roger was born abroad and had returned to Emerald City with his parents as a child, but he never felt a connection to the city and insisted on going back abroad.

During this time, Leo had repeatedly tried to educate Roger, who was in his rebellious phase. It was then that Roger met Michael's father and they became close friends. Despite multiple attempts, Leo had never found any trace of Vanessa. But he never gave up searching for her, even after fifty years.

When he couldn't find her himself, he had his son continue the search. Leo always believed Vanessa was still in Emerald City.

She might have already settled down, started a family, and was living a peaceful life. And now, there seemed to be a breakthrough.

"Yeah, the orphanage moved a bunch of times, which made it tough to track down. But we found it and even located the director who worked there back then."

"The director said they did take in an eight-year-old girl with a birthmark matching our description. The girl, now about my age, has kept in touch with the orphanage."

Roger's words brought tears to Leo's eyes.

It had been fifty years!

Leo's wife had passed away, always longing for their daughter Vanessa.

It was their shared pain.

Leo could finally give his wife some peace.

"What are you waiting for? Contact them! Contact them now!"

Roger quickly tried to calm Leo.

"Dad, don't worry. I will contact them. But the orphanage said Vanessa had been in

touch with them. She got married and had children in Emerald City."

"But she disappeared a few years ago. They tried to reach her, but her phone was disconnected."

So Vanessa was still in Emerald City!

Leo's newfound hope was quickly dashed.

"Emerald City isn't that big. Where could she have gone? Where could Vanessa be?"

"It's all my fault... If I had been more careful back then, Vanessa wouldn't have been lost for so many years. Who knows what kind of life she's living now, or if her in-laws are treating her well!"

Seeing Leo so distraught, Roger felt equally upset. He wanted to find Vanessa as soon as possible.

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The Ward family was in a tough spot.

Roger had learned from the orphanage that Vanessa had been doing well and had her own assets. She might help support the family.

It would save him from constantly fighting with the Smith family over that 10% share, only to be scolded by Leo. It was a losing battle.

"Don't worry, Dad. I'll keep looking. The orphanage promised to notify me if they hear anything. Vanessa will be fine!"

Meanwhile, Alice and her sister Luna were having their own conversation.

Luna rarely smoked at home, but today she lit a cigarette in front of Alice.

Even with Roger and Leo around, Luna was bold. Alice knew she was doing it to make

a point, to show that she did whatever she wanted and no one could stop her. Alice couldn't help but smile.

They had gotten along well abroad, but since returning to Emerald City, Luna had been constantly comparing herself to Alice.

She disapproved of Alice's relationship.

She resented Leo's favoritism towards Alice.

Despite being sisters, Luna always wanted to compete.

"What are you smiling at?" Luna asked, puzzled.

Since dating Bryan, Alice had seen the complexities of wealthy families. Meeting Emily

had shown her the strength of an independent woman.

So she didn't find Luna's behavior impressive.

Instead, Alice thought they should both learn from Emily.