Emily had never seen Alexander's expression change so quickly.
One second he was calm.
The next, his entire face turned cold.
Without another word, he walked out of the office.
Sophia followed.
Emily hesitated for half a second, then hurried after them.
The private elevator opened directly onto the twenty-eighth floor.
Suite 2801 occupied the entire corner wing.
When the doors opened, Emily immediately heard shouting.
A woman's voice.
Sharp. Furious. Controlled like a blade.
"You brought a stranger into this family without permission."
Emily froze at the doorway.
Inside the suite stood a tall elegant woman in silver silk, flawless even in anger.
Her diamond earrings caught the light like knives.
Isabella Moretti.
Alexander's mother.
And her eyes were fixed directly on Emily.
"So," Isabella said slowly, "this is the girl."
Emily suddenly felt twenty times smaller.
Alexander stepped in front of her slightly.
"Mother."
But Isabella ignored him.
She walked toward Emily in measured steps.
Every inch of her looked aristocratic.
"How much were you paid?" she asked.
Emily blinked.
"I'm sorry?"
"To marry my son," Isabella said coolly.
"Name your number."
The room went silent.
Emily felt humiliation burn through her chest.
Before she could answer, Alexander's voice cut through the room.
"That is enough."
His tone was ice.
Even Isabella paused.
Then she smiled coldly.
"You think this marriage will last?"
Alexander said nothing.
Isabella turned back to Emily.
"This family destroys weak women."
Then she picked up her handbag and walked past them toward the elevator.
Before leaving, she stopped beside Alexander and said one final sentence:
"Announce this marriage publicly, and the board will move against you."
The elevator doors closed behind her.
Silence.
Emily finally breathed again.
Sophia quietly left the suite.
Now only Emily and Alexander remained.
Emily looked at him carefully.
"You didn't tell me your mother hated me."
Alexander stared at the closed elevator doors.
"I didn't expect her to move this quickly."
Emily crossed her arms.
"She thinks I married you for money."
Alexander turned and looked at her.
"That makes two of you."
Emily frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Alexander stepped closer.
"It means," he said calmly, "you still don't understand why I chose you."
And then he walked away—
Leaving Emily with a question she could not answer.