The next morning began quietly.
Too quietly.
Emily noticed something strange when she arrived at Knight Corporation.
Employees weren't whispering this time.
Instead, they were staring.
Some looked sympathetic.
Others looked shocked.
Emily felt uneasy.
"What happened now?"
She opened her phone.
Her heart stopped.
A viral post was spreading everywhere.
"Secret Past of CEO's Girlfriend Revealed."
The article showed photos of Emily working at the café years ago.
Another photo showed her small apartment.
And a long story followed.
It described her as someone "desperate to escape poverty by seducing powerful men."
Emily felt her hands tremble.
"This is insane…"
Just then Alexander stepped out of his office.
He immediately noticed her expression.
"You've seen it."
Emily nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Alexander's eyes darkened.
"This went too far."