?Chapter 732:


    Leah’s expression darkened, her fury simmering beneath the surface. She was ready tosh out, but just as she was about to, her gazended on a familiar figure in the crowd.


    Her eyes flickered, and in an instant, her demeanor shifted. She masked her anger with an air of innocence, her voiceced with false sorrow. “Emily, I do not know who has been filling your head with nonsense, but words have consequences. Sooner orter, everyone pays the price for what they say.”


    “And people also pay the price for what they do.” Emily let out a sharpugh, unbothered by Leah’s veiled threat. With deliberate nonchnce, she tossed the work badge onto the floor. “Consider this my final word—I am resigning from Burgess Group due to irreconcble differences. Effective immediately.”


    Leah’s face drained of color, her fingers curling into fists at her sides. A flicker of panic shed in her eyes.


    Emily had not been with thepany for long, but among all her employees, Leah had worked with her the most seamlessly.


    With Leah still navigating theplexities of running thepany, Emily’s sudden departure was a blow she could not afford.


    Just then, Bruce arrived, his sharp gaze sweeping over the scene. He had caught Emily’s words as he stepped in, and his brows furrowed.


    He knew better than anyone how crucial Emily was to Leah.


    “Have you truly thought this through?” Leah asked, forcing her voice to remain steady. Inside, her heart pounded against her ribs. “Walking away now means throwing away all your hard work. Do you really have the courage to start from scratch?”


    Emily met Leah’s gaze, her expression unreadable. Then, with quiet resolve, she said, “Starting over is better than staying here and betraying my conscience.”


    She let the words sink in before adding, her voice dripping with irony, “Besides… I would hate to end up like Luna.”


    The moment Luna’s name left Emily’s lips, the atmosphere shifted. The whispers among the crowd grew louder, murmurs rising into a storm of spection.


    “As Leah’s assistant, Emily must have had ess to a lot of information. What if she knows something incriminating?”


    “She keeps saying Luna was coerced… maybe she actually has proof!”


    “Honestly, Emily quitting is the smartest thing she could do. If she stayed, who knows what might happen to her?”


    The words reached Leah’s ears, each one chipping away at her carefully constructed facade.


    She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms. Without thinking, she turned toward Bruce, burying herself in his embrace as if seekingfort, though her expression remained cold and calcting.


    Bruce stiffened slightly before resting a hand on her back, his voice low and steady. “Emily, you do realize that per your contract, resigning without prior notice means you are required to pay double the penalty fee. Are you sure you have thought this through?”


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