Overbearing CEO's Contract Love
Chapter 261: Be Kind

Chapter 261: Be Kind

Emma Hart turned away indifferently, her hand caressing the baby in her womb. It was only when she truly began to feel his presence and realized that he would soon enter this world that Emma understood that things were not as simple as she had imagined. Perhaps it was time to reassess many things.

At the Sterling Group, Emma continued to work as usual. Upon entering the design department, she noticed a small figure cleaning up in a corner already cluttered with various items. Zoe had only been there a few days and the desk meant for new employees was piled high with miscellaneous stuff. From the start, Zoe had been relegated to that corner, the manager having offhandedly promised a new desk, a promise forgotten as time passed. With the department so busy, who would remember the plight of an intern daily?

Walking towards the area, Emma saw Zoe wiping away tears as she packed her things, drops falling on her intern badge. It was clear she cherished her job.

Recalling past interactions with Zoe, Emma intended to walk on by, but hearing Zoe’s sobs, she stopped and approached her instead.

Zoe looked up, surprised to see Emma. Her glasses were blurred with tears, but through them, Emma could see a hint of guilt in Zoe’s eyes.

Zoe bowed her head, too ashamed to look at Emma, her movements becoming frantic, a clear sign of distress.

Standing there, Emma’s initial anger softened as she watched the fragile intern. Zoe was just an intern, after all. Had Emma considered her feelings when she had asked Zoe to testify on her behalf, much like a court considers a witness’s safety? Beyond her own needs for vindication, had Emma really thought about Zoe’s safety?

Emma’s quest to clear her name was based on imposing burdens on others. How could she be so sure that Hannah Davis and her group wouldn’t hold a grudge against Zoe for her testimony?

Emma was already considered an "outsider" at the company. Was it fair to drag Zoe into this?

Zoe had merely witnessed the truth. Speaking out and helping were not her obligations; the decision to help or not should have been Zoe’s to make. Why should Emma hold any resentment towards her?

Emma Hart suddenly realized that perhaps she had been selfish in handling this situation, thinking about it far too simplistically.

Emma felt a pang of guilt for Zoe, who should have had a stable opportunity to intern and then become a regular employee at Sterling Group, earning a salary that would make her peers envious. Yet, because Zoe had witnessed that incident and told Emma, everything had changed.

Zoe could have easily pretended she saw nothing, right?

Emma reached out to help Zoe pack her things into a box, which was sparsely filled with minor items, most of them bearing the "Sterling Group" logo—like stationery, access cards, and work badges. There were very few personal items.

It was clear Zoe had desperately wanted this job; she truly wanted to stay at Sterling Group.

As Emma extended her hand, Zoe’s shoulders shook even more violently. No one in the design department noticed the two of them in the corner; life in the office went on, with people coming and going. Unless it directly involved them, it was just gossip that quickly faded away.

"Emma..." Zoe’s tears streamed down her cheeks, overwhelmed with guilt, "They told me that as long as I kept quiet, they would ensure I got made permanent."

"I know," Emma said calmly, patting Zoe’s shoulder. If it weren’t for this, why would Zoe have changed so abruptly? Seeing Zoe’s attachment to this place made Emma even more certain of her thoughts.

However, she didn’t blame Zoe. It was human nature, just like when she had only thought about getting Zoe to testify for her—it was nothing serious.

Zoe seemed surprised, looking at Emma without detecting any signs of emotional turmoil, as if Emma didn’t blame her or find it unexpected. From Emma’s expression, Zoe could see a kind of serenity and gentleness unique to women, smooth and flowing like water.

"You don’t blame me?" Zoe paused, a deeper guilt surfacing, "I was the one who spoke up about your pregnancy."

Emma smiled as she always did, unaffected, "It’s okay."

This response made Zoe feel almost as if a harsh scolding would have been better, "I guess this is my karma. They still fired me, didn’t even let me finish my internship."

Emma Hart had anticipated this outcome, realizing that although the corporate machinations might seem cruel for someone just starting out like Zoe, experiencing them early on could actually be beneficial. It might spare Zoe many hardships on her future career path.

"I wish I hadn’t helped them," Zoe lamented, yet she spoke with a sense of resignation.

Emma looked at Zoe with a gentle smile, "Zoe, I actually hope you didn’t help them not because it served my interest, but because it was the kind thing to do, because it was the right thing to do."

Zoe looked back at Emma somewhat blankly, as if trying to fully grasp her words, then nodded slowly, "I remember now, Emma."

"Let’s go, I’ll walk you out."

Zoe glanced around at her former colleagues in the design department, somewhat surprised, "You’re walking me out?"

"Yes, why not?"

Emma turned to face her colleagues with a serene smile, perhaps preempting any judgment they might have about her escorting Zoe. "It doesn’t matter," she said as she wrapped an arm around Zoe and headed towards the exit. How can one always live under the scrutiny of others? Besides, if Emma truly cared about what they thought, would she still come to work?

Downstairs.

As Emma walked Zoe out, they coincidentally ran into Amelia Davidson, who was just stepping out of her car. Admiring Amelia’s graceful figure, swaying hips, and the year-round aura of a star—right down to her sunglasses and high heels that showcased her formidable presence—Emma often wondered what kind of man could possibly match such a strong-willed woman.