"Emily?" Cixi turned toward Rafael and paused, surprise slipping across her face before suspicion followed right behind it. "She replied to your messages?"
"Yes." Rafael looked confused by the question. "Why are you reacting like that?"
Cixi looked away instead of answering immediately and started walking.
Emily had ignored every message she had sent since last time, yet somehow Rafael had gotten replies without difficulty. The thought sat unpleasantly inside her chest, and no matter how much she tried to dismiss it, she kept wondering whether Emily had avoided her after what happened between them in the hotel in her office.
Perhaps their last conversation truly hadn't sat well with Emily.
But what choice did Cixi even have? None of these people would have allowed her inside unless she forced their hand.
