Even Emma herself seemed not to have expected Theodore to speak so directly, leaving her momentarily stunned and speechless.

But Theodore mistook her silence for hesitation. He fell quiet for a brief moment, then continued his explanation.

"Emma, we are not lying to take advantage of you. In truth, lately Mark has been relentlessly targeting Sigourney, trying to force her out of the corporation."

"He even went so far as to stage an accident at the construction site under Sigourney's charge, ...