Chapter 139 That Server Is Emma.
The club erupted into chaos.
Charlie rushed out from inside, positioning himself beside Nicholas and lowering his voice, "Mr. Harrison, do we need to do anything?"
Nicholas's profile was cold and rigid as he scanned the shifting lights and shadows, his tone flat, "Nothing at all."
He paused, then added, "Let's go."
Without another backward glance, he strode toward the exit with long steps. Outside, he stripped off his jacket and tossed it into a trash bin. Nora's scent disgusted him.
Meanwhile, the club's search team kicked down suite doors one by one.
When they burst into Hawk's room, they found him lounging languidly on the sofa, a seductive beauty nestled against his left side while another on his right fed him wine from a glass.
The air was thick with alcohol and perfume.
The lead security chief recognized the man on the sofa and broke out in cold sweats, quickly waving his hands, "Sorry for the disturbance, Mr. Zane! Please, carry on."
The group retreated sheepishly.
Soon after, Hawk emerged with the two beauties in tow, surrounded by his bodyguards, swaggering out of the club.
His people drove directly to the most luxurious hotel in downtown.
In the penthouse suite, massive floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city's glittering lights.
Emma stood barefoot before the windows, her mind replaying the intimate scene between Nicholas and that strange woman at the club over and over. He was going to stay in Luminous City for three months to keep her company!
And there was that whole hero-rescuing-damsel charade he'd staged with Wesley.
Every detail pierced her heart like needles, a dense pattern of pain.
Evelyn emerged from the bathroom, steam still rising from her freshly bathed skin. She gently embraced Emma from behind, resting her chin on Emma's slender shoulder.
"Emma, I'm so sorry about tonight. It's all my fault—I nearly got you hurt." Her voice carried deep guilt. "Thank goodness you had that self-defense ring, otherwise..."
Emma raised her hand, gently patting the arms wrapped around her waist, her voice somewhat hoarse, "Evelyn, this isn't your fault."
Evelyn sighed, pressing her cheek against Emma's hair, speaking in muffled tones, "Emma, let's forget about this man. Since he's found a new target, we shouldn't cling to the past."
She was trying to persuade her to give up.
Emma lowered her lashes, the thick fringe casting small shadows beneath her eyes.
A voice in her heart whispered, 'Yes, he's not worth it anymore. Nicholas, from now on, may we each find our own path in this vast world.'
Nicholas had just returned to the villa.
The moment he walked in, he sneezed unexpectedly, rubbing his nose with furrowed brows.
Back at the villa, the guest bedroom was empty.
His watch showed ten o'clock.
This late, where could Emma be?
Nicholas pulled out his phone and dialed Emma's number.
The ringtone persisted stubbornly, over and over, with no one answering.
His heart sank deeper with each ring.
A bodyguard hurried in, reporting quietly, "Mr. Harrison, Mrs. Harrison left around seven, alone in a taxi. She didn't say where she was going."
"Alone?" Nicholas's voice shot up an octave, the unease in his heart instantly magnified, burning through his entire being.
He roared, "Find her! All of you—go find her!"
Near ten o'clock, Charlie rushed in, looking urgent.
"Mr. Harrison, we've found Mrs. Harrison's whereabouts."
Nicholas snapped his head up, his eyes bloodshot, "Speak!"
"Mrs. Harrison went drinking with Ms. Jackson tonight, and Hawk was with them. Later, Hawk took them back to a hotel."
Nicholas's taut nerves relaxed slightly—at least she was safe.
However, Charlie's next words sent his barely calmed heart straight back to his throat.
"Mr. Harrison, they went to The Monarch Club!"
Nicholas's grip on his phone tightened suddenly, his knuckles turning white.
"The Monarch Club?" He repeated the name, a powerful sense of foreboding instantly gripping him.
Another sleepless night. Early the next morning, Nicholas had just come downstairs when his phone buzzed.
He answered, and Nora's tearful shriek came through, "Mr. Harrison! Wesley's been poisoned! The doctors say—the doctors say there's no hope!"
Nicholas's expression darkened as he grabbed his coat and headed out. "I'm on my way."
He drove straight to Los Castle.
After some investigation, Nicholas emerged from the castle, his expression somewhat relieved.
Charlie approached carefully, "Mr. Harrison, are you really going to date Ms. West?"
Nicholas pressed his lips into a thin line, speaking coldly, "Impossible! But this is actually a good opportunity."
He continued coldly, "If I help Wesley recover from the poison, I can force Nora to disappear on her own."
Charlie seemed confused, "But the doctors all said..."
"That poison is from the Seven-colored Flower." Nicholas interrupted, his tone certain. "I know who can cure it."
Just then, Charlie's phone chimed.
He looked at it and his face changed dramatically, crying out, "Mr. Harrison, this is bad! Mrs. Harrison and Mr. Jackson—they're going back home! They're already at the airport!"
The atmospheric pressure around Nicholas instantly dropped to freezing as he practically ground out the words, "To the airport!"
When they arrived at the airport, Evelyn and Daryl were embracing in what appeared to be a farewell, about to board.
"Emma." Nicholas ran over urgently. "You can't leave."
He managed that single sentence.
Evelyn flared up the moment she saw him, "Nicholas, you still dare to show up?"
Emma remained calm, "Let me talk to him."
The two moved to a relatively quiet corner, Nicholas speaking first, "You're going back to Emerald City?"
"Mr. Harrison, aren't you planning to stay and play for a few more months?" She seemed to be implying something, her tone carrying subtle mockery.
His heart involuntarily panicked—did she know something?
"You can't leave!" He used a commanding tone. "Before, you promised to take care of me. You can't go back on your word."
"Mr. Harrison, if you truly need care, I can hire you ten nurses."
Emma radiated an icy aura that made him deeply uncomfortable.
"Emma, have you misunderstood something? I can explain everything, just don't leave."
In his desperation, he grabbed her wrist directly, though he didn't dare use force.
Emma didn't struggle, "Nicholas, don't try to keep me. You can't."
Her eyes held despair, her tone flat in a way that was painful to hear.
"Didn't we reconcile?" He seemed at a loss. "Didn't you say you don't hate me anymore?"
Why was she being so cold again?
"That's right, we reconciled, but I don't want to stay by your side anymore." She turned to leave.
"Emma, can you help me save a friend?" He spoke urgently.
She paused. Of course, she knew who needed saving. "Friend?"
"Yes, he's been poisoned. Everyone says physicians have compassionate hearts—only you can save him."
He resorted to moral manipulation directly. Seeing her hesitate, he pressed further, "If you save him, I'll agree to let you leave."
Emma took a deep breath. She was wavering again.
Finally, she bid farewell to Daryl and followed Nicholas back to the villa.
As soon as they got out of the car, Nicholas reached out and pulled Emma into a tight embrace.
Emma was like a puppet now, expressionless and terrifyingly cold.
"Tell me, what happened? Why do you want to leave?"
He wanted to communicate with her, but Emma's cold treatment was torturous.
"I don't want to talk!" Her voice remained icy, showing no emotion, driving him mad.
He was stunned, then said gently, "In a few days, I'll go back with you."
Just then, Charlie walked in and announced, "Mr. Harrison, Ms. West is here."
As soon as he finished speaking, the stunning Nora entered. Seeing Nicholas embracing another woman, her eyes flashed.
Nicholas continued holding Emma, showing no intention of letting go.
"This must be Miss NOVA. Pleased to meet you. I'm Nora." She greeted them friendly while staring fixedly at Nicholas's hands.
Emma nodded and pried Nicholas's hands away.
"Mr. Harrison, didn't you say someone could cure Wesley's poison? Let's go quickly." Nora urged.
Emma asked coolly, "Ms. West, your brother is Mr. West, isn't he?"
At these words, Nicholas startled.
"That's right. If you can save Wesley, I'll pay any amount." Nora nodded, displaying a wealthy attitude.
"Sorry, I'm a bit tired today. I'll go tomorrow." Emma replied coldly, then added, "Don't worry, your brother will still be alive tomorrow."
Nora immediately exploded, looking domineering, "What do you mean? I want you to come with me right now."
Nicholas roared, "Show her out!"
Charlie immediately entered and escorted the annoying Nora out.
Emma asked flatly, her eyes carrying inexplicable hatred, "Do you really want me to save him? Even though he molested me?"
"Actually, that night, he wasn't really being inappropriate with you." Nicholas gathered courage to confess.
"Then do you know why he was poisoned? Do you know who poisoned him?"
Nicholas's pupils contracted instantly, his scalp tingling.
She was the server Wesley had flirted with!
Charlie, overhearing from around the corner, was so frightened he didn't dare breathe! This was a deadlock he couldn't resolve!
"Emma." Nicholas's throat tightened, speaking with difficulty, his face burning with embarrassment like never before.
"It's not what you saw. Nora and I—we have no relationship. It was just an act!"
Emma laughed softly, with a touch of cold mockery, "I never knew Mr. Harrison was also skilled at acting!"
She paused, her voice as light as a feather yet hitting his heart like a hammer, "But it doesn't matter. From now on, I won't take it seriously!"
With that, she turned and left.