Chapter 171 Welcome Back to the World
The next day, gentle snow began to fall once again.
Nicolas stirred in the bed. His mind felt as though a movie reel were playing on fast-forward inside his head.
Every scene was of Emma—diving into the icy, bone-piercing ocean just to retrieve the vial of antidote that could save his life.
There she was, slashing her own wrist, using her warm blood to neutralize his poison. There she was, patiently feeding him one spoonful at a time.
There she was, kissing him in the swirling snow, accompanying him to Skywater Peak to watch the snowfall, her anguished, heart-wrenching cries echoing...
Every frame, every second, tore at his heart.
His brainwaves spiked wildly on the monitor, the lines forming sharp, jagged peaks as if they were about to break apart.
He was a caged beast on the verge of bursting free.
"Emma!" he shouted her name, his eyes snapping open.
Above him hung an elegant ceiling fixture. The entire room was pristine white, adorned with several oil paintings on the walls.
He raised his hand, waving it before his eyes.
He could see.
He could see the world again.
He yanked off all the monitoring wires, causing the machines to emit piercing alarms.
Charlie and the doctor rushed in immediately. Seeing the man sitting upright on the bed, Charlie's joy was unmistakable.
"Mr. Harrison! You're awake! Can you see?"
Nicholas shot him a sharp glance—that same penetrating look as before, his face filled with barely contained seriousness.His first words were, "Where's Emma?"
Charlie's heart leaped. Mr. Harrison could truly see again!
"Mrs. Harrison is downstairs."
Before he'd finished speaking, Nicholas had already leaped from the bed barefoot, charging straight toward the balcony.
Pushing open the door, cold wind rushed in. He saw that beautiful silhouette.
She held an elegant floral umbrella, walking slowly through the vast white snow, carrying several purple-red seven-color flowers, standing in the snow like something ethereal and transcendent.
He stared, somewhat dazed, his throat feeling blocked by something solid, unable to utter a single word.
Moisture quickly gathered in his eyes. It had been too long—far too long—since he'd seen her face with his own eyes.
Emma spotted him too.
He stood on the second-floor balcony, the north wind whipping his thin hospital gown, his dark hair dancing wildly in the gusts.
Her body trembled uncontrollably.
He was back. She'd known it—she'd known he would come back.
She lifted her head, shouting up at him.
"Nicholas!"
"Nicholas!"
"Nicholas!"
She called his name three times. The lost soul on the balcony finally snapped back to reality.
He turned, barefoot, running downstairs like a man possessed.
He sprinted to her with all his strength, stopping while still breathing heavily, his deep eyes unable to hide his overwhelming joy.
She looked at him and smiled gently.
"Nicholas, welcome back to the world."
He could no longer hold back.
The surging love in his heart, the longing from the depths of his soul—everything erupted in that moment.
He reached out with trembling hands, cupping her face, and kissed her deeply.
This kiss was scorching yet tender, filled with the excitement of resurrection.
Filled with the burning passion hidden in the depths of his soul.
Filled with the unstoppable trembling of two hearts that had survived life and death together.
He kissed her as if he wanted to swallow her whole, to merge her into his very bones and blood.
Even the winter wind seemed to grow gentle.
Charlie stood at a distance, watching this scene more beautiful than any movie, and couldn't help but pull out his phone to secretly record a video.
Beautiful—truly beautiful!
...
Meanwhile, in an abandoned factory on the outskirts, Evelyn crouched behind a rusted oil drum, trembling all over like a frightened rabbit.
Hank had just returned from outside, approaching her with his tall figure casting a shadow.
"Miss Jackson, we need to leave."
Evelyn lifted her bloodshot eyes, her voice hoarse with strain. "What about him? Where's Hawk?"
Hank lowered his gaze, avoiding her eyes. "Mr. Zane... his injuries were too severe. He didn't make it."
Evelyn's mind went blank.
She stared at him fixedly, forcing out each word, "What... did... you... say?"
"Before he died, Mr. Zane asked me to escort you to Skywater Peak. Once there, Mr. Harrison will arrange your return home."
Hank pulled something wrapped in cloth from his jacket and handed it over.
The fabric was printed with little cats and still carried the warmth of a man's body.
With trembling hands, Evelyn unwrapped it layer by layer. Inside lay half of a cracked silver mask.
Hawk's mask.
The mask he never went anywhere without.
"No..." Tears cascaded down without warning, splashing onto the half-mask.
"You're lying! He couldn't possibly be dead!"
She grabbed his sleeve, shaking him frantically, clutching at what felt like her last lifeline.
Hank's face showed genuine grief, his voice rough with emotion.
"Mr. Zane never betrayed you. His involvement with Ms. West was staged—he had someone impersonate him. This was her revenge. From beginning to end, you were the only one in his heart."
All of Evelyn's strength drained away.
She clutched the cold half-mask in anguish and slowly fainted.
...
Back on Skywater Peak, Charlie had spent the entire day playing the role of an extremely bright light bulb.
An exceptionally high-wattage one at that.
He served tea, brought water, peeled fruit, and offered towels, his eyes never leaving Nicholas.
Nicholas's health was directly tied to his own career prospects!
After a full day of observation, he'd finally figured it out.
Nicholas had precisely lost three segments of memory.
First, everything that happened on his birthday night.
Second, throwing Emma into the swimming pool.
Third, all the events during the day and night he'd watched over Emma while she had a fever.
Good grief, even his amnesia came with selective filtering? Forgetting only the times he'd been a complete bastard?
That evening, as Nicholas headed upstairs, Charlie still followed hopefully behind.
Nicholas stopped and shot him a cold glance.
"What?"
"Need me to hold you while you sleep tonight too?"
Charlie jumped in alarm, shook his head, and fled.
Nicholas walked to Emma's door and knocked gently.
The door opened.
Emma had just finished bathing, still carrying the misty fragrance of shower gel and warm steam.
She was casually toweling her damp hair.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
Nicholas's gaze burned with intensity as he stared at her directly.
"I want to go stargazing with you."
Emma glanced out the window at the sky, dark as black cloth.
"It's so overcast. There aren't any stars to see."
He said domineeringly, "Wherever Stella is, there's always a starry sky."
With that, he slipped into her room.
Emma startled, instinctively stepping back. "Well then, grab a chair and go to the balcony."
Instead, he walked straight to her and took the towel from her hands.
His long fingers threaded through her hair, gently helping her dry it.
His tender gaze fell on the bandage wrapped around her wrist, and his heart ached dully.
"Emma."
His voice was low, close to her ear, carrying an enchanting magnetism.
"Thank you for everything you did for me. Without you, I wouldn't be in this world anymore."
"So I want to properly repay you."
"Repay me?" Emma was confused, sensing something off about his mood.
"With my body and soul," he said firmly.
Emma was completely stunned. Why did those words sound so familiar?
She turned her face away, dodging his burning breath. "Your body still hasn't fully recovered. You should get some rest."
Suddenly, he swept her up in his arms, setting her firmly on the vanity.
Leaning down, his dominating kiss descended upon her...