Chapter 79: Every Day with You is Precious to Me

Hayden dropped the phone and leaned back in his chair, rubbing his aching temples.

He'd always had a hunch about Jasper's intentions, but he never thought the guy would go as far as causing deaths!

Thinking back to the sudden explosion at the overseas factory, Hayden had blamed several managers at the time. Now it seemed like Jasper was the mastermind behind it all!

He knew this wasn't over. He had underestimated James. Even though James was disabled, he was the most like Hayden—decisive, brave, and resourceful.

Could he be the best heir to the Smith family?

Hayden suddenly felt exhausted. Thinking about these issues always gave him a headache.

After dealing with Jasper's mess, James was already worn out. When Robert wheeled him back to Riverside Villa, Emily was asleep on the sofa.

Hearing the noise, Emily woke up immediately and noticed James's handsome face was very close.

Robert tactfully retreated, thoughtfully closing the door behind him.

The room fell silent, with only the faint ticking of the vintage clock on the wall.

Emily then realized she had fallen asleep waiting for James, and her sleeping posture was probably not very graceful. Her face flushed with embarrassment.

"Awake?" James's voice was deep and magnetic, with a hint of barely noticeable tenderness.

"Yeah," Emily replied somewhat awkwardly, sitting up from the sofa and instinctively tidying her slightly messy hair.

James looked at her sleepy face, a doting smile curling at his lips. "Hungry? I had some food prepared."

Emily was indeed a bit hungry, so she nodded.

Soon, a servant brought in a sumptuous late-night meal, filling the entire dining table.

Sitting across from each other at the table, Emily couldn't help but ask curiously, "What was the explosion about today? You don't look well."

James was silent for a moment before slowly explaining to Emily everything Jasper had done at the overseas factory: how he had abused his position to embezzle company assets, and even caused an explosion to frame others.

Emily was stunned. She couldn't believe Jasper was so heartless, putting wealth above human lives.

"How could he do that!" Emily uttered angrily, "Didn't he think that those workers' lives matter too?"

James held Emily's hand, gently patting it to comfort her. "Don't worry, I've had Robert collect the evidence. He will face legal consequences."

Emily felt somewhat relieved but still a bit scared. If James hadn't discovered Jasper's plot in time, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

"You need to be more careful in the future," Emily said worriedly.

James nodded, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "I know. Don't worry, I'll protect you."

Emily spoke, "No, I mean you must protect yourself."

Hearing Emily's words, James felt a warmth spread through his heart.

He gazed at Emily, her eyes filled with concern—a pure, selfless care that melted his otherwise cold heart.

He pulled Emily into his arms, his chin gently brushing her hair, and said softly, "Silly girl, we're a team. Protecting you is protecting myself."

After eating, they decided to take a walk in the garden.

The night sky was dotted with stars, and the moonlight cast a soft glow over the garden.

Emily carefully pushed the wheelchair, and neither of them spoke.

The sounds of insects and birds filled the air, occasionally accompanied by the faint scent of flowers. It created a sense of peace and relaxation.

"Thank you, Emily," James suddenly said, his voice soft as if afraid of disturbing the night's tranquility, his words carrying a hint of deep emotion.

"Thank me for what?" Emily asked, puzzled, turning to look at him.

"Thank you for coming into my life," James said, his deep eyes looking especially gentle in the moonlight, "You showed me that I can be happy."

Hearing this, Emily felt a strange yet soft feeling spreading through her heart.

She looked at James, his handsome face showing a hint of vulnerability and confusion, a stark contrast to his usual decisive demeanor in the business world, which made her want to smooth away his worries.

"You know, I grew up in a family lacking warmth. My mother died when I was very young, and my father..." James paused, seemingly lost in painful memories.

Emily said nothing, just listened quietly, feeling James's sadness and loneliness.

"My father was a very domineering man. He had very high expectations of me, and after he remarried, we became even more distant," James laughed self-deprecatingly, "He never asked me what I really wanted."

"My two brothers and I were always in competition," James sighed.

"Luckily I met you," James uttered, looking deeply into Emily's eyes, "You are like my sun. Every day with you is precious to me."

Emily was moved and delighted by James's confession. She knew that James truly trusted and liked her to open up and share these long-buried secrets.

"James..." Emily softly called his name, then reached out to gently touch his cheek, "I'll always be by your side."

James grabbed Emily's hand and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly.

"Emily, no matter what happens in the future, you must remember what you just said," James's voice was low and hoarse, carrying a hint of plea and expectation.

Emily's body stiffened slightly. She looked up at James's eyes, filled with tenderness and love, which made it impossible to refuse.

"Okay," Emily smiled, but she also noticed a hint of fatigue in James's eyes. She offered, "You're tired, aren't you? Let me massage your legs."