Chapter 147: James's Dilemma
When the day came to go to the antique exhibition, Emily dropped Jasper off with Thora at Elysian Residences, then headed out with James.
"I was born to babysit for you."
Thora stood at the entrance of Elysian Residences in her loungewear, looking at Emily's made-up face and sighing.
Emily smiled at her words.
"But you're happy about it, aren't you? You get some free time and get to hang out with my cute, charming sons."
"True, I've got three little heartthrobs keeping me company every day. Others would be jealous."
Thora winked at Emily, her smile fading slightly.
"This antique exhibition you're going to - it's not just about keeping James company, is it?"
"No, I want to meet the legendary Robbie."
"Really?"
A knowing smile appeared on Thora's face.
"Something interesting might happen today."
"You said it."
The two exchanged smiles, perfectly in sync.
"What took you so long?"
Before heading to Elysian Residences, Emily had Marc drive to a nearby park to wait for her, to avoid exposing her identity.
James wanted to have Marc follow her, but Emily shut him down with one sentence.
"James, if you dare have someone tail me again, I'll tell Grandma."
In the Thomas family, James had always been proud and self-assured. He could ignore everyone else, but he would never say a harsh word to Qiana.
After Emily left, James, thoroughly put in his place, sulked by himself for quite a while.
Even when Emily returned, his tone was still unpleasant.
Emily caught the hidden anger in James's voice, but she couldn't be bothered with this moody James. She got straight into the car and sat beside him.
"We can go now."
Emily said coolly to Marc.
"Yes."
Marc started the car, and it quickly drove off in a cloud of dust.
The two didn't speak the entire way.
Emily vaguely sensed that James was angry and her attitude became somewhat cold too, but she didn't really care.
What she didn't know was that just two days ago, James had received that so-called DNA report.
The result wasn't what James had expected.
He had originally thought that with the familiar scent and familiar feel of her skin, Emily had to be Mason's biological mother.
But the result said otherwise.
Emily and Mason weren't related!
Why was this happening?!
James didn't understand. Thinking about how he had been so sure Emily was Mason's biological mother and had done so many intimate things, his feelings became complicated.
He had an absurd sense of having betrayed the woman in his heart.
At this thought, James's expression grew even darker.
Marc, who knew everything, focused on driving while also worriedly glancing at the two in the back seat through the rearview mirror.
Like James, before the DNA test results came out, Marc had firmly believed that Emily was Mason's biological mother.
But one DNA report had shattered everyone's assumptions.
Back then, would it have been better not to do any DNA test?
Just let James and Emily develop feelings for each other and forget about that elusive woman - wouldn't that have been better for James?
Marc couldn't figure it out. He was just an assistant. Besides helping James handle external troubles, he had no right to interfere in internal matters of the heart.
While everyone was lost in their own thoughts, the car arrived at the exhibition venue.
"Emily!"
As soon as Emily pushed James into the venue, she saw Hermione in a long dress jogging toward her.
"Emily? You were invited too?"
Seeing Hermione, a flash of surprise crossed Emily's eyes.
With Hermione's limited background, she shouldn't have received an invitation.
Hermione seemed to read Emily's mind. Her cheeks flushed red, and she said somewhat embarrassedly, "Actually, Lon gave us the invitations."
"Why?"
Emily keenly noticed that Hermione was calling Lon by his first name and raised an eyebrow.
It seemed that after the last incident, the two had become quite familiar.
"Remember when he and I went to that restaurant and something happened? He even got hurt protecting me. I was planning to find a chance to thank him for saving my life, but he firmly refused."
At this point, Hermione's expression fell for a moment.
"And then?"
Emily patted Hermione's shoulder comfortingly.
"Later, Lon gave me two invitations, saying it was to apologize for scaring me that day. But really, I should be the one apologizing - he was the one who got hurt..."
As she said this, Hermione looked around expectantly. Not seeing who she was hoping for, she looked quite disappointed.
Seeing Hermione like this, Emily found it amusing and patiently comforted her a few times.
"Emily, I came with Kurt. Do you want to see Kurt? He's over there."
Hermione pulled at Emily's wrist, saying softly.
Emily instinctively looked back at James's cold, hard face and smiled. "Never mind, I've got things to do here. You guys have fun. We'll get together another time."
"Okay."
Hermione lowered her head disappointedly and said quietly, "I'll go find Kurt then. Let's chat another day."
"Sure."
After Hermione left, Emily silently pushed James toward the interior of the venue.
The noise around them was deafening, making James's ears hurt. Already in a bad mood, he felt even worse now.
He shouldn't have come!
He couldn't even see - coming to a place like this was just asking for humiliation!
James keenly heard what seemed to be people mentioning his name, their words full of mockery.
And those gazes directed at him felt like needles piercing his body.
Emily also noticed the stares coming their way. She frowned, a flash of displeasure in her eyes.
She pushed James away from the noisy main hall to a smaller exhibition room inside.
This room displayed some ancient paintings. With fewer people, it was at least quieter.
"We're now in the small exhibition hall for ancient paintings..."
Emily crouched down, lowering her voice to explain softly in James's ear.
That intoxicating scent filled his nostrils again, and James's body stiffened for a moment.
"You don't need to do this."
James said coldly.
Emily looked at James strangely.
"James, sometimes I really don't understand you. You could have found an excuse to decline this invitation. Why did you still come?"
Why?
James's expression grew colder and colder.
Because the tone of your voice suggested you really wanted to come, because I heard how much you cared about Robbie...
So even though my body didn't allow it, I still wanted to fulfill your small wish.
Only because you're Mason's biological mother, because you're the person buried in my heart.
The joke was, right after he agreed to come to the exhibition with Emily, one DNA report shattered all his previous assumptions.