Chapter 188

Chapter 188

That night when Michael got home, he immediately noticed Emily seemed down.

Despite her efforts to hide it, her slightly reddened eyes and forced smile didn't fool him.

"Hey, what's going on? You still not feeling well?" he asked with concern as he pulled her into his arms.

Emily melted into his warm embrace and hesitated for a moment before finally telling him everything about Victoria's visit and the agreement she'd brought over.

She didn't want to keep secrets, and she knew this was something Michael needed to handle.

As Michael listened, his expression darkened instantly, a threatening coldness radiating from him, his eyes turning to ice.

He held Emily tightly, his voice deep with both apology and determination. "I'm so sorry you had to deal with that, Emily. Let me handle this from here. Don't worry about anything she said, okay? Nobody's taking you away from our baby, I promise you that! As for my mother..."

He paused, his tone becoming resolute, "I'm going to have one final talk with her. My marriage and my future are my choices to make. Nobody gets to butt in, and there's no way in hell anyone's going to hurt you or our child!"

Emily nodded silently.

She trusted him.

But if Michael couldn't make the choice, she was prepared to raise their child on her own for the rest of her life.

The next morning was picture-perfect sunny.

Michael had deliberately cleared his entire morning schedule and personally drove Emily to the marriage registration office.

They didn't tell anyone or make a big deal about it—just the two of them, the necessary documents, and hearts committed to spending their lives together.

Photos, paperwork, vows... simple yet meaningful steps.

When they received their marriage certificate, Emily looked at their photos side by side and their names listed as spouses, feeling an indescribable rush of excitement and happiness.

From today on, they were officially husband and wife.

Michael held her hand tightly, his thumb caressing the diamond ring he had prepared long ago and could finally, rightfully place on her finger, his eyes filled with deep affection and contentment.

"Honey, I'm looking forward to spending the rest of my life with you," he said, bending down to place a gentle yet meaningful kiss on her lips.

Emily's cheeks flushed pink, her eyes glistening with happy tears as she nodded firmly.

After leaving the registration office, they got into the car where Michael took out his phone and snapped a photo of their intertwined fingers.

Without much editing, he simply added the caption: [Holding your hand through every tomorrow.]

Then he hit post.

The Facebook update hit like a bomb, creating instant shockwaves!

Michael's official announcement confirmed all the rumors about him having a child!

His Facebook comments section was immediately flooded with congratulations and excited messages.

Topics like #Michael and Emily Married and #Power Couple Wedding News blew up across social media platforms, becoming the day's hottest trending topics.

Emily shared his post too, responding with just a simple heart emoji that said everything.

Watching the notifications of congratulations and tags blowing up her phone screen, she leaned against Michael's shoulder, feeling like she was floating on cloud nine.

Perhaps because of her improved mood, or maybe because her pregnancy was progressing, Emily's morning sickness actually started getting better.

Though she still felt nauseated occasionally, it wasn't as severe or frequent as before, and she could even keep down some nutritious food.

With Michael's and her doctor's approval, she began resuming normal work, just with a reduced workload and shorter hours to avoid overexertion.

That afternoon, after handling some non-urgent tasks, Emily left work on time.

Michael came to pick her up personally, saying he wanted to take her to an elegant restaurant to celebrate their marriage.

The restaurant was located on a high floor of a downtown skyscraper, offering a spectacular view of the city's glittering nightscape.

The atmosphere was indeed romantic and peaceful as Michael had described, with melodious violin music floating through the air.

Michael had reserved the entire terrace area in advance to ensure their privacy.

The dishes were exquisite, and Emily surprisingly had an appetite, enjoying the specially prepared meals that were mild yet delicious.

Michael watched her eat with delight in his eyes, occasionally serving her food and chatting with her softly, creating a sweet, intimate atmosphere.

However, just as the main course had been served and Emily was taking small bites of the tender lamb chops Michael had cut for her, a faint burning smell drifted through the air.

At first, neither Michael nor Emily paid much attention, assuming it was just normal cooking odors from the kitchen.

But soon, the burning smell grew stronger, and they could even see wisps of grayish-white smoke coming from the non-dining area of the restaurant!

"What's that smell?" Emily frowned instinctively, putting down her utensils.

Michael was more alert, immediately standing up and scanning the direction the smoke was coming from with sharp eyes.

Just then, the fire alarm inside the restaurant suddenly blared with a piercing sound!

The shrill alarm shattered the previously quiet, romantic atmosphere!

"Fire! There's a fire inside!" A server ran out from the back kitchen, shouting in panic.

They were on the terrace, but there were still several tables of guests in the main dining room, which instantly erupted into chaos.

People jumped to their feet in alarm, chairs toppled over, and the sounds of screams and crying children mingled together, throwing the scene into complete disorder!

Thick smoke began pouring out from the restaurant's entrance and ventilation ducts, spreading rapidly with an acrid smell that made breathing difficult.

The fire was spreading incredibly fast, with orange-red flames visibly dancing inside!

"Emily!" Michael's expression changed dramatically. Instead of trying to save himself, he immediately rushed around the table and pulled the shocked Emily tightly into his arms!

He covered her mouth and nose with his suit jacket to prevent her from inhaling too much smoke, his sharp eyes quickly scanning their surroundings for the safest and quickest escape route.

"Don't panic, stay right with me!" His voice remained steady and powerful amid the chaotic alarms and screams, carrying a reassuring strength.

He held Emily tightly and, recalling the restaurant layout he'd observed when they arrived, made a quick decision. Instead of heading toward the main exit that might already be blocked by fire, he pulled her quickly toward the edge of the terrace near the emergency evacuation stairs.