Chapter 176 Emma, You Are 5 Weeks Pregnant
The lights at the Jackson Mansion stayed on until 2 AM before Emma finally convinced her parents to let Evelyn keep the baby.
Evelyn told them everything about Hawk—how he'd saved her life three times.
Ruby broke down in tears after hearing the story, choking out. "Damn fate, turning love into regret. Back in the day, your father pursued me relentlessly for three years, and I kept saying no. You're such a fool, Evelyn."
Daryl turned to look at her with a wry expression. Wasn't it Ruby who wouldn't take no for an answer for three years, even showing up drunk at his door, leading to their shotgun wedding?
Still, she'd been a good wife. She'd helped him build the business from the ground up, making the Jackson family one of Emerald City's big four elite families.
Ruby gently guided Evelyn upstairs, carefully protecting her belly.
Daryl approached Emma, his voice heavy with concern. "Emma, sweetheart, don't get too close to Nicholas. I'm worried you'll get into serious trouble, and my heart can't take it."
"Don't worry, Dad." She helped him upstairs.
The night was deep, but Emma's sleep was restless, her mind in turmoil.
The next day, Emma accompanied Evelyn to the hospital for a checkup. The gestational sac showed both heartbeat and embryo development. Hearing that steady thumping sound, Evelyn burst into tears.
Fortunately, everything looked normal, though her hormone levels were slightly low and she showed signs of nutritional deficiency.
The doctor prescribed progesterone for pregnancy support and nutritional supplements before letting them leave.
As they were about to exit the hospital, the director and several doctors hurried after them.
"Dr. N, please wait!" Dr. Bennett called out.
Emma turned back, puzzled by the commotion.
"Ms. Rodriguez, hello. I'm Alan Bennett. It's an honor to see you here at the hospital."
Dr. Bennett extended his hand respectfully, and Emma politely shook it.
"Dr. Bennett, what can I do for you?"
"We have a rather urgent case and were hoping you might offer some guidance." Dr. Bennett gestured to a handsome doctor in a white coat beside him.
"This is Leon Lawson, Dr. Lawson. He's a cardiac specialist we brought in from abroad. He's encountered a challenging case. Please, show Ms. Rodriguez the file."
Leon handed over the folder. "Ms. Rodriguez, this patient has severe heart disease and needs surgery within two months. But she has a genetic deficiency and is allergic to all anesthetics. Our team is at a complete loss."
Genetic deficiency and anesthetic allergies?
Emma and Evelyn exchanged meaningful glances at those words.
Emma took the case file and studied it carefully. The patient's condition was critical—without surgery, she could face complete vascular blockage. But the human body couldn't endure major surgery without anesthesia.
After considering for a moment, she said, "Conservative treatment is the only option right now. I'm researching a new anesthetic specifically for patients with genetic deficiencies. Hopefully, it'll be ready in time."
"May I ask which city this patient is in?" Her voice carried a slight tremor.
"Empire City," Leon answered quickly, pulling out his phone. "Could I possibly add your contact information, Ms. Rodriguez? For future consultation purposes."
Emma added him on WhatsApp, chatted briefly, then left the hospital.
Leon watched her retreating figure, his lips curving into a subtle smile, his eyes holding unreadable depths.
Outside the hospital, they could see the imposing Harrison Group tower looming like a giant.
At that moment, in Harrison Group's conference room, the atmosphere was suffocatingly tense.
Nicholas had rejected every proposal presented that day—over a dozen of them.
Everyone could see he was in a particularly foul mood.
He sat staring at his phone screen, completely lost in thought.
The room full of executives who barely dared to breathe, afraid any sound might disturb Nicholas.
Several minutes later, Nicholas finally snapped back to reality.
He looked up, his cold gaze sweeping over everyone.
"Meeting adjourned."
He stood and walked out, leaving behind a room full of relieved people.
In the CEO's office.
Charlie entered with freshly ground coffee to find Nicholas's tall figure standing before the massive floor-to-ceiling windows.
A cigarette dangled from his fingers, its red tip glowing and fading as his deep eyes stared toward the distant apartment complex.
Charlie set the coffee on the desk and approached with fearless determination.
"Mr. Harrison, Mrs. Harrison isn't feeling well right now. She has severe anemia. When someone's body feels awful, their temper's bound to flare."
"You don't know this, but back in Luminous City, you nearly strangled her. Yet she didn't hold it against you at all."
Nicholas spun around sharply, brow furrowing.
He had no memory of such an incident.
Seeing his expression, Charlie knew. "Your memory isn't complete—you've forgotten some things. Do you remember throwing her into the swimming pool? She nearly drowned, and you wouldn't let me save her."
Nicholas's eyes visibly shook.
That had happened too?
Charlie shook his head with a sigh. "If I were Mrs. Harrison, I'd have stabbed you at least twice. Killing you a hundred times wouldn't be enough. She's just too kind."
This revelation dissolved the inexplicable frustration lodged in Nicholas's chest.
In its place came a crushing sense of suffocation. He realized he had no right to be angry with her.
Seeing the timing was right, Charlie stepped closer.
"Mr. Harrison, do you want to win Mrs. Harrison back?"
Nicholas glanced at him coldly. "You have a plan?"
Charlie immediately straightened up and flipped his hair.
"Mr. Harrison, in the game of love, there are only two ultimate strategies."
He held up two fingers with dramatic flair.
"First is 'hero saves the damsel'—you already executed that brilliantly in Luminous City with spectacular results."
"The second is 'proximity brings priority.'"
"Think about it—if your wife sees you every day, constantly feeling your tenderness and burning love, even the hardest ice would melt. Love that has survived life and death must bloom into something absolutely magnificent."
He concluded with a resounding clap.
Finally, some color returned to Nicholas's deep eyes.
He extinguished his cigarette and said quietly, "Three months' bonus. Continue."
Charlie was thrilled inside but kept his expression serious.
"Excellent! I'll create a foolproof plan to make Mrs. Harrison willingly stay with you."
And so began his elaborate scheming.
4 PM.
A black Rolls-Royce Phantom silently pulled up outside the Jackson family gates.
Charlie stepped out and went inside.
Ten minutes later, he emerged with Emma, and the car sped away toward Harrison Group.
When Emma appeared in the doorway, thunderous applause erupted.
The tech director led a group of top engineers, lined up in two rows, watching her with excitement.
"Welcome, Dr. N!"
"Holy shit, it's really Dr. N! She's gorgeous!"
"Dr. N is our department's absolute legend! FD's lifesaver!"
"Dr. N was also Mrs. Harrison."
Everyone whispered among themselves, faces full of admiration and excitement.
Dr. N had shocked the world at that press conference, making FD famous overnight. Now she was working alongside them—it was like winning the lottery.
Emma nodded somewhat awkwardly at the crowd.
She had a heavy task ahead.
FD's database needed a complete overhaul. The six cancer modules hastily built earlier were buckling under the massive influx of clinical data.
Each cancer treatment protocol needed to be expanded into an independent system.
Additionally, over two hundred clinical issues discovered in practice had no answers in the database—all requiring her personal attention.
Conservatively, this would take at least two weeks.
The tech director personally toured Emma through the entire department before leading her to a private office.
The office was spacious and bright.
Facing the floor-to-ceiling windows sat a desk with a top-of-the-line supercomputer.
On the nearby coffee table were artfully arranged fruit platters, adorable French pastries, and a pot of steaming floral tea.
This was VIP treatment indeed.
Without much thought, she opened the computer, logged in with the highest-level access the director provided, and immediately immersed herself in work.
Meanwhile.
In the top-floor CEO's office, a massive monitor clearly displayed Emma's image.
Nicholas watched quietly.
He watched her fingers fly across the keyboard, watched her occasional frown, watched the code flowing beneath her pale fingertips.
His gaze was tender enough to melt.
Over an hour later, Emma finally felt a hint of fatigue.
She set down the mouse, stood up, and stretched her neck.
Walking to the coffee table, she picked up a piece of matcha mousse and tasted it.
"Emma, I'm here." A childish electronic voice sounded.
FD Unit 001 glided in, moving smoothly to her side and gently poking her knee with a small mechanical hand.
Emma's heart skipped a beat as she looked down, grasping its little hand and examining it from all angles.
Her face lit up with delight.
"You have hands now? And they move so smoothly?"
"Of course!" FD's LCD face displayed a smug expression. "I'm Unit 001. The more perfect I am, the better future FDs will be. I don't just have hands—I have feet too!"
With that, mechanical whirring sounds emerged from its body as it elevated itself, revealing a pair of mechanical legs wearing golden shoes. It even took a few demonstration steps.
Suddenly, it pressed a button on its chest forcefully.
Michael Jackson's classic music filled the office.
FD's entire body flashed with rainbow lights as it launched into an epic robot dance.
Emma burst into laughter at this display, covering her mouth as she giggled.
On the monitor, Nicholas watched this scene, his lips unconsciously curving upward.
He stared at the woman on screen, her eyes crinkled with laughter, fighting the urge to rush downstairs multiple times.
But he restrained himself.
He had promised Charlie he absolutely wouldn't see her today.
Otherwise, all their efforts would be wasted.
He could only watch her greedily through this cold screen.
His phone rang, and he moved to the window to take the call, lighting another cigarette.
After the performance, FD immediately ran to Emma's side, nuzzling her leg with its round head.
"Emma, give me a drop of blood. I'll check your health."
She patted its head gently. "I'm busy. Next time."
"Emma, please, just one drop." FD acted like a child, rolling around beside her. "I'm so bored. Please play with me for a bit."
A panel opened on its belly, extending a thin blood collection needle, looking at her hopefully.
Worn down by its persistence, Emma extended her finger.
"Just this once."
"Yay!"
The needle quickly pricked and withdrew.
"Reading data...!"
FD made excited beeping sounds, its LCD face flashing through dozens of delighted emoticons.
Thirty seconds later.
It used all its energy to shout joyfully, "Emma! You're 5 weeks pregnant! You're going to be a mother!"
"Mr. Harrison finally has a baby! 001 is so happy!"
Emma froze completely, her eyes widening in shock and disbelief.