Chapter 181: Being the White Family Son-in-Law, I'm Very Interested
A tall man strode through the front entrance, wearing a black trench coat that accentuated his imposing frame. His posture was straight as a pine tree.
When he lifted his head, he revealed a strikingly handsome face.
His beauty was completely different from Nicholas's refined, aristocratic elegance. This man's features were carved with ice, radiating an inherent aura of lethal authority that commanded absolute dominance. His powerful presence could crush anything in its path.
Zoe's heartbeat skipped in that instant.
Mrs. White rushed forward with barely contained excitement, pulling Zoe along.
"Luke, you're finally home! Come, meet your sister Olivia."
Zoe looked up at him, her heart racing wildly, cheeks flushing pink as she whispered, "Luke."
Luke White merely nodded coldly, glancing at her with complete indifference, his expression unreadable.
"Mother, I'm exhausted. I'll head upstairs." Luke's tone was glacial, though his eyes softened slightly when addressing Mrs. White.
"Of course, darling. Go rest." Mrs. White's voice carried its perpetual gentleness.
Luke walked past them without another word, taking the stairs two at a time with his long strides.
Zoe stared at his retreating figure until he disappeared around the corner, her heart still pounding erratically...
The Jackson Mansion
When Emma woke again, evening had fallen, with sunset painting half the sky crimson.
She'd been lying in bed all day, her mind mercifully blank, refusing to engage with any thoughts.
Evelyn entered carrying a bowl of soup, poking Emma's forehead playfully.
"Emma, get up and move around. There's a Folk Festival in Springfield Town tomorrow. Nina and I want to take you out to lift your spirits."
Nina immediately raised both hands in agreement, practically bouncing with enthusiasm.
"Alright," Emma said, slowly pulling herself up.
Her phone rang—Robert calling.
His warm, concerned voice came through the speaker.
"Emma, dear, are you feeling better? Come have dinner with me when you have time."
Emma's heart warmed. "I'd love to."
After hanging up, she opened WhatsApp and sent Charlie a message.
[Charlie, I won't be coming to the office for a few days. I'll complete FD's upgrade on schedule.]
Charlie, who was waiting for DNA results at the research facility, saw the message and quickly replied before immediately calling Nicholas to report.
Just as he hung up, a door opened and a lab-coated doctor emerged, holding two freshly printed identification reports.
Charlie's eyes went wide. He sprinted over, grabbed the reports, and raced back to headquarters.
At Harrison Group, Nicholas tore open the envelope the moment Charlie handed it over.
He pulled out several pages, his eyes rapidly scanning the contents.
Within seconds, his fingers tightened around the papers until his knuckles turned white, his composure completely shattered.
Charlie craned his neck, peering over Nicholas's shoulder.
One glance was all it took.
His pupils dilated in shock.
"Mr. Harrison, Mrs. Harrison really is from the White family. She's the true Ms. White!"
Charlie nearly jumped out of his skin seeing the DNA results.
If Emma knew Nicholas had found her family, she'd be overjoyed.
Their reconciliation seemed within reach.
But seeing Nicholas's increasingly grave expression, he asked tentatively, "Mr. Harrison, should we tell her this wonderful news?"
Nicholas fell into a prolonged silence, the office air seeming to freeze around them.
Finally, he spoke slowly, "We can't tell her yet."
"I need to investigate how someone obtained her blood sample in Luminous City to match with the White family, then deliberately arranged for Zoe to assume her identity."
He lit a cigarette, his dark eyes fixed on the distance. "This is obviously a setup."
Charlie listened, drawing a sharp breath. "Could it have been Karen? She'd do anything to secure Zoe's wealth and status. After all, the White family is Empire City's top-tier elite."
Nicholas looked up, his gaze profound. "If it were that simple, this would be much easier to handle."
Charlie's mind raced, connecting all the threads.
Thinking deeper, he spoke again, "The mastermind deliberately had the White family acknowledge a false daughter, which clearly indicates they have a grudge against the Whites. They don't want the family to find their real daughter."
"In that case, Mrs. Harrison, as the White family's true heiress, has already been targeted. She could be in extreme danger."
Nicholas glanced at him approvingly—at least Charlie wasn't completely dense.
He still couldn't grasp what this shadowy figure was truly orchestrating.
Nicholas exhaled a thin stream of smoke. "The White family's influence runs deep in Empire City. Next month's reunion gala could be dangerous."
His voice carried a chill that could freeze the air itself.
"Until all threats are eliminated, she cannot return to the White family."
Charlie was startled by this conclusion and quickly responded, "I'll immediately have our people investigate Karen. She must have contact with the mastermind—otherwise, she couldn't have obtained Mrs. Harrison's blood sample for the White family."
Just then, Charlie's phone rang.
He glanced at the caller ID and stepped aside, lowering his voice to answer.
After a few brief "yes" responses, he hurried back to Nicholas with a complex expression.
"Mr. Harrison, that was Harrison Manor calling."
"Mrs. White is currently visiting, apparently discussing Ms. White's marriage prospects with Mrs. Mia Harrison. Should you return home?"
"Let's go meet her." Nicholas's cold lips curved into an enigmatic smile.
After all, she was his future mother-in-law.
Night had fallen heavily when Nicholas returned to Harrison Manor, where the parlor glowed with warm light and low conversation.
Nicholas loosened his tie as he entered, finding Mia seated across from an elegant woman, both sipping tea.
The lady wore an impeccably tailored dress, her demeanor graceful and serene, every movement reflecting years of refined composure.
But her face made Nicholas freeze in his tracks.
The resemblance was obvious.
She shared six or seven features with Emma, particularly around the eyes.
His heart clenched as he realized where Emma had inherited her breathtaking beauty.
"Nicholas, you're home." Mia beckoned him over. "Come meet Mrs. White."
Nicholas collected himself and approached, nodding respectfully. "Mrs. White, it's a pleasure."
Mrs. White studied him intently, her eyes brightening with obvious approval.
His bearing, presence, and looks—Nicholas was truly exceptional.
No wonder Olivia couldn't forget him.
"Mr. Harrison is indeed remarkable." Mrs. White set down her teacup, cutting straight to the point. "I've come to personally invite you to our Olivia's reunion gala."
She paused, her tone grateful. "I must thank you for taking such good care of my daughter."
Nicholas's dark eyes remained unreadable as he replied courteously yet distantly, "The pleasure was mine. I'll attend as scheduled."
Mia stared at her son in amazement—had the sun risen from the west? He typically refused such invitations outright.
Mrs. White's smile deepened as she added delicately, "I should mention, this reunion gala also serves as an opportunity for me to find Olivia a suitable husband."
"The White and Windsor families had originally arranged a marriage, but young people today have their own ideas—Olivia refused. I believe the White and Harrison families would be perfectly matched."
Her implication was crystal clear.
The air grew heavy for a moment.
Nicholas's eyes held an unreadable emotion.
"Mrs. White, I appreciate your directness." He suddenly smiled, though his voice turned ice-cold.
"Ms. White holds such a distinguished position. Being the White family's son-in-law..."
He deliberately paused, meeting Mrs. White's gaze directly.
"I'm very interested!"
"I'll prepare a special surprise for her."
"How wonderful!" Mrs. White beamed with relief.
From the shadows around the corner, Emma's figure stood frozen.
She'd come downstairs for water but never expected to overhear such a conversation.
He wanted to be the White family's son-in-law.
He promised to prepare a surprise for Ms. White.
Each word was like an ice-cold blade, stabbing deep into her heart and twisting mercilessly.
Coldness spread from her fingertips through her entire body.
She drew a sharp breath and fled from that suffocating space.
Soon after, Nicholas made his excuses and left, completely unaware that Emma had been there...
The night was deep and dark.
Emma barely touched her dinner before leaving Harrison Manor. Instead of returning directly to Jackson Mansion, she wandered the streets like a lost soul.
Suddenly, it began to rain.
The gentle drizzle was fine and dense, striking her face with icy droplets.
She ducked into a bakery, surrounded by warm yellow light and sweet, cloying aromas.
She bought a pink frosted donut.
Then she sat on a bench under the shop's awning.
She took small bites, chewing slowly, swallowing deliberately.
The sickeningly sweet flavor dissolved in her mouth, though she couldn't taste it.
Her mind was filled with memories.
She remembered every moment in Luminous City, then recalled his confident words to Mrs. White.
He wanted to be the White family's son-in-law.
Sadness wrapped around her heart like tangled rope, impossible to cut or unravel.
Her eyes quickly reddened, heat building until tears blurred everything...
By the time she returned to Jackson Mansion, the rain had lightened.
Emma stepped out of the taxi to see a familiar black luxury car parked by the entrance.
The door opened, and Nicholas approached with an umbrella, quickly reaching her side.
The black canopy enveloped her completely.
His scent—subtle wood and crisp, rain-washed air—was once her greatest weakness.
He reached up, his warm fingertips gently brushing water droplets from her hair.
"Silly girl, where did you disappear to? I've been waiting forever." His voice carried genuine concern.
Emma looked up at him quietly.
"Nicholas, don't come here anymore." Her voice was unnervingly calm.
Without another word, she stepped out from under his umbrella, leaving his small sphere of protection.
The night wind swept through, carrying the overwhelming sense of something shattered...
Meanwhile, Zoe was thrilled to learn Nicholas would attend the reunion gala and had expressed interest in becoming the White family's son-in-law!
With only ten days remaining until the gala, she had no idea it would mark her complete downfall...