Chapter 187 Luna and Luke Have Arrived
Emma paused, her gaze settling on Nicholas's sharp, handsome features.
"Nicholas, do you like children?"
Nicholas's entire being lit up, surprise and joy overflowing from his eyes. He grabbed her hand tightly, his voice trembling.
"You're willing to have my baby?"
Seeing his reaction, her heart softened, and she nodded.
Nicholas's chest rose and fell with excitement as he was about to pull her completely into his arms.
A sudden knock at the door made Emma's heart skip a beat.
Like a startled deer, she nervously pushed Nicholas toward the door.
"Quick, jump down!"
Nicholas’s face darkened instantly.
This woman—wasn't she afraid he'd fall to his death?
He hooked his arm around her, pulled her back, pressed a fierce kiss to her slightly parted lips, then released her and leapt nimbly from the balcony.
Emma watched with her heart in her throat, her whole body leaning out to see.
"Emma."
Daryl's voice was already calling from outside the door.
"Coming!"
Seeing Nicholas land safely and wave at her, Emma finally breathed a sigh of relief and hurried to open the door.
Daryl entered, carrying a steaming bowl of soup.
"Why is your face so red? Do you have a fever?"
He reached out, testing her forehead temperature with the back of his hand. Good, it wasn't hot.
Emma pulled his hand down, her eyes slightlyavoiding..
"I was just sleeping under the covers."
He laughed, "Just like when you were little. Isn't the heating on?"
She changed the subject. "Dad, what's this?"
Daryl handed her the bowl.
"The nutritionist prepared this blood‑nourishing soup for you. It’s safe during pregnancy—drink it before bed."
"Thank you, Dad."
Emma took it and sipped slowly. The broth was warm and had a subtle sweetness—not unpleasant at all.
Daryl watched her obedient demeanor and asked, "Are you planning to forgive Nicholas?"
She paused mid-sip, silent for a few seconds before saying softly,
"I'm planning to tell him about the baby. I want us to move forward together."
Daryl fell silent too.
After a few seconds, he sighed.
"Then follow your heart. I'll work on your mother."
He patted his daughter's shoulder.
"As long as you're happy, that's what matters."
Emma's eyes misted. "Thank you, Dad."
Daryl smiled, his tone carrying a sense of acceptance.
"As long as he treats you well. Now finish your soup and get some rest."
With that, he left.
She nodded, finished the soup, and walked to the balcony.
The night was deep, and Nicholas was no longer visible downstairs.
Her phone screen lit up with a message from him: [You owe me. I'll collect later.]
Looking at those words, she couldn't help but smile, but she didn't reply.
The night sky was clear, the stars bright.
The next day, Emma arrived at Harrison Corporation and went straight to the lab.
She needed to perfect that formula as soon as possible. She'd tried many times before, but the results still hadn't reached the ideal state.
She put on her white coat and instructed Charlie.
"Go bring Dr. Lawson up here. I need to discuss the formula with him."
She specifically emphasized, "This is business."
Charlie immediately nodded and left, quickly calling Nicholas.
On the other end, Nicholas was silent for a few seconds, then agreed, "Fine."
Soon, Charlie brought Leon to the lab.
Emma didn't waste time with small talk. She directly explained the current bottleneck with the formula, then said, "I need a sample of the patient's blood for comparison."
Leon was very cooperative. "Of course, I'll have someone prepare it."
Emma handed him one of the components that required precise measurement.
"I can't handle this substance right now, so I'm afraid I'll need you as my assistant."
A flash of surprise crossed his eyes, then he nodded.
"That would be my honor."
So the two worked seriously at the lab bench, mixing the formula.
The lab was spacious, the outer work area temporarily empty and quiet.
The air carried only the faint sounds of glassware clinking and Emma and Leon's low conversation.
Leon stole several glances at her focused work. Dr. N was different from what he'd imagined.
Charlie stood guard like a loyal sentinel outside.
One moment he was bringing in hot tea, the next delivering delicate pastries, bustling about.
When Emma finished one phase of the formula and came out to use the restroom, she was stunned.
The previously empty outer work area was now crowded with thirty-some people.
There were clerks typing on keyboards, janitors repeatedly wiping tables with rags, a man aggressively pruning plants until they were nearly bald, and someone at the copy machine endlessly printing blank paper—everyone busy as could be.
Charlie hurried over, explaining quickly.
"Mrs. Harrison, the heating broke in an office downstairs, so they temporarily moved up here to work."
Emma nodded without comment.
Near noon, Nicholas appeared at the lab entrance.
He wore a charcoal gray suit today, his tall frame commanding and imposing.
He walked straight in, ignoring everyone else, pulled Emma into his embrace, then looked at Leon and said,
"Dr. Lawson, I was impulsive before. I sincerely apologize. If you don't mind, let's have lunch together."
Leon considered for two seconds, then nodded. "I'd be honored."
The group went to a private dining room at Melody.
Charlie efficiently ordered a table full of dishes and decanted the wine.
Nicholas immediately raised his glass.
"Dr. Lawson, about last time's unpleasantness—please don't take it to heart. I'll punish myself with three drinks."
Leon quickly raised his glass.
"Mr. Harrison, you're too kind. Let's consider it water under the bridge."
Charlie hurried over to pour wine, and when he leaned in, he inadvertently glimpsed a tiny black mole behind Leon's left ear. His heart jolted.
At the table, Nicholas naturally served food to Emma.
"Eat more. These honey-glazed ribs—your favorite."
Emma nodded and took a bite. It tasted good, but somehow not as delicious as what the chef at Harrison Manor made.
Nicholas turned the conversation to Leon.
"Dr. Lawson, to become a renowned cardiologist at such a young age—you're truly an exceptional talent. I heard you have a special case in Imperial City. I know quite a few people there. If you need anything, just say the word."
Leon's heart jumped, then he smiled.
"I'll thank you in advance, Mr. Harrison. It's an elderly gentleman of great moral character waiting for heart surgery, but his constitution is special, so he's waiting for Ms. Rodriguez's formula. Thank you for Ms. Rodriguez's generous assistance."
He nodded to Emma and continued,
"But the patient is already seventy years old. His son and daughter-in-law died years ago, and he had a granddaughter, but sadly, she went missing as a child. The old man's had a difficult life."
Emma's chopsticks suddenly dropped, and the rib fell onto her plate with a crisp sound, startling everyone at the table.
She quickly said, "Sorry."
Nicholas smiled and took a napkin, gently wiping a drop of sauce from her hand.
His voice was tender enough to melt honey. "Eat slowly. Have some soup first to warm your stomach."
He ladled half a bowl of the freshly served soup for her.
By the end of the meal, two bottles of red wine were empty.
Leon was clearly intoxicated, slurring his words.
"Mr. Harrison, thank you for... for the hospitality. Next time... next time we'll drink again."
Charlie quickly stepped forward to support him. "Dr. Lawson, I'll take you home."
Nicholas seemed to have caught some of the intoxication too, swaying slightly as he walked.
Emma supported him as they headed out, finally managing to get him into the car.
As soon as the car door closed, his full weight pressed against her, and without warning, he pulled her into a passionate kiss.
His mouth carried a faint wine fragrance, but his kiss was fierce and dominant.
Emma finally managed to push him away and had barely settled when he pulled her back into his arms.
He held her tightly, his chin resting on the top of her head, his deep voice slightly husky.
"Don't move. Let me hold you for a while."
His large hand covered her small one, embracing her tightly, then he leaned back against the soft seat and closed his eyes.
Emma looked at his face so close to hers, his long lashes casting shadows beneath his eyes.
She'd wanted to tell him about the baby.
But seeing him like this, even if she told him, he probably wouldn't remember.
So she swallowed the words back down.
The lazy afternoon sun streamed into Nicholas's office.
Charlie entered and immediately saw Nicholas sitting behind his desk, fingers flying across the keyboard, completely focused—not a trace of intoxication.
Had he been played by his boss?
Charlie hurried over and reported in a low voice.
"Mr. Harrison, that Leon definitely has problems."
"When I took him home at lunch, I deliberately tested him. He doesn't know martial arts, but when he was injured—quite a large wound—he had it stitched without anesthesia. He endured the pain, which makes me suspect he's also allergic to anesthetics."
Nicholas stopped typing, his dark eyes cold as ice.
Charlie continued, "We can basically confirm he deliberately led the White family to recognize the wrong daughter, and he's approaching Mrs. Harrison with purpose."
Nicholas raised his chin slightly, indicating he understood.
"Find out who's behind him and all his connections. Focus on his relationship with the White family."
"Yes."
Charlie nodded and left.
As evening approached and the lights came on, Nicholas packed up in good spirits, preparing to take Emma back to Imperial Gardens.
The baby-making plan had to be moved to the top of the agenda.
But as soon as he reached the lobby, he saw the Jackson family car speeding away, Emma's figure flashing past the window.
Nicholas's face immediately darkened.
Were the Jacksons former bandits in their past life, always stealing people?
What he didn't know was that the atmosphere at the Jackson house was currently quite lively.
At the dining table, there were two distinguished guests.
Luna had brought her son Luke for a personal visit.
Luna was delighted to learn that her son—who hadn't shown interest in romance for thirty years—had taken a liking to Evelyn. She immediately had generous gifts prepared and rushed over.
Ruby looked at Luke before her, inwardly amazed.
Broad shoulders, narrow waist, handsome features, wearing an impeccably tailored designer suit that made him look aristocratically imposing.
This appearance, this family background—he was like the perfect male lead from a novel.
She couldn't help glancing at Daryl beside her, regretting marrying so early.
Ruby smiled and said, "Mrs. White, what brings you to Emerald City so suddenly? You should have told us so I could prepare a proper welcome."
Luna, who was extremely well-maintained, smiled with elegant warmth.
"Mrs. Jackson, you're too kind. I'm the one being presumptuous."
"Luke isn't home often, so I specially brought him to visit."
She looked at Evelyn.
"This must be Miss Jackson? Indeed, as beautiful as Mrs. Jackson—both absolutely stunning."
Ruby beamed with joy. "My eldest daughter is a bit headstrong—we've spoiled her."
Just then, Emma walked in from outside.
Seeing the room full of people, she paused, then obediently walked to sit at the dining table.
When she clearly saw Luna's face, her eyes immediately lit up.
"Mrs. White."
Luna was equally surprised. Wasn't this the girl she'd met at the club yesterday?
"You're the Jackson family's second daughter?"
Ruby explained with a smile, "Emma is my adopted daughter, raised at my side since childhood. She takes my surname, Rodriguez."
Luna nodded in understanding.
"I see. Mrs. Jackson is truly blessed, with three such outstanding daughters."
She smiled politely, but the atmosphere at the table became somewhat strange.
Everyone's gaze unconsciously moved back and forth between Luna and Emma's faces.
Those features, that bearing, even that cool, elegant temperament—they were like two peas in a pod. The resemblance was uncanny.