Chapter 50 His Heart Truly Ached
Nicholas quickly moved to Emma's side, reaching out to gently guide her head against him.
He let her rest against his waist and abdomen.
He could feel clearly that her entire body was trembling uncontrollably from the excruciating pain.
Subtle, yet continuous. Sweat had soaked through her hair, clinging to her pale cheeks, but she, from beginning to end, didn't make a single sound.
Only increasingly rapid breathing and increasingly deep teeth marks.
Blood from her lower lip trickled down from the corner of her mouth, leaving a crimson trail.
Her eyes brimmed with tears that stubbornly swirled within, refusing to fall.
This scene was more heartbreaking than any screaming or crying.
Nicholas felt as if his heart was being pierced simultaneously by countless needles, a dense, overwhelming pain.
He could only hold her head tighter, offering what warmth and support he could.
How could his woman suffer like this?
Those who had hurt her—he wouldn't spare a single one. Absolutely not!
Nicholas hated himself. If he hadn't let Julie go, Emma wouldn't have suffered this harm.
The guilt and self-blame at this moment was like a salt-soaked poison whip, continuously lashing his heart.
After what felt like an eternity, the wound was finally stitched up. The doctor breathed a sigh of relief, but Emma had already fainted.
Nicholas quickly lifted her onto the bed, his eyes bloodshot.
The doctor immediately sent her for additional tests.
...
Dawn was breaking when Emma suddenly woke, her head no longer spinning quite as badly.
But she felt sharp pain in her left arm, and her right ankle throbbed with dull pain, wrapped in bandages.
Nicholas was sleeping beside the bed, one hand supporting his head, his large hand still gripping her small one tightly.
She remembered everything from the previous night, still shaken by fear.
If Nicholas hadn't found her in time, she didn't dare imagine what that psychopath would have done to her!
But if Nicholas hadn't released Julie, she wouldn't have suffered this harm either.
As she thought about it, the fear in her eyes turned to cold indifference.
She pulled her hand away. Just that small movement caused Nicholas to open his eyes.
"You're awake. Are you uncomfortable anywhere? Should I call the doctor?"
His tone was gentle, soft!
Emma coldly turned her head away. "I'm fine. You can leave now."
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been so reckless in releasing Julie. It's all my fault. I've already sent people to track her down."
Nicholas immediately began apologizing.
Emma didn't respond, simply not wanting to deal with him.
"If I had known she caused you to lose the baby, I never would have let her go!"
Nicholas's voice carried anger.
Hearing him mention the child!
Emma finally turned to look at him. He knew everything now!
Too bad it was too late! No matter what he did now, it was too late!
"I don't think I'm worthy of bearing a Harrison family heir. Maybe everything is God's will!"
Yes, she and he should have ended long ago.
Emma was mocking herself, laughing at her own naivety! Perhaps she never should have returned to the country, much less married into the Harrison family!
No matter how strong she pretended to be, her heart still ached densely!
"Just leave. I don't want to see you!" Emma closed her eyes, not wanting to look at him anymore.
"Get out." Her voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable command.
Nicholas's body stiffened.
He silently watched her tightly closed eyes, her pale cheeks. He wanted to reach out and touch her, but feared making her even more repulsed.
"I asked the doctor."
He spoke with difficulty, trying to find a topic that might calm her emotions slightly.
"The doctor said as long as you rest well and your body recovers, in the future... in the future you can still have children."
Emma suddenly opened her eyes, looking at Nicholas as if he were the world's biggest joke.
Her lips curved into an icy arc, a short, cold laugh escaping.
"Yes, I will have children in the future." She looked into Nicholas's eyes, each word clear and precise.
"But they definitely won't be yours."
This sentence was like the sharpest blade, precisely piercing Nicholas's heart.
The color drained from his face instantly.
Seeing the undisguised finality and hatred in her eyes, he felt a drowning sense of unease.
Nicholas's Adam's apple bobbed as he spoke with difficulty.
"That's fine."
He tried to make his voice sound calm.
"As long as you're happy, I... I won't presume to ask for your forgiveness."
Emma just looked at him coldly.
Happy? How could she possibly be happy?
Her child was gone, her body was broken, and the root of all this pain stood before her, putting on an act.
"Nicholas, I don't want to see you right now. Having you here only makes me feel sick."
Each word was like a poisoned needle, stabbing into Nicholas.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something more.
There was a knock at the door.
Charlie pushed the door open and entered. He first glanced at Emma on the hospital bed, his face showing some relief.
"Ms. Rodriguez, you're finally awake."
"Mr. Harrison was terribly worried yesterday. He stayed by your side all night."
He spoke pleasantries, trying to ease the heavy atmosphere in the room.
But Nicholas ignored all this, directly asking Charlie, "What about Julie? Did you catch her?"
Charlie's expression became somewhat complicated.
He looked at Emma, then at Nicholas, hesitating to speak.
Seeing his expression, Nicholas had a bad feeling. He didn't ask more questions, simply turning to walk out of the room.
Charlie quickly followed.
The two men walked out of the room one after the other. Charlie lowered his voice and quickly reported.
"Mr. Harrison, yesterday's kidnapper jumped into the water to escape."
"Our people searched for a long time. When they found him, he had already... already drowned."
Nicholas didn't stop walking. Dead was fine—it saved dirtying his hands.
Charlie continued, "However, we found a camera at the scene."
Nicholas stopped in his tracks.
A camera? What would it have recorded?
Charlie added another sentence, his tone even more grave.
"Also, regarding Julie, our people arrived a step too late. Matthew's men took her first. They should be on their way back to the city now."
Nicholas's eyes suddenly darkened.
Julie falling into Matthew's hands was definitely not good news. Matthew would surely try every means to pry information from her, possibly even use her to gain Emma's sympathy.
"Where is he?"
Charlie quickly said, "We've maintained secrecy, but he still found out you rescued Ms. Rodriguez. He's on his way here now!"
Nicholas's eyes grew darker. Trying to steal his woman? Too naive!
"Get a helicopter here."
Nicholas ordered Charlie, his voice cold and hard. "I'm taking her back to Serene River Estate to recover. Keep it confidential."
Charlie was stunned for a moment, then understood, "Yes, Mr. Harrison."
He immediately took out his phone to make arrangements.
Nicholas felt irritated and went outside to smoke.
Charlie saw that the two seemed like fire and water. If this continued, any signs of reconciliation between them would be extinguished.
He turned and walked toward the patient ward area.
He knocked and entered the room. Emma was leaning against the door, coldly throwing out a sentence.
"Nicholas, I said I don't want to see you!"
"Ms. Rodriguez!" Charlie called softly.
Only then did Emma turn around. Seeing it was Charlie, her anger subsided considerably. She spoke, "Did he send you?"
Charlie stepped forward two paces, looking seriously at Emma.
Today, he had decided to risk everything!