Chapter 78 I Only Want You
Nicholas said, "If you can't bear to let me go, we don't have to separate just yet."
Can't bear to let him go? Not separate just yet?
Emma froze. What did he mean? Where was this man getting his confidence?
He caught her arm as she started to stand.
"Emma, can you forgive me? I won't abandon you again—I promise."
She looked at him like he'd just told the world's biggest joke.
"Mr. Harrison, that's quite a novel idea. Are you really planning to keep me as your trophy mistress?"
Nicholas gazed at her, his eyes holding a depth of feeling he himself hadn't yet recognized, his tone carrying unprecedented determination.
"I only want you."
Emma suddenly laughed—a clear, crystalline sound laced with obvious mockery.
"Mr. Harrison, please don't say things like that. Your romantic persona might crumble."
Nicholas frowned. "What do you mean?"
Emma's laughter faded, and she looked at him seriously, though her tone grew even more playful.
"I think Mr. Harrison's choices are excellent—you have such impeccable taste!"
He stared at her in confusion, growing more bewildered by the second.
Emma said nothing more. She simply unlocked her phone and played an audio recording.
A clear female voice drifted from the device, dripping with smugness and coquettish pride.
"Nicholas and I are living together now. He really doesn't understand gentleness at all, and he's particularly... vigorous."
"Five or six times in one night—nearly wore me out completely."
It was Zoe.
Every word hit Nicholas's nerves like a sledgehammer.
His blood pressure spiked instantly, his face darkening like a thundercloud.
Charlie gasped and slapped his hands over his mouth, eyes wide as saucers. Good God, when had Nicholas become such a stallion? Five or six times in one night?
Nicholas gritted his teeth, forcing words through his clenched jaw.
"That wasn't me!"
Emma's mockery intensified, as if she'd heard the century's funniest joke.
"Wasn't you?" She drew out the words, her gaze traveling between him and Charlie.
"Then was it you?" Her eyes finally settled on Charlie.
Charlie's entire body shook, cold sweat breaking out instantly.
He looked at Nicholas's murderous expression, then at Emma's entertained face. In a moment of desperation, he blurted out, "It was me! It was me!"
His voice trembled. "I'm infatuated with Miss Perez! I got carried away—it's my fault!"
Charlie threw himself under the bus completely, frantically shouldering all the blame.
Emma reached out and gently patted his shoulder.
Then she suddenly covered her mouth and began laughing softly, her shoulders shaking slightly.
"Wow, Charlie's acting skills are impressive."
"Hanging around celebrities really makes a difference—quite the performance!"
She stopped looking at them, efficiently gathered her things, and turned to leave.
"Emma!" Nicholas called after her, his voice carrying suppressed fury.
Emma's steps paused, but she didn't turn around.
Her voice came back cold and distant.
"Mr. Harrison, I hope you take care of you health."
"After all, Dr. N can cure any disease, but can't save someone who can't control their appetites!"
With that, she walked away without looking back.
Nicholas trembled with rage, his chest heaving violently.
He spun around and stormed out with long strides.
Charlie followed behind in a daze, his mind in complete chaos.
How had the plot taken this turn?
His poor heart couldn't take much more of this!
...
Around four o'clock, Nicholas entered the villa's foyer radiating lethal energy.
In the living room, Zoe was lounging comfortably on the sofa with a face mask on, holding a tablet and binge-watching her shows with obvious enjoyment.
The sound of the door slamming made her jump.
Seeing Nicholas's thunderous expression, her heart skipped a beat.
Nicholas approached step by step, his overwhelming presence making it hard for her to breathe.
He suppressed his towering rage, his voice ice-cold.
"You went to see Emma?"
Zoe hastily peeled off her face mask, her eyes darting nervously. Had that woman tattled on her already? So quickly?
She avoided his gaze guiltily, defending herself in a small voice.
"No... no, I was just getting food when I accidentally ran into her."
Nicholas had no interest in hearing her excuses.
His eyes were glacial, devoid of any warmth. "Tomorrow, move out."
Zoe's head snapped up, staring at him in disbelief.
Nicholas continued expressionlessly.
"I'm giving you two options. One: join your film project and focus on your career. Two: go abroad for further studies."
He pulled a black card from his pocket and tossed it carelessly onto the table with a sharp clink.
"There's enough money here to keep you comfortable for the rest of your life."
The color drained from Zoe's face instantly.
She opened her mouth, tears gathering in her eyes.
"Nicholas, don't you want me anymore?" This line had always been devastatingly effective—it could bind him to her every time.
Nicholas's brow furrowed deeply, but he refused to indulge her anymore.
"Zoe, you should have your own life. Try moving forward. Whatever difficulties you face in the future, I'll help you!"
She shot up from the sofa, walked over to him in a few quick steps, her voice tearful but surprisingly resolute.
"Fine. I'll move out tomorrow then."
This time, she didn't cry or beg pathetically.
Because she knew that once Nicholas made a decision, nothing could change his mind.
Nicholas gave her a cold glance—the look one might give a complete stranger.
He no longer loved her! Because once again, she had crossed his line.
But Zoe still stepped forward, carefully tugging at the corner of his jacket.
"Nicholas, please don't be angry. I didn't mean to upset her, but what she said was really too much. I just couldn't help myself..."
She sniffled pitifully.
"What did she say?"
Zoe wiped the tears from her eyes. "She called me a garbage collector, specializing in collecting the trash men she throws away. She called me a homewrecker, and said when my new show airs, she'll come deal with me!"
Trash men? She hated him that much?
Nicholas clenched his fists tightly, his teeth grinding audibly.
Seeing his furious expression, Zoe added a few more dramatic touches to her performance.
"I was just so angry—how could she talk about you like that? You're such a perfect man. How could she slander you like that? Just because she doesn't love you anymore, does she have to smear your name?"
"Enough!"
His roar cut through the air. Nicholas couldn't listen anymore.
He turned and strode out of the room.
That night, Nicholas didn't return home. In the vast house, only Zoe remained.
The bedroom was in complete chaos—everything breakable had been smashed to the floor, shards scattered everywhere.
She panted heavily, her hair disheveled, her eyes filled with madness and resentment.
Why should all her years of effort be stolen away by Emma? That woman shouldn't exist in this world.
She would make Emma's reputation crumble, ensure she could never show her face in Emerald City again.
After her outburst, she suddenly seemed to remember something, her gaze turning toward the tightly closed door at the end of the hallway.
That was Nicholas's study.
She walked over step by step, her hand trembling as she finally turned the doorknob to the study.