Chapter 81 The Laurent Family Makes Their Move
The movement was smooth and natural, without a trace of deliberateness.
A flash of surprise crossed Zoe's eyes, quickly replaced by perfect obedience as she nodded.
"I'll listen to you."
Standing nearby, Emma watched this sickeningly fake display of affection, her stomach churning slightly as she quietly looked away.
Matthew smiled, his words pointed. "It seems Mr. Harrison and Ms. Perez have good news coming soon. Congratulations in advance."
After speaking, he turned to Emma. "I'm going to make some rounds. I'll be right back, then we can head home."
Emma nodded and also turned to walk away.
Zoe looked up at Nicholas, her voice soft and sweet. "Nicholas, I'm starting filming next week. The opening ceremony is in Skyview City—will you come watch me?"
Nicholas's gaze wasn't focused on her face, seeming somewhat distracted as he hummed in response.
"Of course."
The tender, loving demeanor from moments before had completely vanished. His eyes were intently following a graceful figure in the distance.
He said he was going for a smoke, released Zoe, then quickly followed behind Emma, his gaze glued to her slender silhouette.
She was slowly walking toward the small outdoor garden.
Suddenly.
Emma's figure disappeared right before his eyes.
Nicholas's heart seized, his steps freezing.
Had he had too much to drink? But he'd only had two glasses of champagne.
This wasn't a hallucination.
He rushed into the garden in a few quick strides—it was empty, only the shadows of flowers and plants swaying.
"Emma!"
He called her name, his voice carrying an urgency he himself didn't notice.
A powerful sense of unease gripped him.
Had something happened to her?
The image of her injured last time was still vivid in his mind. He absolutely couldn't let her get hurt again.
"Emma! Where are you?"
At that moment, Emma was right near him. A rough hand was clamped tightly over her mouth, while another arm locked around her waist and arms like an iron vise.
She couldn't move, couldn't make a sound.
Even more bizarre—she watched Nicholas anxiously walk right past her, less than three feet away.
Yet he seemed completely unable to see her.
This was the Laurent family's stealth technique.
A method using special substances to bend light and deceive vision—an escape trick.
She watched his profile so close she could almost touch it, struggling desperately, making muffled sounds in her throat, but her mouth was covered too tightly.
'Nicholas! I'm right here!'
Just then, thirty feet ahead, a thick cluster of bushes suddenly burst into flames.
The fire wasn't large, but enough to draw attention.
Most people's first instinct upon seeing fire would be to rush over and investigate.
But Nicholas stopped in his tracks.
He didn't move, just stood there with a dark expression, calmly watching the dancing flames.
In his mind, he instantly recalled the recent barbecue scene at the estate.
Emma had said to Victoria then, "Take three steps back."
Their distance had been about sixty feet too.
Then Victoria's dress had mysteriously caught fire.
He quickly estimated the distance between himself and the flames.
Then, extremely slowly, he took two steps backward.
One step.
Two steps.
He stopped exactly there.
His current position was directly in front of Emma.
Emma's eyes widened in shock.
Had he figured it out?
She tried to call his name, but her mouth was covered even more tightly.
Nicholas closed his eyes.
The next second, he snapped them open, his gaze sharp as a blade.
His powerful right arm muscles tensed as he threw a vicious punch toward what appeared to be empty space to his right front.
Something seemed to shatter, and the air rippled.
Emma, being held hostage, clearly came into his view.
In a flash, Nicholas lunged forward, moving so fast he left only an afterimage.
He precisely grabbed the assailant's wrist and twisted hard.
The sound of bones dislocating.
The attacker released his grip in pain.
Nicholas smoothly pulled Emma into his arms while kicking toward the assailant's chest.
The man grunted and staggered backward several steps, crashing into the low wall behind him.
But just as Nicholas prepared to pursue, the attacker's figure became blurry again, vanishing into thin air.
"Nicholas." Emma called his name with a sob in her voice.
"It's okay now, don't be afraid, don't be afraid!"
Nicholas held the slightly trembling body in his arms tightly, his deep voice soothing her ear.
Emma's nose was filled with his clean, pleasant scent, her heart racing.
Just then, with a "bang," two people burst through the garden entrance.
It was Matthew and Jack.
Jack's eyes were sharp, and without hesitation, he dove toward an apparently empty corner.
He held a small spray bottle in his hand and pressed it hard toward the air.
A transparent solution sprayed out.
Where there had been nothing, the invisible attacker instantly materialized, clutching his kicked chest and trying to escape.
Jack moved faster, grabbing the attacker by the collar, twisting his arm behind his back, and pinning him to the ground in one fluid motion.
"Take him away." Jack said coldly, and bodyguards immediately stepped forward to escort the prisoner.
Matthew quickly walked to Emma's side.
His gaze fell on her, clearly filled with worry and guilt.
"Emma, are you alright?" His voice was gentle. "I'm sorry I was late."
Only when he called out did Emma suddenly realize she was still pressed tightly against Nicholas's chest.
Her cheeks flushed as she quickly pushed Nicholas away and stepped back, creating distance.
She looked at Matthew and shook her head. "I'm fine, Matthew."
Then, after a pause, she said directly, "Take me home."
Nicholas's face instantly darkened.
Take her home? Did it have to be Matthew?
He'd just saved her—wasn't that enough to make her feel safe?
An indescribable frustration lodged in his chest.
Meanwhile, the black Maybach glided smoothly through the night.
The atmosphere inside was somewhat heavy.
The dim interior lighting outlined Matthew's handsome features, his eyes deep, and the way he looked at Emma carried an indescribable tenderness.
He turned to look at the silent Emma, his thin lips parting. "It's too dangerous for you to stay in Emerald City."
His voice carried worry. "The Laurent family has made their move. Since they didn't succeed this time, they absolutely won't give up—they'll just keep sending people."
He paused, adding, "Although we eliminated three 'shadows' before the event, we didn't expect there would still be one that slipped through."
Matthew's brow was furrowed, his face full of concern.
Emma leaned back in her seat, silently watching the night scenery flying past outside the window.
After a while, she finally spoke softly, "Matthew, give me two more weeks."
"Once I finish handing over my work here, we'll leave."
Matthew's fingers tightened slightly on the steering wheel, his heart jolting.
She was really willing to leave?
Just like that?
It seemed she had truly decided to let go of Nicholas.
"Good!" His voice was calm, but his heart was leaping with joy.
Once they left Emerald City, she would finally belong to him!
As night deepened, Nicholas stood guard outside the Jackson Manor gates.