Chapter 104 Emma, Don't Force My Hand
At the Jackson Villa.
Evelyn's jaw dropped so wide you could fit an entire egg in her mouth.
"Holy shit! Has Matthew completely lost his mind? Actually teaming up with Zoe!"
This plot twist was beyond unexpected.
She turned to Emma. "Emma, what are you planning to do? Help Nicholas, or help Matthew?"
Emma faced this choice for the first time, but in this moment, she remained silent.
Her slender fingers unconsciously traced over a small golden USB drive. Inside it contained audio recordings of Zoe personally admitting she was the mastermind behind the kidnapping, plus evidence of her handing over the security token to Matthew.
That three-way catfight at the apartment earlier had all been part of Emma's carefully orchestrated plan.
Without creating total chaos, how else could she plant a listening device on Zoe without anyone noticing?
Without letting herself get hurt, how else could she make Matthew furious enough to confront Zoe?
Harrison Group was in a precarious position now. She only hoped Matthew would have a change of heart and spare Harrison Group.
And she herself would follow through with the original plan to leave with him.
Suddenly, the butler entered. "There's a gentleman named Charlie outside who wishes to see Ms. Rodriguez."
"Of course." Emma nodded and walked out.
Charlie stood outside, his hair disheveled, dark circles under his eyes, his voice hoarse and strained.
"Ma'am, you need to go see Mr. Harrison immediately!"
He was breathing heavily. "Mr. Harrison... he hasn't eaten or slept for two days and nights! This morning he collapsed completely. The doctor said if we'd been any later, he could have... could have died from cardiac arrest!"
"I brought him back to Dreamy Garden, but the butler says after he woke up, he still won't eat or drink anything. He's locked himself in his room and won't respond to anyone."
Emma frowned slightly. "What about the FD launch event? How are you planning to handle that?"
Charlie said urgently, "Everyone at the company is going crazy with worry, but we haven't dared announce the cancellation yet. After all, so many partners have spent months preparing for this."
"Go back for now. I have important business to handle." Emma was silent for a moment, but her tone carried unwavering determination.
She paused, then added, "By the way, tomorrow's launch event will proceed as scheduled. Harrison Group cannot break faith with people at a time like this. I need you to handle something for me."
She leaned closer to Charlie and whispered instructions in his ear.
Charlie nodded emphatically, then hesitated before speaking. "Ma'am, about Mr. Harrison protecting Karen before... the truth is..."
"Ms. Rodriguez."
The butler hurried over, directly handing her an envelope. "A young lady just delivered this. She said it was extremely urgent and not convenient to discuss over the phone."
Emma opened it to find a message from Sheryl.
"Emma! Matthew's been hurt! Come to the company quickly!"
Emma's heart skipped a beat. She turned back to Charlie with final instructions.
"I have an emergency at Moore Group. Remember, tomorrow's launch event cannot be cancelled by anyone."
Charlie looked at her with concern. "But what about Mr. Harrison..."
"Don't worry, he'll attend!" Her tone was resolute. With that, she turned and strode quickly away.
Emma soon arrived at Moore Group.
Stepping into Matthew's office, she immediately saw him standing with his back to her before the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, his emotions unreadable.
Emma approached quickly, but saw his posture was steady, his breathing even—where was any sign of injury?
Her heart sank, realizing she'd been deceived.
"You tricked me?" Emma's voice turned cold as she turned to leave.
Two bodyguards in black suits appeared from nowhere, blocking her path like human walls.
Matthew slowly turned around. Those eyes that usually held gentle warmth now carried an inflexible resolve.
"Emma, let's leave. Today." His tone was light, but carried a trace of suppressed anticipation.
Emma couldn't read what was going through his mind. She asked coldly, "Has Matthew finally come to his senses? Willing to return the DC project to Harrison Group?"
Matthew walked up to her in a few steps, extending his hand as if to ruffle her hair like he always did, but she subtly avoided him.
He wasn't annoyed. His hand stopped mid-air as he sighed softly.
"Emma, you're always so noble, but Nicholas won't appreciate it."
"Three years ago, you abandoned everything to return home for him. I couldn't stop you then. But now I won't let you do anything foolish for him again."
Matthew's gaze sharpened as Emma stepped back, watching him warily. "What do you mean?"
Before she could finish speaking, a tremendous roaring sound erupted outside the window.
In the distance, a helicopter was flying toward the top floor of the Moore Group building, where there was clearly a private helipad.
Matthew's voice rose again, carrying an almost hypnotic gentleness. "Emma, come with me. Forget everything here, forget Nicholas. We'll start a new life."
"Since you've already made your decision, I'll walk my own path from here. I won't be going with you."
Emma's eyes flashed with icy coldness, her answer absolutely final.
Hearing this, Matthew felt like something had viciously stabbed his heart, the pain almost stopping his heartbeat entirely.
But how could he possibly give up on her so easily?
"Emma, wake up!" His voice rose several octaves, carrying desperation. "What more do you want to do? Make Nicholas fall in love with you again? It's useless!"
"Because he and Zoe share an unbreakable bond. He'll never hurt Zoe. The only person he can hurt is you!"
Emma didn't want to argue with him anymore. "Whether he loves me or not, that's my business. You don't need to worry about it."
She started to leave.
Matthew suddenly rushed forward, wrapping his arms tightly around her from behind.
His solid chest pressed against her back, his burning temperature threatening to scorch her.
His low voice fell by her ear with irresistible dominance, "This time, I won't allow you to be willful."
These past years, he'd worked tirelessly to build his business empire precisely so that one day he could stand as Nicholas's equal and have sufficient means to keep her by his side!
Emma's heart trembled as she struggled to break free, but he held her too tightly—so tight she could clearly feel that heart in his chest beating violently, burning and urgent, one beat after another, pounding against her back.
"Matthew, let me go!" she growled.
His voice carried dangerous coaxing, warm breath spilling over her ear. "Emma, come with me. Don't force my hand."
Emma's heart plummeted, her struggling movements stopping.
Her voice suddenly softened, carrying barely detectable exhaustion and compromise.
"Matthew, this is too sudden. I'm afraid the Jackson family will worry about me. Let me go back and say goodbye to them. Tomorrow, we can leave then, okay?"
Matthew's arms around her seemed to loosen slightly. In that moment of hesitation, Emma suddenly broke free!
She rushed to the desk with lightning speed and grabbed a box cutter, pressing the blade against her pale throat with a sharp "click"!
The cold blade pressed against her delicate skin, bringing bone-chilling coldness.
"Emma! What are you doing?" Matthew was terrified out of his wits, shouting in panic, his face deathly pale.