Chapter 109 Mrs. Harrison Is Missing
Emma looked up, catching only a glimpse of Nicholas's tall figure walking out of the auditorium. She watched for a few seconds until he disappeared into the light and shadows.
Suddenly, her phone rang. She handed the interview seat back to the Harrison Group's PR department and turned to walk toward a quiet spot.
A steady voice came through the phone, "The big fish is on the move. Time to cast the net. We've arranged someone to meet you."
"Got it." She turned and left.
Outside the lobby, the air felt frozen. The people Nicholas brought were all standing tall with sharp eyes.
On the other side, Matthew's men were just as impressive, their presence fully on display. Both sides faced off, neither backing down.
Matthew stepped forward, a provocative smile on his lips. "Nicholas, hand over Emma."
Nicholas stood straight, his gaze cold. "The Harrison Group's CEO's wife - Mr. Moore, you should stop thinking about her. The fact that she was willing to stand by me today means she's already made her choice."
Matthew's face instantly darkened, anger in his voice.
"Nicholas, do you know what it means that her identity has been exposed? That's a consequence neither you nor I can handle! You'll destroy her completely!"
Nicholas gave a cold laugh, but every word carried weight. "I'll protect her with my life. No need for your concern, Mr. Moore."
Matthew's eyes flashed sharply, and with one gesture, he was ready to charge inside.
"Stop him!" Nicholas commanded.
The two groups instantly clashed, the sounds of fists and feet connecting in dull thuds. The scene was chaotic, tension at its breaking point.
Just then, Charlie suddenly rushed over from behind, his voice urgent. "Mr. Harrison! Mrs. Harrison is gone! We've searched everywhere and can't find her!"
Both Nicholas and Matthew froze at the same time, both stunned.
"What did you say?" Nicholas's voice tightened.
Matthew's expression changed too, disbelief flashing in his eyes.
Neither bothering with their confrontation anymore, they immediately turned and ran toward the auditorium, where the crowd hadn't yet dispersed - a sea of people.
Backstage was chaotic, staff members busy everywhere, but Emma was truly nowhere to be seen.
"Check the surveillance!" Nicholas practically shouted.
The footage was quickly pulled up, every angle that could be captured was reviewed, but there was no image of Emma leaving. It was as if she had vanished into thin air.
"How is that possible!" Matthew said in a low voice.
Nicholas's face was ashen. He found Evelyn.
Evelyn was frantically pacing. "She disappeared on your watch! You're asking me for her? Are you crazy! Hurry up and send people to guard the airport, train stations, bus terminals! If she's been taken, we can't let anyone leave Emerald City!"
Evelyn was so angry she was stomping her feet.
Matthew's eyes darkened, his gaze falling on a certain point. To take someone away from the Harrison Group without anyone knowing - could it be that group... His heart felt a heavy sense of dread.
Impossible. They couldn't have arrived that quickly.
Not having time to think further, he turned and walked out!
Meanwhile, Emma was sitting in a leather seat on a private jet, looking out the window as Emerald City's skyscrapers became smaller and smaller, finally blurring into nothing.
She looked at that gradually distant land and said to herself, "Goodbye."
She would never come back.
A handsome man in black tactical gear walked over to her side and handed her a laptop.
On the screen were two blinking star markers.
"Ms. Rodriguez, we've currently detected traces of the big fish in these two areas," the man's voice was calm. "According to plan, we'll return to the Safe House first to regroup, then act once the target is locked."
She nodded and took the laptop.
Her phone vibrated - a new email in her inbox. It was from Evelyn.
[Nicholas has turned Emerald City upside down looking for you, nearly going crazy. Satisfying.]
There was another line below.
[Matthew also left Emerald City, don't know where he went.]
Emma looked at those lines without saying anything.
The Harrison Group CEO's office.
The FD crisis had been resolved - in fact, it had created a miracle in medical history. But Nicholas was frowning deeply because after searching all day, he still hadn't found Emma!
He sat behind the large desk, his brow furrowed. He didn't even get the chance to say thank you to her in person.
There was a knock, and someone entered holding an express envelope.
"Mr. Harrison, your delivery."
Nicholas took it, opened it thoughtfully. He didn't know that inside was evidence of Zoe and Matthew's collusion. Emma had mailed it yesterday.
"Mr. Harrison!" Suddenly, Charlie shouted and rushed in.
"What is it?" Nicholas looked up.
"The apartment across the street! Mrs. Harrison's place! The lights seem to still be on!" Charlie said breathlessly.
Nicholas's whole body jolted. The envelope in his hand dropped to the floor as he stood up abruptly, a last glimmer of hope lighting up in his eyes.
"Get the car ready!" He grabbed his coat and headed out.
Soon after, someone came to tidy his desk. Seeing the envelope on the floor and noticing it had been opened, thinking the CEO had already seen it, they casually filed it away in the second drawer of the desk.
Downstairs at Emma's apartment building, Nicholas looked up at the lit balcony, his heart beating fast.
He hurried upstairs and came to the door.
He knocked several times. "Emma? Emma!"
No one answered.
He turned to the bodyguard behind him. "Break down the door."
Following orders, the bodyguard kicked it a few times, then used tools to saw through it. The security door made a harsh cutting sound, and soon it was opened.
Nicholas walked in. The apartment was very quiet. A lamp was lit on the balcony - she had left it on purpose because after dark, it could be seen from his office.
He saw the living room furniture - the coffee table, sofa - all covered with white cloth.
So she had planned to leave Emerald City, to leave him?
He walked into the study. It was cleaned up neatly, books arranged orderly on the shelves. Besides books, there was nothing else.
Finally, he entered her master bedroom, also cleaned up very neatly. On the wall facing the bed hung a blue curtain!
Nicholas walked over and yanked it down forcefully. Behind the blue curtain was actually a huge oil painting.
A black background dominated the entire wall. In the painting, a little girl in a red dance dress sat collapsed on the ground, tears in her eyes, sadly watching a white paper airplane in the sky - the only light in the darkness.
Next to it were two lines of text,
[I mended every crack in your life, never thinking I would shatter earlier than you. The thread ran out, so let the wounds air out!]
The date signed was from two months ago - a day he thought carefully about. Yes, it was when she was hospitalized, when she... had the miscarriage!
Nicholas reached out, his fingertips trembling as he gently touched the tear at the corner of the little girl's eye in the painting. His brow furrowed tightly, his heart in severe pain.
Sadness seemed to flow from the painting, instantly drowning him. He knew this was her goodbye to him.
Suddenly, his gaze fell on a small jewelry box on the vanity.
He walked over and opened it.
The sight inside directly pierced his eyes...