Chapter 124 Mr. West is actually Nicholas
This mission was extremely dangerous!
That's right, Nicholas led his team to raid Matthew's hidden base and brought back Emma's James, because yesterday, he heard Matthew threatening her with James.
That's why he had his team secretly investigate. He would never let Matthew have any leverage over her.
Although he got injured himself, Matthew also got hurt this time, and quite badly.
Most importantly, his base in Luminous City was destroyed, and Nicholas had issued a kill order on him. If he stayed in Luminous City, he'd have nowhere to hide.
Emma anxiously followed the bodyguard upstairs.
In the room, Emma carefully treated Mr. West's wound.
The wound was on the outer side of his left thigh, deep, with a vicious gash and slightly turned-out edges.
You could tell at a glance he'd been in a brutal fight, the kind where people were going for the kill.
Either way, he got injured saving James. Emma kept this debt of gratitude in her heart.
She lowered her eyes, focusing on cleaning his wound, then stitching it up. His thigh muscles were firm, with smooth lines full of strength. Her cheeks felt hot, and she didn't dare look too much.
After finishing the last stitch, she cut the thread.
Her gaze unconsciously fell on his face, mostly covered by the black mask, revealing only his cold, hard jawline.
She suddenly really wanted, really wanted to reach out and remove that mask to see what kind of face was underneath.
This man had saved her from danger again and again. How should she repay this debt?
Suddenly, the man on the bed let out a low murmur, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.
"Emma... don't leave me... Emma..."
Emma's whole body stiffened. This voice...
No, it couldn't be him. She must have heard wrong. It was an illusion.
"Emma..." he called out again, unclear.
This time, Emma heard it crystal clear!
Her heart pounded so hard it almost jumped out of her throat. Trembling, she gathered all her courage, gently grasped his hand, then bit by bit, removed the black glove from his hand.
On the back of his hand, those three familiar scars were clearly visible—wounds from the champagne tower.
Her heart clenched hard.
With shaking hands, she rolled up his sleeve. On his arm, two more striking scratches, deeply carved there. Those were from Skyview City, when he was drugged and disoriented, he had cut himself to stay conscious!
It was him! Really him! Mr. West... was actually Nicholas!
Emma felt like she'd been struck by lightning and suddenly stood up, stumbling.
Everything made sense now.
Why he inexplicably invited her to dinner at their first meeting. Why he always appeared desperately whenever she was in danger. Why yesterday, he went crazy trying to snatch her back from Matthew.
Scene after scene flooded into her mind like a tide.
Her eyes immediately turned red.
So, when he said "husband" yesterday, he really meant himself. But he... he clearly had opportunities, yet never touched her.
A hot tear fell uncontrollably.
She slowly walked back to the bedside and sat down again. She reached out and gently wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with her fingertips.
Then she found anti-inflammatory medicine, carefully fed it to him, fetched a basin of warm water, dampened a towel with alcohol, and gently wiped his body to bring down his fever.
After who knows how long, Nicholas's high fever finally subsided a bit.
He slowly opened his eyes, his consciousness still somewhat fuzzy.
Suddenly, a sharp, needle-like pain came from his right shoulder.
He frowned, trying hard to remember. Images of fighting with Matthew flashed by... that woman used a knife to hold the old professor hostage... he rushed over to save him... in the chaos, his right shoulder seemed to get stabbed by something!
The situation was urgent then. He only felt a brief dizziness, thought it was an ordinary tranquilizer dart, and forced himself to bring the old professor out safely.
Now it seemed things weren't that simple.
Immediately after, an unbearable headache suddenly struck, as if it would split his head open.
Meanwhile, deep in the southern forest, Matthew and Sheryl stood side by side before a huge waterfall, the sound of water roaring.
Matthew was also injured, his face pale, but the corner of his mouth twisted into an extremely arrogant smile. His laughter sounded particularly harsh against the waterfall's roar.
"Hahaha! This neurotoxin took the lab over a year to develop. It was originally a special gift prepared for that old bastard Elvin!"
His eyes were full of pride and vicious hatred, "Never expected! That mysterious Mr. West is actually Nicholas! Hahahaha! This injection actually went into Nicholas!"
"Even heaven is helping me!"
Sheryl also showed a sinister expression and said, "Will Emma be able to develop an antidote?"
"She can't develop one, because the world is missing that ingredient." Matthew continued laughing wildly. "Nicholas, enjoy this gift!"
From now on, he would become more and more painful, gradually forget everyone and everything, then die in despair within a month, completely disappearing!
By then, Nicholas would be no more!
...
When Nicholas woke again, it was already dark. He heard the sound of the door opening and quickly closed his eyes.
A towel gently wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Emma felt his forehead—the fever had broken.
Suddenly, a large hand grasped her small hand, and a pair of dark pupils opened, seemingly magnetic, drawing her in.
"Mr. West, you're awake. The fever's gone. Are you hungry? I made you some porridge."
Emma asked with concern. She didn't expose him. After all, he got injured because of her. Once Elvin's matter was handled...
She would stay far away from him!
"I feel... weak." He said somewhat petulantly, struggling against the bedside.
Emma quickly reached out to help, supporting his tall frame, then placed a pillow behind him.
"Mr. West, sit properly. I'll feed you the porridge!" She smiled gently.
This smile instantly made Nicholas feel a bit uneasy. He unconsciously reached up to touch his mask.
Good, the mask was still on!
She picked up the spoon, scooped a small spoonful of porridge, gently blew on it, then brought it to his mouth.
"It's not hot anymore. Come on, open up." She spoke to him in a tone used for coaxing children.
Nicholas was a bit confused for a moment but still obediently opened his mouth. Suddenly, a burning sensation hit, almost curling his tongue.
His brow furrowed.
Emma looked flustered and quickly apologized, "Mr. West, I'm sorry. I thought it wasn't hot anymore. Sorry, I didn't mean to!"
"It's fine!" He gently said, looking at her anxious appearance—actually quite cute!
Emma scooped another spoonful of porridge and blew on it frantically, blowing like crazy, before finally feeding it to him.
"Mr. West, this time it's definitely not hot. Trust me."
Nicholas opened his mouth again. Mm, quite delicious. So her porridge tasted this good!
Being treated so gently by her, he felt this injury was worth it.
"Mr. West, thank you for rescuing my James this time."
Emma's voice carried an undeniable determination.
"Ever since I came to Luminous City, you've taken care of me in many ways and saved my life repeatedly, so I... I've made a bold decision!"
In her beautiful eyes was a burning intensity, staring straight at the man before her.
"What decision?" Nicholas's voice revealed no emotion.
Emma didn't answer. She suddenly took a step forward, sat down next to him, then gently rested her head on his shoulder.
Instantly, Nicholas's entire body stiffened.
He could smell the faint fragrance from her hair, so close, so alluring.
"I've decided to marry you and become your wife." Emma's voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear. "For the rest of my life, I've decided to stay in Luminous City with you, to repay your life-saving grace."
Nicholas's heart first felt an uncontrollable surge of wild joy.
Immediately after came a tearing, splitting sensation, painfully tragic.
No, she wanted to marry Mr. West, not him, Nicholas.
He suddenly pushed her away, his movement carrying undisguised roughness.
The force was so great that Emma stumbled.
"What did you say?" His tone was cold enough to drop ice shards.
Emma steadied herself, but her eyes remained clear, even somewhat innocent.
"I said, I want to marry you." She tilted her head slightly, a smile playing at her lips. "Are you happy?"
Flames of anger burned in Nicholas's eyes.
He stared at her, asking word by word, "Don't you have a husband?"
"Don't you love him very much?"
Hearing this, Emma smiled even more brilliantly.
"I don't love him anymore." She said decisively. "Now I only like you. I want to be with you, and I want to walk around Luminous City like I own the place. Let's see who dares disrespect me?"
These words carried some spoiled arrogance, some provocation.
"I don't like women who've been married. You think just anyone is qualified to be my woman?"
Nicholas looked disgusted, so angry that veins bulged on the back of his hand.
He clenched his fists tightly, knuckles white.
Seeing him like this, Emma felt secretly pleased, but she went even further.
She moved closer again, her voice softer, carrying a deliberate seduction. "Mr. West, married women might be more charming. Why don't you try?"
As she spoke, her face showed some shyness, but her hand slowly lifted, reaching toward the zipper on the side of her dress.
That posture looked exactly like she was preparing to offer herself.
"What are you trying to do?" He finally couldn't help it and shouted urgently, his voice almost cracking.
She just smiled calmly, that smile hiding a barely noticeable mischief.
"The debt is too great to repay." She lightly said the second half of the sentence. "I can only offer myself in return!"