Chapter 128 Your Life Lacks My Heartbeat
In the afternoon, the wind picked up, and Luminous City officially entered winter.
Emma curled up in her oversized office chair, her fingertips tapping lightly on the touchpad.
On the computer screen was the latest email from Susan.
She excitedly reported on the progress of Bluebird Tech's collaboration with FD, praising the Harrison Group's strong capabilities in actually getting FD distributed to over 80 countries worldwide.
Now, every day, about 100,000 cancer patients were being detected globally, all actively cooperating with treatment, with very significant results.
Susan's email was brimming with excitement between every line.
The corners of Emma's mouth lifted uncontrollably.
Choosing the Harrison Group back then was definitely the right decision.
She had never regretted handing over all the fruits of her years of hard work to Nicholas without reservation.
Because the Harrison Group had the capability to maximize FD's effectiveness and save many, many people.
This was her and Nicholas's shared wish.
But later, she never imagined that she could save millions of people, yet couldn't save Nicholas!
A knock suddenly sounded at the door.
Emma looked up to see Nicholas walking in carrying a tray.
On the tray were delicate pastries and a cup of steaming coffee.
He gently placed the items on the desk in front of her, his slender fingers pausing at the edge of the ivory-white porcelain cup.
"You've been in here all afternoon." His voice was gentle, like a spring breeze brushing across a lake. "Have something to eat and take a break."
Emma was momentarily stunned, then said softly, "Thank you."
This thank you wasn't just for the pastries and coffee in front of her, but also for everything he had done for FD before.
He seemed to notice she was in a good mood today and asked, "What are you working on?"
"Nothing much," Emma replied casually. "Just replying to emails and checking on the company."
Nicholas's gaze fell on her slightly parted pink lips, his eyes darkening.
He had an urge to kiss her lips.
His Adam's apple bobbed slightly as he suddenly spoke, "I heard that the cancer treatment Dr. N developed has saved many people. That's a blessing for all."
It was also his blessing, the fortune of this lifetime!
Hearing this, the curve of Emma's lips deepened, with a hint of relief. "I hope one day FD can enter Luminous City too, to help the people there."
He replied calmly, "That's not difficult at all."
After a pause, he added, "As long as you want it, as long as it's within my power."
Before he finished speaking, he leaned forward slightly, moving closer to her.
A crisp, pleasant cedar scent, mixed with his unique warmth, instantly surrounded her.
Emma's breathing hitched, and she instinctively leaned back.
The faint fragrance from his hair lingered at the tip of her nose.
That mysterious golden mask suddenly magnified in her widened pupils.
What was he trying to do?
She watched as he reached out, his slender fingers lightly, almost imperceptibly, brushing past her earlobe.
The slightly cool touch of his fingertips felt like an electric current, instantly coursing through her entire body.
Emma's face flushed red, and she could even feel her ears burning. But he acted as if nothing had happened, reaching over her shoulder to pull out a book from the shelf behind her.
"This book is quite good." He handed the book to her, his voice still gentle. "You can read it when you have time."
Emma lowered her eyes and saw the title clearly—Your Life Is Missing My Heartbeat.
Her heartbeat skipped a beat.
The corners of his lips curved up beneath the mask in a gentle smile, and he walked out of the study with calm, measured steps.
Emma sat dumbly in her chair, her ears still retaining the sensation of when he had brushed past her earlobe.
Two days passed peacefully, and Evelyn's wounds gradually healed.
As the sun set in the west, the two women were walking arm in arm on the open ground by the cliff.
They were strikingly beautiful, talking and laughing together—a rare pleasant sight in this chaotic Luminous City.
On the balcony, two sharp gazes pierced through the air, locked firmly on them.
At this moment, Nicholas stood by the balcony railing, on the phone.
He had just received news that Elvin was likely in cahoots with Matthew.
Someone had spotted them together at an abandoned power plant in the southern district.
Nicholas's fingertips tapped lightly on the railing. Why would Matthew get mixed up with Elvin?
Was it simply to deal with him? Wasn't he worried about Emma's safety?
"Find out their exact location, then make arrangements," he ordered in a deep voice to the person on the other end.
After hanging up, Nicholas's eyes were dark and deep.
This time, he would catch them all in one net. He would never let her be in danger again.
At that moment, Matthew stood on a tall building, staring intently at this peak, continuously sending people into Luminous City.
This time, he wouldn't let Nicholas leave Luminous City alive.
Four years—it was time to settle this grudge of "stealing his wife." Emma should have been his long ago.
That evening, Nicholas finally met with Hawk alone.
He held a wine glass, leisurely swirling the crimson liquid inside, his voice emotionless.
"Mr. Zane, seems like you quite enjoy it here."
Nicholas's implication: when are you leaving? And take that troublesome Evelyn with you while you're at it.
Hawk unhurriedly replied, "Mr. West, are you that confident in your personal charm? Aren't you afraid Miss NOVA will leave with Evelyn?"
Hawk's implication: by then, you'll be left alone on the mountain, and you'll be crying and begging Emma to stay.
Nicholas scoffed lightly. "I heard the thugs and hooligans on the East Side have been pretty rampant lately. Mr. Zane, as the person in charge of the East Side, shouldn't you find time to go back and deal with it?"
Nicholas was mocking Hawk's lowly status, managing only unsavory matters.
Hawk replied without changing expression, "The wealth of the West Side is blinding, probably more likely to attract despicable people's attention. After all, greed knows no bounds, doesn't it?"
Just as he finished speaking.
A massive explosion suddenly rang out, shaking all the hotel windows with its reverberations.
Everyone's expressions changed slightly as they quickly walked to the cliff edge to look toward the city.
They saw flames shooting skyward from the direction of the castle, with thick smoke billowing—clearly a violent explosion had occurred.
A bodyguard rushed in with a panicked expression. "Mr. West! The castle is under attack! Should we return to headquarters immediately?"
Nicholas took a few long strides, then suddenly stopped.
He slowly turned around, meeting Hawk's meaningful gaze.
"You take people over there. Report back immediately if there are any new developments."
That's right—he had seen through the enemy's diversion tactic. Bombing the castle was too obvious a target.
Night deepened.
A group of black-clad figures, using the cover of darkness, silently climbed up Skywater Peak from the back mountain.
The hot springs at Skywater Peak lived up to their reputation.
Each household had its own private spring pool, with swaying bamboo shadows and fragrant flowers—the scenery was truly beautiful.
At this moment, Evelyn and Emma were comfortably soaking in the hot spring. Amid the rising steam, the two women chatted quietly.
"This hot spring is amazing. I feel like my bones are turning to jelly."
Evelyn sighed, her whole body feeling relaxed.
The spring water was warm, and after soaking in it, even her minor injuries seemed to have improved considerably.
She lazily leaned against the edge of the pool, her voice carrying a hint of playfulness.
"Emma, I miss Nina so much, and Daryl peeling shrimp for me."
Little did she know, Daryl was already on his way to Luminous City.
Daryl was even riding on a free ticket. Except at this moment, his eyes were blindfolded with black cloth, and a cold gun barrel was pressed firmly against his temple.
Emma stirred the water, saying softly.
"Don't worry, I'll send you back in a couple of days. I need to wait until things are settled here, then I'll go back and meet up with you all."
Evelyn mumbled, "I lost my passport, so I probably can't leave."
"But Hawk said he'd take care of it for me. From the looks of it, he probably can't wait for me to disappear from his sight."
She suddenly leaned closer to Emma, asking mysteriously.
"Emma, don't you think he's a lot like Number Seventeen?"
Hearing this, Emma furrowed her brow.
"At first, I thought there was something to it. But supposedly, Hawk has been here for five years—how could he be Number Seventeen?"
"Unless he can clone himself?"
Evelyn deflated too.
"Yeah, that's true. How could Hawk possibly be Number Seventeen? Sigh, if he really were my Number Seventeen, I'd propose to him right away and make him my husband!"
Her tone carried the determination of going all in.
Not far away, in a hidden corner, a pair of sharp eyes narrowed, and a heart suddenly skipped a beat.
Suddenly, all the lights around them went out instantly, plunging the hot spring area into complete darkness.
"Ah!"
Evelyn jumped in fright, instinctively hugging Emma, trembling.
"Don't panic, let's get out first." Emma was relatively calmer, pulling her toward the edge of the pool.
Just then, Evelyn felt something tighten around her waist—a strong arm had wrapped around her.
She was still in shock and about to scream.
"Don't be afraid, it's me." Hawk's deep voice sounded by her ear, carrying an undeniable sense of security.
Evelyn's heart settled slightly, and she quickly asked, "What about Emma? How is Emma?"
"She's fine, someone will save her." Hawk was brief and to the point. "Someone has infiltrated. Come with me first."
His tone brooked no argument.
Before Evelyn could react, she was swept away from the hot spring pool by him.
Hawk brought her to a room. By the faint moonlight streaming through the window, his gaze swept over the fading scars on her body and her dazzlingly white skin, his eyes darkening.
He quickly removed his own coat and draped it over her.
"Get dressed." Then he turned and headed for the door, his figure quickly disappearing into the darkness.
On the other side, the lights in the hot spring area suddenly came back on.
The seven black-clad men who had surrounded Emma had all been dealt with.
Six were dead on the spot, and one lay on the ground, barely breathing, hanging on by a thread.
Nicholas stood there, an icy aura surrounding him, his eyes cold enough to freeze someone to death.
"Clean this up." His voice was flat but carried a bone-chilling coldness.
His subordinates didn't dare delay, immediately bowing in acknowledgment and efficiently dragging the bodies away.
Only then did Nicholas step forward, grabbing a clean bath towel and wrapping Emma from head to toe, then scooping her up in his arms.
She asked in a muffled voice, "Who were those people?"
"Matthew's men," Nicholas said flatly.
Emma found it hard to believe. "That's impossible. Didn't he already leave Luminous City?"
Nicholas scoffed, his tone carrying a hint of mockery.
"Once a person develops a crazy obsession, they're like clingy water weeds—incredibly tenacious. How could they be so easily removed?"
He paused, his gaze falling on her face, speaking meaningfully. "Just like you, insisting on marrying me—how could you give up so easily?"
Emma was speechless again.
He spoke again, his voice carrying an undeniable dominance. "To prevent any remaining accomplices, you're sleeping with me tonight."
Emma was startled by his sudden statement, her cheeks warming. "I... I can just sleep with Evelyn."
Nicholas replied without changing expression.
"She's with Hawk. She won't be back tonight."
"Afraid I'll eat you?" He saw through her concern. "I don't like women!"
Emma's mouth twitched. He's really committed to this act!
Who could have predicted that while he didn't go into heat, he'd go crazy in the middle of the night instead.