Chapter 137 Firefly Cave
Finally, Emma learned from Charlie the truth about why Nicholas had initially protected Karen.
Charlie laid out the entire Dullon situation, word by word.
Each syllable hit Emma's heart like a sledgehammer.
Tsunamis of emotion crashed through her soul, leaving her utterly stunned.
She never could have imagined that behind all his puzzling behavior, all the pain he'd caused her, lay this devastating truth.
To protect her, he had endured her misunderstanding, endured the vicious bite that drew his blood.
Suddenly, a phrase echoed in her mind, 'Only love could make someone willing to stand against the world.'
Seeing her expression, Charlie quickly added, "Also, Karen's already been sent to prison by Mr. Harrison himself. He gathered new evidence, and the lawyers say she'll get at least ten years."
Emma just stared at him blankly, disbelief written across her face, unable to speak.
So he had quietly avenged their child after all.
She turned and walked away in a daze, step by step.
Her eyes filled uncontrollably with tears, her vision blurred, her heart tangled like a knot.
That evening, after dinner and her nighttime routine, Emma was checking emails on her computer when Nicholas knocked on her door, saying he wanted to take her somewhere.
She didn't refuse and followed him to the car.
About half an hour later, they arrived at a bay with vast open skies, brilliant starlight, and a small mountain nearby.
This was indeed Luminous City's famous Firefly Cave, and it truly lived up to its reputation.
The entrance was modest, but once inside, the space opened into something magical.
Thousands of fireflies danced through the air, their green lights flickering like crushed starlight scattered across this hidden world.
Outside the cave, someone had set up a tent in advance, with soft cushions and snacks and drinks nearby, gentle music floating from the distance.
Nicholas took her hand and they sat down on the cushions together.
He turned to look at her—Emma's eyes sparkled brighter than the fireflies themselves, reflecting dots of light, breathtakingly beautiful.
Happiness nearly overflowed from Nicholas's heart.
His Adam's apple bobbed, his voice slightly hoarse.
"Emma."
"Yes?" She turned toward him, their eyes meeting in his deep gaze.
"Thank you." He paused, each word crystal clear. "For protecting me for twelve years."
This wasn't a confession—it was gratitude.
Emma blinked in surprise. This sudden thanks caught her off guard.
"Nicholas," she leaned closer, studying him carefully, "is something wrong?"
His gaze flickered briefly before returning to its usual composure.
"Nothing. Here, no one can hurt me." The same old arrogance.
"Emma." He suddenly called her name, his voice carrying the magnetism of night. "Can we make peace?"
He didn't know Charlie had told her the truth, but he craved her forgiveness constantly.
Even if she no longer loved him, at least she wouldn't hate him.
Emma looked at him puzzledly, not understanding what he meant by "making peace." The hatred in her heart had already dissolved; toward him now, she felt only calm waters.
"Don't hate me anymore, okay?" His eyes held deep affection mixed with pleading, seemingly utterly sincere.
"Nicholas, thank you for coming to Luminous City, thank you for everything you've done for me." She spoke each word carefully, then smiled with genuine release. "I don't hate you anymore. Really."
She truly thanked him for all that hidden endurance and protection, for taking bullets for her, for every time he'd stepped forward to shield her.
If this simple forgiveness could give him peace, she wouldn't withhold it.
But he still didn't understand—the greatest distance in the world isn't love or hate, but when two once-intimate people gradually become strangers.
"I hope next year we can still be here together, watching the stars." He looked at her sideways, engraving her image in his gaze.
It seemed like such a simple wish, but to him, it felt like asking for the impossible.
Emma turned her attention to the dancing fireflies.
"May time be kind to all who love me and whom I love. May they be safe and healthy."
She made her wish to the starry sky.
"Nicholas, thank you." Now it was her turn to express gratitude. "Back then, when you pulled me from the river—you were more brilliant than fireworks."
She glanced at him sideways, her beautiful eyes flowing with starlight, touched with tenderness.
Nicholas's heart skipped a beat. He wanted to reach out and take her hand.
But Emma pulled away, gazing at the stars as if contemplating something.
"Do you want to find your biological parents?" he suddenly asked.
"Evelyn's parents are my true parents." Emma's heart held eternal gratitude. "Everything else—I leave to fate."
She felt no attachment to her biological parents. As a child, she'd felt hatred; grown up, she no longer cared.
Nicholas watched her peaceful expression, his heart racing.
They lay side by side on the cushions without speaking, stars overhead, each other's breathing nearby.
The night breeze carried the slight saltiness of sea air, making them drowsy.
The atmosphere was truly beautiful.
After some time, Emma dozed off.
Nicholas carefully lifted her in his arms.
His embrace was strong and warm. Emma nuzzled against him, finding a comfortable position to continue sleeping.
He gently carried her into the tent and tucked a light blanket around her.
Gazing at her peaceful sleeping face, Nicholas's eyes churned with intense emotions—burning passion, reluctance, and despair.
Suddenly, he spun around like a wild beast out of control and rushed from the tent.
Under the night sky, he charged toward a rocky cliff face nearby.
He raised his fist and slammed it hard against the unyielding stone.
Once, twice, three times.
Soon his knuckles were raw and bleeding.
But he felt no pain—none at all.
"Mr. Harrison!"
"Mr. Harrison!"
Several bodyguards who'd been hidden in the shadows rushed out in alarm, desperately grabbing his arms to pull him away.
"Let me go!"
Nicholas's eyes were bloodshot, his voice hoarse beyond recognition. The virus was making him lose control again.
The next morning.
Emma opened her eyes to find herself in a broad embrace.
They were sleeping side by side.
His arm was threaded beneath her neck, holding her gently, both covered by only a thin blanket.
His handsome face was inches away, his breathing even—he seemed deeply asleep.
Emma's heart pounded uncontrollably.
In the past, though they'd shared intimate moments, he'd always left for another room afterward.
He'd never slept in the same bed with her.
Now, everything felt subtly different.
Things she'd buried deep in her heart seemed to be sprouting again.
She didn't dare think too much. Quietly lifting the blanket, she rose and almost fled outside.
After she left, Nicholas slowly opened his eyes, his deep gaze holding a touch of clarity, the corner of his mouth barely lifting.
On the drive back.
Emma said nothing, just leaned against her seat back with eyes tightly closed.
She appeared to be sleeping, but her mind was in complete chaos.
Nicholas turned to watch her, his gaze burning hot as it swept over her body.
Emma felt uncomfortable under his stare, nervously clenching her small fists.
What was happening?
Why was she so unsettled?
She didn't realize that as the deep hatred faded, some things were truly changing.
Suddenly, the car swerved sharply.
"Ah!"
Emma's body tilted uncontrollably rightward, falling directly into a warm, solid embrace.
His clean, appealing scent filled her nostrils.
"Can you even drive?"
Nicholas's icy voice broke the car's intimate atmosphere.
The driver startled and quickly apologized: "Sorry, Mr. Harrison! A kitten suddenly ran out—I had to swerve."
Emma's cheeks burned. She quickly extracted herself from his arms, sat up straight, and frantically smoothed her slightly disheveled clothes.
From the corner of her eye, she noticed several flesh-colored bandages on his knuckles.
She couldn't help asking, "What happened to your hands?"
Nicholas looked down at his hands with some confusion.
"Not sure." He said casually. "They were like this when I woke up. I thought you'd bandaged them."
He'd completely forgotten last night's near-total breakdown.
Without pain sensation, he naturally couldn't feel his injured hands.
Emma stared at his innocent expression in disbelief.
"Doesn't it hurt?"
He gave a slight smile, his tone light: "It hurts. Maybe someone beat me up in my dreams."
She fell silent.
This man was getting stranger by the day. Was he playing games with her?
Back at the villa.
Emma shot upstairs like a rocket, as if wild beasts were chasing her.
Nicholas watched her panicked retreat, his eyes darkening.
He turned toward the kitchen, took a bottle of water from the refrigerator, and drank deeply.
Charlie appeared from nowhere, sidling up with a fawning expression: "Mr. Harrison, last night... how did it go?"
Nicholas glanced at him without responding.
But Charlie, reading the signs, saw no displeasure in Mr. Harrison's expression—quite the opposite, he seemed to be in good spirits. Charlie was secretly delighted.
His wingman efforts seemed to be working. He'd have to put more thought into creating alone time for the two of them.
Suddenly, his heart filled with conflict.
He wondered if Mr. Harrison's poisoning could be successfully treated. It would be terrible if Mrs. Harrison fell in love with him again just as he...
No, he couldn't think like that.
Charlie couldn't help slapping himself.
Nicholas, who'd been drinking water, saw Charlie hit himself and couldn't control the twitch at the corner of his mouth.
He set down the water and walked away with long strides.
That look suggested he was viewing a hopeless lunatic.
That evening.
Nicholas didn't eat dinner at the villa—he and Charlie had business elsewhere.
Emma sat alone at the large dining table, quite content with the solitude.
Without that man around, even the air felt fresher.
Suddenly, her phone screen lit up with a message.
From Evelyn.
Evelyn: [Emma, do you still like Nicholas?]
She replied: [?]
Evelyn: [Then come catch him cheating! This is so exciting!]
She replied: [?]
Evelyn: [Hurry up and get here. If you catch him, you'll get at least half his assets! Sending you the location.]
Emma slowly set down her chopsticks.