Chapter 151 He Wants Her
The laboratory equipment was relatively basic but top-tier, equipped with biological extraction, temperature control, and cultivation functions.
Emma stood before the whiteboard, speaking earnestly. "The plant component extraction work for this lab is quite straightforward—a preliminary phase. There are 24 plant species total, four assigned to each of you, and you have just five days.
After extraction, you'll fuse them with two special solutions according to my equation. Once the data meets standards, you'll have succeeded."
Applause erupted. Working alongside Dr. N carried incredible prestige.
Charlie stepped forward, announcing formally, "Mr. Harrison has stated that anyone who completes this task will be hired as a lifetime consultant by Harrison Group's laboratories, with an annual salary of no less than ten million dollars."
"Those who don't complete the task will still receive five million dollars in compensation. I hope everyone seizes this opportunity."
The news clearly excited everyone, who felt incredibly fortunate to be selected. To become a lifetime consultant for Harrison Group would be beyond their wildest dreams!
Jane stood at the back, her lips curving slightly. She understood perfectly, 'Nicholas, you're literally buying time with money.'
She silently vowed, 'Just wait. The humiliation you brought me years ago—it's time to repay it!'
Emma told everyone to rest, explaining that the raw materials for extraction would be delivered that evening.
Everyone watched her leave with deep respect.
When Emma returned to the villa, the evening was approaching.
Susan's team had already arrived, and the villa's main hall buzzed with conversation.
Seeing her and Nicholas, everyone enthusiastically stood and greeted them.
"Ms. Rodriguez, hello! Mr. Harrison, hello!"
Emma's gaze swept the room. The three PhDs she'd specifically requested were all present, along with a young face that made her eyes light up.
Chris Frank!
He was Professor Frank's youngest son, which technically made Emma his aunt by academic lineage.
"Chris!" She ran over excitedly, giving him a big hug.
Chris was quite tall, a full head taller than her. He hugged her back, beaming brilliantly. "Emma, it's been too long."
He never called her 'aunt,' only using her first name, which felt especially intimate.
Nicholas watched the two embrace tightly, his handsome face instantly darkening as the atmosphere around him grew heavy.
He strode forward, subtly pulling Emma away and naturally wrapping his arm around her waist, his tone suggestive, "I'm hungry."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to everyone's ears.
Everyone present was stunned.
Wasn't Nicholas divorced from Emma?
This posture, this tone—it looked exactly like an affectionate married couple!
Charlie quickly stepped forward to save the situation. "Doctors, you've had a long journey. Your rooms are all arranged, and we've prepared a welcome dinner. Let me show everyone to your accommodations first."
Emma pulled free from Nicholas's hand, quickly instructing Charlie, "Set up the second laboratory on the fifth floor of that small building out back. Have them clear two large rooms. Put the team members directly on the sixth floor—there are exactly five rooms available."
She'd checked earlier. The back building covered 16,145 square feet across six floors, with security and staff housed on the lower three levels. There was plenty of space.
Nicholas's expression grew even darker.
That building was too close to the main villa. Having Chris stay there would make things even more convenient for him, wouldn't it?
He spoke in a low voice, "The space here is too cramped and inconvenient. Besides, all the important equipment is already installed in the villa down the mountain."
Emma turned to look at him, raising an eyebrow. "Didn't you say I had complete authority over this research?"
Nicholas's Adam's apple bobbed as he met her clear, slightly challenging gaze. Finally, he conceded, "Then we'll do as you say."
Charlie quickly stepped forward again. "Everyone's had a long day. Let me show you to your accommodations first."
Chris gave Nicholas a meaningful look, his expression carrying undisguised disdain.
Chris simply wasn't worthy of Emma.
Nicholas naturally felt that gaze and returned the look. His eyes seemed to say, 'Are you even old enough to compete with me, kid?'
Emma paid no attention to the undercurrent between the two men, turning to Nicholas instead. "Weren't you hungry? I'll go cook." He'd become incredibly picky lately, only eating what she prepared herself. He wouldn't touch anything the staff cooked.
Emma walked into the kitchen.
The staff had already washed and chopped all the ingredients according to her instructions.
Her right hand still couldn't touch water, so she carefully used her left hand to place the prepared ingredients into a soup pot.
She was making him soup.
After losing so much blood earlier, he'd grown considerably more gaunt and needed proper nourishment.
Nicholas watched her slender figure working in the kitchen with one hand, something soft stirring in his chest.
He silently approached from behind, gently embracing her, his chin resting in the curve of her neck.
Warm breath whispered against her ear as he spoke in low, tender tones, "Your hand is injured. Let me do this."
Emma's body stiffened momentarily before relaxing. She turned to look at him.
"Then promise me—whether I cook it or the staff does, you'll eat everything without being picky. Alright?"
She paused, adding, "I'm going to be very busy from now on. I might not be able to cook for you every day."
Nicholas was quiet for several seconds, feeling the soft body in his arms before murmuring a low "Mm," followed by, "Alright. But I want a reward."
"What reward?" Emma asked.
Instead of answering, he turned her body to face him, then leaned down and kissed her lips.
His eyes flickered—he could actually taste something. Her mouth carried a hint of sweetness.
...
Meanwhile, Evelyn stood before the massive iron gates of Los Castle, the cold wind numbing her cheeks.
She'd been waiting for a long time. No one from inside had come to announce her presence, and the guards at the gate blocked her entry.
She turned to the bodyguard beside her, coldly instructing, "Hank, beat them up!"
Hank Wood was a bodyguard Hawk had specifically assigned to her, with exceptional skills.
He nodded, signaling the two bodyguards behind him.
The three descended like tigers from a mountain, instantly engaging the Castle guards in combat.
Evelyn took advantage of the chaos, her petite figure nimbly slipping through a gap to run toward the Castle's main entrance.
A black Maybach sat quietly before the door.
Suddenly, a familiar tall figure emerged from the Castle's main entrance, entering her line of sight.
Hawk.
He was carrying a woman in his arms.
The woman was wrapped in soft, thin blankets, revealing only snow-white, rounded shoulders and a section of pale arm. Her neck was covered with ambiguous marks of varying depths.
The woman's face was buried against Hawk's chest, making her features unclear, but that languid, weary yet satisfied expression was all too familiar to Evelyn.
Once upon a time, Hawk had held her the same way, leaving identical marks on her body.
This scene was like countless sharp needles piercing her eyes, stabbing her heart with pain.
And here she'd been worried about his safety, standing in the cold wind for two hours.
Hawk, holding the woman, suddenly looked up, his gaze meeting Evelyn's in the distance.
His expression was calm, without any ripples, as if he hadn't seen her at all. He carried the woman in his arms to the waiting car, and it quickly drove away.
Evelyn stood frozen, staring at the departing vehicle, her expression frighteningly calm.
...
Night had fallen, but the laboratory lights remained bright.
After the materials were distributed that evening, both teams of PhDs threw themselves into the experiments with every precious moment.
Emma's side was responsible for researching two toxins, Seven-colored Flower and Warm Heaven.
For Warm Heaven, she'd need to return to James's residence to retrieve it.
Thinking of James, her expression darkened.
She knew Matthew wouldn't be cruel enough to harm James, but at his advanced age, being dragged into this because of her filled her with waves of guilt.
After 11 PM, Emma sent everyone else to rest while she remained alone in the laboratory, busily working.
She checked data on precision instruments while rapidly recording notes.
After finishing her records, she wearily rubbed her temples.
Suddenly, her body lifted as she was swept up in strong arms.
Startled, she opened her eyes to Nicholas's magnified handsome face.
His expression was impassive, but his tone carried unquestionable authority, "Time to rest. I didn't plan on trading your life for mine."
Emma struggled slightly. "Put me down. I can walk myself."
Nicholas held her tighter, saying firmly, "It's cold outside. I can shield you from the wind."
She was somewhat speechless.
Outside the building, a bone-chilling north wind cut through the air—it really was cold. She instinctively curled closer into his embrace.
Back in her room, Emma rushed to the bathroom for a shower and hair wash.
When she emerged, it was nearly dawn.
Her face showed deep exhaustion as she gently towel-dried her dripping hair.
A knock came at the door.
Nicholas entered, carrying a hair dryer.
He walked directly behind her, plugging it in and turning it on.
Warm air flowed through her hair as his long fingers moved gently through her damp locks.
Emma watched the scene reflected in her vanity mirror, her heart stirring with emotion.
The man in the mirror looked tender and focused.
Back when they were still married, she'd often fantasized about when she might enjoy such attentive care from him.
She never imagined this scene would actually happen now, after their divorce.
The hair dryer's sound seemed intrusive in the deep night, disturbing her heart as well.
When her hair was ninety percent dry, he unplugged the device.
Emma stood, planning to go to bed.
But he embraced her tightly from behind, hot kisses raining densely on her neck as he gently took her earlobe between his lips...
He'd kissed her like this before—it was a dangerous signal.
Ambiguous tension filled the room as intimate scenes from their past flooded uncontrollably into her mind.
It had been so long since they'd made love.
Right now, Nicholas desperately wanted her.
Emma's body grew somewhat rigid as she struggled to reclaim her scattered rationality.
"Nicholas, get out!" Her voice carried deliberate coldness.
But Nicholas acted as if he hadn't heard, tightening his arms and sweeping her up in his embrace, striding toward the bed.