Chapter 160 The World, Only Despair Remains
At noon, Emma woke up feeling like she'd been taken apart and reassembled. Her entire body ached.
Uncontrollable flashes of last night's wild moments flooded her mind.
Her, and him...
Emma groaned and smacked her forehead in frustration. Damn it, how could she have gotten so drunk!
She struggled to get up and walked into the bathroom.
The person in the mirror left her completely stunned.
Her pale neck, collarbones, and even her arms were covered with marks of varying depths—telltale signs of their passionate night.
How was she supposed to face anyone like this!
When she went downstairs, she deliberately wore a high-necked sweater, trying to hide the "evidence."
As soon as she reached the living room, she heard Nicholas's voice.
"Emma."
He turned toward the sound, extending his hand to her, his handsome face wearing its usual gentle expression.
Emma's heart skipped a beat.
She slowly walked over and waved her fingers in front of his eyes.
His pupils didn't move at all—deep but hollow. He couldn't see.
An indescribable ache washed over her, clogging her chest.
Nicholas accurately grasped her hand, his palm warm.
He asked softly, "Did you drink with the research team last night? Does your head hurt? Charlie made some hangover soup."
As he spoke, his other hand fumbled around, carefully pushing a bowl in her direction.
Emma stared at him in confusion, then looked toward Charlie.
Charlie stood behind Nicholas, frantically pointing to his own head and silently mouthing that Nicholas had forgotten about last night.
Emma's mind buzzed as she quickly pulled her hand away.
"My head doesn't hurt!" she said rapidly. "I need to get to the lab!"
With that, she fled.
Just outside the mansion, Charlie caught up with her.
"Mrs. Harrison," Charlie lowered his voice, his expression complex. "Mr. Harrison... he's forgotten everything about yesterday."
"Your birthday celebration was all for nothing."
What?
Emma was shocked, stopping in her tracks. "So that's why he asked if I'd been drinking with the research team?"
"Yes." Charlie nodded gravely.
"And that incident when he threw you in the pool—he's forgotten that too."
"The doctor said if his nervous system receives a sudden severe shock, he can lose segments of memory."
Emma suddenly understood.
No wonder he'd looked at her so innocently before—he really had forgotten!
But last night...
Maybe it was better this way.
She felt relieved.
At least they wouldn't have to face each other awkwardly. She honestly didn't know how she would have handled seeing him otherwise.
"Alright, just keep a close eye on him."
She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.
"I'm heading back to the lab."
Meanwhile, Evelyn finally woke up after sleeping for a long time, her eyelids heavy, her body feeling drained of all strength.
The memory of her confrontation with Ms. West suddenly flooded back.
She instinctively touched her lower abdomen.
The baby... was her baby still there?
Her heart leaped to her throat.
The door opened.
Hawk's tall figure entered, backlit, his expression unreadable.
He carried a small bowl of dark, black medicine.
Seeing her eyes open, he paused, then quickly approached, his face showing undisguised relief.
"Evelyn, you're awake."
Evelyn ignored him, struggling to turn her head away, showing him the back of her head.
Hawk sat down beside her bed, his familiar scent making her feel sick.
"You just woke up, you're still weak. Drink this medicine first." He lowered his voice, trying to coax her.
Evelyn's eyes suddenly reddened as she whipped her head back around, glaring at him fiercely.
"Hawk, this is all your fault!" she screamed, her eyes filled with hatred. "I will never have your child!"
Hawk's face immediately darkened, the air around them turning cold.
But seeing her pale, fragile appearance, he struggled to keep his voice gentle.
"Fine, no children. No children." He went along with her words.
Evelyn's heart clenched painfully.
No children?
She suddenly turned back, asking urgently, "The baby's gone?"
Her voice trembled.
Hawk didn't answer immediately.
He simply stirred the thick black medicine in the bowl, his deep eyes unreadable.
"You're too weak. Drink the medicine first."
His evasion hit Evelyn's heart like a sledgehammer.
Her baby was really gone.
Tears immediately flooded Evelyn's eyes.
That had been the only remaining connection between them.
Maybe it was better this way. Now they could make a clean break.
She took a deep breath, struggling to suppress the sob in her throat, and said with almost cruel calmness, word by word, "Hawk, let's break up."
His face was stormy, his dark eyes locked on her as if scrutinizing her, or perhaps suppressing something.
The air froze for several seconds before he slowly spoke, "Fine."
Evelyn's heart sank completely.
"But you're too weak. After seven days of medicine, I'll let you go." He added emotionlessly.
Evelyn snatched the bowl of medicine from his hands and drained it in one gulp.
The extremely bitter taste instantly hit her throat, spreading to her organs.
But no matter how bitter, it couldn't match the bitterness in her heart.
Hawk watched her finish, his Adam's apple bobbing once before he spoke again, "Rest a bit more. I'll get you some porridge—you must be hungry."
"I don't want to see you." Evelyn coldly interrupted him, turning away again.
Hawk stared at her for several seconds before finally standing up and leaving.
When Evelyn emerged from her room at noon, she was genuinely starving.
The dining table was already set with an elaborate lunch spread—everything exquisite and carefully prepared.
She sat down expressionlessly and picked up her chopsticks, eating slowly.
Torturing herself over a man—that wasn't Evelyn's style.
Seeing her come out to eat, Hank cautiously approached, hesitating before speaking.
"Miss Jackson, actually the baby..."
"Shut up!" Evelyn suddenly looked up, roaring and cutting him off. "I don't need consolation."
She would rest for seven days, recover her strength, then immediately return to Emerald City. From then on, they'd be separated by mountains and seas, never to meet again!
She viciously stabbed at the rice in her bowl, tears falling uncontrollably. She reached up to wipe them away, but they just kept coming.
To hell with love!
She had no idea that at that very moment, in her womb, an incredibly tenacious little life was still holding on...
Luminous City's weather had turned, suddenly dropping ten degrees, bone-chillingly cold.
Emma had been fighting alongside all the research team members in the lab for over ten hours.
Success!
Everyone stared at the lively little mouse in the petri dish, excitedly clenching their fists.
The second version of the antidote had been successfully developed, with reduced toxicity—at least there was hope for survival now.
She carefully sealed the test solution, clutching it in her palm as she practically flew toward the mansion.
She couldn't wait to get the serum into Nicholas's mouth!
However, as soon as she reached the mansion's entrance, the smile froze on her face.
Charlie was currently crouched on the front steps, looking utterly heartbroken.
"Charlie? What's wrong? What happened?" Her voice carried unease.
Charlie suddenly looked up, his eyes red as a rabbit's, his voice shaking uncontrollably, "Mrs. Harrison... you... you should see for yourself."
With that, he lowered his head again, covering his eyes with one large hand, his body trembling slightly.
Emma rushed into the house and immediately spotted Nicholas.
He stood before the massive floor-to-ceiling window with his back to her, facing the rear garden.
His tall, straight silhouette was still familiar, yet it radiated an unprecedented loneliness and bewilderment.
"Nicholas?"
She called his name tentatively, softly.
No response.
He remained motionless, as if he hadn't heard.
"Nicholas!" Emma's heart raced as she rushed behind him, her voice involuntarily rising.
He still showed no reaction.
She reached out and gently tugged his hand. He trembled.
The next second, as if finally sensing something, he suddenly reached out and pulled her into his arms.
His arms tightened around her so forcefully they nearly crushed her bones.
"Emma..."
His hoarse voice, filled with endless panic and dependence, repeatedly murmured her name in her ear.
"Emma..."
"I'm here!"
She covered her mouth, but tears were already streaming uncontrollably down her face.
Emma cried as she responded, her voice broken, "I'm right here, Nicholas! I've always been here!"
But he could no longer hear her.
He had lost all five senses. Now, not only could he not see, he had lost his hearing too...
His world had become dark and silent, filled only with despair!