Chapter 167 The Last Kiss
The doctor emerged from the room, pulling off his mask with a heavy expression etched across his face.
"Although we've managed to restore his heartbeat, Mr. Harrison's body has been severely compromised by the toxin. His organs are shutting down one by one. I'm afraid there's nothing more we can do."
"You're looking at maybe two days, at most."
"Mrs. Harrison, I'm so sorry. Please prepare yourself."
Emma's body swayed as she stumbled backward, her back hitting the cold hospital wall.
After what felt like an eternity, she composed herself and walked to the bedside, grasping Nicholas's ice-cold hand and pressing it against her cheek for warmth.
Finally, she turned around, her voice barely a hoarse whisper.
"Charlie, I need you to get me a blood draw kit."
Charlie's eyes were red-rimmed as he struggled to speak.
"Mrs. Harrison, please don't hurt yourself anymore. You're severely anemic—any more blood loss could be dangerous for you!"
Emma's gaze was hollow yet unnaturally determined.
"I want to be with him when he's conscious. Even until the very end."
She paused, each word draining what little strength she had left.
"I want him to know that I'm here, so he can be at peace."
Charlie couldn't find a single word of argument. Eyes burning with tears, he turned and walked out.
……
The snow in Luminous City fell endlessly.
Evelyn stood under the portico, staring out at the pristine white landscape.
She felt trapped in a frozen cage, completely isolated from the world.
Suddenly, a heavy coat, still warm with masculine heat, draped over her shoulders.
She stiffened, slowly turning around, her delicate face cold as ice.
"Seven days." Her voice was light and airy, yet each word cut like a blade. "When exactly are you taking me away?"
She was forcing him to honor that damned promise.
Hawk's tall figure stood behind her, blocking the harsh wind.
He gazed at the swirling snow, his voice low and rough.
"When the storm passes. No planes can fly in this weather."
To her, it was just another excuse. "Hawk, you're a liar."
He said nothing, simply reached out with his long arms to gently pull her into his embrace.
"Don't be angry, okay?" His voice carried a coaxing tone.
"Don't touch me!" Evelyn struggled violently, as if contaminated by something filthy.
"You're disgusting."
Hawk's arms tightened around her, his jawline rigid with tension.
He explained once more, "Nothing happened between me and Ms. West. I'm still clean, still yours alone."
"It doesn't matter anymore." Evelyn cut him off, her voice carrying the weight of exhausted finality.
"I don't want you anymore." She repeated, emphasizing each word. "I'm done."
She angrily pushed him away and turned to leave.
But her foot suddenly twisted.
"Ah!" she cried out in pain.
The next second, she was airborne as Hawk swept her up in his arms.
His scent enveloped her possessively, his solid chest hard against her.
"Hawk! Put me down!" She pounded her fists against him.
"Stop moving." Hawk's voice was dangerously low. "Keep fighting me, and you know what will happen."
All her struggling ceased, tears instantly streaming down her face.
"I just had a miscarriage..." Her voice shattered, breaking with sobs. "You dare try anything!"
The man's body visibly tensed.
He looked down at her tear-streaked face, his voice rough with emotion.
"Okay, I won't touch you. I won't, just please stop crying, okay?"
His heart was breaking into pieces.
The wound in her heart ran too deep to heal.
……
That afternoon, Nicholas finally awakened.
The moment consciousness returned, he caught the faint scent of lilies.
So beautiful.
Instinctively, he called out in a hoarse whisper. "Emma."
A soft hand immediately grasped his large one. "I'm here. I've been here all along."
Hearing her voice filled some of the emptiness in his heart.
He suddenly asked, "Is it still snowing?"
"Yes, heavily." She turned to look at the white expanse outside the window.
His mouth curved slightly, as if attempting to smile. "If I could still see, I'd love to build you a giant snowman."
Emma leaned down and playfully pinched his cheek.
"What, looking for an excuse to get out of it?"
"Even blind, you're still making me one. We'll build it together—no one gets to be lazy."
He paused, then let out a soft laugh.
"Alright."
Emma picked up a bowl of warm porridge from beside the bed. "You haven't eaten all day. Finish this first, then we'll go play."
He nodded, reaching for the bowl, but heard her gentle voice instead.
"Open up."
He obediently opened his mouth.
She scooped up a spoonful of porridge, blew on it carefully, and brought it to his lips.
She fed him attentively, one spoonful at a time.
He swallowed dutifully, each mouthful deliberate. But inside his heart, it rained endlessly.
After finishing the porridge and washing up, Emma bundled him into a thick down jacket and carefully fitted a hat over his head.
She took his hand like leading a child.
The moment the door opened, a blast of frigid air hit them.
Almost instinctively, he pulled her entire body into his arms, using his broad back to shield her from the biting wind.
Emma's voice was muffled against his chest, but carried laughter.
"I'm not afraid of the cold. Let's go."
"Charlie and the others are having an outdoor barbecue. Can you smell it?"
"We'll build two big snowmen over there, then go feast on grilled meat. I'm practically drooling already."
She led him step by step outside.
The two figures stood out starkly against the endless white landscape.
The wind howled, carrying her clear laughter past his ears.
Nicholas felt his way down, groping to gather the soft snow in front of him, then using his elegant, long-fingered hands to pack it firmly into a ball.
His movements were slow but steady. Soon, a round, plump belly took shape.
He continued scraping more snow nearby...
About half an hour later, two snowmen stood beside him—one large, one small, positioned close together.
Emma ran over, circling the snowmen with a burst of laughter.
"They're so ugly!"
"Why are there two? And why different sizes?"
He didn't turn his head, his sightless eyes seriously "looking" at the two snowmen.
He spoke heavily, "One is you. One is our baby."
Emma's laughter stopped abruptly.
He felt for her hand and gripped it tightly, his voice carrying unprecedented seriousness.
"I'm sorry I failed to protect him, that I let him leave us."
"When I get to the other side, I'll find him and take good care of him."
"Emma, forgive me."
"He wasn't just an embryo—he and you are my entire life, the most important people to me in this world."
The words sounded like a deathbed confession, a belated repentance.
She paused, sniffling, her voice barely a whisper.
"Nicholas, I forgive you."
"That's in the past now."
Yes, facing death, everything else became insignificant.
His body shuddered with relief, urgently seeking confirmation. "Really?"
"Yes." She nodded gently.
"Thank you!" His voice carried excitement as he cupped her face and leaned down, finding her lips with perfect accuracy.
The snow continued falling.
Flake after flake landed on their hair, their shoulders.
They kissed without stopping.
In Emma's mouth, she tasted an indescribable bitterness.
She opened her eyes.
She saw his hollow, sightless gaze filled with large tears rolling down continuously.
Tears of grief and despair—Nicholas's tears.
Her lashes trembled as her heart split open once more.
In this moment, in this snow-white world of endless winter, only she and he remained...