Chapter 172 No Habit of Eating the Grass Once Grazed
"Nicholas, mmm..."
Nicholas kissed her fiercely, holding Emma so tightly as if afraid she might slip away.
Emma pounded his shoulders with her hands until he finally released her, his eyes smoldering with desire.
He trapped her between himself and the mirror, leaning down to gaze at her.
"I just want to hold you while I sleep. I've gotten used to having you beside me."
Was he really going to play the shameless card now?
"Get out!," she commanded.
"I promised myself that as long as I'm alive, I'll cherish you properly." He leaned down again, finding her lips with unerring accuracy.
The kiss was domineering and possessive, brooking no refusal.
Alarm bells rang frantically in Emma's mind.
She pushed against his chest in panic, her voice breathless. "Nicholas, no, I can't."
He pulled back slightly, his dark eyes locked on hers, voice husky.
"I can." With that, he kissed her again.
Just then, an urgent, frantic knocking exploded through the quiet room.
Nicholas's expression darkened instantly.
Opening the door, Charlie stood in the hallway.
The moment he met Nicholas's razor-sharp glare, he nearly jumped out of his skin.
"Mrs. Harrison, Miss Jackson is here, and her condition... isn't good."
"Evelyn." Emma rushed out of the room anxiously.
Charlie fled like his life depended on it, not lingering a second longer.
Downstairs in the main hall, harsh white light flooded the space.
Evelyn stood there like a rose ravaged by wind and storm.
Her dress was torn in several places, her eyes bloodshot, her entire form haggard and deformed—clearly having just survived a brutal battle.
"Evelyn!" Emma rushed over.
Seeing her, Evelyn threw herself into Emma's arms like someone grasping their only lifeline, sobbing uncontrollably.
The sound was heart-wrenching.
She clung to Emma, repeating over and over, "Emma, Hawk is dead."
Emma's heart clenched painfully as she held Evelyn tighter.
She gently patted Evelyn's trembling back, trying to warm her with her own body heat.
"Emma, he's dead."
"I'll never see him again..."
Evelyn poured all her grief and despair into this embrace.
Emma knew that feeling of the world collapsing—she'd experienced it firsthand.
"Evelyn, everyone has their own destiny," her voice was soft and gentle. "He wouldn't want to see you so heartbroken."
"But my heart is breaking apart," Evelyn's voice trembled with pain. "It won't stop bleeding..."
Emma continued patting her back. "Don't cry."
"Tomorrow, I'll take you home. We're going home."
In the shadows of the second floor, Nicholas stood leaning against the railing, his deep gaze fixed on the two women embracing below.
'Hawk.'
'I never expected you'd actually go through with this plan.'
'I hope you won't regret it later.'
Below, Evelyn's crying suddenly stopped.
Her body went limp—she'd fainted again.
"Evelyn!" Emma panicked, clutching her frantically, not knowing what to do.
Hank quickly stepped forward from the side, speaking low and fast.
"Miss Jackson is pregnant. Her emotions got too overwhelming—she's fainted several times already."
Pregnant?
Emma's mind buzzed as she immediately understood.
"Quick! Carry her upstairs!"
Emma personally fed her pregnancy-stabilizing medication, and that night, slept beside her to care for her.
She didn't leave the room once that entire night.
The long night stretched on.
In another room, Nicholas's expression was stormy.
Right now, he wanted nothing more than to murder Charlie.
In the adjacent room, Charlie seemed to sense something through some kind of telepathic connection and shivered violently.
He pulled the covers over himself, wrapping himself from head to toe.
Charlie thought, 'What's the point of killing me? If you've got the guts, go eliminate that Evelyn!'
The next day, Nicholas brought them aboard his private jet back to Emerald City.
Inside the cabin, the engine's roar was muffled.
Emma turned to look out the window at the endless azure ocean, where sea met sky with no end in sight.
Everything that happened in Luminous City felt like she'd lived an entire lifetime.
The cost had been too high.
Nicholas had nearly died there.
From now on, she should stay away from him. She couldn't afford to lose another life.
Beside her, Evelyn's eyes were tightly shut, moisture clinging to her lashes, tears sliding silently down her cheeks.
Luminous City had become her eternal wound.
She was bringing home a child, along with regrets that could never be healed in this lifetime.
Nicholas's gaze was glued to Emma's profile, his eyes deep and radiating undisguised tenderness.
He wanted to pull her tightly into his arms.
It was time.
Once they returned to Emerald City, he would announce to the entire world that he loved her.
He would marry her again, openly and proudly.
On Skywater Peak, a pair of deep, cold eyes watched the departing plane, heart breaking...
The plane landed.
A black sedan stopped outside the Jackson family estate.
The moment the car door opened, Daryl and Ruby rushed out from the house, excitement written all over their faces.
Ruby gathered both daughters into her arms, patting their backs firmly.
"You two finally decided to come home!"
Her voice carried tears, yet was filled with strength.
Daryl stood beside them, hands awkward, finally managing to say, "Save one for me."
Evelyn immediately turned and buried herself in Daryl's embrace.
This hug was warm, so much like Hawk's.
Daryl awkwardly patted his daughter's back, his voice rough.
"It's good you're back, so good you're back."
Evelyn looked up at him, eyes rimmed red, voice weak. "Dad, I missed you."
"Why is your face so pale? Come on, Mom made soup for you both."
Ruby looked at Emma's wan complexion and pulled her toward the house.
"Emma." Behind them, Nicholas's voice suddenly called out.
He strode forward with long steps, clearly intending to pull Emma from Ruby's hands straight into his embrace.
Ruby moved quickly, positioning herself directly between them.
"Mr. Harrison." Her tone was polite, but her eyes were sharp.
"There are plenty of paparazzi outside our neighborhood. You'd better keep your distance."
She paused, her tone growing colder.
"After all, Harrison Group's divorce announcement was public knowledge throughout Emerald City. The Jackson family women don't have a habit of going back to old relationships."
Nicholas's handsome face immediately darkened with frustration.
His tall frame seemed somewhat helpless before Ruby. "I just wanted to say a few words to Emma."
"Whatever you need to say, say it here." Ruby stood her ground.
Nicholas's Adam's apple bobbed, and finally he could only steel himself to say, "Tomorrow, Grandfather is hosting a family dinner. I'll come pick you up."
Emma glanced up at him, nodded lightly, then followed Ruby into the house.
The heavy door slowly closed in Nicholas's face.
He stood there feeling terribly blocked up inside, as if stuffed with cotton.
Turning to walk away, he said coldly to Charlie, who was waiting by the car, "Whoever issued Harrison Group's divorce announcement before—fire him."
"Yes!" Charlie quickly nodded and opened the car door.
'Wasn't that your own order?' Charlie silently complained to himself. 'Now you regret it. Just wait—getting Mrs. Harrison back is going to be a long road. Guess how many other men in this world want her too?'
In the car, Nicholas's phone suddenly chimed with a message: [Mr. Harrison, the White family is hosting a recognition banquet. Care to guess who Ms. White might be?]