Chapter 185: His Heart Had Softened after all
Emma's heart skipped a beat.
Not now—she was in her first trimester, and Nicholas could hurt the baby.
As he bend down to kiss her again, she quickly pressed her hand against his lips.
"Nicholas, I... can't right now."
Nicholas froze, the fire in his eyes still blazing, mixed with confusion.
He gently pulled her hand away, kissing her fingers repeatedly.
"Is it that time of the month still?" he asked.
"Mm-hmm, not right now." She went along with his assumption.
The desire coursing through Nicholas was instantly doused like a bucket of cold water.
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to suppress that restless energy.
"I'll have the kitchen heat up some milk for you. You should rest..."
His voice was hoarse, and he leaned down to kiss her face several more times before getting up to leave.
The door closed softly behind him.
Emma touched her flushed cheeks, but warmth spread through her heart like honey.
Should she tell him about the baby sooner?
Downstairs, Nicholas's phone rang the moment he reached the bottom of the stairs.
It was Charlie calling.
He answered, saying only one sentence in a low voice, "I'm coming over now."
He hung up, grabbed his coat from the entryway, and strode out of Imperial Garden.
Late at night, Stellar Soiree reeked of decadence and excess.
Zoe sat in a luxurious private booth, swirling a glass of expensive wine. Outside her booth stood six bodyguards in black suits, all built like tanks with expressionless faces.
She reveled in this feeling.
Wherever she went, she felt like a queen sitting high on her throne.
Her identity as the White family heiress was her greatest source of confidence.
The booth door was suddenly slammed open with tremendous force.
A tall, imposing figure stood silhouetted against the light in the doorway, radiating an aura of barely contained rage.
Zoe jumped, startled, but when she recognized who it was, her eyes lit up with unbridled joy.
"Nicholas!"
She immediately stood up, clicking across the floor in her heels to stop in front of him.
Her gaze was slightly unfocused from alcohol, lips parted, wanting desperately to throw herself into his arms. But her outstretched hand froze halfway, not daring to come closer.
Nicholas's stare was ice-cold as he fixed his eyes on her.
"Those kidnappers—you sent them, didn't you?"
His voice wasn't loud, but it cut through her like a poisoned blade, making Zoe's entire body tremble.
She instinctively took a half-step back, then forced herself to appear calm as she denied it.
"What kidnappers? I don't know what you're talking about."
Nicholas's patience was completely exhausted, fury burning in his chest.
He stepped closer, backing her into a corner, his overwhelming presence making it hard for her to breathe.
"Zoe, I warned you never to hurt her again!"
"How dare you keep crossing my lines?"
Each word carried bone-deep coldness, and the distance and indifference in his eyes was what she feared most.
Zoe bit down hard on her teeth in hatred.
After a few seconds of stunned silence, her eyes quickly filled with tears, taking on a pitiful, wounded appearance.
"Nicholas, I really don't know..."
"I don't understand why you have such hostility toward me. Am I really that evil in your eyes?"
"You never used to be this cruel to me."
Tears slid down her delicate cheeks, radiating heartbreak.
"Even if you don't care about what happened four years ago anymore, I'm truly not your enemy."
The words "four years ago" hit Nicholas like a curse, blocking his heart with painful force.
That was a fact he couldn't change.
She was his savior.
If not for that, he would have personally destroyed her today.
Nicholas took a deep breath, pushing down his churning emotions.
"Either way, stay away from her from now on."
"If you pull any more stunts, I'll have you locked up."
The sorrow on Zoe's face instantly froze.
Boldly, she reached out and embraced him, resting her head against his solid chest.
"Nicholas, since you promised Mom you'd come to the White family next month for my recognition ceremony..."
"You still care about me deep down, don't you? The Harrison and White families are truly a perfect match."
Her voice turned soft and urgent.
"Since fate gave me this identity, it's giving us another chance. Could you... love me again?"
Nicholas forcefully pried her hands away, his eyes showing not a trace of emotion—only deathly cold indifference.
"We're impossible now."
Each word was crystal clear.
"Remember, next time, I won't be so merciful."
With that, he turned and strode away without a backward glance.
Zoe watched his resolute departing figure, then slowly wiped the tears from her face.
But her lips curved into a triumphant smile.
'Nicholas, you still can't bring yourself to be truly ruthless with me.'
'Some things are destined. You'll be tangled up with me for the rest of your life.'
'The White family is my strongest backing.'
Meanwhile, in a dark, damp underground cell, the air was thick with the metallic stench of blood.
A man hung from iron chains on a torture rack, his body covered in vicious whip marks, barely an inch of skin left unmarked.
A salt-soaked whip came down again. The man's body convulsed violently from the pain, but he no longer had the strength even to scream.
Luke stood in the shadows, his handsome face expressionless, though his eyes roiled with towering hatred.
Anyone who dared hurt his woman would suffer a fate worse than death.
"Don't let him die," he said coldly. "His punishment isn't finished yet."
"Yes, Mr. White." His subordinate replied respectfully, raising the whip and bringing it down viciously once more.
Imperial Garden.
When Nicholas returned to the bedroom, Emma was already asleep.
He went into the bathroom, letting the hot water wash away the violence that clung to him.
After his shower, he carefully slipped into bed.
Being able to openly lie beside her and hold her while she slept—it felt wonderful.
He turned onto his side, drawing her into his embrace, and gently took her hand.
The ugly scar across her palm was still clearly visible.
His heart felt like it had been stabbed with a needle, aching dully.
Her right hand bore the wound from when she'd fought to retrieve the antidote, cut by broken glass. He examined her other palm—there too was a faint scar.
That was from when she'd cut herself to feed him her blood to save his life.
Everything she'd done for him was carved deeply into his heart.
The woman in his arms slept soundly, breathing evenly like a docile, gentle kitten.
Suddenly, she stirred, murmuring softly in her sleep.
"Baby..."
Nicholas went rigid. Was she thinking about having his child too?
A few seconds later, he tightened his embrace, holding her even closer.
The next day, Nicholas made Emma breakfast and personally fed her.
Happiness bubbled up from his heart like sweetened milk, effervescent with joy.
After they finished eating, just before leaving, Nicholas pressed her against the door and they shared a long, sweet kiss.
Back at the office, Emma immediately went into work mode, opening her computer and flying across the keyboard, lines of code scrolling rapidly across her screen.
She typed quickly and intently.
In the CEO's office, Nicholas quietly watched through his computer screen as that small figure bent over her work.
His lips unconsciously curved upward, his chest filled with swelling satisfaction.
He picked up his phone, tapping lightly on the screen to open a pink app.
After entering several dates, the screen displayed a clear cycle chart.
His gaze landed precisely on a date marked in bold red.
Ovulation day.
His eyes instantly blazed with burning anticipation.
Charlie entered to find Nicholas looking particularly pleased, as if something wonderful was about to happen.
"Mr. Harrison."
"Handle a few things for me," Nicholas instructed in a cheerful tone. "Have someone send the latest collections of clothing and jewelry to Imperial Garden—get pieces from all the top brands."
He paused, then added, "Also arrange for a top-tier nutritionist to specially care for Emma's health."
Charlie's eyes lit up, barely containing his excitement as he asked, "Mrs. Harrison has moved back to Imperial Garden?"
Nicholas nodded.
He calculated the timing—in a day or two, everything would be just right.
He'd finally be able to be with her properly.
The thought made him even more excited, his eyes unable to hide his anticipation.
Proximity truly did bring priority.
"Oh," he suddenly remembered something else, "I heard there's an auction house selling a crown today?"
Charlie quickly checked his tablet, rapidly finding the information. "That's right, it's a rare treasure once owned by the Novarian royal family."
Nicholas's fingers drummed lightly on his desk, his voice quiet but carrying undeniable decision.
"Acquire it."
"Have it sent directly to the White family recognition ceremony."
He wanted to use that one-of-a-kind crown to personally welcome back his little princess.
"Yes, Mr. Harrison." Charlie nodded quickly, fingers flying across his tablet to make notes.
At lunchtime, Nicholas directly pulled Emma away from her computer.
"Where are we going?" Emma asked, still a bit dazed as he bundled her into the car.
"To eat."
The car wound through several turns before stopping in front of what appeared to be an extremely exclusive private club.
There was no sign, only heavy, ancient wooden doors that radiated an intimidating sense of exclusivity.
The moment they entered, melodious piano music drifted toward them.
The music was clear and flowing, like mountain spring water cleansing the soul.
Emma followed the sound, passing through a doorway into a space that opened before her.
In a garden filled with roses and lavender, an elegantly dressed woman in ivory sat at a grand piano.
Her hair was gracefully pinned up with an exquisite silver clip, pearl earrings adorning her lobes, her bearing dignified and refined.
Her fingers danced across the keys, each note perfectly placed, and Emma's heart rose and fell with the melody.
When the piece ended, the music lingered in the air.
Several distinguished ladies seated nearby immediately burst into applause.
"Beautiful playing!"
"Mrs. White, you truly are from a noble family. Your musical skill is beyond our reach."
Luna White smiled graciously at the gathering, about to offer modest words, but as she looked up, she spotted Emma standing in the distance.
The girl stood there quietly, her features strikingly beautiful—those clear eyes, that elegant nose, those lips...
She bore seven or eight points of resemblance to Luna's own reflection.
Luna's eyes trembled violently, her heart feeling seized by an invisible hand, suddenly racing.
Without knowing what she was doing, she squeezed a trembling name from her throat.
"Olivia..."