Chapter 200 I Won't Do Anything, Go to Sleep
"A stiff-looking middle-aged man in uniform appeared, all business."
"Flashing his ID like a pro, he zeroed in on the manager, who'd come scrambling out."
"Reports of major fire safety breaches here. We're doing a surprise inspection, now."
"He didn't wait for an invite, just swept in with his team. Louis's face turned thunderous."
He didn't wait for a response, marching into the hotel lobby with his team behind him. Louis's expression darkened straightaway.
The lobby manager came hurrying out, his voice shaking with panic. "Mr. Windsor, the hotel... the whole building's gone dark." "The backup generators have failed as well."
In -10°C weather with snow coming down, no power meant no heating. This was a worst-case scenario.
"Fury scorched Louis's throat, his temples pounding with anger he could barely contain."
Bottling up his anger for the ladies' sake, he yanked out his phone and jabbed at a number with sharp, controlled movements.
Luke's voice cut through, icy and detached. "Get Nicholas to escort them out. The hotel'll be back up in ten."
The call ended abruptly.
Louis gripped the phone so tightly his knuckles went white, fighting the urge to crush it entirely.
A tall figure emerged from the darkness, walking toward them with confident strides.
Nicholas carried a white coat in his hands—clearly more expensive and luxurious than anything the hotel could provide.
He walked straight to Emma.
He yanked off the down jacket Louis had put over her shoulders, chucking it into the snow without a second thought.
That cheap thing was unworthy of her.
He wrapped the million-dollar designer coat around her instead, ensuring every inch of her was protected from the cold.
Then he swept her up in his arms, lifting her completely off the ground.
"Mr. Windsor, your establishment is hardly suitable for guests."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unmistakable authority.
"I'll take care of my wife myself. No need to trouble yourself further."
He turned toward his car, Emma secure in his arms.
Emma struggled in his embrace. "Nicholas, what are you doing? Put me down!"
He didn't loosen his grip.
"Behave, or I'll kiss you right here in front of everyone." His voice was gentle but carried a dangerous undertone.
Emma stopped struggling, though she called out urgently, "Evelyn!"
Evelyn stood frozen, offering Louis a few awkward pleasantries before hurrying after Nicholas.
The car door slammed shut, sealing out the wind and snow.
Emma sank into the plush leather seat, her chest heaving with indignation.
"Nicholas, that was incredibly rude."
He only chuckled softly as he started the engine.
"That hot spring water was contaminated. If Miss Jackson had gotten in tonight, she would have lost the baby for sure."
He glanced in the rearview mirror.
"See? The water quality inspectors just arrived."
Following his gaze, Emma and Evelyn turned to see two more vehicles marked "Environmental Monitoring" pulling up to the resort.
"You can't be serious..." Evelyn went pale, her hands instinctively covering her stomach.
Emma studied Nicholas's stern profile, unable to form a single word of protest.
She realized Louis was about to have a very long night.
He'd definitely been targeted.
Nicholas didn't drive them to the estate.
Instead, he brought them to Harrison Group's flagship five-star hotel.
The estate was too far, and both women seemed reluctant to go there anyway.
The elevator rose smoothly to the nineteenth floor, the hallway carpet so thick it muffled all sound.
The manager respectfully opened the door, and Nicholas stepped aside to let them enter first.
The room was spacious—over 600 square feet—decorated in cheerful light blue with a cute yet understated luxury aesthetic.
Except for the tiny bed sitting prominently in the center of the room.
Evelyn's eyes fixed on that bed and couldn't look away.
It was pathetically small—a children's bed barely 30 inches wide.
In all her years, she'd never seen such miniature furniture in a luxury hotel.
She turned to Nicholas with a withering stare.
"Harrison Group certainly spares no expense. Thousands of dollars a night for a room with a toddler bed."
Her voice could have frozen water.
Nicholas immediately adopted an expression of earnest sincerity.
"Tomorrow's the White family recognition ceremony, you know. Young elites from across the country have descended on Empire City. Every hotel is booked solid."
He spread his hands in apparent helplessness.
"I wanted to take you to the estate, but you insisted on a hotel."
"These are the only two specialty suites left—a prince room and a princess room."
He gestured toward the small bed with complete seriousness.
"This is where the prince sleeps. The bed's a bit small, but it has wonderful symbolism."
"If you're hoping for a son someday, this is definitely the room for you."
Evelyn's eyes lit up with sudden interest. "This room helps with having boys?"
Nicholas nodded emphatically.
"Absolutely. If you prefer a daughter, I can show you the princess suite upstairs. Similar bed size, but it's decorated in gorgeous pink."
The ice in Evelyn's expression began to thaw.
She turned to Emma, taking her hand with a gentle shake.
"Emma, which room do you want?"
Emma smiled at her friend's enthusiasm. "You choose first. I'm happy with either."
Evelyn looked back at the tiny bed and made her decision decisively.
"We'll take this one."
Nicholas felt a weight lift from his shoulders. He immediately turned to the hotel manager.
"Send up a full spread of late-night snacks and fresh fruit for Miss Jackson. Make sure she has everything she needs."
"Take excellent care of her."
The manager bowed and quickly retreated.
One problem solved.
Now Nicholas led Emma to the other room.
The prince suite was on the nineteenth floor, but the princess room was forty-seven floors up.
The elevator numbers flew by, as if they were traveling to another world entirely.
When the princess suite door opened, they were hit with a wave of cotton-candy pink.
The walls, carpet, and curtains were all varying shades of pink.
In the center sat another tiny bed—this one slightly wider at about 36 inches and decorated in matching pink.
Emma had to bite back a laugh.
She couldn't help asking, "Is this really meant for children?"
"Are children supposed to stay in hotels alone?"
Nicholas's expression remained perfectly innocent as he launched into his explanation.
"Empire City kids are very independent. They're perfectly capable of staying in hotels by themselves."
"We offer full childcare services."
Emma nodded thoughtfully, seemingly convinced.
Nicholas lowered his gaze to hide his amusement.
This was actually the hotel's largest family suite. He'd had the king-size bed removed earlier and replaced with a stylish sofa set.
If the two women stayed together, how would he get any time alone with Emma tonight?
Emma didn't pursue the bed question further. Instead, she walked to the massive floor-to-ceiling windows and pulled back the heavy curtains.
The view was breathtaking—all of Empire City's glittering nightscape spread before them.
Flowing lights sparkled like diamonds scattered across black velvet.
The snow had stopped, leaving a thin white blanket over the city's rooftops and streets, making the bustling metropolis seem remarkably peaceful.
She stood there for a long time before turning back. "Where will you sleep tonight?"
Nicholas's eyes flickered.
"The hotel's completely booked." His tone carried just the right note of resignation. "I'll head back to the estate in a bit."
He glanced at the snow outside.
"The roads are treacherous right now. I heard the mountain pass is blocked, but they're working to clear it."
"Should be able to get through in three or four hours."
Emma's expression grew concerned.
Three or four hours?
She considered for a moment, then suggested, "Why don't you try another hotel?"
Nicholas had been hoping she'd worry about him, not send him away.
His face fell slightly.
"Stay at a competitor's hotel? That would be like giving them free advertising."
His voice took on a note of self-deprecating humor mixed with martyrdom.
"I'd rather just sleep in the car."
In the car?
Emma immediately thought of news stories about people who died from carbon monoxide poisoning while sleeping in their vehicles with the heat running.
That was absolutely not happening.
Her gaze fell on the large sofa set in the corner of the room.
"Why don't you just sleep on the couch?"
She pointed toward it.
Nicholas followed her gesture, his face showing the perfect amount of hesitation before finally nodding.
"I suppose that could work. I don't mind."
He looked at Emma. "I'll have them bring up extra blankets. You should get ready for bed first."
He turned and left, closing the door behind him.
The moment the door clicked shut, all traces of reluctance vanished from his face, replaced by a victorious grin.
In the prince room, Evelyn finished washing up, changed into her pajamas, and ate her midnight snacks.
She settled onto the narrow little bed—plenty of room for one person, actually.
Her hand drifted to her still-flat stomach as she whispered to herself.
If she really did give Hawk a son, she'd take him back to Luminous City someday to visit his father's grave.
Then Hawk wouldn't be so lonely anymore.
"Good night, little one."
Her voice was soft as a feather, and she quickly drifted off to sleep.
Meanwhile, Emma had finished her shower and lay down on the room's only bed.
Nicholas emerged from the bathroom and dutifully walked toward the sofa.
The room fell quiet except for a single accent light and the sound of their gentle breathing.
Emma stared at the ceiling.
"Nicholas," she said suddenly.
"Mm?" came his low response from the sofa.
"If you discovered that someone you'd trusted completely wasn't who you thought they were, what would you do?"
She asked casually, but she was thinking about Zoe's deception.
The air hung silent for several seconds.
When Nicholas spoke again, his voice carried a weight of careful consideration.
"I'd admit my mistake and try to make amends. I believe it's never too late to make things right."
Emma slowly turned toward the sofa in the darkness.
"Nicholas, are you still worth trusting?" Her voice was soft, but it hit like a sledgehammer.
He turned too, meeting her gaze across the dark space between them.
"I'll build you a new trust account and make deposits every day until it's full."
"As long as you'll give me the chance."
A small smile curved Emma's lips.
"Then promise me something."She said.
"From now on, don't hide anything from me. Talk to me about everything first, okay?"
"I promise." His voice was infinitely gentle.
Emma's expression softened, the knot in her chest finally loosening.
She turned over with her back to him and gradually fell asleep.
Midnight.
A bone-deep chill woke Emma from her sleep.
She curled into a ball, opening her eyes to see Nicholas standing by the heating controls, his silhouette tense with frustration.
He kept pressing buttons on the control panel, the beeping sounds sharp in the silent night.
"Why is it so cold?" she asked, her voice hoarse from sleep.
Nicholas turned, his brow furrowed. "Something's wrong with the heating system. Wrap up tight in those blankets."
Emma pulled the covers closer, but her teeth still chattered.
Nicholas hurried over, wearing only a thin sleep shirt but showing no concern for his own comfort.
"I'll have them bring up a space heater. Can you tough it out for now?"
Emma checked her phone—the screen showed 3:17 AM.
She shook her head. "I'll be fine. Don't wake anyone up."
Nicholas stood beside the bed, hesitating as he watched her shiver under the blankets.
Making his decision, he lifted the corner of the blanket and slipped in beside her.
The mattress dipped dramatically under his weight.
Emma went rigid.
"I won't try anything. Just sleep," he whispered, his breath warm against her ear.
His strong arm pulled her against him.
Emma tensed, instinctively trying to scoot away.
But he was like a human furnace, his solid chest radiating heat that gradually warmed her frozen limbs.
Soon she relaxed completely.
He held her close, letting her rest against his arm, pressing her as near as possible to absorb his body heat.
Emma shifted slightly, her rigid posture melting as one arm curved around his waist, drawing in his warmth as she drifted back to sleep.
Feeling her breathing even out, Nicholas pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, his eyes soft with tenderness.
This was the smallest bed they'd ever shared—so tiny they could barely move without bumping into each other.
But their hearts had never been closer.
Yes, this was all Charlie's doing. His cleverness had earned him quite a few bonuses over the years, making him a legitimate millionaire.
Too bad a woman would eventually con him out of every penny.
In the vast darkness, a man spoke quietly into his phone.
"Tomorrow night is the recognition ceremony. Whatever it takes, bring them to me beforehand."
"Exactly, both women. With them, we've got the White family pinned down."
"Who'd have guessed Luke White, the invincible one, finally has an Achilles' heel? Fascinating."
The snow stopped the next day, replaced by an unexpectedly clear sky – a calm before a storm of blood and chaos would later describe it.