Chapter 21 Her Favor, He Can't Escape
Charlie saw the scene and quickly walked over, deliberately clearing his throat twice.
Weren't Zoe's eyes clearly open?
Looking at Karen's behavior, anyone would think Zoe had already died during resuscitation.
"Ms. Perez, Mr. Harrison is here to see you," Charlie announced, raising his voice.
Nicholas breathed a sigh of relief, his eyes immediately darkening a shade.
Karen saw the distinguished man at the doorway, wiped her tears, and quickly rushed forward to greet him.
"Mr. Harrison, you're finally here! Zoe almost died. The doctor said if we'd arrived two minutes later, we would never have seen her again. Please, you must talk some sense into her. She can't attempt suicide again—my heart can't take it."
Karen spoke while shaking her head, looking utterly miserable.
"I'd like to speak with Zoe alone."
Nicholas stared at the unnaturally pale face on the hospital bed and spoke coldly, "Why would you do such a thing?"
The figure on the bed's eyelashes fluttered, slowly opening her eyes.
Seeing it was him, Zoe suddenly smiled. Before that smile could reach her eyes, tears began streaming down her face.
"My career... It's completely over."
Her voice was light and ethereal, carrying a desperate, broken quality.
"I'm nothing but a rat in the gutter now. What's... what's the point of living?"
As she spoke, her tears flowed more fiercely, her voice choking.
"I don't want to make things difficult for you. If I die, it would be the best outcome for you, for everyone."
She paused, looking at him through tear-filled eyes, her voice dropping to carry infinite grievance and reluctance.
"I just... can't bear to leave you."
Nicholas's heart felt like something had struck it—not too hard, not too soft—instantly softening those hard, stubborn edges.
He gentled his voice, with a tenderness he himself didn't notice, "I told you, let me handle this."
He looked at her, emphasizing, "When have I ever not taken care of you?"
These words were like a lifeline, instantly igniting the extinguished flame in Zoe's eyes.
She suddenly grabbed his hand, urgently seeking confirmation.
"Nicholas, you really... You really will help me?"
Hope that had been completely extinguished surged back like a tide, almost drowning her.
Nicholas saw her like this and sighed inwardly, "Don't do anything like this again."
He withdrew his hand and tucked the blanket around her. The gesture wasn't particularly gentle, but it carried an undeniable finality.
"I've booked your favorite restaurant. Tomorrow night, let's have dinner together."
Zoe immediately understood—he was going to publicly acknowledge her, to clear up this scandal.
She could hardly believe her ears. The wild joy in her heart felt like it might explode, though she struggled to maintain her tearful, fragile appearance.
She nodded, as docile as a frightened little rabbit.
Perfect!
This time, she'd truly escaped death!
As long as Nicholas was willing to step forward, what did those accusations matter? What did those losses matter?
This time, she'd actually turned misfortune into a blessing.
She grabbed his hand again, this time with a hint of coquettishness.
"Nicholas, you're so good to me. I'm so glad I jumped into that ocean to save you all those years ago."
She deliberately paused, observing Nicholas's expression. Seeing no reaction, she continued, her voice trembling with lingering fear.
"You know, I was almost drowning myself, but I had only one thought in my mind—I had to save you. You couldn't die."
"Thank God you finally woke up. Everyone teased me about using my first kiss to give you... mouth-to-mouth resuscitation!"
Every word precisely hit Nicholas's guilt points.
Classic emotional manipulation through gratitude.
Nicholas's thoughts indeed drifted back to that year.
The bone-chilling seawater, the suffocating sensation of approaching death. Then he was rescued, struggling to open his eyes.
The first thing he saw was Zoe's face—soaked by seawater yet still breathtakingly beautiful.
That moment of attraction was real! He had indeed fallen in love with her then.
This life-saving grace, this first-sight infatuation, bound him like invisible shackles.
He fell silent for a moment, suppressing the complex emotions churning in his heart.
"Don't do anything foolish again."
He repeated, his tone heavier.
Then his tone shifted, carrying a warning, "And I hope you won't target Emma anymore. Soon, she won't be part of the Harrison family."
Zoe's heart skipped a beat.
He was really going to divorce Emma?
Wonderful!
But she didn't show it on her face, maintaining that gentle, obedient appearance, nodding vigorously.
"Yes, I understand, Nicholas. As long as she doesn't provoke me, I absolutely won't touch her."
Nicholas nodded with satisfaction, gently stroking her head.
"Grandfather might have trouble accepting you for now, but I won't let anyone hurt you."
Zoe understood—she didn't have to marry into the Harrison family immediately. As long as his heart belonged to her, she wasn't afraid.
She shook his large hand, her voice soft and pleading.
"The doctor says I need to stay for observation overnight. I don't want to be alone here. I'm scared. Could you... Stay with me?"
Nicholas looked at her pale face, at the dependence in her eyes.
He didn't want to disappoint her again. These four years, they'd been through too many ups and downs... but ultimately, they'd reached this point.
He didn't want to lose her either.
This time, he'd made his decision.
"Alright." One word, heavy with meaning.
Night deepened.
Nicholas didn't return to Harrison Manor for dinner, and neither did Emma.
She'd casually made up an excuse to get out of it.
Actually, she just didn't want to see Nicholas.
Thinking of him, remembering everything in that cabin, made her feel restless and irritated.
After Evelyn returned home, her parents severely scolded her, saying that, as a wealthy family's daughter, how could she fight in public?
The Garcia family immediately took Henry to the Jackson family to apologize.
Reportedly, the Garcia family wanted to set a wedding date, but Evelyn shut them down with one sentence!
She declared that she'd marry when Emerald City was free of Henry's romantic scandals.
Rain had started falling at some point, pattering against the windows.
The wind from the balcony carried autumn's chill.
Emma stood on the balcony, watching the rain curtain outside. The city's lights blurred into patches through the rain.
Harrison Group Tower, in the darkness, remained grand and magnificent, yet appeared cold and forbidding.
The doorbell rang suddenly.
Could it be Evelyn sneaking out again? She shuffled in her slippers to answer the door.
The door opened.
Standing outside wasn't Evelyn, but a face she least wanted to see right now.
Nicholas.
He stood in the doorway, seemingly wrapped in the wind and rain's chill, his handsome face cold as ice.
Those eyes stared straight at her, carrying an indescribable pressure.
Emma moved to close the door, but his large hand braced against it.
He looked at her with something between a smile and a sneer, "Emma, you can't escape."