Chapter 210 I Don't Want This Child
Charlie's face turned deathly pale, his voice cracking with panic.
"Mr. Harrison, how could you think such a thing?"
"Mrs. Harrison is carrying your child! It has to be yours!"
"Based on the timing, this baby was conceived in Luminous City. You're definitely the father!"
Nicholas's mind went completely blank.
Luminous City?
He had no memory of any intimate encounters with her there.
Ever since she'd asked for a divorce months ago, he hadn't touched her once.
How could the child possibly be his?
"I never laid a hand on her!" he snarled through gritted teeth, each word dripping with fury.
Charlie trembled, rushing to explain.
"Mr. Harrison, you were severely poisoned and lost some memories! You and Mrs. Harrison were definitely together—I can testify to that!"
"That day, under the Holy Tree, Mrs. Harrison burned all the wishing balls and then fell ill with fever for a full day and night. You stayed by her bedside, never leaving her side."
Charlie threw caution to the wind, continuing, "After you left, I saw it myself—Mrs. Harrison had marks on her neck! You were genuinely intimate with her. The bodyguards stationed outside the door can all vouch for this!"
The Holy Tree, burning wishing balls, caring for her through the night?
Nicholas's rigid expression softened slightly.
His mind raced, desperately searching for those memories, but found nothing—just emptiness.
Seeing his wavering expression, Charlie pressed his advantage.
"Do you remember the night you celebrated your birthday together? You cleared the entire villa and turned it into a sea of flowers, even cooked dinner for her personally."
"That evening, you might have been intimate with Mrs. Harrison too! You love her so much—you could have easily gotten carried away!"
Nicholas's expression completely calmed.
Had he really lost crucial memories?
Was this child truly his?
Seeing his apparent acceptance, Charlie breathed a sigh of relief but added another detail.
"Also, you've forgotten about the time you threw Mrs. Harrison into the swimming pool in anger. So you see, your memories are definitely incomplete."
Nicholas's body jolted violently.
He had thrown her into the pool?
Knowing she couldn't swim at that time, how could he have lost his temper so severely?
He raised his eyes, staring at Charlie with intense scrutiny.
"Why did I throw her into the pool?"
"You were furious and told Mrs. Harrison to clean herself up..."
Charlie's voice abruptly stopped as he clamped his mouth shut.
Something felt wrong about what he'd just said.
Those words struck Nicholas's mind like an ice-cold blade.
His memories flooded back instantly.
He remembered.
On their Holy Tree wedding day, she had been taken away, and he'd searched frantically for her for an entire day and night.
The next day, she returned alone, her body covered in telltale marks.
That was Matthew's handiwork!
If he hadn't had his way with her, why would he have let her return?
Nicholas's hands involuntarily clenched into fists, his knuckles stark white.
He looked up, his voice cold as ice.
"The day I threw her in the pool—was that the day after the wedding?"
Charlie thought for a moment, then nodded hesitantly.
Nicholas let out a cold laugh, a violent rage igniting in his chest.
He finally understood the source of his fury that day.
He'd told her to clean herself—to wash away the filthy traces another man had left on her body!
Those were marks Matthew had left on her the night before!
And that time on Matthew's yacht, when she'd stayed overnight while he'd stood vigil on the shore amid cannon fire!
The thought of her beneath another man made him nearly insane with jealousy, his heart feeling like it was being repeatedly sliced by razor blades.
The child could be his.
But it could also be Matthew's!
The rage he'd barely suppressed erupted with the force of a wildfire, burning fiercer and more violently than before.
That's why Matthew had come to her recognition banquet.
Why he'd whispered secrets meant only for them in front of everyone.
Those were their private moments.
The memory drove Nicholas beyond the edge of reason.
He would never—absolutely never—let her bear another man's child!
Just then, the butler approached with measured steps, his manner respectfully formal.
"Mr. Harrison, Mr. Johnson and Ms. White are still waiting for you in the dining room."
Nicholas shot him a cold glance, forcing words through clenched teeth. "We're not eating."
Without another word, he turned and strode away.
Charlie's mind raced as he quickly thought of an excuse. "I'm sorry, there's an emergency with the company's product launch. Mr. Harrison and I need to rush back to handle it. Please give our apologies to Mr. Johnson."
He immediately chased after Nicholas's retreating figure.
The butler watched them hurry away, standing confused for a moment before turning back.
---
Emma felt an ominous premonition when the butler delivered the news.
He'd just left like that? Had something really gone wrong with the launch?
FD's 2.0 launch event was scheduled for today at the Harrison Group tower in Empire City.
She picked at her food absently.
Luna chattered excitedly about pregnancy care, her face glowing with anticipation of holding her grandchild.
Emma responded half-heartedly.
After lunch and some conversation with Milan, they finally left the estate.
She explained the situation to Luna and called a car to the Harrison Group tower.
Luna immediately called Oliver with the good news, then rushed back to the White Mansion to arrange for nutritionists and maternity clothes.
---
Meanwhile, Luke accompanied Evelyn and Nina through several food districts.
Nina bounced around like an excited rabbit, not stopping to eat or explore.
Hot chocolate in her left hand, cupcake in her right.
Soon, catching the scent of donuts, her eyes lit up as she bounded over.
The two bodyguards following her were certainly well-fed today.
She'd cheerfully share everything she bought with them.
The guards genuinely liked this unpretentious young lady. Though she couldn't speak, her kindness and innocence overshadowed any shortcomings.
Luke noticed Evelyn's pace slowing.
He moved to her side, naturally taking her hand, his voice honey-sweet.
"Tired?"
The tall, handsome man walking beside her while holding her hand instantly became the street's most striking sight.
Countless women turned to stare.
"Wow, that guy is absolutely gorgeous—more handsome than any movie star."
"His girlfriend's beautiful too. What a perfect match."
"Look at her belly—is it a little bigger? She must be pregnant! My God, their baby will be absolutely stunning."
The comments drifted to their ears.
Evelyn's cheeks flushed as she quickly pulled her hand away, instinctively tugging her coat to hide her slightly protruding belly.
She was definitely showing now.
At barely eleven weeks, was the little one growing too fast?
Luke chuckled at her self-consciousness.
"There's a nice scenic spot over there. Let's rest."
Evelyn looked around. "Where's Nina?"
Luke's smile deepened.
"Don't worry, the two bodyguards are watching her. She won't get lost."
He paused, his tone carrying absolute authority.
"In Empire City, even if an ant went missing, I could track it down."
Evelyn rolled her eyes at him.
They left the pedestrian street to a nearby park.
A large frozen lake stretched before them, its surface solid enough for teenage hockey players in thick coats to chase pucks across the ice, their laughter echoing.
Children kicked soccer balls along the shore while elderly men sat on stone benches in the sunshine, their caged birds chirping. Groups of women gossiped together, sunflower seed shells scattered at their feet.
A peaceful, harmonious scene.
Luke led her to an empty stone bench.
He tested the surface, worried it might be too cold, then without hesitation unwound his scarf, carefully folding it as a cushion.
Evelyn waved him off. "Don't—you'll get it dirty."
He gently pressed her shoulders, guiding her to sit.
"It's fine. Sit down."
Evelyn felt something flutter in her chest.
Suddenly, Luke knelt before her.
Startled, she watched as his elegant fingers reached toward her feet.
Her left boot's lace had somehow come undone.
"I can do it myself."
She instinctively pulled back, leaning forward hastily, accidentally bumping her forehead against his.
"Ow."
He froze, then immediately raised his hand, his warm palm gently touching her forehead.
"Does it hurt?"
She shook her head lightly, her cheeks burning.
"Sit still." His tone brooked no argument, yet remained devastatingly gentle.
He bent down again, his nimble fingers threading through the laces, expertly tying them into a perfect bow.
This was Luke—the White family's golden son, the decisive, ruthless Luke.
This considerate side of him made Evelyn's heart skip.
Just then, a soccer ball came flying toward them.
Luke's eyes sharpened as he swept her into his arms with one hand while deflecting the ball with the other.
The ball bounced away harmlessly.
She found herself completely cradled against him, her heart racing.
His body heat radiated through his clothes, that clean pine scent filling her senses.
This was dangerous.
He was becoming more irresistible by the day.
Her defenses were crumbling.
"I... I'm a bit thirsty," she stammered, tongue-tied as she struggled from his burning embrace.
His magnetic voice rumbled above her head. "Wait here. I'll get you something to drink."
"Okay." She nodded without meeting his eyes, her face completely flushed.
Luke strode away with long steps.
When he returned with two hot drinks, the bench was empty.
His carefully placed scarf lay half on the ground, dusty and abandoned.
The drinks crashed to the pavement, hot chocolate splattering everywhere.
He rushed to the bench frantically, seeing six sets of chaotic footprints and clear drag marks in the dirt.
His eyes instantly turned blood-red with fury.
Someone dared touch his woman!
He slammed his smartwatch, its face flashing urgent red signals.
Speaking into the device, his voice was ice-cold.
"Peace Square, missing person: Evelyn!"
"If she's not found in ten minutes, everyone faces punishment!"
He studied the drag marks intently before following their trail.
Nearby, he spotted tire tracks.
One glance at their width told him it was a small van.
Two minutes later, a sleek black motorcycle roared up, stopping precisely before him.
Luke mounted it, twisted the throttle, and shot forward like an arrow, disappearing down the road.
---
At the Harrison Group tower's tenth-floor auditorium, every seat was filled.
The FD 2.0 product launch was in full swing.
Vice President Eric stood confidently on stage in his impeccably tailored suit.
He methodically introduced the 2.0 version's new features.
"Beyond the original functions, we've integrated cutting-edge childcare and early education systems."
"Most importantly, we're introducing baby wristbands that sync with FD."
Eric's voice carried clearly through the microphone.
"If a child leaves the parent-designated safe zone—say, beyond fifty meters—FD immediately captures the signal and sends location data to your phone, completely eliminating the risk of lost children."
Medical care and childcare in one device.
This was a godsend for modern families.
The audience erupted in thunderous applause, camera flashes popping continuously.
As the event neared its end, a reporter suddenly raised his hand with a pointed question.
"Mr. Allen, have you heard about the special virus outbreak in Lumaria? It's reportedly highly contagious, causing total body deterioration and organ failure in victims."
"I'm wondering—does FD contain relevant prevention and treatment data? Since the Harrison Group's president's wife is Dr. N, will she develop specific medical algorithms for this virus?"
Eric flashed a flawless professional smile.
"We're closely monitoring the Lumaria virus situation."
"Any new developments or solutions will be announced to our media friends immediately. Thank you all."
He bowed deeply and exited to applause.
The launch concluded perfectly.
Nicholas never appeared.
When he returned to the Harrison Group in fury, the event had just ended, and Eric whisked him directly to the celebration dinner.
Nicholas was in a foul mood.
At the banquet, he drank heavily, downing glass after glass.
Within half an hour, he was completely intoxicated.
Charlie finally struggled to escort him back to the hotel.
---
Emma pushed open the presidential suite door to an overwhelming stench of alcohol.
Nicholas sat slumped on the sofa, his head tilted back, eyes closed.
His tie lay carelessly on the expensive carpet, his shirt's top buttons undone, revealing chest muscles flushed red from drinking.
His face and neck were severely flushed.
He was definitely drunk.
Emma tiptoed over, gently tapping his hand.
"Nicholas."
The man's eyes snapped open, instantly grabbing her wrist with alarming awareness.
One sharp pull sent her tumbling into his scorching embrace.
Those usually mesmerizing eyes narrowed slightly, reflecting Emma's beautiful face.
Emma's heart skipped, her voice automatically softening.
"Why did you drink so much?"
"I'll have someone bring hangover soup."
His expression remained dark, but his gaze drifted to her flat stomach.
There, a child resided.
A child that might not be his.
This thought reignited the suppressed fury in his heart.
He suddenly flipped over, roughly pinning Emma beneath him on the sofa.
His hands immediately began tearing at her clothes...