Chapter 29 She Actually Hit Him
Was this excessive shock? Or just how a divorced woman should react?
Emma calmly cut her steak, dipped it in the sauce, and chewed thoughtfully.
Her beautiful eyes remained placid, betraying no emotion whatsoever.
Nicholas. That name had once been a thorn lodged in her heart—the slightest touch would send waves of pain through her.
But now, hearing that he'd made such a public declaration for another woman, willing to betray the grandfather he'd always revered, her heart didn't even ripple.
It seemed he truly was deeply in love with Zoe.
Thinking of that marriage that had consumed three years of her life—it had been nothing but a complete joke from start to finish!
"Emma." Evelyn watched her calm demeanor with growing concern, her voice softening.
"Are you... Are you okay?"
Emma looked up, meeting her worried gaze, and smiled genuinely, "What could be wrong with me? What, did you expect me to burst into tears and refuse to eat?"
"But Nicholas, that bastard..." Evelyn had already cursed him a thousand times in her mind.
They hadn't even filed for divorce yet, and he was this eager to legitimize Zoe—he clearly didn't give a damn about Emma's feelings.
"Whatever he does now has nothing to do with me."
Emma interrupted her, popping a piece of beef into her mouth. "Right now, I just want to eat my steak, then go home and get a good night's sleep."
Evelyn watched her forced nonchalance, fury building in her chest.
"This is so fucking frustrating!" She slammed her fist on the table. "We finally exposed that bitch Zoe's true face, we were so close to destroying her! And then Nicholas just cleared her name!"
Now that she was Nicholas's officially acknowledged girlfriend, who would dare bring up her affair with Henry!
The dinner ended on a depressing note, breaking up before nine o'clock.
Coincidentally, Emma received a call from Robert, so she took a taxi to Harrison Manor.
The atmosphere at Harrison Manor was oppressive.
The living room blazed with light, yet somehow felt chillingly cold.
Robert sat rigidly in his chair, face ashen, his walking stick striking the floor in rhythmic, ominous thuds.
"Absolutely outrageous!" Robert roared.
He turned to Emma, who sat quietly beside him, his tone softening considerably.
"Emma, don't be afraid. Grandpa's here."
Emma kept her eyes downcast, her emotions unreadable.
Nicholas's mother, Mia, sat on the other side, smoothing the wrinkles from her skirt with methodical precision, her voice measured but cutting.
"Dad, don't get yourself so worked up. You can't blame Nicholas entirely for this. Emma's been in this family for three years and hasn't given the Harrisons an heir."
"The Harrison line can't just end, can it?"
She glanced at Emma with barely concealed mockery.
"Besides, Nicholas has had feelings for that girl for quite some time now. Going public might mean she's pregnant."
The words struck like needles, precise and painful.
Robert paused, though he showed no hint of joy. He addressed Emma gently, "Emma, perhaps you two should consider IVF."
"Grandpa, I don't want to!" She spoke calmly but firmly.
In the past, she'd desperately wanted children with Nicholas. She'd tried for three years.
But now? She was done. A child would be their final chapter.
She and Nicholas had signed their agreement—they were no longer husband and wife.
She didn't want this family anymore!
"This..." Robert was momentarily speechless. Yes, how could he ask her to bear children for the Harrison family when that reckless boy was behaving so outrageously?
How had such a promising marriage deteriorated to this point?
His frown deepened with the thought.
Emma didn't even furrow her brow, simply reaching for her water glass and taking a quiet sip.
The sound of a car engine, followed by heavy footsteps approaching from outside.
Nicholas was home.
He wore an impeccably tailored suit, his posture commanding, his expression stern—as if he'd just stepped out of a high-stakes business negotiation.
"Grandpa!" His voice was steady.
Robert shot to his feet, raising his walking stick and striking Nicholas's legs.
Two solid blows, delivered with full force. Nicholas took them without flinching, his stance unwavering.
"You worthless fool!" Robert's chest heaved with rage. "Do you have any respect left for me? Any regard for Harrison family honor?"
His gnarled finger trembled as he pointed at Nicholas, his clouded eyes burning with barely contained fury.
"You have Emma, such a wonderful wife, and you dare carry on with another woman, flaunting it for the whole world to see!"
"You're openly humiliating the Harrison family! Humiliating me!"
His roar echoed through the spacious living room, carrying undeniable authority.
"You will immediately issue a statement clearing this up! Tell everyone who the rightful Mrs. Harrison truly is!"
"If you ever associate with that damned woman again, I won't forgive you!"
Nicholas stood in the shadows, his handsome features expressionless, the air around him crackling with dangerous tension.
He didn't even glance at the furious Robert, his gaze fixed on some distant point, his tone flat as if discussing someone else's business entirely.
"Grandpa, from now on, I want to make my own choices about my life."
Robert's vision darkened, nearly causing him to collapse. The butler quickly steadied him.
"What... what did you just say?"
"Grandpa, let me talk to him." Emma set down her glass and stood.
She walked toward Nicholas, stopping a few steps away, the tension between them palpable.
The sharp crack of her palm against his face shocked everyone present into silence.
Nicholas hadn't expected Emma to actually strike him.
He worked his tongue against his stinging cheek and said calmly, "Study. Now."
Emma turned without expression and headed upstairs first.
Robert watched their retreating figures, still processing the slap.
The next moment, he felt secretly pleased—Nicholas should have been dealt with like that long ago. Maybe then he wouldn't be so damn arrogant!
In the study,
The door closed, shutting out the chaos below.
Surprisingly, Nicholas didn't explode with rage. His handsome face still bore a red handprint.
He loosened his tie and leaned against the mahogany desk, his posture casual yet commanding, regarding her with cool assessment.
"Emma, you've had your moment. I've given you the satisfaction you needed. So tell me, besides running to my elders with complaints, what else are you capable of?"
Emma was suddenly struck by the absurdity of his words.
So he thought Robert's anger was always her doing.
At first, she'd thought she was simply unloved, unable to win his heart. She never imagined he considered her character so despicable, too.
How laughable!