Chapter 59 The Beautiful Fire Dance
Suddenly, Nicholas seemed to snap back to reality, his tone carrying a hint of mockery. "A life-saving debt means so little to you?"
So little? She'd been repaying it for twelve whole years, plus a marriage, and she'd nearly died herself.
Emma looked up at him. "Do you know what it feels like to be 100 feet underwater in the deep ocean?"
Nicholas froze for a moment. Of course, he knew—that was the lingering nightmare, the fear and suffocation.
"Emma, what exactly are you trying to say?" His pupils locked onto hers, carrying a hint of impatience.
She smiled faintly. "Nothing. If it's forgotten, then let it stay forgotten."
He didn't care about any of it concerning her, so why should she deliberately bring it up? Forgotten was just fine!
"Emma, you can't even swim. How did you grow up?" he lightly teased her.
Emma sniffled, her voice flat. "I used to know how!"
"Used to?" He curved his lips slightly. Could she have actually forgotten how to swim?
"Mr. Harrison! Mr. Harrison!"
Nicholas walked a few steps toward the cave entrance and saw three horses galloping along the shore, with two speedboats in the river.
...
When Emma woke up again, her head still felt heavy. She hadn't realized that she'd developed a fever when they returned and had slept for several hours.
She was wearing clean, soft pajamas, with a small bandage on the back of her hand from where the IV had been.
The room was very quiet.
When she stirred, the servant keeping watch immediately noticed.
"Ms. Rodriguez, you're awake?"
The servant hurried forward, concern evident in her voice.
Emma nodded in response, her throat feeling dry.
"I'll go call the doctor, and Mr. Harrison." After saying this, the servant quickly left the room.
Before long, footsteps approached from far to near.
Nicholas walked in, followed by Victoria, who had her head down and red, swollen eyes.
The moment Victoria saw Emma in bed, tears began falling again.
She shuffled forward two steps, her voice thick with sobs.
"Emma, I'm sorry, I was wrong. I shouldn't have played that kind of joke with you. I shouldn't have slapped the horse's rear."
"I really didn't know it would run so fast, and it nearly... nearly harmed you."
"Emma, you can hit me or scold me, just please forgive me this once."
Victoria cried with her shoulders shaking, looking utterly pitiful.
Emma looked at her with an expressionless face. Such acting skills—it was a real shame she wasn't pursuing a career in theater.
She sneered inwardly.
Victoria continued her performance, "Nicholas already punished me with hours of reflection. Emma, I really know I was wrong."
Emma tugged at the corner of her mouth, her voice still somewhat weak.
"Victoria, stop crying. Look, I'm fine now, aren't I?"
"You see, with Nicholas by my side, I'm very safe."
These words sounded like comfort, but also like mockery.
Nicholas stood nearby without speaking, just watching Emma.
He could hear something off in her tone.
Emma spoke again, this time addressing Victoria. "Victoria, can you make barbecue?"
Victoria was stunned, not understanding.
"What?"
Emma continued, "I'm a bit hungry and want some barbecue. If you could personally grill some for me, I'll forgive you."
Victoria's eyes lit up like she'd grabbed a lifeline, and she nodded eagerly.
"Yes! I can! Emma, what would you like? I'll go prepare it right now!"
"Beef, chicken, whatever you have," Emma said flatly.
"Good, good, I'll go right away!" Victoria wiped her tears. "Emma, just wait, I'll bring it up to you once it's grilled!"
"No need." Emma interrupted her. "Barbecue should be grilled and eaten fresh—that's what makes it fun."
Victoria quickly agreed, "Right! Whatever you say! Should I... should I set up in the garden?"
"Go ahead."
Victoria, as if granted amnesty, turned and ran out, her footsteps carrying a sense of relief at having survived a disaster.
Nicholas watched Victoria's retreating figure, then looked back at Emma.
She wore an inscrutable shallow smile on her face.
Half an hour later.
The aroma of grilled meat indeed wafted from the garden.
Nicholas supported Emma as she walked—this was her firm request; she wanted to try walking slowly on her own.
Emma moved quite slowly.
But most of her weight pressed against his body, and with each hop and sway, the thin fabric conveyed a soft sensation.
Nicholas's Adam's apple involuntarily moved, and an indescribable emotion surged in his chest, making him unable to bear it.
The staircase wasn't long.
Each step was accompanied by that tormenting touch.
Each step tested his self-control.
Nicholas could even feel the muscles in his arms growing somewhat rigid.
He was resisting, but also carefully experiencing and indulging.
This realization made him even more irritated.
He directly pulled her back into his arms—that had been too torturous. "You're hopping so slowly, the barbecue will get cold."
Emma was at a loss for words.
Arriving at the small table in the garden, Victoria immediately and attentively brought over a plate of grilled meat.
The meat slices were still bubbling with hot oil on the plate, their color a tempting golden brown.
"Emma, Nicholas, try some! This is grilled Angus beef, and these are grilled wings!"
Victoria pushed the plate forward like she was presenting treasures.
Emma picked up her knife and fork, methodically cutting a small piece of beef.
She put it in her mouth, chewed a few times. "Mm, delicious."
She showed a satisfied expression on her face as she looked at Victoria.
Victoria breathed a sigh of relief, her face breaking into a smile, "I'm glad you like it!"
Emma ate another piece, then set down her fork.
"The taste is very good," Emma said. "It's just that having good food without music feels a bit boring."
Victoria immediately responded, "There is! Music! I can get music!"
She turned and ran toward the main house.
Soon, melodious music drifted from the direction of the mansion's great hall, floating through the trees and mixing with the aroma of grilled meat.
Victoria ran back, with a hint of seeking credit. "Emma, is this okay?"
Emma picked up her juice and took a sip, nodding, "Not bad. This atmosphere, good food, music... if we added a fire dance, that would be perfect."
Fire dance? Victoria was confused.
"Emma... I, I don't know how to dance."
Emma smiled. "You do."
Her tone was very certain.
"Go stand over there." Emma raised her hand and pointed in a direction—an open space near the center of the lawn.
Victoria didn't understand but obediently walked over.
"Right, now back up three steps." Emma directed.
Victoria took three more steps back.
"Perfect, right there." Emma nodded with satisfaction.
Victoria stood in place, somewhat at a loss.
She was wearing a light-colored cotton and linen dress, and when the wind blew, the hem fluttered gently.
Emma's gaze fell coldly on her, her lips murmuring soft counting sounds, like a gentle breeze caressing the heart.
"Three."
"Two."
"One."
As the last number fell.
Without any warning, Victoria's long dress burst into flames as if someone had instantly doused it with fire oil!
The flames shot up high, instantly engulfing her entire body!
The dress became a burning cone!
"Ahhhh!"
Victoria let out a scream of absolute terror, the sound seeming to instantly tear through the surrounding tranquility, making the air tremble and hearts tighten.
She was completely scared senseless, instinctively beginning to jump and hop wildly, her hands frantically batting at the flames on her body.
"Help! Help me! Nicholas! Help!"
She screamed while jumping and spinning madly on the lawn, trying to escape those terrifying flames.
It actually did look somewhat like some kind of frenzied dance.
Nicholas's pupils dilated sharply!
He shot to his feet, looking at Emma.
How had she done that?
He'd been with her the entire time!
Yet Emma acted as if nothing had happened. She picked up her fork again, speared a piece of grilled chicken wing, and slowly put it in her mouth.
While eating, she watched Victoria struggling and screaming in the fire.
She even commented, "Not bad, really well done."
The nearby servants had long since gone pale with fright—some covered their mouths, others nearly collapsed to the ground.
The butler reacted fastest, grabbing a nearby fire extinguisher and about to rush over.
"Butler."
Emma's cool voice rang out.
"Don't waste that fire extinguisher." She raised her hand and pointed to the decorative fountain nearby. "Isn't there water over there?"
Victoria seemed to hear the guidance, or perhaps it was survival instinct, as she screamed and half-rolled, half-crawled toward the fountain.
Like a burning cannonball, she plunged into the water.
Water splashed everywhere.