Chapter 62 His Fury
"Nicholas, we already signed the papers. Get out."
Emma turned her head away again, though this matter clearly troubled her deeply.
"Papers or not, as long as I don't want to let go, you're still mine."
Nicholas tone was casual, yet carried a chilling possessiveness. He kissed her again.
She struggled, but Nicholas pinned her hands above her head, completely restraining her. She bit him hard enough to draw blood that filled her mouth, but he still didn't stop.
As her robe's tie came undone, revealing her alluring curves beneath.
Heat coursed through his veins. Every cell in his body screamed for her, demanded her!
"Nicholas, are you trying to force me?" Her angry shout finally yanked him back to reality.
Nicholas stopped the deep kiss, bracing his hands on either side of the bed, locking eyes with her.
"You don't want this?" He seemed genuinely confused.
"That's right, I don't. Please leave." Emma quickly pulled her robe closed, hiding the tempting view.
His lips pressed into a thin line. After several seconds, he spoke slowly, "Why?"
Emma's lips trembled. "I don't love you anymore!"
Her simple answer extinguished the fire he'd just ignited, shattering the affection that had barely begun to bloom.
The next moment, fury erupted. He slammed his fist into the mattress, making her jump.
"Give me a different reason!"
A tear slipped down Emma's cheek, but she smiled. "I don't want to love anymore!"
Nicholas stared at her, his narrow eyes bloodshot, the anger on his face fading into something like deathly calm.
Pain, disappointment, and a barely perceptible hurt.
He stood and walked toward the door.
The door closed softly.
Yet it separated two worlds.
Emma curved her finger to her lips, biting down hard to keep from crying out loud.
She was just afraid of falling into the abyss again.
...
The next morning when Emma woke, Nicholas had already left.
She shifted, feeling a dull ache in her leg reminding her of yesterday's events.
She sat up slowly, movements clumsy and deliberate.
A maid knocked and entered with breakfast, setting it on the balcony table.
"Ma'am, Mr. Harrison instructed that you take breakfast in your room."
Emma said nothing, just nodded.
After the maid left, she slowly hopped to the bathroom to freshen up, then made her way to the wicker chair on the balcony.
The estate's view was indeed beautiful—expansive and lush with greenery.
She picked up her spoon, taking small bites of oatmeal.
The warm food slid into her stomach but couldn't warm the chill in her heart.
As she ate, her eyes began to sting.
His tenderness really did have an expiration date.
Just two days!
She'd been foolish enough to think he was actually starting to care for her.
How ridiculous.
Emma set down her spoon, her appetite gone.
...
Harrison Group's executive floor, CEO's office.
Past one o'clock and Nicholas still hadn't eaten, scowling at reports while radiating a terrifying aura.
The office atmosphere was so tense it could freeze someone solid. His secretary broke into a cold sweat just delivering coffee.
When Terry from Infinite Horizon Studios came to report and misspoke, he was immediately thrown out, so startled his toupee slipped.
Terry Carter spotted Charlie like a drowning man seeing a life preserver, bowing low.
"Charlie, save me!"
Charlie asked what was wrong. Terry explained the situation with two leading actresses fighting over the same role—it was giving him a migraine.
The screenwriter had given up trying to mediate. The problem was both actresses were locked in battle, neither willing to back down.
Charlie thought for a moment, then gave him an idea.
Terry's face finally brightened as he scurried away happily.
Regardless, Zoe had to be dealt with.
Charlie entered carrying an expensive lunch box, clearing his throat as he searched for conversation topics.
"Mr. Harrison, Miss Perez called again earlier."
Nicholas didn't even lift his eyes.
Charlie continued, "Probably about the Perez family project. After you suspended their partnership a few days ago, the whole family's been panicking."
"Ignore them." Nicholas cut him off, his voice flat.
After a pause, he added with obvious irritation, "Focus on securing that script for her today. Get her on set as soon as possible."
He seemed increasingly impatient with Zoe.
She was always using past favors to manipulate him, and this whole Julie incident definitely had Perez family fingerprints on it.
When someone crossed his boundaries, he couldn't tolerate it anymore.
"Yes, Mr. Harrison." Charlie quickly agreed.
With Zoe's matter handled, Charlie carefully observed his boss's expression in the reflection.
He chose his words carefully, "Mr. Harrison, you left the estate so early today. With the missus injured and feeling down, she might not want to eat. If it affects her health..."
"Her?" Nicholas finally spoke, his tone mocking.
"She said she doesn't love me anymore. Whether she sees me or not makes no difference!"
Charlie's heart skipped a beat.
So that was the problem! Charlie couldn't help but smile.
Nicholas shot him a cold look.
Charlie quickly composed himself, analyzing the situation seriously.
"When women say they don't love you, sometimes it means they love you deeply. The missus has been seeking you out since she was twelve. Who else could she love besides you? Even a sapling would grow into a mighty tree after twelve years, with roots that deep. Could they be easily uprooted?"
Nicholas's fingers, gripping his phone, curled almost imperceptibly.
Something in his chest was gently struck by Charlie's words.
It didn't hurt, but felt different.
He remained silent, but his expression clearly softened. Charlie sensed an opening and pressed his advantage.
"Ms. Rodriguez is definitely just having a little tantrum!"
"Think about it—if she truly didn't love you, would she let you carry her downstairs?"
"Would she let you kiss her?"
"Would she have stayed with you for three years?"
"Could she do any of those intimate things without love? Is she that kind of casual girl? She barely glanced at Matthew—doesn't that show she only has eyes for you? Are you really going to push her away..."
"Enough." Nicholas interrupted quietly, his expression considerably softer, the earlier coldness almost completely gone.
He was wavering.
Clearly wavering! Put that way, she really did seem to love him deeply! That contrary woman!
Charlie smiled inwardly while maintaining his serious expression.
"Mr. Harrison, I think you should get her some crutches, or maybe a wheelchair."
"Think about it—with her leg like that, if she's hopping around the room with no one watching, what if she falls? What if she tumbles down the stairs...!"
"Back to the estate!" Nicholas sat up abruptly, his voice urgent with barely concealed panic.