Chapter 318 Deception
The screech of tires against the pavement pierced the night. Emma gripped the steering wheel so tightly that her knuckles turned white, mirroring her frayed nerves. In the rearview mirror, she saw George's pale complexion, with his shirt tinged red under the moonlight.
She hadn't realized George was so badly hurt. Just the pressure from the seatbelt had caused him to bleed.
"I'd rather die than set foot in that place!"
George's chosen destination was the beach at the base of Dreamscape Peak!
The very place where she and George had first met.
Once, this place had been unforgettable for Emma, where she had fallen deeply in love with George. But after everything that had happened, Dreamscape Peak had become a place she never wanted to see again.
The purity of her past feelings was now matched by the intensity of her current hatred.
"Emma, believe me, our child is here." George said, grimacing in pain.
"I don't believe you!"
She used to believe in him so much, even hanging on his every word.
Her trust in George had been completely eroded after countless nights spent alone waiting on the couch and seeing him with Anna.
"George, you're lying to me, right? You have no idea where our child is. You just want to lure me to this place and hurt me with more lies. I can't believe you're still as despicable as ever. You used to be just foolishly manipulated by Anna, but now you're ruthless."
Emma continued, "Let me guess, you want to trick me into going there so someone can ambush me, capture me, and use me to threaten Michael, and take back the Russell Group. Am I right? You know how important I am to Michael, so you want to use me against him. George, I won't let you get your way!" Her's deep eyes were filled with hatred.
"I'm sorry, Emma. It's all my fault."
At this moment, George didn't know what else to say besides apologizing.
"After all these years of pain, your sudden confession means nothing to me. How do you expect me to just forgive and forget?" Emma's expression was full of disdain. Since her return, she had grown accustomed to suspecting others with the most malicious intent.
It was this habit that had helped her avoid Anna's schemes countless times.
Now, she used the same method to view George.
"Emma, I'm apologizing because I hurt you in the past, not because I'm trying to deceive you!" George's voice was pained, almost breathless.
For George, it was agonizing to be misunderstood by the one he loves.
He had misunderstood Emma countless times for Anna's sake. Back then, Emma must have been even more heartbroken than he was now.
"Please, Emma." George pressed a hand to his bleeding shirt, swallowing the metallic taste in his mouth, "I swear on my life; I, George, will never do anything to harm Emma again! So, Emma, will you come with me to Dreamscape Peak?"
George's desperate plea, and the sight of blood at the corner of his mouth, unexpectedly stirred something in Emma's long-frozen heart. She forced herself to suppress the turmoil within, scoffing, "I'll give you one chance. George, if you try anything..."
"I won't," George swiftly replied, not even waiting for Emma to finish her words.
The car engine roared to life again, and Emma drove towards Dreamscape Peak.
The car sped along, but the atmosphere inside was heavy. George stared at Emma, opening his mouth several times but closing it again.
He knew Emma didn't want to hear him speak right now.
She had agreed to come because she wanted to see their child. If it weren't for the child, Emma would have thrown him out of the car long ago.
No, he didn't even deserve to be in the same car as Emma.
But he was that despicable. The place he was taking Emma to had no child, only that thing.
Even if it meant deceiving her, he had to take her there!
The winter wind at Dreamscape Peak was biting. When the car lights went out, the surroundings fell into silence.
Emma's shoes crunched on the gravel as she stepped out. She looked up to see a grove of cherry blossoms swaying in the sunlight, petals falling like rain, landing on her shoulders and hair, as beautiful as a dream.
But Emma's heart was as cold as ice. "Here?"
"Here." George weakly got out of the passenger seat, wincing as the movement pulled at his wound. His face was even paler, the blood soaking through his shirt. It seemed the wind might carry him away.
Emma looked at him without a trace of pity. "George, what tricks are you playing? Where is my child?"
George didn't answer, just took a few shaky steps forward, almost falling. He clutched his wound, looking up at Emma with a hoarse voice. "Help me, please?"
Emma stood still, her eyes full of disgust. "George, stop pretending. Someone like you doesn't need anyone's help."
George's face grew paler, but he said nothing more, leaning against a cherry tree to steady himself. He caught his breath, then looked up, his eyes filled with a tenderness and determination Emma had never seen before. "Emma, I know you hate me, but just for today, trust me, please?"
Emma laughed coldly: "Trust you? George, if I trust you once, it means enduring more pain. How can I trust you?"
George didn't argue, just gritted his teeth and started walking into the cherry grove. His steps were slow, each one seeming to take all his strength, stumbling as if he might collapse at any moment.
As Emma watched his unsteady figure, a complex emotion rose in her heart. She bit her lip, finally stepping forward impatiently to support him. "George, this is the last time!"
George glanced at her, a faint, almost imperceptible smile on his lips. "Thank you."
Emma said nothing more, just helped him walk forward. In the depths of the cherry grove, sunlight filtered through the branches, casting dappled shadows on the ground. When the wind blew, petals fell like snow, landing on their shoulders, drifting in the air.
"Emma, do you remember? You once said you loved cherry blossoms in spring, that you wanted to feel surrounded by them. You wanted me to come with you, but I never did. After you faked your death, I cultivated special cherry blossoms here that bloom all year round. Emma, this is my gift to you. Do you like it?" George stopped, leaning against a tree, smiling gently.
Emma paused and looked at him. "So, you're lying to me again?"
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