Chapter 360 Drastic Change in Temperament
"Michael, seriously, I'm fine. Look!" Emma waved her hand around, then playfully clasped Michael's hand and shook it, indicating her good health with a sparkling, mischievous charm in her eyes.
Michael squeezed her hand gently, his eyes showing a mix of affection and unspoken concern. He smiled, but his doubts deepened. He knew Emma inside and out, and the carefree, almost worry-free demeanor she displayed now didn't match someone who had endured years of torment.
Her current state of happiness struck Michael as unnaturally forced.
"Emma, are you sure you don't feel any discomfort? Like a headache or something that feels off?" Michael asked cautiously.
"Don't worry, I'm fine!" Emma waved her hand dismissively. "Stop looking so worried. I'm really okay, and with you here, what could possibly be wrong?" She smiled, wrapped her arms around Michael's neck, and gave him a quick kiss.
Michael's heart skipped a beat, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes.
This kind of spontaneous affection was unlike Emma's usual reserved nature. She was typically more introverted and not one to express such open intimacy. But her smile was so genuine that he couldn't argue, leaving him to push his confusion aside for the moment.
That afternoon, Michael's assistant brought Seraphine from school to the hospital. The little girl, with her backpack still on, rushed into the room and immediately saw Emma resting quietly against the headboard. Her eyes filled with concern.
"Mommy!" Seraphine ran over and threw herself into Emma's arms. "Are you in pain? The teacher said being in the hospital means getting shots. Does it hurt? I don't want you to be sick!"
Emma's eyes softened, and she quickly hugged Seraphine, kissing her forehead with a smile. "I'm fine, really. Seeing my little Seraphine makes me feel great!"
Seraphine scrutinized Emma for a moment, her small brow furrowed as if trying to confirm her mother was truly okay. After a while, she reached out and touched Emma's face, pouting. "Mommy, you've gotten so thin."
Emma's heart warmed, and she hugged Seraphine tighter, speaking softly. "I'm not thin at all. It's you who's grown bigger. You're so heavy now!"
"No, I'm not!" Seraphine blushed and protested immediately.
They hugged, kissed, and chatted, filling the room with a warm, joyful atmosphere.
Michael stood nearby, watching the scene. The warmth seemed to ease some of his worries, but a persistent ache remained in his heart.
Emma seemed almost unnaturally perfect, with no trace of her past suffering visible.
Her dependence on him and her patience and composure with Seraphine were flawless, yet this very perfection made Michael more certain that something was wrong with Emma.
After much contemplation, Michael finally made the call.
"Mrs. Stuart, it's Michael, Emma's fiancé."
Sophia's voice immediately filled with alarm at the mention of Emma. "What happened to Emma? Is she okay?"
Michael glanced at Emma, who was idly playing with the IV tube, and lowered his voice. "Yes, she's in the hospital. She got hurt." He paused, his eyes lingering on Emma before adding, "Mrs. Stuart, Mr. Stuart, can you come over?"
Sophia hesitated for a moment before replying with a trembling voice, "We'll be there right away." Within an hour, Sophia and Henry arrived at the hospital in a rush.
As soon as the door opened, Sophia almost ran in. "Emma, my daughter, are you hurt? Does it hurt a lot?"
Emma was stunned.
She looked at the unfamiliar faces with a mix of confusion and an inexplicable sense of familiarity, but no memories surfaced. Before she could speak, Sophia had already enveloped her in a hug, her voice choked with emotion. "Emma, I'm so sorry. It's all my fault."
Henry followed, his eyes filled with complexity. He gently patted Sophia's shoulder and looked at Emma with a kind gaze. "Emma, we failed you. We didn't protect you, and now you're hurt."
Henry sighed at the suffering Emma had endured.
"Wait a minute." Emma, bewildered by their sudden emotions, gently pushed Sophia away and asked, "Who are you?"
Sophia's tears halted suddenly, and she asked, "Emma, do you not recognize me?" Her lips trembled, unable to believe what she had just heard.
Michael, standing a short distance away, observed Emma's every reaction calmly.
Was this amnesia?
He stepped closer and spoke softly. "Emma, they are your biological parents. When you were little, you were taken away by bad people and have been lost ever since. We came back to Lakeside Haven to reunite you with them."
Emma was momentarily taken aback, then looked at Sophia and Henry. Their faces felt strangely familiar, even though she couldn't recall any memories of them. Yet, she felt an inexplicable warmth.
She paused, then smiled. "So, you're my parents?" She suddenly took Sophia's hand, her smile bright and innocent. "No wonder! I felt so comfortable seeing you!"
Sophia stood frozen, and moments later, her tears flowed again.
This time, they were tears of mixed relief and guilt. She held Emma's hand tightly, her eyes never leaving her daughter's familiar face. "Emma, I'm so sorry. I didn't protect you before, but it's wonderful that you can still accept us."
Henry, standing beside them, softened his usually stern expression. He held back his emotions, nodding deeply. "Emma, thank you for accepting us. It's our blessing."
Michael watched the touching scene in silence.
He knew better than anyone that Emma hadn't truly forgiven them. It was her amnesia that made her accept Sophia and Henry without resistance.
He recalled Emma's cold tone when she spoke of them in the past, the disdain and disappointment hidden beneath her calm exterior. Especially when she mentioned Sophia protecting Anna, her words were indifferent. "She chose to protect Anna, which meant pushing me away. I was just an extra."
Michael didn't interfere with Sophia and Henry's reunion with Emma.
In fact, he had orchestrated this reunion.
Since Emma remembered nothing, it was better to leave the painful memories behind and start anew.
It couldn't be a bad thing to have more people to love her.
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