Chapter 483 Love, Then Dependence
George felt utterly defeated. That idiot had willingly let go of Emma's hand, setting her free.
Michael had been right all along.
Sophia sat by George's hospital bed, her face etched with deep worry and unease. Her hand nervously stroked the edge of the bed, her eyes filled with concern.
"George, have you seen Emma lately?" she asked softly, her voice tinged with obvious anxiety. "She's not herself. She's completely different from the Emma we used to know."
George remained silent.
Sophia hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "She seems to be completely under Michael's control. She's become extremely dependent on him, like she's lost herself. The strong, independent Emma we knew is gone."
George managed a bitter smile. "Mrs. Stuart, you're mistaken. Emma isn't someone who can be easily controlled. She's always been very strong-willed."
"But..." Sophia wanted to say more, her brow furrowing deeply.
George gently interrupted her. "Emma is the strongest girl I've ever known. She relies on Michael because she loves him, not because she's being controlled. In love, sometimes dependence doesn't mean weakness."
Sophia shook her head. "But she's following Michael's every command. This isn't normal. The Emma we knew would never act like this."
"This just shows how much she loves him," George said calmly. "Strong people are often the ones who let their guard down the most in love. It doesn't mean she's become weak."
Neither could convince the other, and the tension in their words grew stronger. Eventually, they parted ways, each holding onto their own judgments and beliefs.
Sophia knew she wouldn't get through to George, so she decided to try again, hoping for a chance to see Emma alone.
Sophia held Lucas's hand as they left George's room, walking slowly down the hospital's long, empty corridor.
The distinct smell of disinfectant filled the air, and the white walls felt cold and monotonous. Suddenly, she saw Emma in the distance, wearing a beige knit cardigan that made her look even more slender. Emma quickly walked into her room.
"Lucas, wait here," Sophia said urgently to the boy beside her. "I need to see your mom."
She quickened her pace, her high heels clicking sharply on the smooth floor. She soon reached Emma's room, where a nurse stood by the door, her face expressionless.
"I'm here to see Emma."
The nurse responded with a cold, indifferent voice. "She's not here."
"I just saw her go in."
The nurse remained indifferent. "She's not here."
"I saw her go into this room."
The nurse hesitated slightly, her tone changing a bit. "She's resting and can't have visitors right now."
Sophia instantly understood. Emma didn't want to see her and had even enlisted the nurse to keep her away. This blatant rejection stirred a complex mix of emotions within her.
"I understand," she said calmly, her voice tinged with deep disappointment. "Lucas, let's go."
Lucas followed Sophia, his big eyes filled with confusion, not understanding what had happened. The hallway lights seemed to grow colder in that moment.
After Sophia left, Michael gently pressed the call button inside the room. The hospital's electronic chime sounded, and soon, the nurse who had just blocked Sophia walked in.
"Good job," Michael said coolly. "From now on, keep all uninvited guests out. No exceptions, no matter who they are."
The nurse nodded respectfully. "Yes, I understand."
Michael pulled a silver envelope from the elegant drawer of the bedside table, adorned with intricate patterns, and pushed it toward the nurse. "This is for your help today."
The nurse took the envelope, her short, thick fingers weighing it slightly, and her face lit up with an unmistakable smile of joy. For an ordinary nurse, this was a life-changing sum of money.
"Thank you so much, Mr. Russell!" the nurse said excitedly, her voice full of respect. "I promise to be even more diligent. No one will see Emma without your permission. I won't let my guard down. The safety and privacy of our patients are our top priorities. I'll handle every task with the utmost professionalism."
Michael nodded slightly. "Thank you for understanding. If there's nothing else, my wife needs to rest."
The nurse left the room immediately, carefully closing the door without making a sound.
After she left, Emma looked at Michael and asked, "When can we leave?"
"Very soon," Michael replied, picking up his phone from the table and starting to arrange a private flight. His long fingers moved quickly across the screen. "Book a flight to Sunterra for early tomorrow morning. I need the most private and secure route, with the highest level of security and privacy."
As he made the call, he gestured to Emma. "You rest first. I'll handle the luggage and paperwork. Don't worry about anything."
Michael worked efficiently. Within an hour, all the details for their return were finalized.
"We're set to leave at six tomorrow morning. Everything's arranged—luggage, tickets, transportation. All the details are taken care of."
"Thank you, Michael."
Back at home, Sophia immediately began investigating Michael's recent activities with Henry, who mobilized various resources to delve into Michael's background. He contacted several old friends who had worked in intelligence, using the most professional investigative techniques.
They started with Michael's driver's license. Using complex hacking methods, Henry successfully infiltrated multiple government databases. Surprisingly, Michael's electronic records seemed perfect, but subtle discrepancies stood out to the trained eye.
"These records," Henry pointed to the computer screen, "have been expertly manipulated. But there are still minor inconsistencies, like slight discrepancies in travel dates."
Sophia's eyes lit up. "You mean these records are fake?"
"Not entirely fake, but meticulously reconstructed real information. It's like piecing together various real fragments but making slight modifications." Michael replied.
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