Chapter 654 A Peaceful Night's Sleep
Did Emma really love Michael? Was she really willing to have his child? The thought gnawed at George's heart like a venomous snake, making it hard for him to breathe.
Meanwhile, Emma was curled up on her bed, her face buried deep in the pillow. Silent tears soaked the pillowcase, but she bit her lip hard, refusing to make a sound.
She wanted so badly to tell George that the child was his. To tell him she had never loved Michael. But she couldn't. Michael's threats still echoed in her ears, and she couldn't risk Seraphine's safety.
As evening fell, George finished his meeting with Henry. He descended the stairs, his eyes unconsciously scanning the living room, but the familiar figure was nowhere to be seen.
Sophia emerged from the kitchen with a cup of coffee. Seeing George, she said softly, "Emma's resting upstairs. Will you stay for dinner, George?"
"No, thanks," George replied, his voice calm as he looked away. "I have some work to finish at the office. I'll be going now."
Sophia nodded, not pressing him to stay. She watched George's tall figure disappear through the door and sighed softly.
Henry walked over to Sophia and put an arm around her shoulders. "Let the kids handle their own problems."
"I know," Sophia leaned against him, her eyes filled with sorrow. "But seeing Emma like this breaks my heart."
George stepped out of the Stuart Villa, the night breeze brushing his face with a hint of chill. He stood on the steps, glancing back at the lit window on the second floor, where he could faintly see a slender figure standing by the window.
His heart ached sharply, and he forced himself to look away, striding towards the car parked by the curb.
The car window slowly rolled up, shutting out the world outside. George leaned back in the seat, closing his eyes, letting the darkness engulf him.
Upstairs, Emma stood by the window, watching the black car drive away until it disappeared into the night. She gently placed a hand on her stomach, tears blurring her vision once more.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, unsure if she was speaking to the child inside her or to the man who had just left.
In the familiar bedroom of the Stuart Villa, Emma finally had a rare, peaceful sleep. Her parents' care allowed her to let down her guard temporarily. Curled up in the soft bed, she fell into a deep slumber.
Occasional bird calls from outside did not disturb her rest.
Sophia and Henry tiptoed outside her door several times, watching their daughter sleep, unable to bring themselves to wake her.
"Let her sleep a bit longer," Sophia whispered to her husband. "She must be exhausted."
Henry nodded, instructing the maid to keep breakfast warm for Emma when she woke up.
Sunlight had already climbed up the window frame when Emma slowly opened her eyes. She felt unusually refreshed, as if she had returned to her carefree teenage years. Stretching lazily, she was about to linger in bed a bit longer when a commotion downstairs caught her attention.
"Mr. Russell sent us to bring Ms. Stuart back," a cold voice echoed in the living room.
Emma froze, her drowsiness vanishing instantly. She hurriedly threw on a coat and rushed to the top of the stairs, where she saw four men in black suits standing in the living room, the leader negotiating with her father. Though they were respectful, their imposing presence made the air in the room feel heavy.
"Emma just got back and needs more rest," Henry stood firmly at the foot of the stairs, his voice steady and authoritative. "Tell Mr. Russell I'll bring her back later."
The lead bodyguard bowed slightly, his face expressionless. "I'm sorry, Mr. Russell's orders are to bring Ms. Stuart back now. We're just following orders."
Sophia clutched Henry's arm tightly, her eyes full of worry. "Emma isn't feeling well and needs to rest."
Emma quickly descended the stairs, forcing a reassuring smile. "Dad, Mom, I'm fine." She turned to the bodyguards. "I'll go with you."
"Emma!" Sophia grabbed her hand, her voice trembling. "You look so pale. Can't you rest for one more day?"
Emma squeezed her mother's hand, feeling the warmth, and her eyes instantly reddened. But thinking of Michael's threats and Seraphine still in his grasp, she steeled herself and pulled her hand away. "I'm really fine, Mom. Michael will take good care of me."
Henry's sharp gaze flicked between Emma and the bodyguards, sensing something amiss. He asked in a low voice, "Emma, is something wrong? Tell me."
Emma shook her head, holding back her tears. "Really, it's nothing. Just a bit of morning sickness." She couldn't meet Henry's eyes, afraid he would see through her lie. "I should go now, or he'll worry."
In the end, under her parents' worried gazes, Emma followed the bodyguards to the car. As the door closed, she couldn't hold back any longer, tears streaming down her face. She bit her lip hard, stifling her sobs, afraid the bodyguards in the front seat would hear.
The black limousine drove along the winding coastal road, the scenery outside the window quickly receding.
Emma leaned against the leather seat, staring at the distant horizon where the sea met the sky. Her chest felt heavy, making it hard to breathe. She instinctively placed a hand on her stomach, where a new life was growing, but it also felt like a shackle she couldn't escape.
The sparkling sea, the sunlight dancing on the water, should have been a beautiful sight, but it only brought Emma a suffocating pain. She longed to be like the free seagulls, soaring high and escaping it all. But she knew she was trapped, with no way out.
As the car passed Dreamscape Peak beach, a wave of nausea hit her. Emma clutched her mouth, her face turning pale, sweat beading on her forehead.
"Stop the car!" Emma suddenly shouted. "I need to get out and get some air."
The bodyguard glanced at her through the rearview mirror, frowning. "Ms. Stuart, Mr. Russell instructed..."
"I know what Michael instructed," Emma cut him off coldly, her fingers gripping the door handle. "But I need to get out now. You can follow me, but don't try to stop me."
The car slowly pulled over. Emma didn't wait for the bodyguards to react, pushing the door open and striding towards the beach. The sea breeze hit her face, carrying a salty tang, easing her churning stomach slightly.
"Ms. Stuart," the lead bodyguard quickly caught up. "Please don't make this difficult for us."
Emma kept walking without looking back. "I'm just taking a walk on the beach. You can follow if you want." She stopped and turned to face the bodyguard. "What? I don't even have the freedom to take a walk?"
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