Chapter 32

SHERLYN

Emma had the habit of embarrassing me in public spaces. She wasn't the smartest person in the room nor the most emotionally intelligent but even at that, I expected composure from her. She was blushing like forest fire as she stared at Nicholas. I pinched her secretly and she sat down and regained her composure.

Oh My God.

"You must have been flustered," Nicholas told her.

"I am fine now," Emma replied. "I have many things to think of. I was carried away by my thoughts."

"Hope you aren't struggling? Why do you think so much? It will only cause you to look older than you are..." Nicholas replied.

"Thank you, you care so much about my daughter," I chirped in.

"She is a beautiful lady. Thinking would give her wrinkles and ruin her pretty face," Nicholas said calmly. May focused on her meal, brandishing the knife as if she meant to use it on a human rather than the meal in front of her.

Emma blushed. I had to pinch her to stop it. We shouldn't be comfortable in an enemy zone.

"My love!" May called Nicholas. "My stepsister, Emma, is engaged to Conan Grey. Their wedding would probably be held soon. You should get her a wedding gift, don't you think?"

"I will have it in mind, sweetie," Nicholas replied. Emma frowned and May did the opposite. I was a woman too so I knew May was trying to mark her territory. I had no plans to invade anyway. May's pregnancy was the only reason why he married her.

There was silence through the room while we ate now. Nicholas finished first and turned towards Emma and I.

"Mother-in-law..." Nicholas began.

"Step mother-in-law," May corrected him quickly. I frowned at her. Why did she have to make it so obvious? It wasn't as if I didn't know I gave birth to her.

"Anyway, I was going to tell both of you about an incident that happened here," Nicholas continued. I paid rapt attention. "My wife was almost poisoned. Thankfully, the maid confessed before carrying it out."

I was uneasy. I dropped my fork carefully and stared at Emma. She was so nervous that she stared at the meal before her.

"Oh, is that so?" I decided to act as if I was unaware. Since May came to see me that day, I thought she didn't tell Nicholas.

"Yes, it happened. Apparently, May found out the culprit who hired the maid," Nicholas said with a smile on his face. Did he bring us here to expose and disgrace us? Or perhaps, arrest us? I would beg if I had to, I couldn't get arrested.

"You see, Nicholas. It is a misunderstanding..." I muttered fearfully.

"However, she refused to tell me who it was!" Nicholas concluded. I took a deep breath as I heard this.

"Why didn't she?" I muttered carefully.

"She said she settled it with the person already. I wonder why she did that," Nicholas turned towards May now. "Why did you do that, sweetie?"

"Don't ask, my love," May smiled at Nicholas and gazed at him affectionately. "There are some things you shouldn't have answers to. Think of it as the eighth wonder of the world. It's a mystery."

"If you really think so, I have no choice but to accept, sweetie," Nicholas smiled at May. Both of them laughed now heartily. I joined them and gave a fake laugh. I was so nervous.

"I saw a bag yesterday..." Nicholas changed the topic. However, I was mentally checked out by now. All I did was listen to whatever they said. I couldn't wait to leave.

**

Emma and I walked to the garage by ourselves. Nicholas had offered for his driver to take us home but I refused since I had other plans. I drove myself and Emma sat at the front seat as well. We had barely exited the mansion when Emma began to talk.

"He is so handsome!" She shrieked excitedly. "I have seen him in several papers but none of them shows how good he looks in reality. His aura was... How should I put it?"

"Keep quiet, little one," I muttered.

"Why?" Emma asked. "Don't tell me you have a crush on Nicholas too. Why would you like all the men I like?"

I applied the brakes instantly and now, I felt the need to slap some sense into Emma's brain.

"Are you this foolish?" I asked rhetorically. "You went to an enemy's zone and you have a crush on the enemy commander. All you have in this little head of yours are men!"

Emma kept quiet.

"Talk back!" I shouted. "Explain yourself. I want to know the reason you keep frustrating my life!"

"Calm down, mum," Emma said calmly. "I do not see Nicholas only as a man but as a weapon. Think about it. Isn't he more powerful than Conan? I can just break my engagement with Conan and get married to Nicholas."

"Get out!" I told her firmly.

"It's dark! Where do you want me to go to?" Emma asked.

"There will be taxis! Board one," I opened the door and signalled for her to get out of the car. She did this reluctantly and I drove off, leaving her behind. I was worried to do this but I concluded that she would be fine. She was such a clueless being and it worried me greatly.

But I had other plans. I called Roberts, the chief operating officer of the hospital.

"Send me the address of Dr. Charles. It is in the hospital records, isn't it?" I asked Roberts over the phone.

"You are an administrator, ma'am. You can check it by yourself. I can teach you how to..." Roberts muttered.

"Send me his address and shut the fuck up!" I shouted. I was pissed off by everything. Nicholas was threatening me indirectly in my presence, Emma has a crush on this same Nicholas, and now, Roberts was trying to lecture me.

"I will send it right away, ma'am," Roberts replied. That was all I needed to hear.

I cut the call and increased my speed. I had to meet Charles today. He was the only one that could relieve my stress.