Chapter 3

Just as Emma closed her eyes, heartbroken and resigned to her fate, ready to perish with Lucas, James’s voice rang out again. “Lucas, shouldn’t you take out the magnet under your table?”

As soon as he finished speaking, two bodyguards stepped forward and restrained Lucas.

James pulled the magnet from under the table and threw it in front of him. “Cheating on my territory and desiring my woman, do you want to die?”

Lucas’s face was drained of color. “Mr. Nicholas, this is all a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding!”

James didn’t look at him again and had him taken away like trash. After dealing with these matters, he stood up, took off his coat and wrapped it over Emma. “Scared? Let’s go home.”

In the car, James took out a jewelry box from his pocket; inside was Emma’s mother’s necklace. The necklace pendant had been re-set with gold and jade, making it look even more magnificent than before.

“Emma, how could I really put you in danger?” He turned to look at her, his eyes unfathomable in the night. “Today, I just wanted you to know that I always know my limits.” He reached out, wanting to gently stroke her face.

Emma turned her head away, her fingertips digging deeply into her palm. He knew his limits? Yes, his limits were seeing her fear, seeing her despair and then lightly offering a rescue.

He knew perfectly well that what she hated and feared most was this feeling of being swept away from heaven and hell in an instant.

But for Charlotte’s sake, to teach her a lesson, he still pushed her into this situation without hesitation. She gritted her teeth, clutching the necklace tightly, without uttering a word.

She thought the storm had passed, but a few days later, James knocked on her door again. “Has Charlotte contacted you these past two days?”

Emma was taken aback. “She called me, but I didn’t answer.”

James sighed softly, his tone helpless yet indulgent. “I know you don’t like her, but Charlotte is naive and timid. I’m worried about her. Emma, for my sake, don’t hold it against her, okay? Tell me where she is, alright?”

Emma’s heart sank. “You think I kidnapped her?”

James looked at her for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled. That smile held a hint of helplessness, like looking at a sulking child. “Emma, I’m not doubting you. It’s just that Charlotte’s whereabouts are currently unknown and you were the last person she contacted.”

As he spoke, he dialed a number on the room’s internal phone. “Officer Matthew, my wife might be connected to the disappearance of one of my friends. I need you to come over and assist with the investigation.”

Emma looked at his still gentle eyes, but felt a chill seep into her bones. “You called the police?”

James patted her hair reassuringly. “It’s just a routine inquiry, don’t be afraid.”

Officer Matthew arrived quickly and Emma was immediately handcuffed. Before being taken away, James even wrapped a coat over her shoulders, his tone gentle. “Just a few questions. I’ll pick you up after I’ve taken care of things.”

Just as she was being led into the police car, James’s phone rang. He answered, his voice low and focused. “Charlotte? Where are you? Don’t panic, I’m coming right away.”

Emma suddenly leaned out of the car window. “James, I already said it wasn’t me!”

But before she could finish speaking, the man had already strode away. He left in such a hurry that he even forgot Emma was still in the police car about to be taken away.

Emma clenched her fingers. “Officer Matthew, the person has been found, can you let me go now?”

Officer Matthew pursed his lips helplessly. “Mrs. Nicholas, we also need to follow procedures.”

Emma was taken to the detention center. The night in Eldoria was chilly and the detention center was dark. Her claustrophobia quickly flared up and she even began to hallucinate.

She seemed to see again the days after their marriage, when James installed thousands of nightlights in the villa and even held her in his arms to lull her to sleep.

But then, the scene distorted, turning into him and Charlotte in the office, then into Michael lying on the floor covered in blood…

The night passed and all ten of her fingernails were broken off, bleeding profusely. The walls and doors were covered with scratches from the extreme fear she had endured the previous night.

Officer Matthew felt a pang of pity. “Mrs. Nicholas, why don’t you call Mr. Nicholas and ask him to bail you out? He loves you so much, how could he bear to leave you here…”

But after ninety-nine calls, no one answered.