Chapter 6: Marry me

“Mom, where is my dad? Why did Dad suddenly get sick?”

The instant her mother's anxious voice reached her ears, Emma, without hesitation, flagged down a passing taxi and directed the driver to speed towards the hospital. Thoughts of afternoon work vanished from her mind. Along the way, she kept praying in her heart for her dad to be safe. Thought of her dad getting sick because of the news this morning, her face was totally paled.

The pungent antiseptic smell, the clinical coldness of the place, and the stark contrast of a glowing red sign against the sterile white walls intensified her unease. An aristocratic woman sat outside, sobbing while wiping her tears with a towel.

Seeing Emma coming, she immediately stood up and ran to hug Emma, “Sweetie, your dad is having surgery. I don't understand what happened either."

Emma's gaze drifted to the opalescent glass door that couldn't see anything inside, her heart ringing in fear. Gently, with a comforting touch, she took her mother's hand, guiding her to a seat nearby.

Emma's voice was as sweet as honey, softly resounding in the empty space, "Mom, everything will be fine. How long has he been in surgery?”

“It's only been 20 minutes. Your dad's assistant, Michael, is doing hospital admission procedures. He took your dad to the hospital and then called me.”

“Mom, actually there is something I need to tell you…” Emma was about to explain her dating rumors with Harry. She firmly believed that the heart disease of her father recurred because he had read the dating rumors between her and Harry Handerson. However, before she could finish her words, Michael ran over.

Mrs. Garcia saw him coming, quickly got up, and asked him, "Michael, Michael, can you tell us what happened? His heart condition has always been meticulously monitored. What happened at the company that's so dire?"

Michael glanced at Emma, then sighed, then gently helped Mrs. Garcia sit down, calming her first.

After a while, he slowly said, "Madam, this afternoon our company has a contract signing ceremony with William Corporation, which is the company's largest shareholder at the moment. They agreed to continue to invest another 10 million dollars for us to produce the next batch of cosmetics. Recently, our company has had some problems with the return on investment capital, this 10 million dollar is considered a very important lifeline for us. However…"

Emma had always been uninterested in the company's business. The fact that she studied business was also forced by her parents so that she could later inherit the family company. It was because she didn't care that she now knew that their company was in such a difficult situation.

Michael paused for a moment and then spoke, "This afternoon, Madam William again went to the company to personally meet Boss to announce the withdrawal of investment capital."

“How could they just renege on their commitment so abruptly?” Emma's hands were on her thighs, clutching her black dress, tension evident in every line of her body. She couldn't help but feel disgruntled.

Commitments were made with weight and expectation, and couldn't be easily brushed aside. The business thing was not like to cancel was to cancel.

At this point, Michael looked over at Emma, confusion in his eyes. His lips moved a few times but he still didn't make a sound, as if he encountered something difficult to say so he didn't know how to express it. A few seconds later, mustering up all the resolve to continue:

"Madam William also cursed boss that... He doesn't know how to educate his daughter, robbed the fiance of her daughter..."

Agitated Mrs. Garcia jumped and grabbed Michael's shirt, an expression no one had ever seen before, "What? Don't you know how to protect your boss? Why allow people to slander with no basis like that?”

Emma quickly stood up and pulled her away, sadness evident on her beautiful face, “Mom, I have something to tell you…” With that, she handed her this morning's news to read.

Much to her mother's astonishment, she pressed on, "That man is my boss, and also the fiance of William's family's daughter... But Mom, you believe me, what the press wrote are all fabrications. We are completely pure!”

"Emma," Mrs. Garcia's voice trembled, "My dear daughter! Why do you always let your parents worry!” Her anguish was palpable as she let out a heavy sigh and slowly sank into the nearby chair, sorrows evident in her posture.

The space once again fell into silence. The operating room had yet to exhibit new dynamics, the psychological time of one minute had passed but it seemed to last for a century. They don't know how much time flew, but the door slowly opened. A doctor wearing a white blouse stepped out.

Emma and her mother immediately went to his side. Mrs. Garcia worriedly asked, "Doctor, how is my husband's condition?"

“He is stable for now," The doctor began, pausing to choose his words carefully. "But his condition has gotten worse. If he faces any significant shocks within the next month of recovery, it could be life-threatening. In such a situation, it would be challenging for us to intervene effectively. We did our best, but he is not out of danger yet.” The doctor briefly answered a few questions and then moved on, leaving a cold void in his wake.

Emma and her mother thanked him and went into the hospital room. Mr. Garcia was now transferred to the recovery room. The heart attack had tormented him to the point that his body was pale and lifeless.

The company's chairman was in a coma. However, the company's situation still needed someone to deal with. Michael stood behind Emma, his voice very soft but heavy to suppress the whole room, “Miss, now if we can't afford the money to continue producing the upcoming batch of cosmetics. I'm afraid our whole company will go bankrupt." 

The entire success or failure of the company had been placed in this cosmetics batch. If production could not be completed, the company would no longer be able to operate. 

Emma pursed her lips, her eyes fixed on her father lying on the hospital bed. Her face remained calm, but no one understood that inside she was screaming in despair. 

A hoarse voice said with fatigue, "How long can the company bear?" 

“Barely a week," came the grim reply, "Several shareholders are already hinting at selling off their stocks."

It was a predictable reaction, after all. No one wanted to confront the William Corporation or get involved in the scandal of the Handerson family! 

As she stepped out of the hospital room, Emma began dialing her friends, seeking any lifeline. Soon enough, she heard Christine's familiar voice on the other end of the line, "Hey sweetie, everything okay?"

“Christine, I need a favor. Can you lend me 10 million dollars?” Emma tried to suppress her emotions, straight to the point. 

Christine was startled for a moment, she asked again in a concerned and astonished voice, "Emma, what's going on? Even if I am willing, I don’t have so much money. Right now I probably can lend you 1 million dollars.” 

After turning off the phone, she looked at her father's haggard appearance through the hospital room window, her heart filled with sadness. She raised her face high and fanned her hand in front of her face, trying to reduce the heat on her already teary eyes. 

Thinking about the scenario of her father waking up and knowing that the company could not be saved, and she herself was useless like this... 

In less than a week, where can Emma earn $10 million? The amount of money that an average person may not be able to earn in a lifetime.

Not knowing how much time passed, Emma stormed out of the hospital. The sky had turned dark, and the summer rain accompanied by lightning that had lasted for several hours had not ended. She didn't care about getting wet in the rain. The raindrops poured down on her face, causing her pain like slaps to punish her for her stupidity. This helped her calm down even more.

Climbing straight into the roadside taxi, the place she went was the headquarters of HJS Group.

Drenched from head to toe, she entered the opulent company lobby, her wet footprints marring the marble floor. Fortunately, the person she wanted to meet also coincidentally appeared in front of her.

Harry in a neat suit, elegant yet arrogant. As if he knew the situation in advance, he just quietly looked at Emma. His gaze was sharp and discerning meeting hers briefly. Without saying any words, he closed the distance between them and gently but firmly took her by the arm, leading her away.

"Dry your hair." Harry took her into his car, turned on the heater, threw her a towel, and draped his vest over her soaked body.

Emma was lost in her own world of thoughts. She followed Harry’s instructions like a machine. Harry had no intention of driving away immediately, just sitting quietly to watch every expression on her face and then coldly assessing.

Like he said, whatever is destined to happen will happen.

The soft strains of classical jazz were attempting to soothe the tense atmosphere in the car. Taking a deep breath, Emma turned her head, her gaze locking with his ocean-blue eyes. 

Her beautiful cherry lips moved word for word:

“Is your offer for a marriage contract still valid?”

Harry relaxed his facial muscles, he smiled a little at the corner of his lips. His long fingers rhythmically tapped on the steering wheel. Each beat increased the tension in the air, making Emma's heart race even faster.

“If you want to get married, shouldn’t you show some sincerity?”

In a moment, Emma rose, her hands gripping the collar of his shirt to pull him closer. Her lips trembling from the cold came in contact with another extremely warm lips. This kiss took Harry by surprise.

A kiss was only for a short time but there was haste, despair, and fervent entreaty. 

She pulled back slightly, allowing their foreheads to rest together. Tears that she had been holding back for so long now rolled down her rosy cheeks. In front of this man, her resilient shell was utterly shattered.

Amidst the background of classical jazz that made people’s hearts flutter, her vulnerable and pleading voice resounded.

Emma whispered, “Harry, I need your help, please… Marry me!”