Overbearing CEO's Contract Love
Chapter 212: Do You Love Him?

Chapter 212: Do You Love Him?

"I’m here to help a friend pick out a dog. What brings you here?" Oliver Westmore asked, clearly surprised.

"Bailey is sick," Emma Hart replied, her voice tinged with sadness.

"Sick? Is it serious?" Oliver frowned, noticing that Emma looked more worn than the last time he saw her. His concern was evident as he inquired, "Have you been alright lately?"

Oliver wasn’t sure if it was appropriate to express such concern, or if it might be too forward, but Emma did not seem happy to him.

"I’m fine," Emma forced a strong smile onto her face.

What reason did she have not to be fine? With Damien Sterling, she had everything a woman could desire—food, clothing, and the envy of many. What could possibly be wrong?

"But you don’t seem fine," Oliver insisted, leaning in closer to Emma, his gaze unflinching.

"That’s just your perception," Emma replied, her demeanor cooling off— a stark contrast to how she used to interact with Oliver.

She had already caused Oliver too much trouble. The best way to reduce further issues was to adopt an indifferent attitude, making their relationship even more distant than mere acquaintances. Avoiding interaction seemed to be the most straightforward solution to minimize problems.

Emma thought this approach more effective than apologies. Instead of uttering countless sorries, it was better to address the root cause.

Oliver, tall and imposing, blocked Emma’s path, forcing her to sidestep to bypass him. "If there’s nothing else, I should go check on Bailey," she said, moving away.

Even as she walked away, Emma felt Oliver’s gaze on her back, but all she wanted was to leave quickly.

"I need to talk to you," Oliver’s voice reached her from behind.

Emma wanted to avoid confrontation, to escape if possible. But why did Oliver insist on pursuing her? Did he not weigh the pros and cons? What good could come from getting closer to her? Staying away was the sensible choice.

Oliver’s footsteps followed, and he moved in front of Emma. "Emma, you shouldn’t always run from me."

"I’m not running," Emma replied with an awkward smile.

"Not running? Then what are you doing?"

"I told you, I’m going to see Bailey," Emma said, becoming anxious, her expression a mix of resignation and guilt. Realizing her tone was off, she hastily added, "I’m sorry," to Oliver.

Oliver Westmore shook his head firmly, "There’s no need for apologies between us." Extending his arm, he gently placed it on Emma Hart’s shoulder. Reacting instinctively, Emma took a step back, her gaze landing on Oliver’s arm. With a tone mixed with regret, Oliver softly uttered, "Emma, I’m truly sorry, I really am..."

Emma swiftly interrupted Oliver, halting his words mid-sentence. It wasn’t that she didn’t understand what he was about to say, nor was it vanity on her part. Emma knew all too well that accepting any romantic feelings from Oliver Westmore was beyond her capability. The best course of action was to nip such feelings in the bud, once again.

Placing her hand on her slightly protruding belly, Emma’s face was a canvas of complex emotions. This gesture was unmistakably meant to convey to Oliver that she was carrying Damien Sterling’s child.

As a businessman, shouldn’t Oliver possess the same acumen as Damien Sterling? The message seemed clear as day; did he truly fail to grasp it?

Oliver’s eyes followed Emma’s hand to her belly, yet this revelation seemed not to sway his intentions. Lowering his head for a moment before lifting it back up, Oliver asked with a weighty voice, "Emma, do you love him?"

Emma paused, a hesitation lasting three seconds.

Oliver seized the moment, "You hesitated, didn’t you? Maybe even you are unsure if you truly love him!" His voice grew louder, the rising pitch echoing a reprimand.

Emma cut him off, her expression tinged with a hint of panic. Such a question she had asked herself countless times. When Damien Sterling looked at her with deep affection, when he sacrificed multi-billion-dollar contracts for her, when his embrace was both stern and unexpectedly gentle...

Yet, she had never arrived at an answer that felt right, or that she could wholly accept. To this day, Emma remained unsure if it was love she felt, or if there was something else that could bring her peace and stability.

Oliver, once again, placed his hands on Emma’s shoulders, shaking them fiercely, "If you’re hesitating, if you’re unsure, that means you don’t love him!"

"No! I do love him!" The words slipped out almost reflexively, an answer Emma hadn’t anticipated from herself.

In a state of disarray, Emma looked around aimlessly, until her gaze settled back on Oliver. His reaction to her impulsive answer was one of surprise, followed by a visible wash of disappointment. Correcting herself, Emma stated, "I don’t love him."

But which of these answers truly reflected her heart’s voice?

Softening his tone, Oliver pressed on, "If that’s the case, why stay together? Emma, wake up."

"Why stay together?" Emma knew the answer all too well. Perhaps it was because of the child growing inside her, or maybe due to a binding contract. But what other reasons were there for their union? Faced with Oliver’s question, Emma found herself unable to confront not just him but her own heart as well.

Before Emma Hart’s eyes, Oliver Westmore ceaselessly jostled her, leaving her world spinning and dazed. The last thing she heard was Oliver’s incessant calls, "Emma, what’s happened to you..." When she awoke once more, the person by her side was still Oliver Westmore.

"How am I!" Emma, clutching her head, struggled to sit up. At that moment, Mrs. Harris hurried in from outside, immediately rushing over upon seeing Emma awake, "Miss Emma, are you alright now?"

Emma shook her head, "I’m fine."

"Miss Emma! You must take care of yourself. You’re clearly deficient in energy and blood. If you overexert yourself, you’re likely to faint, which could be detrimental to the baby inside you. If it gets serious, the child could suffocate!" Mrs. Harris spoke with an air of urgency.

"You haven’t told him, have you? Mrs. Harris!"

Mrs. Harris glanced at Oliver Westmore standing beside them, then back at Emma, and nodded, "I haven’t spoken to Mr. Sterling yet. I feared that with the recent tensions, Mr. Sterling might blame you!"

Emma appreciated Mrs. Harris’s kindness and understood that her decision could be unfavorable to her, "Thank you, Mrs. Harris."

Mrs. Harris sighed, "Miss Emma, you should focus on recuperating!" Then, looking over at Oliver Westmore, she continued with a firm tone, "Mr. Westmore, Miss Emma is in my care. Please, go attend to your matters!"

Oliver Westmore smiled, nodding politely, "Then I’ll leave her in your capable hands, Mrs. Harris."

"I am the Sterling family’s nanny, and taking good care of the Sterling family is my duty," Mrs. Harris said to Oliver Westmore, her words carrying a hint of warning.

Oliver Westmore understood but couldn’t help feeling reluctant to leave.

Emma Hart turned away in her sickbed, haunted by the words Oliver Westmore had spoken to her before she fainted. Now, she was still uncertain about how to face Oliver Westmore.

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