Overbearing CEO's Contract Love
Chapter 285: Live Broadcast

Chapter 285: Live Broadcast

In the hospital corridor, the sound of heavy, urgent footsteps grew louder. Damien Sterling forcefully pushed open the door to Brianna Baker’s room. "Aunt Brianna!" he called out.

"Aunt Brianna! How are you feeling?" Damien watched over Brianna with a gaze that was gentle and warm, a stark contrast to the usual cold and ruthless Mr. Sterling. In that moment, he was just a big kid, anxious and concerned for his family member.

"I’m okay..." Brianna Baker smiled warmly at Damien.

"Brianna Baker’s family, please step outside for a moment," the doctor requested.

"Damien, dear, stay with my mom, I’ll be right back," said Ryan Garcia, getting up.

Damien nodded and took Ryan’s place by Brianna’s side.

Outside the room.

"Doctor, how is my mother doing?"

"Rest assured, your mother’s condition has stabilized. However, she must take her medication regularly from now on. It’s important that you ensure she follows her treatment plan."

"Thank you, Doctor..." Ryan took a deep breath and returned to the room.

"We should really consider hospitalization, just to be safe," Damien suggested.

"No, I don’t like staying in hospitals," Brianna opposed strongly, much like a child who hasn’t grown up.

"But... Mom!" Ryan was baffled at how the older one gets, the more childlike they become, his mother was truly stubborn.

"You both know my situation; I just want to enjoy the time I have left, and I want you to spend more time with me," Brianna said with a smile that was both touching and heart-wrenching.

"I’ll drive you back..." Damien no longer insisted, recognizing his own helplessness.

Outside Green Mountain Retreat.

"Just like today, reach out anytime you need anything."

"Okay."

Over the years, Damien had only ever deeply cared about three people: Brianna Baker, Ryan Garcia, and... Emma Hart.

Two hours later, at the Sterling family mansion.

"Mr. Sterling, Emma Hart has already had dinner and gone to bed," Mrs. Harris reported respectfully.

"Alright." Damien walked directly to his bedroom where a dim lamp cast a soft glow over the pristine white bed, the breathing of its occupant soft and even. He quietly closed the door behind him and entered the adjacent bedroom. He longed to hold her as she slept, but also feared waking her. Tomorrow, she had to be at the company for an interview, and as Mrs. Sterling, she needed to present herself flawlessly.

On Christmas Eve, Damien Sterling rose early, settling downstairs with a coffee in hand, browsing through the world economic news. Glancing at the clock, it was nearly noon and there was still no sign of Emma Hart upstairs.

"Mrs. Harris, could you please wake her up?"

"Yes, Mr. Sterling."

Halfway up the stairs, Mrs. Harris paused as Emma appeared at the top of the staircase. "No need to come up, I’m already awake," Emma announced with a bright, unshadowed smile, looking refreshingly alert today.

"Hurry and have something to eat; the stylist will be here shortly to do your makeup and get you ready."

"Is all that really necessary...?"

"It is."

That settled it, and Emma’s objections once again ended in vain.

After lunch, the renowned Parisian makeup artist Paffi arrived at the Sterling family mansion on time. Her skills in makeup and styling were top-notch. Within an hour, she had completely transformed Emma, enhancing her natural beauty with a sophisticated yet unpretentious style.

"Isn’t makeup supposed to be bad for pregnant women?" Emma suddenly remembered.

"Don’t worry, all the products I use are made from natural, harmless ingredients, specially formulated for pregnant women," Paffi reassured her.

"Mrs. Sterling, look how beautiful you are!" While flattery usually went over Emma’s head, the quality of Paffi’s work was undeniable. The makeup was fresh and elegant, enhancing her beauty without seeming overdone. Damien rarely saw Emma made up, and today, she truly dazzled him. The fine eyeliner made her eyes look larger and brighter, shimmering like cat’s eyes, and her eyebrows were gracefully arched...

"Hey! Hey!" Emma waved her hand in front of a momentarily dazed Damien.

"Hehe, looks like my skills really are perfect, Mr. Sterling was totally stunned," Paffi whispered playfully.

"Ahem! Emma, let’s go," Damien quickly regained his composure.

Outside the studio.

"I never realized before just how big Sterling Group is, they even own a performing arts company!" Emma mused to herself.

"Don’t act like you’ve never seen the world before. Remember, you are Mrs. Sterling now," Damien said, extending his arm to rest it on Emma’s shoulder.

"What are you doing!" Emma exclaimed, caught off guard.

"Just walk with me." And so, Damien led the way, with Emma matching his steps, as they headed towards the studio.

Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, Sophia Greenwood watched as Damien Sterling and Emma Hart shared an intimate moment in the corridor of Building Two, tears silently rolling down her cheeks. Why couldn’t her efforts win his love?

Inside the broadcasting studio.

The renowned host, Daya, was interviewing one of the advancing contestants of the design competition when Damien and Emma entered the backstage preparation area.

"Mr. Sterling, after this interview, it will be Mrs. Sterling’s turn," Damien’s secretary said, swaying her hips as she approached him, casting a side glance at Emma. She couldn’t understand what was going through Emma’s mind. Wasn’t it better to stay quietly in the background rather than increasing her workload?

Damien nodded in acknowledgment.

"And now, please welcome the winner of the preliminary round, Ms. Emma Hart."

Emma entered the studio and began conversing with the host.

Host Daya: "Hello Ms. Hart!"

Emma Hart: "Hello!"

Host Daya: "Wow, we’ve seen your entry, Ms. Hart. The theme was ’nature,’ and your design cleverly combines nautical and collegiate styles. And today we’ve learned that you are an expectant mother! Continuing to create while pregnant is truly remarkable!"

Emma Hart: "You flatter me, design has always been my passion, but I never had the chance to dedicate myself fully until now, thanks to my husband’s support!"

Host Daya: "Ms. Hart, what made you decide to enter this competition?"

Emma Hart: "Firstly, designing something that gains recognition has always been a dream of mine. Secondly, it’s also to provide good prenatal influences for my baby. I want to show him that his mom has a courageous heart to chase her dreams, and he should never give up on his."

Host Daya: "Ms. Hart, you are truly inspiring. I’m sure your little one inside will bless you!"

Emma Hart: "Thank you!"

Host Daya: "Next, please welcome the president of Sterling Group, Mr. Damien Sterling!"

Damien stepped into the studio, and Emma was taken aback. Why was he coming in too?

Host Daya: "Hello Mr. Sterling!"

Damien Sterling: "Hello to the host and all our friends watching on TV and online!"

Emma internally rolled her eyes at Damien’s official, star-like demeanor. Oh, the disparity between his public persona and his private self was vast!