Overbearing CEO's Contract Love
Chapter 298: Emma Hart Goes Missing

Chapter 298: Emma Hart Goes Missing

"Let me go!" Emma Hart shouted.

Ryan Garcia, his brows furrowed in a tight frown as he gazed at Emma Hart, was filled with guilt. He was at a loss, having long noticed the subtle advances of Harper Clark. He had hoped to avoid escalating the situation, but it seemed that his fears had materialized.

"Are you deaf, Ryan Garcia?" she yelled again when he made no move to release her.

"Are you alright?" Ryan asked cautiously.

"I’m fine. Let go," Emma demanded, holding back her anger. Was this guy really not getting the message?

"Don’t do anything rash! Harper Clark’s little schemes won’t fool Damien!" Ryan had to be sure Emma hadn’t lost her sense of reason before he could let go.

"I’m really okay! I’m just tired, I’m going to rest in the VIP lounge for a bit," Emma said, glancing toward the nearby VIP lounge.

"Well... okay then," Ryan reluctantly let go of her hand, watching until Emma entered the room before he moved away.

He turned to seek Harper Clark for a discussion, only to find that she had vanished.

"Damn it all!" Ryan cursed loudly.

The live online voting data was being tallied, displayed on a large screen where each contestant’s votes steadily increased. Among them, Emma Hart and her middle school classmate, Aria Davis, were neck and neck, the highest scorers.

The countdown ended! Everyone’s eyes were fixed on the screen. Aria Davis won by three votes, narrowly defeating Emma Hart!

Applause erupted on the scene, drawing Emma, who had been lost in thought in the lounge, to step out and see the heart-wrenching numbers on the screen.

Despondently, she watched as Damien Sterling awarded the championship cup to Aria Davis. Emma’s eyes caught Harper Clark’s fiery gaze fixed on Damien, feeling utterly out of place in this world. If she weren’t pregnant with twins, she truly felt she had no place in this circle.

In the dazzling lights, Emma Hart silently left the stage, walking aimlessly forward.

About half an hour later, Damien Sterling and Aria Davis were being interviewed by the media, while Ryan Garcia searched the banquet hall and dressing rooms for Harper Clark, but she was nowhere to be found. Unintentionally, he wandered near the VIP lounge and noticed the door was ajar; two bodyguards frantically looked for Emma Hart.

Ryan Garcia had a bad feeling and asked urgently, "What happened? Where is Mrs. Sterling?"

One of the bodyguards, panicking, stammered, "The lady... she... she’s gone..."

"What did you say!" Ryan Garcia roared.

"Go tell Mr. Sterling now! Are you responsible if something happens to Mrs. Sterling?" Ryan’s shout reached Damien Sterling’s ears.

Damien pushed through the media, walking briskly to Ryan, "What did you say? Emma Hart is missing?"

"Sir... Mr. Sterling, we—" the bodyguards trembled, unable to speak coherently.

"Both of you, disappear from my sight now!" Damien’s eyes blazed with fury. What on earth was this woman up to!

Following that, Damien canceled the banquet and media interviews, directing additional manpower to search for Emma Hart.

Harper Clark, secretly delighted, pretended to be worried to curry favor with Damien, "Mr. Sterling, don’t worry too much, let me help look for Emma too!"

But Damien was not fooled and simply said, "Fine," before turning away.

At that moment, Ryan Garcia couldn’t concern himself with Harper Clark; the mess was partly his fault, and he had to find Emma Hart to explain—no, to soothe things over.

Ryan left the company and ran to the nearby snack bars and coffee shops, but there was no sign of Emma. Where could a pregnant woman go?

Indeed, Emma hadn’t gone far; she walked alone to the riverbank across the street from the company, staring at the dim lights and bustling traffic on the opposite shore.

She didn’t understand why she felt so miserable. Being outvoted was expected, and she had sensed Harper Clark’s interest in Damien before, but seeing Harper fall into Damien’s arms on stage had indeed left her feeling breathlessly tight in the chest. Could it be that she had really fallen in love with Damien Sterling?

"Emma Hart!"

Emma Hart heard a voice calling her from behind. It was familiar, not Damien Sterling, but Ryan Garcia!

She turned around quickly to see Ryan running toward her. Emma was startled; fortunately, there were no cars passing by, which could have been dangerous.

"What are you doing here? Do you know how worried we’ve been about you!" Ryan Garcia yelled at her.

"Keep your voice down! I just wanted some peace," Emma explained.

"Peace? Damien Sterling is nearly out of his mind!" Ryan retorted.

"Come back with me now!" After speaking, Ryan grasped Emma’s arm and started to pull her back.

"I won’t go back! If you force me, I’ll throw myself against the guardrail!" Emma threatened.

Seeing he couldn’t coerce her, Ryan had no choice but to give up.

The air suddenly grew quiet. Emma’s hands rested on the guardrail, her eyes fixed on the skyscrapers ahead.

Ryan stood beside her, his gaze never leaving Emma. He watched as the cold wind gently lifted her hair, her nose reddened by the cold, and her eyes slightly moist. At that moment, Ryan felt a profound tenderness for the woman before him.

He took off his coat and draped it over Emma’s shoulders. Emma resisted at first, but lacking Ryan’s strength, she eventually gave up the struggle.

Ryan had done this because Emma was pregnant, and catching a cold could be serious. Another reason was... in that moment, Emma had inadvertently touched a chord in his heart.

They stood like that in the wind for about five minutes. Ryan, now quite cold himself, quickly sent a message to Damien Sterling. Then he said to Emma, "Actually, I can tell that Damien truly cares about you. He’s never been so frantic over anyone else, rushing around like a mad dog!"

Hearing Ryan’s analogy, Emma couldn’t help but laugh. Yes, that man was just like a mad dog, always barking when he’s upset!

"So, don’t worry, Harper Clark doesn’t stand a chance! Your entry in today’s competition was really close; it’s not a big deal! Don’t lose heart!" Ryan said everything he could think of to cheer Emma up.

He occasionally looked back, checking to see if someone was coming...

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