Overbearing CEO's Contract Love
Chapter 304: Postpartum Depression

Chapter 304: Postpartum Depression

Instead of calming Emma Hart, Damien Sterling’s sudden move only made her more resistant to waking up.

"Ah!" Emma’s scream echoed through the second and third floors, startling guests and servants alike. Ryan Garcia rushed upstairs to see what was happening.

Ryan arrived just in time to see Damien strike Emma across the face, instantly quieting her.

"What happened?" the guests inquired anxiously as Ryan descended the stairs.

"It’s nothing, Mrs. Sterling accidentally broke a teacup," Ryan lied smoothly to keep everyone at bay. He quickly reached the room where Damien and Emma were, ordered everyone to keep silent and disperse, and then hurried downstairs to find Ella Moore.

Inside the room, Damien stood breathing heavily, staring at his hand, overwhelmed with guilt. Emma sat on the floor, cradling her reddened, swollen cheek, staring blankly into space.

A knock sounded at the door. "Come in," Damien said coldly.

Ryan entered, bringing Ella Moore with him. "Mr. Sterling," Ella began seriously, "what happened to Mrs. Sterling?"

Damien, his voice laced with frustration, demanded, "Ella, what is going on with Emma? I told you and Mrs. Harris to take good care of her. How did she end up like this?"

"I’m... I’m so sorry, Mr. Sterling!" Ella stammered, bowing deeply, her voice trembling. "We... we were negligent... Mrs. Sterling might be suffering from postpartum depression!"

Ella hadn’t been sure before, but Emma’s erratic behavior today, combined with her recent mood swings, convinced Ella that Emma was indeed struggling with depression.

"What? Depression?" Ryan was shocked. The fierce and defiant Emma Hart, suffering from depression?

"Useless! Get out," Damien growled. Ella fled the room, tears streaming down her face. She had indeed failed in her duties this time.

"Brother..." Ryan didn’t know what to say.

"Ryan, call Mr. Sterling Senior and tell him we’re taking Emma away. You and Aunt Brianna should bring the kids and Mrs. Harris back after the banquet ends," Damien instructed, lifting Emma from the floor. She was like a lifeless doll, showing no emotion or resistance.

"Alright. But what about you two?" Ryan asked.

"I’ll take her home," Damien Sterling declared, carrying Emma Hart and discreetly avoiding the guests as he exited through the back door.

Ryan Garcia felt a swirl of emotions. Following Damien’s instructions, he informed Mr. Sterling Senior of their departure but withheld the news of Emma’s depression. Though disappointed, Mr. Sterling Senior, having had too much to drink, didn’t press for details.

In the black Bugatti, the driver focused on the road ahead. Damien held Emma close, her silence and stillness making her seem like a fragile doll.

Once home, Emma seized a moment of distraction to slip into the only room with a lock—Damien’s study.

"Emma Hart! What the hell are you doing?" Damien shouted, pounding on the door.

"Stop it! If you kick the door one more time, I’ll jump out the window!" Emma screamed back, her voice piercing.

Damien, overwhelmed by the noise, reluctantly stopped. His face flushed with anger, he yanked off his tie, exposing his reddened neck and chest. What was this woman’s game now?

Hearing the commotion, the driver rushed upstairs. Damien waved him away, signaling that he should leave.

Sitting on the cashmere rug outside the study, Damien growled, "Fine, Emma Hart. Stay in there forever if you want!"

Inside, Emma stood motionless, tears streaming down her face as she stared out into the darkness beyond the window, the branches silhouetted against the night sky.

Back at Mr. Sterling Senior’s mansion, it was nearly midnight. Most guests, reeking of alcohol, had already left.

Mr. Sterling Senior, still tipsy, inquired about Damien’s whereabouts once more. Ryan explained again before escorting Mr. Sterling Senior to his room.

"Mrs. Harris, bring Gabriel and Joshua. I’ll drive you home," Ryan said to the nanny holding the twins.

"Thank you, Mr. Garcia," Mrs. Harris replied gratefully.

In the underground garage, Ryan retrieved the car. Since Brianna Baker was still unwell, Ryan carried Gabriel while Mrs. Harris held Joshua. Together, they walked towards the vehicle.

"Well, well, if it isn’t Sophia. Didn’t expect to see you here," Ryan Garcia said as he noticed Sophia Greenwood in her car nearby.

"Just noticed me now, Ryan? See you around," Sophia replied with a wave, driving off.

A few moments later, Ryan saw Harper Clark slipping into Sophia’s car at the exit. He cursed under his breath, "Trouble is coming one after another."

He wanted to drag Harper out of the car right then but realized it was too late, and he had a car full of elders, kids, and a patient. He decided against it.

In Sophia Greenwood’s car, Harper Clark asked, "What exactly do you want?"

Sophia smirked, her red lips curling up, "I want to propose a partnership." She then headed toward her home.

Ryan Garcia delivered Mrs. Harris and the kids home and followed them inside. Brianna Baker, still worried, came along too.

As they walked upstairs, they found Damien Sterling asleep on the floor.

"Damien, why are you sleeping here?" Brianna asked anxiously.

Damien opened his tired eyes, "Aunt Brianna, why are you here?"

"We brought the kids back," Ryan replied, helping Damien to his feet.

"And Emma?" Brianna asked.

Damien gestured towards the study, "She won’t come out."

Brianna frowned deeply. She knocked on the door and called for Emma but got no response.

"Isn’t there a big tree in your backyard? I’ll go check on her," Ryan said, heading outside.

Ryan climbed the tall tree in the backyard, positioning himself to see into the study.

Emma had left the lights off, but the curtains were open, likely to let in the cold breeze. She was curled up motionless on the office chair.

Ryan thought to himself, This woman really knows how to torture herself...

Seeing that Emma wasn’t doing anything drastic, he quietly climbed down and returned to the house.

"Ryan, how is she?" Brianna asked.

"She’s fine, probably asleep. Let’s all get some rest. Standing around here won’t help. We’ll talk to her tomorrow," Ryan suggested, thinking it would be best to regroup and address the situation with fresh minds in the morning.