Overbearing CEO's Contract Love
Chapter 347: No Rest in Sight

Chapter 347: No Rest in Sight

"Beep... beep..." Before Emma Hart could react, her grandmother had already hung up in a hurry, leaving Emma bewildered on the sofa.

The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she felt. Why would they call her so urgently late at night, only to say everything was fine now and that she should focus on pleasing Damien Sterling? Something was definitely wrong.

She quickly dialed Max’s number.

No answer the first time, nor the second. It wasn’t until the tenth attempt that she finally heard Max’s faint, weak voice on the other end. "Hello, sis, I’m in class."

"Call me back immediately after class!" Emma Hart demanded before abruptly hanging up. Regardless of whether Max was really in class or not, she would always respect his study time.

She hoped he wasn’t lying to her.

Sure enough, half an hour later, Max called back.

At first, Max tried to deny that anything had happened the previous night, but under Emma’s persistent and forceful questioning, he had to admit the truth.

Last night, their grandmother had been playing mahjong with the neighbors. Somehow, she ended up owing them over a hundred thousand dollars. It turned out those women were from wealthy families and played for high stakes, betting thousands on each game. Their grandmother, thinking she was on a lucky streak, joined in without much thought and lost 150,000 dollars. With no money to pay, they had called Emma, but she hadn’t answered. In desperation, Max called Damien Sterling, who transferred $200,000 within minutes.

"What! Two hundred thousand!" Emma Hart exclaimed, her sudden outburst startling the two children beside her.

Bailey gently nuzzled the babies with his head, trying to soothe their frightened little hearts.

"Can’t you all just live peacefully? Always causing trouble!" Emma Hart scolded.

"Sorry, sis. I’m studying hard now, and I’ll talk to grandma more often to keep her in check. I’m sorry for causing you trouble again..." Max said.

Hearing Max’s apology, Emma Hart felt a pang of guilt. Maybe she had been too harsh; after all, they were still her family.

"Alright, as long as everything’s fine now. Focus on your studies," Emma Hart replied coldly, her tone eerily similar to how Damien Sterling spoke to others.

Even she couldn’t deny it—she was becoming more and more like Damien Sterling.

After hanging up the phone, Max stared blankly at it, his eyes empty and hollow. With their mother gone, it was just him, his sister, and their grandmother now, but the family felt irreparably broken.

Emma Hart curled up on the sofa, tears silently slipping down her cheeks. With their mother gone, the Hart family seemed devoid of meaning. While she was in the hospital, neither Max nor their grandmother called to check on her. And last night, her final night in the hospital, had it not been for Damien Sterling taking her phone, she would have spent it restlessly.

Her head felt dizzy, her eyelids growing heavier, and her body becoming increasingly lethargic. The warmth enveloped her, pulling her into sleep.

Emma Hart drifted into a dark, silent world, where she couldn’t see her own hand in front of her face. She didn’t know how long it had been before she felt the world around her brighten once more. The crystal chandelier on the ceiling glowed softly, and a small red blanket had been draped over her. The aroma of rich chicken soup wafted from the kitchen.

Propping herself up on her elbows, Emma Hart slowly sat up. Mrs. Harris emerged from the kitchen, carrying a large pot of freshly made chicken soup.

"Emma, you’re finally awake," Mrs. Harris said, her face lighting up with relief and joy.

"Mrs. Harris, did you cover me with this blanket?" Emma Hart asked.

"Yes, I saw you sleeping there and you weren’t dressed warmly. I didn’t want you catching a cold. How do you feel? Did you sleep well?" Mrs. Harris asked with concern.

"Yes, thank you, Mrs. Harris," Emma Hart replied, feeling warmth spread through her heart like a bowl of hot soup.

"Silly child, I’ve been taking care of you for so long. You’re like a daughter to me," Mrs. Harris said, ladling out a bowl of chicken soup and bringing it to Emma. "Have some soup to warm up. Dinner will be ready soon."

Emma Hart blew on a spoonful of soup to cool it before sipping it.

"Child, if there’s anything troubling you, don’t keep it bottled up inside. We’re family now. Talk to Mr. Sterling about it, and if you can’t, you can always talk to me. I can be your sounding board," Mrs. Harris said. She had noticed the tears at the corners of Emma’s eyes when she covered her with the blanket and it pained her to see Emma so sad.

"I know, Mrs. Harris. Thank you, I’ll be alright," Emma Hart said, hugging Mrs. Harris tightly.

From the first moment she met Mrs. Harris, Emma had felt a special warmth from her. She thought to herself how wonderful it would be if Mrs. Harris were her real grandmother.

What exactly makes someone family? Is it only those with blood relations that count? No, that’s not true. Damien Sterling is also her family, and Mrs. Harris, with whom she shares such deep affection, is family as well.

Family and relatives are different things, Emma Hart mused.

After dinner, Damien Sterling returned home. "You’re back?" Emma Hart exclaimed happily, rushing to help him with his coat, bringing him water, and massaging his shoulders. Damien Sterling was taken aback by this unusual behavior.

What had this woman gone through today?

"Emma Hart, come here!" Damien Sterling raised his hand to feel her forehead.

"No fever. Why are you acting so strangely?" Damien Sterling asked, puzzled.

Emma Hart rolled her eyes at him. This man really didn’t know when to just accept the moment.

"I’m just feeling that my husband works so hard, I should be more considerate," Emma Hart said.

"Are you hungry? Let me get you some chicken soup. Mrs. Harris made it, and it’s delicious!" she said, running to the kitchen.

In the dim light of the dining room, the rest of the first floor darkened, they sat side by side. The only sounds were the occasional clink of the spoon against the bowl and Damien Sterling’s quiet sips. The stillness heightened the atmosphere, making hearts race and nerves tense.

"Why are you acting so strange tonight? Did something happen?" Damien Sterling asked, frowning. Emma Hart’s behavior was making him uneasy.

As expected, nothing could escape his notice, Emma Hart thought.

"Did you... give my grandmother and the others money again last night?" Emma Hart asked.

"Yes," Damien Sterling replied.

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