Overbearing CEO's Contract Love
Chapter 37: A Last Resort

Chapter 37: A Last Resort

The man only shifted his gaze away from her when he was assured she was comfortably lying down.

Emma Hart couldn’t understand why, even though she couldn’t fulfill his physical desires at this moment, he insisted she sleep in his room.

Was he afraid she might run away?

As Damien Sterling’s pale fingers landed on the keyboard, he instinctively slowed his movements, pressing the keys almost silently.

Lifting his eyes for a moment, he glanced at the now-sleeping Emma Hart.

Damien always preferred silence, disliking any disturbances.

Yet, the moment he returned, he found himself wanting to see this woman, a feeling he didn’t quite like.

Damien shifted his focus, choosing not to gaze at Emma Hart any longer.

The following morning, after Damien Sterling had gone to the office, Mrs. Harris brought Emma Hart’s phone to her.

"Miss Emma, the sir instructed me to be with you while you make your call."

It seemed he still didn’t trust her.

Emma Hart nodded, not wanting to trouble Mrs. Harris, who had shown genuine kindness towards her in the Sterling household.

As the call connected, her mother answered.

"Emma?" came the worried voice from the other end, warming Emma’s heart.

"Mom." Tears threatened to spill as Emma lightly touched her cheek, holding back her tears.

Her mother’s concerned voice came through, "Emma, are you doing alright there?"

Perhaps her mother knew that this marriage was not Emma’s choice.

Emma Hart didn’t know how to respond. She was clearly not okay here, but she didn’t want to worry her mother.

Finally, she couldn’t hold back anymore. "Mom, I miss you all so much."

There was a moment of silence on the other end.

"Emma, your brother has started school, and everything is going well. He’s happy, and he has a bright future ahead. He remembers your kindness and will repay you one day..."

Hearing her mother’s words, Emma Hart understood everything, a sense of loss overwhelming her heart.

Even though her mother knew this wasn’t the life she wanted, she was willing to sacrifice Emma for her brother’s future.

"Don’t be upset with mom," Emma’s mother said through tears.

Suddenly, a voice interjected on the other end, her grandmother had taken over the call.

With a cheerful tone, she said, "Emma, dear, you just focus on staying well. Don’t bother with all that nonsense."

"Now that you’re pregnant, even if you don’t stay with Mr. Sterling, other men will look down on you. A girl shouldn’t be so shameless."

"Besides, Mr. Sterling has been very generous to our family. Just yesterday, he sent over loads of food and necessities, and left a generous sum of money, easing your mother’s burden. And also..."

Emma abruptly hung up the phone, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably.

She was enduring such hard days here, while her own family saw her as nothing more than a cash cow, a stepping stone to a better life.

Even her grandmother accused her of being shameless.

Was it really her who was shameless, or were her relatives just taking her for granted?

Why, in her most helpless moment, when she longed for her family’s support the most, did they treat her like this?

But the one thing you can’t choose in this world is your family.

Tears silently rolled down her cheeks as Emma bit her lip, longing for a good cry.

Mrs. Harris came over, gently pulling Emma’s head to her chest, stroking her hair. "Child, don’t hold it in. It’s not good for the baby. Cry if you need to."

"Mrs. Harris..."

Emma felt like a leaf adrift in the ocean, abandoned by the branch, homeless, unable to see where she came from or what lay ahead.

Her future was a haze of uncertainty.