Overbearing CEO's Contract Love
Chapter 376: Spring Outing

Chapter 376: Spring Outing

"Thank you, Ryan Garcia," Emma Hart replied.

"If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going now." With that, Ryan Garcia turned and left, closing Emma Hart’s door behind him.

Wait! I can ask Ryan Garcia for Mr. Sterling Senior’s phone number! Emma Hart suddenly thought, realizing that Ryan Garcia had contact information for Mr. Sterling Senior.

She reached for the door handle, ready to open the door that Ryan Garcia had closed tightly, but stopped mid-motion.

Emma Hart reconsidered. If she impulsively asked Ryan Garcia for Mr. Sterling Senior’s phone number, it might upset Damien Sterling...

But as she stepped back, the overwhelming desire to contact her children filled her heart.

"Ryan Garcia!" Emma Hart opened the door and called out to Ryan Garcia, who was at the staircase.

Her sudden shout startled Ryan Garcia. Seeing him stand there, puzzled, Emma Hart quickly walked over to him and asked, "Can you give me Mr. Sterling Senior’s phone number? Gabriel and Joshua are with him, and... I miss them." She lowered her head in dejection after speaking.

Ryan Garcia looked at Emma Hart’s crestfallen face, sighed, and said, "You better not do that. Damien probably wouldn’t be happy if you contacted the old man on your own. Wait for my brother to come back if you want to talk to the kids. Go back inside." He then continued down the stairs leisurely.

Halfway down, he paused, glanced back at Emma Hart, who was still standing there looking disheartened, and felt a pang of sympathy. Shaking his head, he returned to his room, deciding it was best not to get involved.

Damien Sterling and Lucy Allen supervised the construction site until five in the afternoon.

That evening, a light drizzle began to fall again, with the chilly raindrops piercing through people’s hair, faces, and clothes, making it uncomfortable even with an umbrella. This weather persisted throughout the day.

Construction slowed down, and with Emma Hart still recovering, everyone decided to stay in Bailey for a few more days.

After dinner, Emma Hart’s stomach felt uncomfortable again, so Damien Sterling massaged her with the red flower oil for an hour.

The discomfort gradually faded, and Emma Hart fell asleep, soothed by the massage. Damien Sterling finally felt a sense of relief.

After two consecutive days of rainy weather, the third day brought improvement, with the sun shining brightly at noon.

On the old man’s suggestion, they decided to visit Samsung Ridge, three kilometers from Peach Blossom Town.

According to the town’s elders, Samsung Ridge was formed by three gods who protected the surrounding towns. On the highest of these ridges stood a demon-suppressing tower, believed to keep the area free of evil spirits.

Emma Hart and Lucy Allen were particularly interested in this local legend. Lucy Allen, using her charms, persuaded Ryan Garcia to join, and the three of them finally managed to convince Damien Sterling to let them go.

After lunch, the trio changed into sportswear and set off for Samsung Ridge, with the demon-suppressing tower as their destination.

The nearest mountain to Peach Blossom Town was the highest, with the demon-suppressing tower at its peak and a bustling little temple at its base.

As the saying goes, "Greet the people when you enter, and worship the gods when you visit a temple." So, they decided to stop by the temple to pay their respects for good luck.

Before they even entered, the thick smoke was overwhelming. They had to endure it, holding their incense sticks, and quickly completed their worship.

During the process, Emma Hart accidentally got smoke in her eyes, causing her to tear up and cough, neglecting the incense burner behind her.

"Watch out!" Ryan Garcia suddenly shouted, swiftly placing his arm behind Emma Hart’s waist to protect her.

Fortunately, Emma Hart was standing steadily and didn’t fall backward. Otherwise, Ryan Garcia’s arm would have been scarred by the burning incense.

At this moment, Damien Sterling and Lucy Allen were still lighting incense. Ryan Garcia’s loud warning made them both turn to look.

"It’s okay, it’s okay!" Emma Hart quickly waved to reassure the two, who were lighting incense.

She then turned back to thank Ryan Garcia. He just smiled and reminded her to stay safe and not get distracted.

After finishing their prayers and burning incense, their spring outing officially began.

This area had not yet been developed, retaining its original appearance.

The path to the mountain top was a dirt road, yellow in color, interspersed with wild grass, flowers, and numerous stones of varying sizes.

"Everyone be careful and watch your step," Damien Sterling said, holding Emma Hart’s hand and leading the way.

Among the four, Emma Hart seemed to struggle the most.

Damien Sterling and Ryan Garcia had been physically active since childhood, boasting eight-pack abs. Lucy Allen, a single mother determined to take good care of her son, also spent a lot of time working out at the gym.

After climbing a third of the way, the scorching sun had them all drenched in sweat without realizing it.

They decided to rest by two large rocks on the side of the road.

The space between the two rocks was just enough for the four of them to sit and replenish their energy.

They hadn’t seen anyone else along the way. It could be said that this place was either little-known or, in a more positive light, seemed like it was their private domain.

As modern young adults, a spring outing wouldn’t be complete without posting on social media. Except for Damien Sterling, the other three acted like kids, jumping and having fun.

Emma Hart and Ryan Garcia kept taking pictures, and Lucy Allen even started live streaming, although Damien Sterling eventually put a stop to that.

Despite the tiring journey, they enjoyed the leisurely pace, taking breaks and capturing the beautiful scenery along the way.

It took them nearly four hours to finally reach the mountain top.

The demon-suppressing tower at the summit was about three stories high, a stone structure with its name worn away by time. There seemed to be a couplet carved on either side of the entrance, but it was also barely legible.

The tower’s entrance was just the right height for Damien Sterling. Inside, it was pitch dark, and they needed flashlights to see the path.

On the right side of the tower’s interior was a staircase leading to the top, so they decided to go up and take a look.

The higher they climbed, the narrower the walls became, until only one person could pass through at a time. The stone steps underfoot also became narrower, eventually shrinking to the size of a child’s foot.

They supported each other as they climbed, in the order of: Damien Sterling, Emma Hart, Ryan Garcia, and Lucy Allen.