Overbearing CEO's Contract Love
Chapter 461: Emma Hart’s Helplessness

Chapter 461: Emma Hart’s Helplessness

Riley Turner didn’t know how to face Emma Hart, avoiding eye contact and looking away. The two of them had been close, and Emma had trusted her deeply.

Riley knew in her heart that, although Mr. Sterling Senior was pressuring her, she herself had entertained thoughts she shouldn’t have, and that’s why they were in this situation now.

Emma noticed Riley’s avoidance and knew that pleading with her would be useless. With a thud, she knelt before Mr. Sterling Senior. "Grandfather, please, don’t make me leave. I’ve taken care of you before. I’m worried about Damien..."

The old man was slightly moved by Emma’s actions. Seeing her kneeling before him, her face streaked with tears, looking utterly miserable, he hesitated for a moment.

Mr. Sterling Senior was well aware that the two did share genuine feelings, and Emma had always been respectful and caring toward him. But her background simply couldn’t compare with Riley Turner’s. If Damien Sterling hadn’t insisted on marrying her, things wouldn’t have turned out like this. If Damien and Riley married and had children, it would bring joy to both families and elevate the Sterling family’s status even further.

With this thought, he steeled himself. Besides, Riley was right there. If he didn’t push Emma out now, there might never be another chance. Once everything was settled, Damien wouldn’t abandon Riley. And since Emma hadn’t borne any children, there would be no lingering complications. Mr. Sterling Senior’s calculations were precise.

No matter how much Emma begged, Mr. Sterling Senior remained unmoved. Seeing that she was still kneeling and refusing to leave, he threw his cane at her, hitting her squarely on the forehead. Blood immediately started to trickle down Emma’s face. Staring at the blood on her hands in disbelief, she stood up, dazed, and began to walk away like a lifeless shell. As she passed Riley, she paused, as if she wanted to say something, but didn’t.

Maybe out of guilt, Riley reached out to stop her, "Emma, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for this to happen. You’re bleeding; you should get it checked out."

Emma turned to look at Riley, suddenly laughing with a bitter, mocking expression in her eyes. "Isn’t this exactly what you wanted..."

Her voice was icy and sharp, leaving Riley momentarily stunned.

It seemed their friendship could never return to what it once was.

Mr. Sterling Senior, who had initially felt a pang of concern seeing Emma hurt, quickly dismissed it after noticing her attitude toward Riley. He pulled Riley back, "Riley, leave her be."

Riley glanced at the old man, wanting to go after Emma but decided against it. She stiffly walked over and sat by Damien Sterling’s bedside. There was a book lying there—Emma had probably been reading to him earlier.

The old man nodded in satisfaction, turning back to his room. With Riley by Damien’s side, he felt reassured. As for Emma Hart, he decided to let her be. If she didn’t lose her memory, they could bring her back later.

Emma Hart wandered out of the hospital, still bleeding from her forehead. As she walked, nurses gave her sympathetic, pitying, and even mocking looks.

Emma fought back the urge to cry—she couldn’t break down now. No one would understand her. Terrified of the judgmental stares, she wanted nothing more than to go home and hide.

Tears welled up in Emma’s eyes but she refused to let them fall. There was no one to speak up for her; everyone was just waiting to see her fall.

Meanwhile, Riley sat by Damien’s bed, her mind in turmoil. She picked up the half-peeled apple Emma had left behind and continued peeling it, but all she could think about was the cold, distant look in Emma’s eyes.

Emma Hart had always considered Riley Turner a close friend, sharing everything with her. But what just happened had truly broken Emma’s heart, especially with blood still trickling down her forehead.

Lost in thought, Riley accidentally nicked her finger with the knife. She sighed, went out, and asked a nurse for a band-aid, wrapping her finger up quickly. The nurse’s disdainful look seemed to mock Riley for using deception to help her grandfather kick someone’s wife out of their home. This only made Riley feel more uneasy.

Unlike Riley, Mr. Sterling Senior was lying in bed, feeling as if his heart condition had improved now that Emma was gone. Finally, he could rest easy.

Emma, feeling low and stumbling as she walked, eventually made her way back home. The butler immediately noticed the wound on her head and sighed. This young lady is a good person, he thought, but for some reason, the old man just doesn’t like her.

The butler fetched a first-aid kit and offered, "Ma’am, let me bandage that for you. The wound on your head is still bleeding."

Emma curled up on the sofa, making herself as small as possible. Already slender, she now looked like a discarded child. She remained silent, staring blankly at the butler.

Seeing her in such a state, the butler didn’t ask any more questions and simply bandaged her forehead. Emma let him tend to her like a doll, indifferent to the pain from the alcohol swab. The physical pain was nothing compared to the ache in her heart.

The butler, unsure of what had happened, tried to console her, "Ma’am, when the young master isn’t around, it’s best not to go against the old man. Otherwise, you’re the one who will suffer."

Emma still didn’t speak, but her eyes flickered at the mention of the young master. She wondered how Damien Sterling was doing—had he woken up? The doctor had said that if he didn’t wake up, he would become a vegetable.

Finally showing some reaction, she grabbed the butler’s hand and pleaded, "Please, call Grandfather and ask how he’s doing, if he’s woken up. Just don’t tell him it was me who asked..."

Seeing her desperation, the butler, almost without thinking, nodded and made the call. Though unsure of what had transpired, he knew the old man wouldn’t be upset if he inquired about the young master’s condition.

The phone rang for a long time without an answer. The hope in Emma’s eyes faded back into despair. No news is the best news, she thought. Maybe he has woken up, and perhaps, as Mr. Sterling Senior hoped, he has lost his memory.

If that’s the case, then she should be relieved. But why does it hurt so much inside, so much that she can hardly breathe?