Overbearing CEO's Contract Love
Chapter 47: Must Marry Him

Chapter 47: Must Marry Him

Her grandmother’s rant continued unabated.

"Are you still part of our Hart family, or do you relish seeing us fall into ruin? Have you lost your mind? How can you do this to your own brother?"

"Grandma, are you really my kin? What am I to you?" Tears trickled down Emma’s cheeks, her sorrow spilling over.

Did anyone ever truly consider her a part of the Hart family? Had anyone truly cared about her?

Emma curled up, seeking refuge at the head of her bed, burying her head deep into the pillows.

"I don’t care how, but you must marry Mr. Sterling! Get your brother back in school, or you are no longer a part of the Hart family!"

Her grandmother’s harsh words resounded, anger palpable, before abruptly hanging up.

The room was engulfed in darkness, a choice made by Emma herself.

She had always been afraid of the dark, but at that moment, the fear of being shrouded in darkness seemed trivial compared to the cold indifference of her family.

Perhaps this wasn’t fear at all, but profound disappointment.

The morning sunlight offered a glimmer of warmth and brightness to the room, but it failed to bring any comfort to Emma Hart.

The new servant robotically brought in the porridge, devoid of any emotion.

Emma longed for Mrs. Harris’s presence; at least she showed some semblance of feeling, unlike this icy detachment.

"Miss Emma, Mr. Sterling has instructed you to finish this porridge within half an hour, or he will return," the servant conveyed Damien Sterling’s order in a mechanical tone.

Emma scoffed coldly. He was coming back? This was a threat.

Resigned, Emma picked up the bowl and tossed the spoon aside, gulping down the porridge in large, hurried mouthfuls.

The servant paid no heed to whether Emma might scald herself with the slightly hot porridge or feel uncomfortable afterward.

Her only concern was to remove the bowl as soon as Emma was done, thus fulfilling her assigned duty.

Before leaving, the servant made sure to remind Emma, "Miss Emma, Mr. Sterling has placed someone outside. He does not permit you to close this door."

Emma lay there impassively, gazing up at the newly installed surveillance camera in her room.

She lay back weakly, her eyes hollow and lifeless as they stared at the ceiling.

When would this cage of a life end? She detested it deeply.

Gradually, she drifted off to sleep, exhausted, questioning the purpose of all her struggles.

Suddenly, a burning sensation in her stomach jolted her awake, a churning feeling of nausea compelling her to the edge of the bed.

The servant outside rushed in.

"Miss Emma, here’s your water," the servant offered mechanically, with not a word of comfort, just routine care.

Emma Hart, writhing in discomfort, was hit with another wave of nausea and vomiting, expelling all the porridge she had just consumed.

Meanwhile, in the top-floor office of Sterling Group, Damien Sterling, having just returned from a meeting, glanced inadvertently at a computer screen displaying Emma’s image.

What was wrong with her?

A hint of anxiety crept into Damien’s expression as he strode over to the computer, leaning forward to observe the frail woman on the screen.

His brows furrowed at the sight of Emma’s sickly state.

Reaching for his phone, Damien dialed a number.

The servant answered, and Damien’s urgent, angry voice demanded, "What’s going on?"

The servant respectfully replied, "Sir, no need to worry, it’s just morning sickness."

"Why has this never happened before?" Damien clearly wasn’t satisfied with the answer.

"I... I don’t know, sir."

"Don’t know? Call a doctor!" Damien hung up abruptly, his cold gaze fixed on the monitor.

The fragile woman struggled to get up from the bed, assisted by the servant, before lying back down.

Damien clenched his fists in frustration - what a troublesome woman!

Annoyance was evident on his handsome face, now clouded with a trace of gloom.

A doctor arrived at the villa, examined Emma, and assured Damien over the phone that it was a normal case of morning sickness, varying with individual physiology.

"Alright, I understand," Damien responded, his voice as icy as ever, chilling even through the phone.

After the doctor hung up and instructed the servant on some care tips, he left promptly.

Damien Sterling’s woman was not to be neglected, especially since Damien seemed to be more protective of her lately.

Otherwise, why would he have made the doctor stay overnight for a minor issue last time?

For days on end, Damien Sterling hadn’t returned to the villa, and Emma Hart’s morning sickness seemed to intensify with each passing day.

Emma’s grandmother relentlessly bombarded her with calls daily, but every conversation left Emma more wounded.

Struggling to keep herself afloat, she had no strength left to protect others.

Emma forced herself to harden her heart against the relentless barrage.

Outside Damien Sterling’s office, the pristine white walls and orderly modern desks and chairs reflected an environment of meticulous order.

Damien’s secretarial team comprised five individuals, each responsible for different areas, not to mention that youth and beauty were prerequisites here.

The exclusive elevator to the president’s office opened, and a woman casually played with her wavy, waist-length hair, radiating an enchanting femininity.

Her exquisite makeup further accentuated her stunning features, and her luxurious attire added a touch of opulence, her innate elegance and grace shining through every gesture.

This woman, well-known to every secretary on the top floor of Sterling Group and also the Design Director, was Sophia Greenwood.

Sophia Greenwood, exuding confidence, walked across the gray-brown carpet straight to Damien Sterling’s office.

Nobody dared to intercept Sophia Greenwood; this was her usual demeanor.

In the entire company, aside from Damien Sterling, nobody else mattered to her.

"Mr. Sterling, what are you busy with?" Sophia Greenwood flirtatiously pushed open the door and teasingly asked.

Usually, she would address him as "Damien."

Damien’s gaze shifted from the monitor screen as he pressed the off button.

He briefly glanced at Sophia Greenwood before returning his attention to the documents in front of him.