Chapter 349
The next day, as soon as Emma entered her office, she sensed something off in th looking at her.
She thought, ‘What’s going on?”
Then Emma nervously checked her outfit. It seemed fine.
Someone finally broke the silence, “Ms. Garcia, bright and early this morning, so
bouquet of flowers in your office.”
“Yeah, a huge bouquet of roses.”
“Who is it? Your boyfriend?”
The questions came one after another.
Emma was clueless.
Flowers?
She hurried to her office to check.
Indeed, there was a vibrant bouquet of roses.
Emma also spotted a card.
As she picked it up, her cheeks flushed with excitement.
“To the most beautiful girl, Eason.”
The flowers were from Eason.
Emma remembered what Eason said yesterday
The next day, as soon as Emma entered her office, she sensed something off in the way everyone was looking at her.
She thought, “What’s going on?”
Then Emma nervously checked her outfit. It seemed fine.
Someone finally broke the silence, “Ms. Garcia, bright and early this morning, someone dropped off a bouquet of flowers in your office.”
“Yeah, à huge bouquet of roses.”
“Who is it? Your boyfriend?”
The questions came one after another.
Emma was clueless.
Flowers?
She hurried to her office to check.
Indeed, there was a vibrant bouquet of roses.
Emma also spotted a card.
As she picked it up, her cheeks flushed with excitement.
“To the most beautiful girl, Eason.”
The flowers were from Eason.
Emma remembered what Eason said yesterday
‘Was he really starting to pursue me?‘
Emma gazed at the bouquet, her heart racing relentlessly.
Eason had completely swayed her emotions with just this bunch of flowers. Emma couldn’t focus at work all day.
Just as she was beginning to regain her composure, as the workday drew to a close, Eason had someone deliver another bouquet of flowers.
Again, it was a bunch of bright red roses.
The brilliant hues appeared as though they were meant to be etched deep within Emma’s heart, casting a mesmerizing spell.
Emma pursed her lips, holding the two bouquets, and she went to find Susan.
“Director Miller,” Emma called.
“What’s up?” Susan asked with a smile.
Emma gently set the flowers aside and spoke in a hushed tone, “Director Miller, could you have a word with Mr. Nicholas and kindly ask him to refrain from sending any more flowers?”
Emma’s face didn’t look good, and Susan’s demeanor also took on a more serious tone. “Don’t you like it? Is his pursuit causing you some trouble? If any, I can talk to him about it.”
Susan thought to herself, ‘While it’s not common for Eason to take a liking to someone, I would certainly intervene if his feelings were causing any discomfort for Emma.”
“No… it’s not that,” Emma’s lips quivered slightly, “I’m just not that good to be together with him.”
“Why do you hold such thoughts?” Susan was puzzled.
Emma hesitated for a moment before responding, “Director Miller, you’re aware of my circumstances. It’s just that someone like me can’t really have regular relationship, you know? I mean, Mr. Nicholas seems to like me now, but what if he found out about my struggles with severe depression? Would he
still feel the same way about me?”
Susan looked steadily at Emma.
Susan could tell that Emma had feelings for Eason too.
However, due to Emma’s Illness, she was afraid to accept this affection.
What a pity that was!
Susan paused for a moment, speaking sincerely, “You know, Emma, I don’t reckon Eason would lose Interest in you Just because you’re dealing with depression. If you’re not really into Eason, just give me the word, and I’ll step in to handle it. However, if you’ve got some feelings for him too, why not consider opening up to him? You might just find the outcome pleasantly surprising.”
“…” Emma’s lips trembled.
Emma wanted to say she didn’t like Eason.
Those few words, as burdensome as a ton of bricks, simply refused to escape her lips.
Susan understood what Emma meant.
“How about this, Emma? Whether you like him or not, think about it for three days. If you really can’t face a relationship, tell me. I’ll explain it to Eason,” Susan said.
Susan had spoken to this extent, and after a moment of hesitation, Emma nodded in agreement.
Day after day, the vibrant roses appeared on Emma’s desk like clockwork, morning and evening. The roses were beautiful and radiant.
At first, Emma was shy, her heart fluttering.
But as time passed, she felt increasingly overwhelmed by a sense of darkness.
She contemplated, ‘I’m such a terrible person. Deep down, I always knew I wasn’t cut out for relationships. But when Eason showed interest, I just couldn’t turn him away. Even knowing there was
110 TULUTE DELICCII MJ
so despicable like me? Do I even have a right to exist in this world?‘
Deep into the night, after popping some pills, Emma hit the sack early.
Those pills had a bit of a knock–out punch.
She was out like a light in no time.
That night, Emma dreamed of a pitch–black cave.
Lost in the darkness, she wandered on and on.
After what felt like an eternity, she finally spotted a beam of light.
She raced toward it, desperate to embrace its warmth.
But as she clung to the light, darkness oozed from her, swallowing it whole.
The world was left with nothing but that inky cave.
Even that beam of light was now part of the darkness.
Emma woke up in a panic.
A sudden chill gripped her.
So, she hugged herself tightly.
She found herself lost in reverie once more. ‘Eason is like a beacon in the dark, something I’ve always longed for. But no matter how bright that light, it never seems to light up my world. It’s as if my very presence dims it, dragging it into the shadows. How can someone be so powerless, so unworthy as I
am?”
Staring at the slightly open window, a strong urge to jump from there overwhelmed her.
She stood up in a daze and found herself on the windowsill without realizing it.
Emergency
The breeze fell good.
Emma wondered if jumping would feel even better.
Her feet had just touched the edge when a jarring sound snapped her back to reality. Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!
Emma suddenly jolted awake.
She slowly made her way back to her room.
Knowing her unstable state, she had installed an alarm on the windowsill.
The moment she stepped on the edge, the house alarm would blare.
Back in her room, she just sat on her bed, lost in thought.
She really wanted to just jump.
But she held back.
In her life, while she may not have been particularly influential, there were still a handful of people who would deeply feel the loss of her absence.
Emma tried to gather her strength.
But for some reason, she just couldn’t muster any energy.
She couldn’t die, but she didn’t want to live either.
She lay in bed, not wanting to move or do anything.
She just wanted to stay there quietly, forever.
That day, Emma didn’t show up for work.
An employee not coming to work wasn’t usually a big deal.
Emergency calls only
But if it was Emma, Susan couldn’t help feeling a sense of foreboding.
She called someone from the HR Department to inquire about the details.
Confirming that Emma hadn’t taken a leave today, Susan’s expression grew more serious.
+5
Susan thought to herself, ‘Emma is always so disciplined, especially about work. If she had planned not to come, she would have asked for leave well in advance. But she didn’t. Could something have happened to Emma?‘
Susan had taken the time to understand depression, all for Emma.
She knew that those suffering from it might appear fine when medicated.
Yet, if something set them off, they could slip back into the depths.
The question nagging at her now was: had Emma relapsed?
Thinking about the tough situation of a relapse, Susan immediately became anxious.
Her first instinct was to find Emma.
But Emma’s situation was special, no one knew her exact address.
Susan pulled out her phone, repeatedly calling Emma, but no one answered, making Susan even more
nervous.
Eason happened to drop by the office, and noticing Susan in her current state, he couldn’t help but ask
curiously.
Susan said anxiously, “Emma didn’t come in today. I need to go to her place to find her.”
Eason paused for a moment and asked, “Maybe she just wanted to take a day off?”
Eason thought, ‘Was this really something for Susan to freak out over?”
Susan shook her head, “You don’t get it.”
Emergency
She stood up abruptly, “I’ll go find Ben for help. Have him check out the properties under Emma’s
name.”
Seeing Susan so worked up, Eason couldn’t help but say, “It’s not necessary. I know where Emma lives.”
“You know? You actually know?” Susan looked at Eason, surprised.
Eason felt a bit uneasy under Susan’s gaze, “Is there a problem? Didn’t I drop her off at her place last
time?”
Susan furrowed her brow in deep thought. ‘Emma, always so fiercely protective of her personal space, had actually shared her exact address with Eason. I had asked for this, but it seemed out of character for her. Could it be that Eason means more to her than she’s letting on?‘
Susan decisively said, “Eason, go to Emma’s house now. Just you alone.”
Eason paused, about to ask for more details.
But Susan was already pushing him out the door, “Go now! Keep me posted on any updates.”