Chapter 47: Emotional Confrontation

Chapter 47: Emotional Confrontation

Emily felt the warmth of Ethan's forehead against her palm for a few seconds before she quickly pulled her hand away, as if burned. Her fingers brushed lightly against the bridge of his too-prominent nose, unintentionally tapping it.

She had no idea if he really had a fever, but her palm felt like it had been scalded, growing hotter by the second. Worse still, her ears and face seemed to be heating up as well.

Turning away from Ethan's intense gaze, Emily quickly grabbed a chair and thrust it toward him. "If you're dizzy, just sit down!"

She felt a little flustered, blinking rapidly as she reached for a glass from the coffee machine. "Standing in the snow, what were you thinking? Do you think you're some K-drama hero? You're over thirty, for crying out loud…"

Ethan only caught the last part of her grumbling. His lips tightened as he retorted, "I just turned thirty a couple of months ago."

"I'm not 'over thirty.'"

Emily turned to look at him, her expression clearly questioning whether the snow had frozen his brain or if the fever had simply fried it.

Ethan read the look in her eyes perfectly: Oh, I see. You're just a thirty-year-old man in denial.

Before he could say anything more, Emily had already walked away. She filled a glass with hot water from the instant dispenser and set it in front of him, then took a seat in another chair, maintaining a deliberate distance between them.

Ethan's gaze followed her every move. When she placed the glass of hot water in front of him, his eyes softened, and his expression became much gentler, almost pleased. But then his gaze landed on the half-eaten salad on the table, and his expression darkened again.

"You didn't have lunch."

It wasn't a question; it sounded more like an accusation.

Ethan stood up and approached her, reaching out to take her hand. "Let's go. We'll get something better to eat."

Emily pulled away, clearly unwilling to go with him.

Ethan's hand hovered in the air for a few seconds before he slowly let it drop. He sat back down, silently watching her before speaking in a quiet tone.

"I've made things clear to Daniel. He won't be bothering you again."

Simply making things clear wasn't enough. After draining the liquidity from one of Daniel's companies this morning, Ethan doubted Daniel would ever want to cross paths with Emily again in this lifetime.

"How about we reschedule the photography exhibition? I'll personally handle the venue and the arrangements," Ethan suggested. "I promise, nothing like that will happen again."

Finally, Emily looked up at him.

"You said the same thing last time," she whispered. "You promised me last time, too."

Ethan fell silent, his dark lashes lowering, his expression tinged with bitterness and disappointment.

He wasn't disappointed in her response.

She hadn't said anything wrong.

He was disappointed in himself.

He didn't understand why, when it came to her, all his meticulous planning, his confidence, and his decisive nature seemed to vanish.

Loving her was the one thing he wanted to do right more than anything else.

But it was also the one thing he was doing most poorly.

In fact, it felt even more challenging than when he first took over Harrison Family.

He had never felt so defeated in his entire life…

Just as he was about to speak, Emily spoke first.

"I've been thinking."

Her voice was soft, but Ethan instinctively narrowed his eyes.

He didn't like where this was going; it wasn't a good sign.

Sure enough—

"I think we should minimize our interactions, except for work," Emily said calmly. "Chairman Harrison, I really don't think we're suited for each other."

She finished speaking, feeling a slight tension in her chest.

She half-expected him to revert to his domineering CEO persona and slam his hand down, declaring something like, "I don't care what you think, we'll do things my way!"

But Ethan didn't.

He just sat there, staring at her, his long eyes losing focus as if the light had gone out in them.

Just when Emily thought he was lost in thought, he spoke in a low voice.

"Why?"

Emily hesitated for a moment, her lips pressing into a thin line.

"Because I'm tired."

Ethan continued to stare at her, his lashes fluttering briefly.

"I feel exhausted being with you," Emily admitted, her gaze dropping to her knees as she continued softly, "I'm just so tired. I don't know why, but being with you, it feels like there are so many complications…"

And I don't want any more complications.

What's gone is gone. There's nothing from before worth remembering.

Now, I just want to live simply and beautifully.

I want to be selfish, to live for my own happiness…

Emily's words were vague, even somewhat inarticulate, but Ethan understood.

She wasn't wrong.

He stood at the pinnacle of wealth and power, and with that crown came a weight that couldn't help but press down on those around him, even if he didn't want it to.

The incident with the doctored photos wasn't just an attack on her—it was a move against Creston Media. Daniel's outburst today was also directly related to him.

Yes, being around him was exhausting…

Ethan closed his eyes briefly before reopening them to meet Emily's gaze.

"But I can't do it," he stated simply. "I can't give you up."

Emily wrinkled her nose, about to say something, but Ethan continued before she could.

"Emily, you don't understand what you mean to me."

You don't know what you mean to me.

You were the first to make me rebel. The reason I first defied them and said no.

When I thought you loved me, I was ecstatic.

When I mistakenly thought you didn't, I was devastated.

Now, having realized that the warmth and light in my life weren't illusions, I can't let go of that.

Only when I'm with you do I feel truly alive, not just a machine built to generate wealth.

You don't understand what you mean to me.

So—

"I won't give up." Ethan locked eyes with her, repeating himself, "I can't."

Emily: "…"

She stared at him for a few seconds, taking a deep breath.

"Ethan," she shook her head, "I don't like you."

Ethan flinched, his gaze faltering.

He knew that.

In the past, she had faced his family's scrutiny and those who called her calculating and manipulative, but she hadn't cared then. She had never mentioned feeling "tired" or "burdened."

But now, she was tired and fed up. She didn't want to deal with it anymore.

The truth was, she just didn't like him anymore.

He knew that.

But hearing her say it out loud still made his heart twist painfully…

"I know you don't like me," he said, his voice steady as he met her eyes, "but I don't care."

Emily: "?"

What? Was he seriously playing the rogue card now?

Ethan's voice grew hoarse. "I don't care."

His gaze was intense, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed.

"I only know that I love you."

Emily: "…"

D*mn it.

Emily held her breath, cursing silently.

She told herself it was no big deal—just a confession, nothing more.

She'd had plenty of admirers throughout her life, heard all sorts of confessions.

But when he looked at her, his dark eyes burning with an intense, unwavering fire, declaring his love with such fierce determination…

Her heart skipped a beat, and even her fingertips trembled slightly.

What the hell?

Emily shot up from her seat, unable—or perhaps unwilling—to look at him any longer.

She turned her head, exhaling slowly, trying to keep her voice calm and cool.

"I've said what I needed to say. That's it." Emily turned her back to him, "Let's finish the paperwork quickly so I can start fresh with my life, clean and simple."

She was muttering to herself, oblivious to the fact that Ethan had stood up and silently moved behind her.

"Once I'm single, I can start dating again. This time, I'll pick someone I really like—handsome, young, someone who makes me happy—ah!"

Emily hadn't even finished describing her ideal next boyfriend when her soon-to-be ex-husband suddenly grabbed her from behind.

"Let go!"

"Emily…" Ethan's low voice whispered against her ear, his breath warm against her temple and cheek.

He was tall, and his strong arms easily encircled her, holding her firmly in place. His grip was unyielding, as if he wanted to meld her into himself.

His lips brushed against the side of her face, his voice tinged with both pleading and a hint of sadness.

"Emily, do you really… not want me anymore?"

Though his words were soft, each one felt like a thunderclap in her mind, leaving her stunned and slightly numb.

Emily froze, caught off guard. Ethan reached out from behind, gently turning her chin to face him. Just as he was about to lean in, there was a sudden knock at the door, and it creaked open.

"Ms. Hart, you have a visitor—"

The assistant stopped dead in his tracks.

Emily's gaze moved past her startled assistant to the tall, elegant figure standing just behind him.

Despite the low brim of his hat, she instantly recognized the familiar curve of his jawline—

Ryan stood at the door, his eyes shifting between Emily and Ethan, trying to make sense of the situation.