Chapter 2 You Don't Deserve To See Her

"You still have the nerve to come here? How dare you!"

Suddenly, a woman's voice, filled with sarcasm, sounded behind Emma.

It snapped Emma back to reality. She wiped her tears and turned around, only to see Verena Cooper standing behind her. Her expression turned cold at once.

Verena was Emma's stepmother. Her beauty had always been striking. Even now, in her forties, she maintained an impeccable appearance, making her look like she was in her early thirties. She always dressed fashionably and elegantly. When Colby Cooper, Emma's father, married her, she was only twenty, in the prime of her youth and beauty.

At that time, Emma's mother had just passed away. However, Verena, a maid in their household, was already pregnant.

And the child she was carrying was Colby's.

"We don't need your feigned sympathy. Those fake tears are unnecessary," Verena said coldly. She pushed Emma away and walked into the ward.

Emma staggered back but quickly steadied herself and followed Verena inside.

Nicola's face softened as she noticed Emma approaching. Her previously dull eyes brightened a little. She greeted Emma affectionately.

Emma walked to the hospital bed with a smile. She held Nicola's hand and said, "I heard you missed me."

Nicola nodded eagerly. "Emma, we haven't seen each other for three months. I missed you so much."

Emma's heart tightened at Nicola's words. She felt Nicola was pure and kind. And Nicola's vulnerable state brought a rush of guilt to her.

Her rival in love was her little sister, whom she had doted on since childhood. However, when Nicola fell ill, she took advantage of the opportunity to take Ricky away by forcing him to marry her. She always thought Nicola would despise her for stealing her man.

She imagined countless fiery confrontations, and she had prepared herself for them. However, none of those happened. Instead of the anger or resentment she had expected from Nicola, all she found was trust.

Emma was overwhelmed by guilt. Every time she faced Nicola, she felt like a despicable villain.

Her eyes reddened, but she forced herself to smile and say, "I'm on vacation now, so I have plenty of time to spend with you."

Nicola's smile brightened even more. "Really? That's great! I hope you can visit me every day until I'm discharged. Will that be okay with you?"

"Yes, of course." Emma readily agreed.

Verena's eyes narrowed as she watched the scene unfold before her. She rolled her eyes and glared at Emma hatefully.

Her jaw tightened, and her eyes were filled with resentment. She couldn't lash out in front of Nicola. But every time she saw Emma, she was reminded of how much heartache Nicola had endured when Ricky married Emma.

Verena had no choice but to suppress her hatred for Emma. She gently coaxed Nicola to sleep. Then, she turned to Emma and said coldly, "Ricky is coming to see Nicola soon. If you don't want things to get awkward, I suggest you leave now."

Emma didn't say anything. She stood up, took one last look at the sleeping Nicola, and walked towards the door.

But as soon as her hand rested on the doorknob, Verena's voice sounded behind her again. "Don't come to see Nicola anymore. You've hurt her deeply. You don't deserve to see her."

Emma's grip on the doorknob tightened, but she said nothing. Instead, she opened the door and walked out with heavy steps.

She was used to this kind of treatment by Verena.

Emma gently closed the door behind her and sat on a chair in the corridor wearily. She buried her face in her palms and cried hard, her tears falling uncontrollably.

At this moment, the elevator stopped on the floor where Nicola's ward was. The doors opened, and Ricky stepped out. He was momentarily stunned when he saw Emma crying silently in the corridor.

Emma had always liked following Ricky around since she was a child, so she was very familiar with his footsteps. Suddenly, she seemed to hear them. She sniffed and instinctively wiped her tear-streaked face with the back of her hand.

Ricky stood in front of her. She looked up and asked with a smile, "Are you here to see Nicola?"

Her eyes were red from crying, and there were still tears at the corners of her eyes. Her makeup was a smudged mess, making her look disheveled.

"Um," Ricky responded indifferently. "Have you already seen her?"

Emma nodded. "Yes."

Perhaps she looked very pitiful, for Ricky offered her a few comforting words for the first time. "Don't worry. Nicola will soon undergo a bone marrow transplant. She'll get better."

Emma nodded again and said in a low voice, "I know."

Ricky didn't say anything more. He turned around, opened the door, and entered the ward. Emma couldn't help but murmur, "Please take good care of her."

For two years, she had tried everything but failed to win his heart. Now, she would give him back to Nicola. The decision weighed heavily on her heart, but it was the only choice left.

Ricky froze for a moment. Then, he said without looking back, "You don't need to remind me. I'll take good care of her."

Every word he said was spoken with force. Obviously, he was angry.

Emma leaned back against the cold hospital wall, overwhelmed by confusion and pain. She couldn't understand. Why was Ricky still angry with her? Didn't she already sign the divorce agreement? He could finally get rid of her and return to Nicola. This was the day he had been longing for. Shouldn't he be happy?

She wrapped her arms around herself for comfort. Was he really that impatient with her?

Did he hate her that much? This question gnawed at her already fragile heart.

Ricky had already entered the ward, but Emma still sat on the chair, staring blankly at the door.

In the following days, Emma went to the hospital every morning without fail to check on Nicola. But she knew she wasn't welcome there, so she never entered the ward. She would just stand outside Nicola's ward, peering through the door glazing.

Sometimes, when Ricky took Nicola for a walk around the hospital garden, she would just watch them from a distance.

Each time Ricky's cold and impatient demeanor toward Emma clashed with the gentleness and warmth he showed to Nicola, it felt like a dagger piercing Emma's heart. It was a stark and constant reminder that Nicola was the one he cherished. But no matter how much she told herself it was only natural, the pain didn't lessen at all.

One month later, Nicola underwent a bone marrow transplant, and the operation was very successful. There was no rejection or complications, and she recovered well.

Emma's anxious heart finally felt a sense of relief.

During this period, Ricky spent most of his time at the hospital. He seemed to have forgotten about going to the courthouse with Emma to go through the divorce procedures.

Emma had seen enough of Ricky's gentle care for Nicola, a tenderness she had longed for but never received. She wanted to end it all and start anew.

Today, she took the initiative to call Ricky. His phone rang for a long time before he finally answered.

"What is it?" She could hear the coldness and distance in his voice.

"When are we going to finalize our divorce?" Emma asked directly.

Ricky was silent for a while. Then, he said in his usual indifferent tone, "I haven't signed the papers yet."

Emma was stunned for a moment.

How long had it been? Why hadn't he signed the divorce agreement yet?