CHAPTER 7: EMERGING TRUTHS
2262words
That morning, I had worked in my lab until dawn, finally solving a problem that had troubled me for weeks. When I dragged my exhausted body back to the bedroom, daybreak was already filtering through the curtains. I collapsed onto the bed and instantly fell into a deep sleep.
I'm not sure how much time passed before the aroma of coffee and toasted bread gently roused me. Opening my eyes, I found Nathan standing beside the bed, holding an elegant breakfast tray.
"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty," he smiled. "Or should I say good afternoon?"
I glanced at the bedside clock—it was already noon.
"Goodness, I've slept that long?" I sat up, surprised.
"You were working late last night," Nathan placed the tray on the nightstand. "I didn't want to disturb your rest."
I looked at the breakfast spread—perfectly fried eggs, golden crisp toast, fresh fruit salad, and a steaming cup of coffee.
"You made this?" I asked, astonished.
"Of course." He sat on the edge of the bed. "My culinary skills may be limited, but I can manage these basics."
I took a bite of the eggs—surprisingly delicious. "I can't believe the great heir to the Blake fortune knows how to make breakfast."
"I have many skills you don't know about," he smiled mysteriously. "For instance, I can knit sweaters."
"You're joking!" I laughed.
"Alright, I admit that's an exaggeration," he chuckled. "But I did learn some basic household tasks. After my mother passed away, my father was consumed with work, so I had to learn to take care of myself."
At the mention of his mother, a flash of sadness crossed Nathan's eyes. I knew she had died when he was ten, after which his father remarried and had Nathan's half-brother with his new wife.
"Your mother must have been a wonderful person," I said softly.
"Yes, she was gentle but strong," Nathan's voice softened. "She taught me many things, including how to appreciate beautiful things."
I remembered the sapphire hairpin from our wedding—his mother's heirloom.
"Thank you for breakfast," I said sincerely. "It's one of the nicest gifts I've received."
Nathan smiled at me. "There's a charity auction tonight. Would you like to attend with me?"
"What kind of auction?"
"It's raising funds for a children's hospital. They'll be auctioning artwork and jewelry, with all proceeds going to the hospital."
I nodded. "That sounds meaningful."
"Then it's settled." Nathan stood up. "I have a meeting this afternoon, but I'll be back to pick you up at six."
He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on my forehead before leaving the bedroom. Watching him go, I felt a warmth spreading through me. These small daily gestures, this gentle consideration—I was beginning to wonder if this was truly just a marriage of convenience.
---
The auction was held at the city's most luxurious hotel. I wore a simple black evening gown, adorned with the sapphire hairpin Nathan had given me. When we entered together, all eyes turned toward us.
"Mr. and Mrs. Blake, welcome," the organizer greeted us warmly. "Your seats are in the front row."
The venue was decorated with elegant restraint, filled with business magnates and high society figures. I noticed a group of young women in the corner, among them Olivia. When she saw us, a flash of displeasure crossed her face, though she quickly masked it.
"Are you alright?" Nathan noticed my gaze and asked quietly.
"Yes, I'm fine," I smiled in response.
After we took our seats, the auction began. First came artwork and antiques, followed by jewelry. When an exquisite diamond necklace was presented, I overheard whispers from behind us.
"I heard the starting bid for that necklace is half a million."
"Will Mrs. Blake like it? She doesn't seem to know much about jewelry."
"Well, she comes from an ordinary family—how would she appreciate such things?"
I recognized the voices—Olivia and her friends. Pretending not to hear, I focused on the auctioneer's introduction.
"Next is a diamond necklace from an Italian designer, starting bid five hundred thousand dollars."
The bidding began, quickly climbing to seven hundred thousand. I saw Olivia raise her paddle, clearly interested in the piece.
"Seven hundred fifty thousand from the lady," the auctioneer pointed to Olivia. "Any higher bids?"
The room fell silent for a moment, as if no one wished to bid higher.
"Seven hundred fifty thousand, going once, going twice..."
"One million," Nathan suddenly raised his paddle.
A collective gasp swept through the room as all eyes turned toward us. Olivia's face instantly drained of color.
"One million from the gentleman," the auctioneer announced excitedly. "Any higher bids?"
No one responded.
"One million going once, going twice, sold! Congratulations, Mr. Blake!"
Nathan smiled at me. "Do you like it?"
I was surprised. "Nathan, it's so expensive..."
"It's for charity," he said softly. "Besides, I want to see you wearing it."
I felt a warmth in my heart, but also some unease. The necklace was clearly something Olivia wanted—wouldn't Nathan's actions only increase her resentment toward me?
The auction continued, with the final item being the highlight of the event—a rare blue diamond called "Heart of the Deep."
"This blue diamond weighs 20 carats with exceptional clarity, making it one of the world's most precious blue diamonds," the auctioneer explained. "Starting bid: five million dollars."
Another murmur rippled through the crowd. Such a jewel was indeed rare, and the price reflected its value.
Once bidding began, the price quickly surpassed seven million. Several wealthy individuals competed fiercely.
"Eight million!"
"Eight million five hundred thousand!"
"Nine million!"
When the price reached ten million, only two bidders remained—a Middle Eastern oil tycoon and an Asian jewelry merchant.
"Eleven million!" called the oil tycoon.
"Twelve million!" the jewelry merchant countered.
Just then, Nathan raised his paddle again: "Twenty million."
The room fell instantly silent, everyone staring at us in shock.
"T-twenty million from the gentleman," the auctioneer stammered. "Any higher bids?"
No one spoke.
"Twenty million going once, going twice, sold! Congratulations, Mr. Blake!"
Applause erupted, mixed with gasps and whispers. Nathan remained composed, as if he had just purchased an ordinary trinket.
"Nathan..." I whispered, "this is too..."
"Shh." He gently squeezed my hand. "We'll talk later."
After the auction, staff brought the blue diamond and the necklace to us. Nathan took the diamond and personally placed it around my neck.
"Perfect," he said, his eyes full of admiration. "As if it were made for you."
I felt my cheeks flush and my heart race. In this moment, under everyone's gaze, Nathan's gesture seemed less about displaying wealth and more about declaring to the world how much he treasured me.
As we left, we inevitably encountered Olivia and her friends waiting by the exit, clearly there to intercept us.
"Congratulations, Emma," Olivia forced a smile. "It seems Mr. Blake adores you."
"Thank you," I replied calmly.
"Olivia, it's been a while," Nathan nodded politely. "I hope you're well."
"Thanks to you, I'm managing," Olivia's voice carried a hint of bitterness. "Though I wonder, does Emma truly appreciate these jewels? Or does she just love their price tags?"
Before I could respond, Nathan spoke: "Emma appreciates the stories and meaning behind jewelry, not merely their value. Like the 'Heart of the Deep'—it's not just a blue diamond, but a miracle of nature and a testament to human ingenuity."
He looked at me, his eyes filled with tenderness: "And no jewel could ever outshine Emma herself."
Olivia's expression darkened further, while her friends awkwardly lowered their heads.
"Good evening, ladies," Nathan said courteously, then took my hand and led me away.
On the drive home, I kept thinking about Nathan's words. Did he truly see me that way? Or was it just for maintaining appearances in public?
"What are you thinking about?" Nathan asked.
"I'm thinking about... tonight," I hesitated. "Nathan, you don't need to spend so much money for my sake. I know our marriage has its purpose, you don't need to—"
"Emma," he interrupted, "I bought that blue diamond not just for charity, and not just to save face in front of Olivia."
"Then why?"
"Because it suits you," his voice was deep and sincere. "You're far more precious than you realize."
I studied his profile, feeling an unprecedented emotion welling up inside me. This man always knew exactly what to say and do at the most appropriate moments. I began to wonder if I had unknowingly fallen in love with him.
---
In the days that followed, Nathan and I grew increasingly close. Though we maintained our separate spaces—I had my laboratory, he had his study—we began sharing more time together. We took walks in the garden on weekends, read by the fireplace in the evenings, and sometimes even cooked together.
Nathan showed genuine interest in my research, often asking about my progress and offering insightful suggestions. The breadth of his knowledge amazed me; whether literature, art, or science, he seemed well-versed in everything.
"How do you know so much?" I asked curiously one day after he helped solve a difficult experimental problem.
"Reading, observing, thinking," he smiled. "And living long enough."
"You're only thirty-five—hardly 'long enough,'" I laughed.
"Sometimes experience matters more than age," his eyes suddenly grew distant, as if recalling something.
I wanted to ask more, but he had already changed the subject. Such moments occurred frequently—whenever certain topics arose, Nathan would become pensive, then skillfully redirect the conversation. It made me wonder how many secrets he was keeping from me.
One afternoon, while working in my lab, I remembered I needed to ask Nathan about some experimental equipment. I walked to his study, where the door was slightly ajar, his voice drifting out.
"Yes, Jennifer, I've reviewed that report," Nathan sounded serious. "Tell the board I disagree with their proposal. That property development needs more careful assessment."
I was about to knock but curiosity held me back. I quietly moved closer, peering through the gap to see Nathan in a video conference. On screen was a professionally dressed woman.
"But, Mr. Blake," the woman said, "the Chairman has already expressed support for this project. If you oppose it, there might be—"
"I understand the risks, Jennifer," Nathan cut in. "But I have my considerations. Please arrange a private meeting with the Chairman. I need to explain my position personally."
"Of course, I'll arrange it," Jennifer nodded. "Also, Legal needs you to sign these documents. May I bring them to your home tomorrow?"
"No, I'll come to the office," Nathan replied. "Tomorrow at ten, I'll be there."
"Understood, Mr. Blake."
After the video ended, Nathan sighed deeply and leaned back in his chair. I quickly retreated a few steps, then knocked gently.
"Come in," Nathan called.
I pushed open the door, pretending I'd just arrived. "Sorry to disturb you, but I have a question about some lab equipment."
Nathan smiled at me. "What's the question?"
I asked my question, but my mind was on the conversation I'd overheard. Jennifer... the name sounded familiar. I recalled someone introducing her at a social event as the personal secretary to the Blake Group's Chairman.
If she was the Chairman's secretary, why was she reporting to Nathan? And from their conversation, Nathan seemed to wield considerable power in the company, able to speak directly with the Chairman and even oppose board decisions.
This didn't align with what Nathan had told me. He'd said he was fighting for control of the family business, implying his position wasn't secure. Yet from the conversation I'd just heard, he appeared to be a central figure in the company already.
"Emma? Are you listening?" Nathan's voice pulled me back to reality.
"Sorry, I was distracted," I managed a smile. "What were you saying?"
"I said this problem might need a professional engineer. I can contact a friend who's experienced in this area."
"That would be great, thank you."
After leaving his study, I returned to my lab, but couldn't concentrate. What was Nathan hiding? What was his true position at Blake Group? More importantly, what was his real purpose in marrying me?
These questions swirled in my mind, making me uneasy. I had always thought our marriage was a mutually beneficial arrangement, but now it seemed things might be far more complex than I'd imagined.
At dinner, Nathan appeared to be in good spirits, discussing light topics. I tried to act normal, but my inner doubts made it difficult to focus.
"You seem preoccupied today," Nathan perceptively noted. "Problems with your experiment?"
"No, the experiment's fine," I forced a smile. "I'm just tired."
Nathan nodded, not pressing further. But I noticed a flicker of concern in his eyes.
That night, I lay in bed, tossing and turning.
On one hand, I had inevitably been drawn to him, perhaps even fallen in love. His gentleness, consideration, wisdom, and that unfathomable charm—all of it was irresistible.
But on the other hand, I was beginning to question his true intentions. Who was he really? Why had he married me? What truth was he concealing?
These questions loomed like shadows over our seemingly perfect marriage. I knew that someday, I would have to face the truth, no matter how unsettling it might be.
