Chapter 108

Chapter 108

York was smug inside, but he still had to wear a worried look on his face.

“Will this have any bad impact on you?”

Maria reined in her anger and smiled. “They were the ones in the wrong to begin with. What bad impact could there be? Even if there were, who would dare say I’m at fault?”

Having found a better choice, of course he needed to figure out how to shake off the old one.

York couldn’t help but start thinking.

If he could get rid of Emily without offending her, that would be the best possible outcome…

“What are you two doing?”

Before he could come up with a plan, a familiar voice cut through his thoughts.

York turned around. Emily had somehow doubled back without him noticing, and now she was below the gazebo, looking up at them.

She sat in a wheelchair, with Tu Nan behind her-it was Tu Nan who had pushed her over.

“Emily?” He panicked for a split second. “Why are you back?”

Tu Nan’s gaze met Maria’s behind York.

“So this is the girl you mentioned?” Maria stepped forward and looked down at Emily. “Forgive me for being blunt, but she’s completely unworthy of you.”

Emily heard that and, rather than getting angry, smiled.

“Whether I’m worthy or not isn’t for you to judge-even if you are a princess.” She lifted her eyes to York. “York, you tell me. Am I worthy of you or not?”

“Yes,” Maria asked lightly as well. “York, are you choosing her, or are you choosing me?”

York glanced at Emily in her wheelchair, then looked to Maria at his side.

This choice wasn’t hard. Anyone would make the same one.

Emily was good-high-born, devoted to him, and able to get him out of the hospital.

But… wasn’t Maria even better?

People always reach for something better. Surely Emily could understand.

“I’m sorry…” York’s eyes reddened slightly as he looked at Emily. “Emily, the truth is, I was only with you because I felt sorry for you. I can’t deceive myself anymore. The one I truly like is someone else.”

He looked painfully sincere, as if none of this was what he wanted.

As if he hadn’t been the one to pursue her, and as if he hadn’t been the one to promise her things again and again.

Emily let out a soft sigh.

“I know. I don’t blame you. There’s no such thing as true feelings in this world anyway.”

York froze.

Emily was far calmer than he’d imagined.

Only then did he sense that something was off.

It was all too perfectly timed-Emily had just left, Maria had appeared, and then the two of them ran into each other and forced him to choose.

Could the world really be that coincidental?

While he was still doubting, Maria suddenly spoke. “In that case, leave the hospital with me today. The Royal Palace has everything. I can give you the most privileged life.”

Tu Nan spoke too, indignant and full of condemnation.

“Emily has done so much for you, York! How can you just abandon her? She can’t even walk anymore. If you leave again, are you trying to force her to die?”

York narrowed his eyes. Seeing Tu Nan like this, he felt he might be overthinking.

There were countless coincidences in the world. Emily chatting with the Duchess, then remembering he was still here and turning back-it wasn’t strange.

And he was handsome and charming; what was so odd about Maria liking him?

Were there not plenty of women like that?

Yes. That had to be it.

Emily looked at him, worry etched on her face, quietly waiting for his answer.
She was so well-behaved, obedient, and sensible that even if he abandoned her, she would only think it was her own fault.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles might be a bit difficult to deal with, but Maria’s power was great enough to settle everything for him.

It was an easy choice, wasn’t it?

York sighed and shook his head gently. “I’m sorry, Emily. I cannot convince my heart to deceive you. You are a good girl and deserve wholehearted love.”

“I understand.” Emily nodded calmly. “I respect your choice.”

Maria blinked her beautiful eyes, her eyelashes fluttering like the wings of a butterfly.

She curved her lips into a smile. “In that case, it couldn’t be better.”

“My father is coming to pick me up and take me back to the Royal Palace tonight. Go back and prepare; I will take you with me when I leave.”

York could hardly suppress the upward curve of his lips.

Tu Nan condemned him loudly, “Mr. York, what you are doing is too much!”

The more she spoke like this, the more York felt he hadn’t made the wrong choice.

He was in an excellent mood. To maintain his image in front of Maria, he didn’t blame Tu Nan, but merely shook his head gently.

“My dear, you wouldn’t understand true love.”

“When it appears before you, you cannot resist it. Everything from the past becomes a phantom. In the face of love, I am just an ordinary man who has lost his head.”

Tu Nan could barely maintain the expression on her face.

Maria’s expression also twisted for a moment. To prevent it from being noticed, she let out a light cough.

“What’s wrong? Are you cold?” York asked immediately with concern.

He didn’t even care that Emily was still watching him from below.

“The wind is getting a bit strong,” Maria said casually. “We should head out now.”

York let Maria take his arm and helped her down the stairs.

As he passed by Emily, he cast an apologetic glance her way.

Emily lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly as if she were crying.

York and Maria soon disappeared at the end of the path.

Tu Nan watched his back vanish before looking at Emily sitting in the wheelchair. She asked softly, “Are you okay?”

Emily’s shoulders trembled even faster.

Tu Nan frowned slightly; Emily didn’t seem like the type of person who would cry over something like this.

“…Hahaha.” Sure enough, a few seconds later, Emily couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Tu Nan said nothing, watching her quietly.

“What a wonderful show.” Emily looked up, tears of laughter even appearing in the corners of her eyes. She reached out to wipe them away, then wiped her hand with a hint of disgust.

“Even though I guessed long ago what you wanted me to see, seeing it with my own eyes is still quite nauseating.”

Emily sighed. “Men… what disgusting creatures they are.”

“But I should still thank you. It’s truly an honor to have a princess perform this play for me.” She curled her lips. “Thank Princess Maria for me. The performance was brilliant, and I enjoyed it very much.”

“What do you plan to do?” Tu Nan asked.

“Let him immerse himself in the joy of a successful hunt for now,” Emily said nonchalantly, propping up her head. “Wouldn’t it be more wonderful to wait until he is just one step away from success before puncturing his hopes?”

Tu Nan blinked. “I have a friend who hates York to the bone. I wonder if you would be willing to give her a chance…”