Nicole's POVEdwin was next to me, watching me so intently that I couldn't ignore him. I exhaled, staring at the old man who had a similar expression to when I fell ill a few days ago."What's wrong, Father?" I asked.Edwin shook his head, letting out his breath before lowering his gaze from my face. "I was just thinking that your current condition reminds me of the past, but you're much better now."I tried to smile, but it was hard to do so when my mind automatically replayed the events almost completely buried in my memory. The sound of the explosion and the heat from the flames that nearly touched me, the car accident at that time, really affected me to the point that the effects caused me to have a panic attack and end up lying down like this.Richard and Chris saw that effect firsthand earlier, while Edwin had seen my reaction like this several times whenever there was an accident or news about the same thing.That was also influenced by the condition of my body, which was alrea
Chris' POV"This is weird," I mumbled, touching my lips unconsciously while thinking about the woman I had just met again but also had to leave with her father.Nicole, who previously looked breathless, scared, and trembling, made me very worried about her. Without thinking about that moment, I quickly carried her to the car and asked the driver to take us to the hospital.The woman could not speak at all, and her hands were limp when grasped. I couldn't take my eyes off Nicole, so I watched as she was examined and sedated to rest.Throughout the incident, I was afraid that something would happen to her, but I also felt strange about myself. I realized that I wasn't the kind of man who could easily open his heart to a woman to feel like this, affected by the condition of another person who didn't even have any relationship with me.Only one person could make me feel this way, the woman who was declared dead a few years ago due to a single accident. Nicole Martinez.".... Mr. Chris."
Nicole's POV"Ugh." I held my head, feeling a stab of pain that was quite severe and left a lingering dizzy sensation.I closed my eyes to help ease the pain I was experiencing, then heard someone stepping closer and asking about my condition. Key. "Miss Nicole, are you alright?" He asked, sounding worried.I was silent for a few moments before nodding, flashing a smile to appease him. "I'm fine, just dizzy."I stared at the computer screen blankly, thinking about the symptoms of my headache that were still returning even though I was feeling better. I had so many things to accomplish that there was no time to waste, which was probably why I was also experiencing stress that was affecting my health.I'm relieved that I didn't show this to my father or Richard. Both of them could suddenly become overprotective and force me to rest without taking into account the things I have to do from now on.A document was suddenly placed on my desk. I raised my gaze, seeing Key's genuinely worried
Nicole's POV"It's so nice to be together for dinner," Selena said, chuckling as she watched us in her dining room.Some of the servants had already served the meal for the evening, which was quite a variety, and white wine was used for the accompanying drinks. Selena and I sat next to each other while her husband and Chris sat across from us.I could only return her smile without saying anything, still not expecting to meet Chris at Selena's house. I didn't know that they had a relationship with him. Still, after thinking about it, maybe it was only natural that fellow businessmen in the same city would have a relationship with each other.I wanted to say goodbye as soon as I saw the man, but Selena was quick to tell us something, suggesting that she and I follow the dinner prepared by the cook the woman had hired especially for today.Selena was smiling. "Come on, eat up, Miss Nicole."I nodded and began to eat the food, which tasted quite delicious, but I still didn't get rid of th
Chris' POVI was still in the car, staring at my hands and pressing my fingers together with a frantic mind. There were several things I was thinking about after Evan told me the shocking rumour.Feelings of disbelief, confusion and trying to process the information in my head were mixed. In the end, I quickly chose the quickest and surest way out that I could do. Go to that person's house, who knew Nicole the best even though I didn't want to admit it.The car I was driving stopped at the same-looking housing complex. "Here you are, sir." The driver spoke.I looked out the window, noticing the small-sized house that was identical to the other houses that lined up around it. What differentiated the houses from each other were the numbers and the door decorations above the small windows.The house I saw now was obviously very different from the Martinez Family's previous residence. It couldn't be compared by too much class. I realised that the effects of their bankruptcy could have bro
Chris' POVI looked at Smith, who looked back at me, seeing his eyes that clearly showed the alcohol that had entered his body and affected his attitude. His life was ruined, but he was still looking for any way he could get a little money to buy his drinks.I didn't really care about her reasoning. My desire to get information about Nicole made me have to give in to him. I finally nodded, agreeing to his request even though I still had some reservations."Alright, I'll give you a few hundred dollars at your convenience if you tell me about her."He drank the remaining alcohol in his bottle before sighing and laughing. Smith was obviously laughing at me for so easily giving away money with so little information, but I didn't care. I was sure that he was just as in need of the money so he could quickly buy a drink and wouldn't waste my time any longer.The old man looked like a madman with his unkempt appearance and the bottle in his hand, but I still waited quietly for him to tell me
Chris' POVI was still completely shocked by what Smith had told me. Not only that man but even the mother Nicole had told me about wasn't her real mother. I furrowed my brow, feeling my own voice sound doubtful."So, Nicole is neither your daughter nor your late wife?" I asked again, confirming the old man's answer this time.Smith laughed. "No, she's not. She's a child we found by accident. What's the term? A foster child? Adopted? Well, whatever it is, we took her in when she had no one else."I was silent, listening to Smith tell me how it all happened. There was no sadness on his face, as he was still drunk, but he also didn't look as crazy as before and just told it like it was. He took a small sip of his drink."My wife miscarried. She was declared unable to conceive again with fatal damage to her uterus, so at the time, it was a heavy blow for her, as well as for me. But what happened to my wife became worse as her condition deteriorated over the days. She was not in good spir
Nicole's POV"Richard, this is breakfast for you," I said, handing my son a plate of homemade food.Richard looked happy, his sparkling eyes looking at me with a beaming face. "This is mom's cooking? It smells so good; it must taste really good because only mom can make it.""You already know. You have to finish it. otherwise, Mom will be sad." I smiled, stroking his hair lightly as I followed my son to the dining table. "I heard you were too busy in the lab to eat on time. Aren't you feeling hungry?"Key told me, as did the servant who often accompanied my son when getting ready for his daily activities. I heard them saying that he only ate when I was around but prioritized his projects in the lab when I wasn't supervising his activities that day.I didn't want to let things like that go on any longer and decided to intervene. After all, they were only tasked with replacing me as their respective responsibilities, but I was the mother of my son, who was my primary responsibility.Ric