Nicole' POV"I'm so glad to see you again, Richard. You seem to be doing well while you're here." Edwin smiled at my son as he picked him up. He walked over to the nearest bench so he could sit down and sat Richard on his lap.Richard nodded, returning his grandfather's smile. "Yes, Grandpa. I find it quite exciting here because I can do more of what I want.""Really?" Edwin raised an eyebrow in surprise, looking at Richard, who for once seemed to be acting like a boy his age. "Tell Grandpa what you've been doing that's been fun while you've been here, Richard."Richard told him about his activities from the beginning of our move here, as well as some of the events he attended with me or just alone with Key until recently when I was busy attending other vital events. He looked excited, as did my father, who responded favourably to his story."I made a lot of robots, Grandpa. Among them, there were also some that I made for Mom and one of them succeeded in making the person who was Mom
Chris' POVI had completed the divorce with ease. It took only five days for Adeline's name to finally be erased from my family's roster, though during those days, Adeline never failed to contact me or see me either at home or the office.I asked some security staff to keep that woman away from the office, asking them to keep an eye on the ground floor for her and kick her out as soon as they saw her. didn't want to see her anymore, to talk to her, or to see her.I had said that Evan would ultimately take care of the woman's arrival. After arranging it like that, I felt more relieved and saw less of her and heard less about her if I didn't find out first.I felt more relaxed, walking to the car that had arrived to sit in the back seat, but a woman suddenly came and blocked my way. Adeline. She looked breathless with her eyes glaring at me."Chris, you can't do this to me. Divorce is impossible. We've been married for eight years!" She said with a little shout and then pleaded with m
Chris' POVAt first, I wanted to ignore what my mom said. She wouldn't stop after explaining every candidate she told me at a glance, not to mention the document I would open when agreeing to talk together.At this time, I had already resumed my steps after responding to my mom's previous remark, but I stopped and turned back, looking at my mom, who was holding her waist. "What are you talking about?""You're not listening to Mom talk?" my mom asked, making me shake my head. I deliberately didn't listen to my mother because I was too lazy to linger.My mom sighed. "That woman, Nicole. I found out about her after seeing various news stories. If I'm not mistaken... her full name is Nicole Duncan. I believe her father is Mr. Edwin." She looked at me again but didn't say anything, seeing my reaction before continuing her words."Well, after seeing that woman…she really looks like Nicole.”I still did not open my mouth, or rather, I could not answer my mother's unmistakable question. I did
Nicole's POVI read the news of Chris and Adeline's divorce on my cell phone, which had caused quite a stir, almost equaling the mess she had made at the socialite party. In some of the news stories, a lot of people bashing Adeline, saying that she was too bad and that it was only fitting that they ended up divorcing.As I scrolled through the news, there wasn't a single comment badmouthing Chris. Almost all of them were focused on blasting Adeline with all the bad news about her and even feeling sorry for the guy for wasting his time with a woman like that.Naturally, Chris had always prioritized his excellent name and his company over any negativity in the public or his circles. I turned off the car park for a while and got out, walking into a jewelry store that used diamonds as the primary and dominant material in its collection."Welcome." Someone was talking, but I just walked and stopped at one of the display cases with some jewelry that caught my eye.I looked at all the jewel
Nicole's POVI rubbed my face, no longer having to face Nova after being in the VVIP room. I was immensely enjoying my time inside, but when I came out, I started to worry and looked around the store for the old lady, but she was nowhere to be seen.I received the paper bag containing the jewelry I bought after paying. The staff smiled kindly. "Thank you for shopping at our store, Miss. Please come again." She bowed politely.I didn't reply, turned away from the staff, and left the store. I felt like going home and resting, but I also thought about going to the office to finish my other work. Before I could decide, a car pulled up not far from me, and the door opened.I thought everything was done with Nova, who was invisible before my eyes, but now I saw Chris, who stepped out of the car. The man's face looked hard, looking at the diamond shop I had just visited with a gaze that felt piercing.He seemed to be here to pick up his mother. Chris tried to call his mom again while I looke
Nicole's POVI felt an overwhelming tension throughout my body, seeing a figure I didn't expect to meet in person at all, together with a woman who was younger than me but ignorant and foolish. I unconsciously clenched my hands into fists, not expecting to meet the old man after only watching him on my laptop screen.He still looked the same. Adeline looked at us, more precisely at Chris. "Chris! Mom!" She exclaimed with a smile before turning to look at me without giving any expression.The woman and the father walked closer and closer. My gaze focused on the old man who hadn't said anything but followed Adeline, who walked first.My heartbeat seemed to slow down when I saw him walking towards us. I remembered him as someone who didn't deserve to be missed for the rest of my life. He never doted on or loved me like a father would his child.I never remembered my happy childhood with him. There was only Mom and a few servants who accompanied me to play. He would just be busy with his
Nicole's POVI had just arrived at the front of the house, but my feelings were still a mess. Many things filled my mind, especially after simultaneously meeting the people I hated.I forgot what I said when I met them, but this messy feeling remained. Mainly, when my mind was focused on Chris, that man still affected me when I no longer had the same feelings.He made me feel all sorts of things but forced me to pay more attention to her than anyone else.While still preoccupied with my thoughts, I saw Richard, who was walking in the park. His hand was holding a rope around the neck of a robotic dog similar to a herder. Looking at its shape, it seemed like my son made the robot.Richard looked at me with a bright gaze, noticing my presence when he was previously paying more attention to his robot. "Mom!""Hi, Richard." I was slightly startled by his exclamation but automatically smiled when I saw him walk over to me with his robot that could walk smoothly. "You're doing tests on your
Adeline's POVI exhaled, feeling increasingly agitated after the long wait from earlier. I had been fiddling with my hands a while ago, counting the seconds and touching my fingers with each one, but now my feet were also twitching with the increasing impatience I felt.Still, my patience had its limits. I gritted my teeth, looking around while muttering under my breath. "Where is he? What's taking so long? I do not have much time to waste anymore."Nicole Duncan, who I'm sure is the same person as my useless stepsister, will be on top if I leave it at that. With that person around, I was sure I could shake her attitude, which always seemed confident and expensive.I never wanted to admit it, but I could see many changes in that woman's demeanor that turned a hundred and eighty degrees, especially from the wealth she shamelessly displayed every time we met. Nicole was wearing all those things I wanted but never got until now. Especially with the Martinez Family's bankruptcy.I tapped
Chris' POVHalf a year had passed, but Nicole had yet to return to Mekana City.I was already feeling desperate after never hearing from her during that time or seeing her face while she was traveling. There were no photos, articles, or anything that should have been seen in the mass media if there had been one person who could get a hold of the woman who was practically a socialite's vacuum.Her business was still going, but she never surfaced, as if she had completely blended in with the ordinary people who had no major stake in the city's economic development.Sometimes, I'd get a call from Richard, talking about some of the things we used to do during our regular meetings, even though he was still in Aden City with his grandfather. I wanted to ask him how she was doing, but every time I would speak, the boy would either change the subject or hang up first with various excuses.After his return a few months ago, we resumed our regular meetings at his residence. I felt quite disappo
Chris' POVI felt pretty cool saying goodbye to Nicole at the airport. Her shocked face was beautiful, and her trying-to-stay-calm demeanor had always captivated me. Still, I could barely mask my selfish desire to keep her away.It was agonizing after she actually left for another city and wouldn't be coming back for some time.There were no more women I could visit by chance nor the pleasant moments of seeing that woman's eyes watching Richard spend time with me. She may not have been looking at me, but I was content to look at her face.We weren't as close as we used to be, but we were at least as far apart as we were a few months ago.I thought that there would be no more barriers for me to get close to her, but Nicole was still looking for ways to get away from me. It was natural, I knew because I wanted good things for her before we could be together.My gaze flicks to my laptop screen, but nothing is read. My mind was only on that woman and the various questions that expressed m
Nicole's POVA few days passed, and we were about to prepare to leave and arrive at the airport, which was quite far from the residence.The Duncan family had a separate airstrip at the airport, so only a private plane and some crew would oversee our departure. Still, before that, I saw someone I didn't expect waiting near the plane and looking at us, specifically at me, intently.He'd obviously arrived before us.His gaze felt like I had done something wrong to him, which shouldn't have been possible since my son had already told him the necessary things so that he wouldn't misunderstand. Still, there seemed to be something that made him look that way.I tried to remain calm while Chris walked closer to us. He stopped in front of me, just staring at me which made me involuntarily swallow by seeing the feelings that appeared on his face."I had heard from Richard that you were going to leave this place, go back to your hometown to calm down, but...."The man looked at me with a furrow
Nicole's POV"So, Mom... did you leave me here?" Richard asked slightly tearfully. "Do you not love me anymore?"I shook my head. "Of course not, Richard. I love you and would take you with me, not leave you. You know how much I love spending time with you, don't you?""I know...." He nodded. "But, Mom...."My son looked silent. He was sitting opposite me, but I felt his presence far enough away from me that I wanted to reach out to him. I refrained from doing that. I wanted Richard to make a decision based on him, not just on my persuasion.I sighed very slowly, looking at my son who had his head bowed with both hands clenched on each knee."I know that what you're doing here is because you're interested in robots, creating a company in the same field and developing it. You've done it, Richard."I saw it for myself. Although we rarely met to talk about the business, I was always aware of my son's business progress through Key and the company's official website, which I visited from t
Nicole's POVI have received the gift given by the man's secretary. Evan. I wanted to refuse, but the man, whose age was not far from Key's, looked really pitiable and almost pleading as he spoke to me."Miss Nicole, I'm sorry, but if you don't accept this gift then I will get in trouble from Mr. Chris," he said.I stared at the man without saying much. I obviously had my reservations, staring at the two gifts that seemed unremarkable at first glance. Still, considering Chris's proposal and the answer I gave him temporarily, the situation was clearly different.He told me to take as much time as possible to come up with a final answer to his proposal. Still, in the end, he acted arbitrarily, like he was pressuring me to give him the answer immediately by giving me something like this.The secretary seemed to see my intentions and quickly returned to pleading before me. "Miss Nicole, please do me a favor just this once. Mr. Chris has already sought several opportunities to remove me fr
Chris' POVArriving in the car, I sighed.All my strength seemed to be drained, and I allowed myself to just lean back on the seat, loosening the tie that suddenly felt like it was strangling my neck. My gaze was only fixed in front of me, on the road that began to pass by faster after the car sped up.My secretary finally spoke. "Were you rejected?"I looked at the man. He had helped me prepare for today's proposal, including decorations, rings, and various other things that were supposed to be done after the proposal, but that didn't happen with me leaving first.She was crying, and I didn't really have the guts to look at Mr. Duncan and my son. Aside from my mixed feelings, I just followed in my footsteps, which led me out of the place and away from the miserable feeling."You seem to really like the fact that Nicole rejected me," I finally said, sounding as cold as I felt toward the man who was still driving.She didn't say anything.I exhaled, feeling a tightness in my chest that
Nicole's POVChris was silent. I could see that he seemed to be processing my words, but I wasn't done talking. There was still something I wanted to tell him."Until now, I've been confused by the feelings I have for you, Mr. Grant."I clasped my hands together tightly. "If I were to accept your proposal without thinking, it would not only make me look like I'm playing you, but also betray my own uncertain feelings."As I said, I felt very mixed after hearing and seeing his attitude during his proposal.There were feelings of joy, sadness, hatred, and hope, all in equal measure, that confused me.On the one hand, I liked this proposal in the deepest part, which I buried deeply. Still, I also couldn't let go of the thing that had kept me alive all these years after his betrayal by leaving me and the evil deeds of my old family.I didn't want revenge, but the residual feelings were still there, as were my feelings for the man in front of me.Both had the same deep impression on me duri
Nicole's POVAs I walked in, I could see the restaurant's decor, which looked like a very romantic place. Like I saw outside, no one was inside except me and my assistant.We walked in together, he walking behind me, but I was busy with my thoughts. My brain seemed to be spinning rapidly, and I was thinking about this strange thing as best I could.My father had deliberately directed me to this restaurant for dinner. Still, that man was nowhere to be seen, nor was Richard and whoever was supposed to be in this restaurant to serve us. The deserted atmosphere added to the aggravation of my thoughts and the additional fear of the unusual situation.I swallowed, wondering, even as I followed the lit candles still guiding our path. Why is the restaurant in this state? Shouldn't we have gathered and enjoyed dinner by now?I already felt that my father, my son, and everything that happened today were acting strangely. I have absolutely no idea what's going on. It really felt like I was walki
Nicole's POVI looked at my father, who had been watching me since earlier. I ignored it at first, but after a while, I got curious and finally asked him. "Is there something you want to talk to me about, Father?"He shook his head, smiling slightly with eyes that seemed to sparkle. "No, no. I'm just happy to see that you've been in good spirits lately."I smiled back at him, although I also thought that my father's attitude was quite strange. I didn't feel as excited as he said, just as usual. The things my father said were even more applicable to him, who somehow looked radiant.Of course, I felt happy about whatever my father went through because I knew he could behave like that now. After the betrayal of his old friend, I felt that my father became much more reserved and only focused on his work, but now he's become better than that.I finally changed the subject. "Is Richard with that man, Father?"He nodded.Lately, my son has been spending a lot of time with Chris. It was usual