"Nicholas had no idea how many times he had put a smile on his face. Edward, who witnessed his friend's behavior, could only sigh inwardly. He thought, there must be something making Nicholas look like a madman right now."Such a strange guy!"So, why did he call me here?"Is he asking me to watch him smile like a crazy person right now?"Such a waste of my time.""Nick!" Edward called out with an intentionally raised tone. He wanted to see if the man in front of him could snap out of it or remain lost in his own world."Sssttt..." Nicholas hissed. "You're just startling me, Ed!" he protested."I've been sitting here for 15 minutes, and you haven't said a word. Do you think I'm not busy, huh? What's your reason for calling me here?"Instead of feeling guilty, Nicholas chuckled at Edward's annoyance. If only Edward knew that Nicholas was smiling because he was thinking about Kimberly, he would definitely keep teasing him."This Thursday, Kimberly and I are heading to England. I'm asking
"How could you just leave that man without permission?" Kimberly asked when they had arrived at the apartment.Nicholas didn't answer, choosing instead to open the jacket that enveloped his muscular body and toss it casually onto the sofa. He then sat down and directed his gaze to Kimberly, who was still standing not far from him."Sit down," Nicholas requested with a gentle expression while tapping the surface of the sofa lightly."I want to go inside and rest," Kimberly replied."I said sit down.""But I—""Sit down quickly! Do I have to call you Mrs. Alistair before you obey?" Nicholas ordered with emphasis this time. His eyes sparkled sharply.Reluctantly, Kimberly complied with Nicholas's command to sit down. She took several deep breaths, squeezing her fingers to release the tension that was building up. She was quite sure that Nicholas was angry now."What's the matter with you?" Kimberly spoke softly, not wanting to provoke Nicholas's emotions."I didn't like you talking to Jul
"Kimberly!""Kimberly Rayder!"It's been more than two times Nicholas has called out and addressed Kimberly's name while gently knocking on her bedroom door. However, despite all the calls, not a single response could be heard from inside the room.In reality, Nicholas just wanted to remind her that they had to leave for the airport to depart for England later in the afternoon. He wanted Kimberly to double-check what items she needed to bring before they actually left.Believing that something was wrong, Nicholas tried turning the door handle, which, as it turned out, was unlocked. He entered slowly and found Kimberly still sound asleep. She had covered her entire body with a blanket up to her neck.Nicholas stepped forward quietly to where Kimberly was lying. His hand reached out to gently stroke her hair and then pat her shoulder softly."Kimmy...wake up," Nicholas commanded.Kimberly slowly opened her eyes, blinking several times until her awareness gradually returned. The scent of
"Slowly."Nicholas tightly held Kimberly's fingers as if he didn't want to let go. Gently, he guided the woman into the airport towards the plane that would take them to England later this evening.After making sure Kimberly was comfortably seated, Nicholas began fastening her seatbelt and didn't forget to wrap a blanket around her. Nicholas's simple gestures always managed to melt Kimberly's heart.During the flight, Kimberly chose to sleep more. Even after having dinner, it didn't take long for her to pull the blanket over herself again. Perhaps it was the effect of the medication she had taken. While she slept, occasionally her long, curled eyelashes would flutter gracefully, making Nicholas want to gently caress them.Once he was sure Kimberly had fallen asleep, Nicholas decided to join her in resting. However, just a few hours into his sleep, turbulence within the plane made Kimberly wake up, and she reflexively clung tightly to Nicholas's arm.Realizing that Kimberly was frighten
Kimberly was taken aback as she continued to gaze at her reflection behind the mirror. Her mouth kept reciting words of gratitude because God had kindly bestowed upon her a remarkably beautiful appearance. Kimberly wasn't overconfident, but almost everyone acknowledged that she possessed above-average beauty. At the office where she worked, countless men had declared their feelings for her. Even her friend Keyra shook her head in disbelief when Kimberly received so many gifts on Valentine's Day. However, out of the many men who approached her, none captured her interest. Until a foolish bet she agreed upon with Alex led her to truly fall for Nicholas. Her encounter with Nicholas Alistair could be categorized as a coincidence, but getting close to him and making him her boyfriend was one of her main goals. Who would have thought that today, in just a few hours, her status would change to being engaged to him? Don't be nervous, Kimberly. Isn't this your dream, after all, to be Nicho
Remembering Nicholas's promise yesterday to take Kimberly around the city of London, she woke up early today with great enthusiasm. Quickly, she took a shower and headed to the kitchen to prepare breakfast first. It was already seven in the morning, but Nicholas's room appeared to be tightly locked. Kimberly was certain he hadn't woken up from his slumber. After preparing breakfast, she walked to Nicholas's room with the intention of waking him up. After knocking several times, he finally opened the door. Still wearing his pajamas, Nicholas lazily looked at Kimberly. "Why are you making noise so early in the morning?" he asked. "Tsk, how can you even ask why? You're the one who promised today to take me around," Kimberly retorted in frustration. She couldn't believe the man in front of her had forgotten his own promise. Nicholas didn't immediately respond. He glanced briefly at the wall clock in the corner of the room, squinting to confirm the time. "Oh my, it's only 7 a.m., Kimb
Exploring London in the morning turned out to be the perfect choice for Kimberly. The still very cool air made her comfortable even though she had to walk. Neat rows of old buildings lined the streets she passed by. The scenes that she had often seen in movies now felt so real. Making the most of their time, Kimberly asked Nicholas to take her to almost all the tourist attractions in London. They visited the Tower of London, London Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, and even Westminster Abbey. Now, the remaining destination was the London Eye. A never-ending smile graced Kimberly's small lips. Nicholas, who had been sneakily stealing glances at her, felt his heart warm. Without Kimberly's knowledge, he had discreetly taken several photos while she was enjoying the sights. "Do we have to queue for this long? I might not be able to ride this giant Ferris wheel until evening," Kimberly sighed as she stood in front of the entrance to the London Eye. There was a long line of tourists waiti
Kimberly woke up and found Nicholas still embracing her in his sleep. After the passionate kiss they shared last night, Nicholas didn't immediately let Kimberly leave his room. He continued to cuddle and hold her body until they both fell back asleep. For a moment, Kimberly stayed still, choosing to enjoy Nicholas's warm embrace. However, after a while, she gently tapped his forehead. Slowly, the auburn-haired woman tried to break free from his hold. But in reality, he woke up and even held onto her body tighter. "Where are you going?" he asked with his eyes still closed. "I need to take a shower. Aren't we supposed to go back to Indonesia today?" Spending three days in London was not enough for Kimberly, especially since it was her first time setting foot in Queen Elizabeth's land. But given Nicholas's busy work schedule, they had to return to Indonesia this afternoon. "What time is it now?" he asked again. Kimberly then squinted at the clock on the wall in the corner of the roo
The next two months."Nick, I think you should come home soon. Your face looks really pale now," Edward suggested. They had just returned from a meeting outside the office.Nicholas sighed deeply while continuing to massage his temples. For some reason, since yesterday, he had been feeling unwell. Now, it even felt worse than before."I can't, Ed. I need to finish my tasks soon. I have only a week left before I really move from Alpha Beta and take care of Rayder Corp," Nicholas replied, still holding his forehead.Edward shook his head vigorously. He was very certain that his friend's condition was not okay at the moment. He was just afraid that something bad might happen to Nicholas."In that case, I'll get you some hot tea." Edward then got up and walked quickly to the pantry. He grabbed a cup of tea and brought it immediately to Nicholas's room, handing it over."Drink it quickly. After this, I'll help you finish all your tasks so you can go home early."Nicholas nodded and reached
After returning from London, Kimberly and Nicholas were busy with various wedding preparations. From fitting wedding attire to pre-wedding photos, everything had to be done quickly due to their limited time. Cassandra and Arthur didn't hold back; they even chose BVLGARI RESORT BALI as the venue for the celebration.BVLGARI is a luxurious five-star resort perched on a cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean. Its location is not far from Pura Luhur Uluwatu and the Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park.Embracing a beachfront wedding theme, all preparations had reached 95%. Nicholas and Kimberly couldn't believe how meticulously and perfectly Cassandra had arranged everything. She even hired a top-tier wedding organizer like 'Belvedere' to handle Nicholas and Kimberly's wedding."Mama is truly amazing," Nicholas said proudly. He was amazed by what his mother had done.Cassandra clasped her hands to her chest, a smile on her lips as she heard her son's praise."I'll do anything for you, my dear.
All the invited guests never ceased to congratulate Nicholas and Kimberly. Everyone seemed lost in the euphoria of this luxurious engagement party.While all the guests were busy enjoying their meals, Nicholas, who was watching Cassandra relaxing, went straight to her and pulled her to the garden's edge."Mom owes me an explanation," Nicholas whispered.Cassandra chuckled softly, keeping her composure. "Oh, come on, dear. Just enjoy your party for now. I promise to explain everything once everything's over."Nicholas shook his head in disbelief, observing his mother's behavior. Meanwhile, in a different location, Kimberly also looked puzzled. She chose to remain silent but kept her facial expression looking joyful. Yes, even though she was genuinely surprised and, of course, happy. However, amidst all this, she hadn't even exchanged a word with Nicholas. The two of them mostly just stared at each other without speaking.After the guests left one by one, Cassandra kept her promise. She
Since morning, Kimberly has been busy packing her belongings to put them in her suitcase. After hearing Arthur Rayder's explanation about Nicholas last night, she decided to join the man in London as soon as possible.Enjoying the packing process, Kimberly suddenly remembered that she didn't remember Nicholas's address or his parents' addresses. After thinking for a while, she realized who had helped her gather the information.Quickly, Kimberly grabbed her cellphone, searched for someone's number in her contacts list, and dialed it promptly. After three rings, the call was finally answered."Hello," a voice on the other side replied."Hello, Mr. Edward. It's me, Kimberly. Can I ask for your help?" Kimberly inquired."Oh my goodness, Kimberly," Edward exclaimed in surprise. "What's the reason for calling me so early in the morning?""Can I... Can I ask about Nicholas's address in London?" Kimberly hesitantly asked."Of course, you can. But, I'm sorry in advance, why are you asking for
Arthur remembered well that Veronica, his wife, had been very active in charity work. Then, at some point, she accidentally met Cassandra, a young woman who had dedicated half of her life to helping street children and orphans. They both worked together to provide assistance until the time when Cassandra, by chance, met Robert Alistair, who was working in Singapore at that time. He also became the largest donor for the charity event organized by Veronica.Somehow, at some point, Cassandra developed a relationship with Robert Alistair and decided to get married. After becoming husband and wife, Robert brought Cassandra with him to England. Since then, Veronica and Arthur rarely met Cassandra. It was only occasionally when she was traveling to Singapore.Arthur reached for the teacup already placed on his table. He took a sip and continued speaking. "So, what brings you all the way here to meet me?"Cassandra took her own drink, sipped it slowly, and then placed her cup back on the tabl
Mario never seemed tired of smiling at all the guests who attended. His face was radiant after formally getting engaged just a few hours ago.Arthur was also delighted. The old man was even busy socializing with the business colleagues who were present at the party.Among the many happy people, only Kimberly seemed ordinary. She even appeared distant from the crowd, choosing to sit alone in one corner of the event room while continuously gazing at Mario from a distance.She should have felt relieved because she wasn't the one accompanying Mario tonight. Yes, a few days ago, Kimberly almost couldn't breathe when he suddenly brought up the topic of engagement. She thought that her grandfather, Arthur, was really going to arrange a match between them. However, Mario revealed that he would be engaged to another woman."So, is Grandpa really going to arrange a match between us?" Mario didn't immediately answer. He remained silent for quite a while, which only made Kimberly's thoughts wande
For the translated text in American English with correct grammar, please see below:"For the past two days, Arthur had been observing Kimberly, who seemed so gloomy. The woman went to work listlessly and returned home in silence. Usually, Kimberly always had something to share with him, whether it was work-related issues or just casual conversations about her daily life.Curious, that evening, Arthur finally asked Mario when the two of them had just returned from the office. He was convinced that Mario knew what was happening with his granddaughter lately."Is there something you want to talk to me about?" Mario asked while they were in Arthur's office.Arthur, who was engrossed in reading a book, paused. He first took off his glasses and then placed the book he had been holding aside."Have a seat," Arthur instructed. "There's something I want to ask you."Mario complied with Arthur's request, taking a seat right next to the elderly man."What does grandpa want to ask about?""About
"I choose Alpha Beta," Arthur Rayder stared at Nicholas with an expression that was difficult to interpret after hearing what the man had chosen. He remained silent for quite some time before finally smiling and asking, "Are you sure you chose Alpha Beta over my granddaughter?"Nicholas nodded. "I'm sure. Very sure. Congratulations, in this game, you're the winner."Arthur squinted at Nicholas. There were many things he wanted to ask the man."As I suspected. You never really loved my granddaughter. It was quite evident when you chose money over—""You shouldn't jump to conclusions," Nicholas interrupted. Arthur glared at him. He didn't appreciate it when someone deliberately cut him off mid-sentence.Arthur sighed in his position. "Then what's your reason for not choosing Kimberly?"Nicholas took a slow breath. It wasn't easy making a decision like this."I love Kimberly. There's no other woman I love besides your granddaughter. However, I can't be selfish. I thought that if I cancel
Arthur was sitting casually in his office, looking at the neatly arranged photos of Kimberly in an album. Mario was there, accompanying the old man. He had been asked to come early in the morning, even though it was a holiday. Arthur wondered what he wanted to talk to Mario about.Arthur smiled as he commented, "Kimberly is such a cheerful girl. Look, in almost all these neatly arranged photos, she's always laughing or smiling." Arthur showed a specific photo to Mario.Mario looked at each photo that Arthur displayed. Kimberly appeared in various poses in the pictures. Mario nodded in agreement."In all the time I've known her, I've only seen Kimberly cry twice. First, when she found out her mother had passed away. Second, when she decided to leave Nicholas Alistair's apartment."Arthur leaned back in his chair. Hearing Mario's last sentence made his blood boil."That brat had the audacity to make my granddaughter cry. Who is he, daring to do such a thing?""They just had a misunderst