Looking at the business card, Iris's gaze eventually fell on the two words, "Genesis Group".'This...'Outside the bar.Lawrence got into the car, whereupon Ian started the engine and drove away."Mr. Royce, did she go with it?" Ian asked in a low voice."She will," Lawrence snorted lightly. 'People are easily persuaded as long as they have desires.'Hesitating for a moment, Ian asked, "Will she agree to your plan?"He never expected this to happen. While he was dealing with the follow-up issues of Happiness Trading, Lawrence contacted his former subordinate, and everything was going smoothly. Suddenly, he received news from San Joto, which was where the most important project to Lawrence was taking place, stating that the negotiations had failed, and that the project had fallen into the hands of Jared.As a result, Lawrence and Ian hurried back, but by then, it was already too late to win the project back.However, as soon as they got off the plane, they heard that Nolan and
Nicole furrowed her brows.Then, when she realized what he was trying to say, she immediately rolled her eyes and said, "Stop fooling around and let go of me."She even swung her arm in an attempt to free herself from Jared's grip.Nevertheless, Jared refused to let go of her, and a mischievous smile crossed his face as he said, "Or perhaps I can give you a farewell kiss myself."His lips were about to touch Nicole's when she immediately exclaimed, "Stop... Fine, I'll do it."A hint of amusement flashed in Jared's eyes as he raised an eyebrow, waiting for Nicole to take the initiative to kiss him.Nicole bit her lip. With Jared's dashing face in close proximity, she could feel her heart pounding uncontrollably.Finally, she gritted her teeth and planted a quick kiss on Jared's cheek. She then turned around, hurriedly got out of the car, strode toward the company building, hearing the beats of her heart in her ear. It was beating rapidly, and her cheeks were flushed and burning.
Nicole was well aware that she and Lawrence had and would always just be friends. Lawrence, on the other hand, was becoming more reserved and had started to hide things from her, so she did not feel the need to ask about his affairs. Although she was curious as to why he had lied about his whereabouts, she did not want to clarify anything with him. She did not feel the need to anyway.Lawrence squinted as she sensed that something was off with Nicole. He had only been away for a few days, yet it felt as if Nicole had changed, becoming somewhat of a stranger that he could not read.Thinking about what he had just witnessed earlier, Lawrence felt a knot forming in his heart. 'Is it because of Jared?'"Leo?" Nicole called out to Lawrence, snapping him out of his stupor."What's the matter?" he asked."Nothing. You must be busy since you've just come back, so I just wanted to ask if you need anything else." Nicole asked with a frown. 'Why was he staring into space just now?'It was r
"Take a seat," Lawrence's expression softened slightly as he gestured for Iris to take a seat.Iris glanced at him and gracefully took a seat next to the couch.Then she went straight to the point, stating, "Mr. Lawrence, I assume you remember what happened last night. So, let's talk about what you need me to do and what you can offer me in return.""Do you want Jared or his empire?" Lawrence asked candidly, not hiding his intentions.Iris raised an eyebrow. "What's the difference?""It's obvious. If Jared retains his current position, you'll never have him. So..."Leaving the sentence hanging, he thought to himself, 'You should understand what I mean, right?'Iris bit her lip, displaying signs of being conflicted within. She obviously wanted Jared, but...Then, she looked at Lawrence and asked again, "What do you want me to do?"Clearly, Lawrence wanted Jared to lose everything. If she had to choose between the two, she would choose Jared, but Lawrence was not a fool either.
"I can't, but I hope NandoCorp wins." Lulu shrugged, looking as if she was just enjoying the show.Nicole raised an eyebrow. "Why do you want Damien to win?""Because I want Raine to lose," Lulu said confidently.Although Damien and his family were ridiculous people, Lulu just felt that it would be more entertaining to witness Raine's misfortune. And to top it off, it was a reason that Nicole could get behind. Either way, it was a very solid reason. If Damien won, it could further broaden the rift between him and Dillon, which would in turn be beneficial for Nicole.Moreover, the person she was most concerned with was Everett. If the battle progressed, there would be more opportunities for her to get to know him, which was indeed crucial for her."What do you think Raine will look like if she loses?" Lulu fantasized happily, as seeing Raine lose would definitely make her feel great.Nicole smiled, realizing that they had formed an unbreakable bond. "About them, you will automatic
"Nope." Jared gently held Nicole's soft hand.Noticing that Jared seemed a little tired, Nicole tilted her head slightly and asked, "You seem a little exhausted. Is work piling up?""It's manageable."Jared tightened his grip on her hand, after which he instructed Max, "Let's go.""Yes, sir."The engine roared to life, and together, they headed toward the Riddle residence.Soon, they arrived at the Riddle family estate, where the courtyard was filled with parked cars."Looks like everyone's here." Nicole glanced around and commented."Yeah, let's go inside." Jared held onto Nicole's hand as they entered the mansion together.Laughter and joy filled the living room, creating a lively atmosphere."Mommy!" Nolan and Lana noticed Nicole's return and happily ran toward her.Nicole stroked their heads and smiled. "Did you listen to Aunt Tia today?""Yes," Lana responded sweetly as she nodded."Mommy, the family banquet today is so lively." Nolan grabbed Nicole's hand and looked
Jane also nodded in approval and her eyes were filled with joy. She genuinely found Nicole likable as well.The whole family had their meal happily. The sound of chatter and laughter filled the room.Stanley was the only one who was eating alone, in silence and with his head down. One would wonder what he was thinking about, or if he was just focused on eating his dinner."Stanley, both Spencer and Samuel have their own girlfriends already. Isn't it time you put some thought into your personal life? You can't get left behind," Nicole teased, raising an eyebrow at Stanley.Stanley replied calmly, "If Mom wants a daughter in law, Spencer and Samuel will give her one soon. If she wants grandchildren, she can ask Sean and Steve. There's no rush for me."Nicole could not help but roll her eyes at Stanley. "That's their business. It has nothing to do with you."Then, she thought, 'When did this become a checklist? They're really treating it like a task from Mom.'"Stanley, I think you
Nicole turned her gaze to June. 'She must have a similar reason.'Before they knew it, dinner was almost over, and the time was getting late.Sean left with Jane, and Steve with Sally. Gloria and Daniel went to put Nolan and Lana to sleep. Stanley watched the couples and did not want to be the odd one out, so he left too.In the living room, Nicole had some fruits while she chatted with Lulu and June.Without the older relatives around, Lulu and June seemed to be a lot more relaxed."So you don't remember us, Nicole? No wonder I've always had a weird feeling. It felt like you seemed a little different when you returned, but I couldn't figure out why." Lulu observed Nicole carefully. 'She could handle everything well, even without her memory. There's really nothing Nicole can't do.'Nicole replied apologetically, "I didn't let you know initially because I had to keep this a secret. Also, I never found the right time to talk about it."The right time presented itself that day, so
"Let's go, it's time to head down. The ceremony will start soon."The group laughed and talked as they left the bridal suite. Jared and his friends, Spencer and Preston, were also guided out by everyone.Now, only the family of four remained in the bridal suite, getting ready for their big entrance."Mommy, it's almost time. Let's get ready," Nolan said, pulling on Nicole's hand.Nicole gently patted Nolan and Lana's cheeks, whispering, "Okay."As she made to stand, Jared extended his hand toward her. Lifting her gaze, she caught Jared in a moment of elegance, his charm unmistakable. A smile bloomed on her face as she placed her hand in his.With a gentle tug, Jared drew her up, his touch tender against her palm.In a swift move, he pulled Nicole into his arms, his other hand circling her waist to pull her close.As Jared looked at Nicole, admiration shimmered in his eyes. "You look truly beautiful today," he remarked."Daddy, Mommy is beautiful every day," Lana chimed in, til
Nicole laughed off the debate between Lulu and June, saying, "Both are lovely. I'm happy with either."Both sets of jewelry were beautiful, and she felt that either would do."Exactly. Nicole will shine in anything," Cindy said, picking a set. "Let's go with this one."Lulu gave June a victorious look. "Told you this was the one."Cindy then suggested, "Why not wear this for the ceremony and switch for the reception? That way, we use both.""Great idea," June agreed, smiling at Cindy's suggestion.Nicole smiled. "Sounds perfect."With everyone agreeing, the stylist went ahead with preparing Nicole.Lulu watched Nicole, amazed by how calm she seemed. "Aren't you a bit nervous?" she asked. Lulu remembered her own wedding jitters.Nicole bit her lip, a hint of nerves showing. "I'm more excited than anything," she admitted.She had been looking forward to this day, ready to face the future with Jared with hope and joy."Just finished," the stylist announced, stepping back to adm
"Do you think I don't want to meet someone? I just haven't found the right person," Gary said somewhat resignedly. He had long regarded Nicole as just a friend."Why don't we just try the dates our families set up?" Ryder suggested, calm and collected. He figured since finding someone on his own wasn't working, maybe arranged dates could help. In their circles, it seemed like good matches were meant to be."Arranged dates don't sound great. You hardly know the person. Are we really okay with deciding to spend our lives together like that?" Preston wasn't too keen on the idea."Emery's doing pretty well with it, you know," Ryder said confidently. "I trust our families. They wouldn't set us up with someone terrible. They've probably made sure we'd be a good match."Gary thought it over. "You might be right. Our families aren't just trying to make deals; they want us to be happy."As Gary and Ryder seemed more into the idea, Preston was still unsure. "You guys are serious?""Why not
Jared held Nicole close and looked at her. "After we get married, we'll move to the estate," he said.Their future home would be just theirs.He thought it was good for Nicole to spend more time with her family since she hadn't been with them for five years. But they knew they would move to the estate later."Okay," Nicole said, nodding. She was happy Jared made the estate close to her family, so she was okay with moving.Jared gently touched her hair and kissed her...****Time flew, and soon it was Nicole and Jared's wedding day.From the morning, San Joto was alive with excitement. Everyone was talking about Jared and Nicole's wedding.Politicians, business leaders, close friends, and business partners all came to wish the couple well.The Riddles were busy welcoming the guests, making everything look amazing."Patricia, hurry up, Charlie's here," Ellar called out as he spotted Charlie. He quickly got Patricia to come and greet him. Max, hearing the fuss, came over too.C
"You really need to rest. You shouldn't work for the next few days. Stay home and rest. A bride has to look her best," Gloria said, looking at Nicole and making the decision for her."Bride!" Nicole was surprised because she hadn't talked about any wedding yet."Yes, now that everything is settled, it's time for your wedding with Jared," Gloria said, deciding firmly. She used to think it was best for the kids to decide for themselves, but after several delays, she felt waiting longer made no sense. The wedding should happen soon."I was thinking that too," Jared said. They had planned the wedding after solving the Everett problem, but then they found out Lawrence had hurt Nicole in the past, causing more delays. Now, with everything sorted out, they saw no reason to wait. The wedding was the next big step.Nicole looked at Jared and, with a smile, agreed, "Okay." Their wedding had been waiting for five years; it was time, with no need to wait any longer."That's so cool, I'm the f
Patricia felt a mix of reluctance and happiness as she prepared to part ways with Charlie.Jared glanced at Charlie and said, "It's about time for us to board." He tenderly held Nicole's hand and led her toward the boarding gate."I need to go through the boarding procedures too," Patricia said, biting her lip. "You must find happiness as well.""I will," Charlie assured her with a gentle smile, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "You've grown up, too. You don't need to cling to me anymore. I believe Ellar will take great care of you."Patricia nodded, then, leaning closer to Charlie, she whispered, 'When Mr. Johnston and Ms. Riddle get married, make sure you bring my future sister-in-law back with you.' Caught off guard, Charlie playfully scolded her, "You little rascal."Doretta, standing not too far away, overheard Patricia's whispered words. Her cheeks turned even redder."Let's go," Patricia announced, then turned to Doretta, adding, "We'll meet again.""Goodbye,
Lying in bed with Nicole cradled in his arms, Jared whispered gently, "Sleep for a bit.""Mhm." Finally feeling at peace, Nicole smiled slightly, and she quickly fell asleep.As Jared listened to her soft breathing, his eyes softened with affection, and he too closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.The next morning, as the group got ready to head back to San Joto, Zane and Doretta came to say goodbye."I still have things to finish here, but I promise to be at your wedding," Zane said with a big smile."And I'll be there to wish you well, Nicole," Doretta added.Saying goodbye is always hard, but everyone knew they had their own journeys to continue."Great, we'll see you in San Joto," Nicole said with a bright smile."It's time to go," Zane said, knowing they couldn't wait any longer without risking missing their plane."I've got the paperwork," Patricia said, ready to help with the travel documents for Jared and Nicole. Then, looking at Charlie, she asked, "Need help with
Nicole was quiet, thinking about everything. 'If I hadn't remembered everything, maybe Lawrence and I could have stayed friends. But after finding out about the airport, it's impossible...'Not only had she regained her memory, but she had also learned about the airport incident. Lawrence had gone to great lengths to prevent her from returning to San Joto."Thanks for saving me before, but you also hurt me. We're even now," Nicole said calmly, looking at Lawrence like he was someone she didn't know anymore.Jared squeezed Nicole's hand gently. "Let's go."They decided to leave the rest to Zane and head back."Wait." Lawrence's voice stopped Nicole. He sounded almost like he was begging. "Please, don't tell Nolan about this."Nicole paused, then said, "I won't tell him. Not for you, but because I don't want Nolan to see how bad people can be."With that, Nicole walked away with Jared.Lawrence sat down, watching her leave, with mixed feelings."Let's go too," Patricia said to C
"Your robots don't work anymore," a voice said, sounding very pleased. Then, a person came out from behind the crowd, looking pretty proud of himself."Carl!" Nicole was shocked to see him. 'It's Carl!'"It's been a while." Carl smiled and waved at Nicole.Carl had come as soon as Zane told him about the problem. He couldn't just do nothing when Nicole needed help.He didn't expect them to act so soon, which is why he was a little late. But he was still in time to help. Carl was surprised by Lawrence's robots at first, but luckily, the weapons he brought, which he had been working on for years, stopped the robots. This was a big help to everyone."We really need to thank Carl; we would have been in big trouble without him," Zane said, feeling relieved.Zane had asked Carl for help, hoping it would make them more likely to win, but Carl ended up being very important."Thank you," Nicole said with a warm smile. It was nice to see an old friend again."No need to thank me. I'm jus