The sun was setting in the horizon when Jared arrived at Riddle Corporation to pick Nicole up. Nicole just happened to step out of the office then. Jared got out of the car and opened the door for Nicole."You're here." Seeing him, Nicole started walking towards Jared with a smile on her face."Nicole, I'll get going now," Lulu said with a smile. She gave them a teasing look and ran off.Nicole rolled her eyes at Lulu and shouted, "Don't you worry! Spencer will pick you up later!""Don't make fun of me!"After Lulu left, Nicole turned around and followed Jared into the car."I have to go to the hospital first," she said.Jared nodded and replied, "Sure."Jared knew how much Nicole wanted to visit Samuel. Soon, they both arrived at the hospital. Samuel was unable to move by himself, but he was allowed to move around using a wheelchair.At that time, Samuel was having dinner with June in his hospital room. Both of them were surprised to see Nicole and Jared walk in."What bring
"Don't worry about it, Nicole. I can take care of him," June said, finally speaking up.June was over the moon when she heard that Samuel was going to get discharged soon. She was happy for him but at the same time she worried about him.'If no one can take care of Samuel by then, knowing his restless personality, he's bound to get into trouble if anything were to happen,' she thought."I'm sorry we have to trouble you with babysitting him," said Nicole. She did not have high hopes for Samuel, so she agreed on his behalf."But, if she has to take care of me, where will she stay?" Samuel frowned, feeling a little discomfort.'This is what I was afraid of. Tension in the air.' Nicole mentally cussed out Samuel in her mind. 'Why is he so stupid? Why can't he just agree, instead of asking questions like these? June has a two-bedroom apartment. Why is he concerned about this?'Knowing the current situation at the Riddle's, June answered after pondering a while, "Then we can stay at my
In the midst of the hustle, everything still seemed normal and progressed slowly.As usual, the whole city was bustling, and the people on the streets were all rushing to their own destinations.Jared sent Nicole to the Riddle Corporation as per routine.Just as Nicole got out of the car, Lawrence's car appeared and came to a halt beside them.Nicole looked at Lawrence with shock. "Leo, what are you doing here? Is something going on?"It was supposed to be working hours, so why would Lawrence appear there at that moment?"I'm here to see you." Lawrence's tone was calm, as if there was nothing going on. But when he turned his gaze to Jared, it was dark.In fact, Lawrence was actually in a bad mood. So, he wanted to find a place and take a breather. But the only place he could go was where Nicole was."Let's head up then." Nicole did not give it much thought and invited Lawrence to her office. Then, she turned back to Jared and said, "I'll head up now. Bye.""I'll pick you up wh
This coffee was specially prepared for her by Jared. In fact, Jared had also mentioned that all the coffees she drank previously were brewed by him.Therefore, Nicole's taste buds had been pampered with the best. How could she take in normal coffee anymore?Hearing Nicole's response, Lawrence narrowed his eyes and a hint of gloom flashed across his eyes.He suddenly recalled Lana mentioning Jared and Nicole getting ready for their wedding. Lawrence felt even more annoyed.He had tried his best to stop Nicole from returning to San Joto, and all of it failed. And now, they were already in such a situation."Nicole." Lawrence's voice was hoarse."Yes?" Noticing that Lawrence was not in a good mood, Nicole raised her eyebrow and looked at him questionably. 'Did anything happen? Why is he acting weird today?'Lawrence smiled and asked casually, "I noticed that you've been really close to Jared these days. So, I'm curious if you've recalled anything from the past."Nicole shook her h
"Sean, why do I feel like there's something off with Lawrence?" Steve mumbled with a frown.At the same time, Sean's eyes darkened. "Yes, there's something sinister about him today."Although he still looked the same as before, the gaze from his eyes had left everyone around him feeling perturbed."Why did he look for Nicole?" Steve frowned again, worried that Lawrence would harm Nicole.Sean hesitated for a moment, after which he decided, "Let's check on Nicole."That feeling was inexplicable, and the only thing Steve knew was that he felt uneasy about it; the version of Lawrence he had seen today had put him on guard."Sure." Steve agreed.Naturally, he was willing to do so, as he felt really anxious for Nicole.When the both of them arrived at Nicole's office, Nicole was taken aback. "What's the matter?"'They should have concluded their meeting already. And since the both of them came over together, I guess it might be something about the company which requires my decision
Lawrence looked out of the window, and his gaze became even darker.Jared was really adept at pulling tricks and maneuvers, while Lawrence had been extremely careful and cautious with every move he made. And yet, once Jared had shifted the pieces to his favor, the tides turned.Lawrence even assumed that if he simply allowed Iris to do her job, Jared would only find out about her when he investigates. But lo and behold, Jared was able to connect the dots, traced it back to Lawrence, and used it as an opportunity to retaliate.Lawrence had poured a lot of effort into the project abroad. If he could not solve this issue, he would suffer major losses. Fortunately for him, he had noticed that something iffy was going on. At present, Lawrence wanted to see if Jared would continue playing the same card, now that Nicole had been dragged into it.In the Johnston Group headquarters, Max followed Jared into the office and with a heavy look on his face, he reported, "Lawrence went and met wit
During afternoon break, Nicole and Lulu went to the hospital together.It was the final check-up for Samuel. Once they got the results and verified that everything was fine, Samuel would be discharged.By this time, the results should be out already, so Nicole and Lulu entered and asked, "How are things?""The doctor says that he recovered well, and that he'd be allowed to go home to rest. But he'd have to be careful when he goes back..." June said, before she went on to explain everything they should take note of.Seeing how well June had remembered all of the finer details, Nicole teased her, "You've explained it so well, I think you can be a nurse already.""But you don't have to tell us, as long as you remember them clearly. After all, you're the one who's going to take care of him." Lulu piled in.June instantly blushed and yelled, "Stop teasing me!The reason as to why she had filled them in was because she wanted everyone to understand Samuel's situation. That way, they w
Samuel held June's hands and smiled, "There's nothing to be shy about. Let them admire us."And once again, she rolled her eyes at Samuel and said, "They don't need to admire us at all!"'Those two are also in loving relationships. Why should they admire us? Also, I believe we should be low key about our relationship.'"I'll make them admire us," Samuel said meaningfully. 'Especially Spencer! I must get married before he does!'Unsure of what was going on in Samuel's mind, June took Samuel's words as nothing, but a response based on impulse. Then, she pushed him out of the ward.By the time they reached downstairs, their ride had arrived.Spencer and Lulu placed the bags into the car and turned to June and Samuel, "Come on! We're about to leave!"After Samuel had been wheeled over, the three of them worked together and pushed Samuel into the car. And after they had placed the ramps away, Nicole and Lulu walked over to their seats and got on."We'll meet at the apartment." The b
"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