Nicole nodded her head in agreement. 'Thank goodness the case will finally come to a close.'Soon, she and Jared arrived at the Riddle family manor. When the pair entered, Mr. Riddle Sr. was already waiting for them in the living room."You're here! Come, sit down." Mr. Riddle Sr. ushered them to sit.After they sat down, a smile spread across Nicole's face. "Grandpa, you look better now!""I do feel more alive than before. Thank you for coming back to us. If not, I would've died." Mr. Riddle Sr. sighed."No, no. You'll definitely live a long life," Nicole comforted him with a smile.Mr. Riddle Sr. laughed. "I had dinner prepared, so please stay and eat before you leave.""Sure."They both chatted for a while before Mr. Riddle Sr. asked, "Regarding the mansion and the villas, have you made any arrangements?""Grandpa, don't you worry. Both Sean and I are keeping an eye on that." Nicole was confident that no one would be able to take advantage of it."I'm not worried about you
Jared pulled Nicole into his arms, planting a gentle kiss on her temple with utmost care.Nicole looked up at him and rolled her eyes.Jared smiled helplessly. 'She really knows how to press my buttons.'It was not long until they arrived home."Mommy!"Nolan and Lana came rushing over as they saw their parents arrive home.Jared swooped Lana off her feet and brought her into a hug."I missed you, daddy!" Lana cheered, laughing."I missed you too."Lana hugged her father's neck and smiled. Jared patted Lana's head and walked toward the sofa.Nicole looked at Nolan and asked, "Why are you guys still awake? Were you guys watching a movie?""I wanted to wait for mommy to come home so Grandma watched with us," explained Nolan.Nicole held Nolan's hand and they walked toward the living room."Mom.""You're back! Is your grandfather doing, ok?"Nicole nodded. "He's doing fine. We discussed some company matters and came straight back here after dinner."She left out the detail
Nicole waited for a while but there was no response, so she decided to check on the other tasks on the taskbar.Suddenly, an unusual account caught her attention. The Hunters account seemed to be newly created and at a beginner level. However, the techniques used by the user felt strangely familiar to her.She furrowed her eyebrows and traced the account but failed to find its IP address. Even the method used to hide the IP address seemed somewhat familiar.After some extensive thinking, she vaguely recalled that this method was quite similar to Lawrence's.Lawrence was not well-versed in hacking, but he was curious about it, so Nicole had taught him a few things. However, he later expressed that he had no talent for it and had given up on learning how to hack.That happened a long time ago, so her memory of the event was not very clear. 'Still, this technique does resemble Lawrence's. But if Lawrence wasn't interested, why would he log in to the Hunters' website?' she wondered.
At that very moment, the couple's radiance illuminated the entire place, making it even more dazzling."Mr. and Mrs. Johnston!"Some familiar people approached and started chatting with Jared.Gradually, others also gathered around, surrounding Jared and Nicole in the middle.After listening to their small talk, which was mostly about business matters, Nicole gestured to Jared and quietly excused herself from the crowd.She let out a sigh of relief once she stepped out. She looked around the venue. However, she did not see anyone she knew, so she found a quiet spot and sat down.The charity banquet was attended by celebrities from all walks of life in San Joto. But since it was still early, everyone was mingling freely. Nicole, on the other hand, did not feel like engaging in conversation with anyone and wanted to sit quietly by herself, waiting for Jared to join her later.Suddenly, a shadow loomed over her. Nicole's eyebrows furrowed as she raised her head to see who it was.
"Welcome back." Harvey politely extended his right hand with a smile. "I couldn't attend your welcome banquet last time because I wasn't in San Joto."Nicole glanced coldly at Harvey and said, "You don't have to explain yourself. Even if you were here, I wouldn't have sent you an invitation.""You're still the same after all these years." Harvey withdrew his hand, somewhat disgruntled."I've always treated people I dislike this way," Nicole replied as she glanced at Snow.Harvey knew that she was insulting him. Since he had broken up with Snow, it meant that he did not like her. But now, they were back together again, and she despised his actions.However, everything he did was for Nicole. He wanted to prove himself to her, so she would eventually see the actual powerful man that was worthy of her to entrust her life to.For five years, he thought she had vanished and would never see her again, so his feelings for her died along with that thought.That was until he heard that sh
Back there, it sounded like they had a history together. Although it did not sound pleasant, it was evident that they had a history.Ian respectfully replied, "Yes, sir."Looking over again, Lawrence saw that Jared had already sat down with Nicole. Lawrence narrowed his eyes and walked quickly to his own seat.Nicole saw Jared returning and asked softly, "They finally let you go, huh?""They're not as important as my wife," Jared whispered back.Nicole gave Jared a disdainful look and said, "Behave properly when we're in public.""I am behaving properly," Jared said confidently as he held Nicole's delicate hand.'Behaving properly? If others hear that, their jaws will probably drop,' she thought.Gently squeezing Nicole's soft hand, Jared whispered, "What did Harvey say?""Nothing, just reminiscing about the past," Nicole replied nonchalantly.Jared raised an eyebrow slightly. "Do you have a past to reminisce about?""Lulu has already told me about our past." Nicole's face d
Nicole then lowered her voice and said, "I'll visit Mr. Ellison another day.""It's better to invite him out." Jared's expression became slightly somber, and his tone carried a hint of seriousness.Nicole furrowed her eyebrows. "Why?"She felt that something was off. The Ellison Group was a first-rate corporation in the city, and Mr. Ellison's status was not to be underestimated.So why did Jared sound so uneasy when he talked about Mr. Ellison?"For now, Mr. Ellison has stepped down from all positions in Ellison Group, except for the position of principal at the university. Also, all previous partnerships with me have been terminated. Now, Harvey is in full control of the Ellison family affairs," Jared explained in a low voice."Has something happened?" Nicole was sharp, and she immediately thought of a possibility."Probably due to past events," Jared said briefly, without giving detailed explanations.Back then, the Ellison Group always targeted the Johnston Corporation and
Harvey heard it, but he seemed unaffected, still pondering over what exactly made Nicole seem different from before. However, he could not find anything, and this frustrated him.Seeing Harvey continuously focusing on Nicole, Snow could not help but feel annoyed and suffocated. It was driving her crazy."Harvey, that diamond necklace is called 'Heart of the Ocean'. Legend has it that the person who obtains this necklace will be happy for life," Snow said through her teeth but she was still looking at Harvey sheepishly."Heart of the Ocean," Harvey repeated, wondering if possessing it would bring happiness for life."Okay," Harvey finally responded. Snow looked at him with anticipation. If he could win the Heart of the Ocean for her, did it mean that he still had feelings for her?"The bidding for the Heart of the Ocean begins now, starting at five hundred thousand," announced the auctioneer, and the venue immediately became lively."Six hundred thousand dollars!""Seven hundred
"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