The kids each took a muffin, bit into it, and nodded enthusiastically. "Wow, these are so good!""When I was little like you guys are, these were my favorite. Grandma made them for me all the time," Nicole said."Great grandma sure knows how to bake," Nolan and Lana said before proceeding to munch on their second bite.Seeing the kids' delight, Nicole grinned. "She would be thrilled to know you guys love them."Reaching for a muffin as well, Stanley said, "I've got to try one of these."Daniel and Gloria looked at one another before they took one each for themselves. They wanted to try the treats that had sparked the sudden return of one of Nicole's memories, thinking they must be unique.After dinner, Nicole said to Nolan and Lana, "I'm heading over to visit my grandma. You guys want to come?""Yeah," Nolan and Lana chimed in together.Nicole then turned to Stanley. "And you?""Me?" Stanley was taken aback."I think Tia might've hurt her leg," Nicole said and paused, leaving
"You don't have to." Nolan shook his head.Mrs. Wallace Sr. gave them a look of puzzlement. "Why? You said they were delicious.""It's not that. Making those muffins is a lot of work. We can help out next time," Lana chimed in.Mrs. Wallace Sr. laughed heartily, her mouth wide in amusement. "Such good kids. Just like your mom, always caring for others from a young age.""Well, we are Mommy's kids," Nolan and Lana replied with a hint of pride.Their playful attitude made Mrs. Wallace Sr. burst into laughter, thoroughly enjoying the moment with them."I can make them too. Next time, we'll do it for you," Tia said, emerging from the small kitchen, her eyes twinkling as she brought a plate of fruits to them.Nicole took the plate. "Your leg is hurt. Go treat it before it gets worse.""It's fine," Tia replied, cheeks reddening in embarrassment. "It's just a minor bump. No big deal.""Go apply some ointment on it. You need to take care of yourself so that you can look after Grandma,
"I really don't need to go to the hospital," Tia protested when she heard the mention of the hospital.She believed her injury was just a minor one."If you don't want to go to the hospital, rest up," Stanley said, his voice firmer than usual.Tia hesitated, swallowed, and after a moment, she said, "Alright, I get it."She thought she could agree now and do whatever she wanted tomorrow when nobody was around to look.Stanley gave her a knowing look, but opted not to confront her about it. "Alright. Rest up for now.""I..." Tia began to rise, but stopped short when Stanley interrupted her."I'll check on Mrs. Wallace. If she needs help, I'll provide it for her," he stated."Thanks," Tia said gratefully.Stanley shot a brief glance at Tia, hesitated for a moment, then silently walked away.Now alone in the room, Tia was finally at ease. With Stanley around, she had been feeling an unusual tension. She found it surprising that Stanley had made it a point to check on her over suc
"I had a chat with Stanley. Let's go," Nicole said, linking his arm with Jared's.Jared glanced down at her, his tone affectionate. "Did you enjoy visiting your grandma?""Yeah, we were reminiscing about my childhood," Nicole replied, her eyes sparkling with joy and nostalgia.Touched by her happiness, Jared softly suggested, "When things settle down, we should go back for a visit.""That sounds great," Nicole replied, her eyes wide and hopeful. 'That's a good idea. I bet Grandma would love to see the old house again.'Back in their room, Nicole began humming a tune as she headed to the bathroom. The idea of visiting her childhood home filled her with anticipation. And as Jared watched her, a small smile played on his lips. He was planning to take her back to see where she had grown up once everything that had been playing.The next morning, after breakfast, Nicole and Jared dropped Nolan and Lana off at preschool and made their way to DillCorp. Although Nicole owned the company,
'Is Lawrence the key to all this? Does he know something?' Jared thought.Meanwhile, Nicole strode into DillCorp's CEO's office, and when she arrived, she looked around the refurbished room with a satisfied smile."Nicole, you made it!" Lulu exclaimed, entering the room with several people in tow, each holding a folder."Ms. Riddle," they greeted with a nod, and lined up before her.Nicole took her seat, briefly met their eyes, and began, "Fill me in.""Due to poor management, DillCorp has gotten itself embroiled in financial troubles, making it hard for it to achieve significant progress soon," one of them stated."We've noticed discrepancies in our accounts and are looking into them.""I also believe we should reconsider the employment of some of our staff. Some might not fit into our vision."Hearing the reports, Nicole massaged her temples. She knew DillCorp had its share of issues, but she had not realized the extent of them.Taking a deep breath, Nicole replied, "I get i
"I'll make sure he backs off," Nicole said, her eyes showing determination. "With DillCorp now under my control, everyone will know not to mess with it.""Do you think he'll actually back down? He's not one to give up easily," Lulu said, concerned."We'll see if Everett's got what it takes," Nicole replied coolly. "I'd love to see him try to pull anything off without my say-so." She then looked intently at Lulu. "Tell everyone to keep things under wraps. We can't let any company secrets leak out."Lulu nodded in understanding. "Got it," she replied. She had also thought about telling everyone to stay quiet and maybe even spreading a few fake stories.Seeing Lulu's sly smile, Nicole chuckled and shook her head. 'Lulu's getting cleverer each day.'Once Lulu left, Nicole started reading a file in front of her.Over at NandoCorp's manager's office, Everett leaned back in his chair, looking annoyed. "You're sure Nicole's at DillCorp now?"His assistant nodded. "Yes, she went there fi
"She sure has a lot of nerve, taking over DillCorp like that!" Damien's voice rose sharply."Well, Grandpa's aware, and Preston doesn't seem to care," Everett replied, sounding indifferent.Hearing this, Damien grew more irritated. "Doesn't anyone object? Have they all lost their minds?!"Everett lowered his head, silent for a moment. He knew Damien was just venting. 'If Grandpa doesn't oppose what's happening now, maybe he won't oppose my future actions either. Do others' opinions even matter? This might just work in my favor.'"No way, we can't let this go. Wasn't it Nicole who first brought up the idea of splitting up the company? And now she's simply taking over DillCorp?" Damien's face darkened. "If Dillon and his team didn't manage well, that doesn't mean Nicole should get it all. We all have a stake in this.""So, you're thinking of talking to Grandpa?" Everett asked casually.Damien took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. 'Is there any point in going to him? I mean, i
"Alright, let's meet there after work," Nicole said."Sounds good. I'll tell Spencer he doesn't have to pick me up," Lulu replied. She then sent Spencer a quick message.Similarly, Nicole informed Jared she would be having pizza with June and Lulu after work and suggested he go home first."Alright, I need to get going. See you later," Lulu said.As she stood up and left Nicole's office, Nicole went back to her work.When it was time to leave, Nicole and Lulu left DillCorp, caught a cab, and headed to the Royal Creek Institute."You know, the three of us haven't hung out there in about five years," Lulu said. "After you went missing, Nicole, it was just June and me visiting from time to time.""It's hard to believe it's been five years." Nicole sighed. 'So much has changed, but at least we're still best friends.'When they arrived at the restaurant, June was already there, motioning for them to join her. "Come sit here!""You're early," Lulu said, guiding Nicole to sit down.
"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