"I'm meeting with a client nearby, around noon. The meeting should be quick. How about having lunch together?" Lawrence suggested, not noticing Nicole's change in demeanor.Nicole frowned and rejected, "I'm afraid not today. I have things to take care of. Maybe next time."Disappointed, Lawrence said, "Alright then, I'll ask you out another day.""Sure thing," Nicole agreed with a faint smile."Speaking of which, it's been a while since I last saw Nolan and Lana. Why don't we take them out for a day when they're free?" Lawrence tried.Nicole bit her lip and hesitated to refuse directly. So she replied, "I'll check with them first.""Fine by me. Let me know when you've set a date." Lawrence smiled, thinking Nicole was accepting his invitation."Yeah." Nicole faked a smile and remained silent. Her current feelings toward Lawrence were complicated, and she was unsure of how to approach Lawrence. She could only wait for the final results of the investigation. She did not even know w
"Mr. Royce, should we let Hanwick leave?" Ian asked. After all, it was fake. Ian was afraid people might question if Hanwick continued to stay."Not now. We might still need him." Lawrence's gaze darkened. Nicole had yet to suspect anything, so he felt like keeping Hanwick around was still necessary."Yes, sir." Ian did not dare to interfere with Lawrence's decision."Tell Hanwick to lay low these days. I can't protect him if his identity is exposed." Determination flashed in Lawrence's eyes. If Hanwick's identity raised suspicions, Lawrence could not guarantee his safety as he had to protect himself."Got it," Ian replied.Lawrence's sight focused outside the car window, his deep gaze revealing nothing about his thoughts as the car slowly left DillCorp.The scorching afternoon sunlight made everyone feel drowsy.After lunch, Nicole leaned against the sofa resting. She was half asleep, unable to distinguish her dream and reality. There was a string of letters that kept appearing
Leaning against her chair, Nicole's expression was as cold as ice. She thought of investigating the matter more carefully. After getting someone on it, Nicole sighed and continued working.Dusk was approaching, and the people off work were all rushing back home.Nicole and Jared brought the kids back to the Riddle family manor."Why, isn't this lively?" Dexter's family was in the living room."Hi, Dexter. Hey, Emma," Nicole greeted them and sat on the couch."Hey, you're back!" the couple responded. When they saw the kids, they smiled. "This must be Nolan and Lana."The kids looked at Nicole in confusion, so Nicole introduced them/ "This is your Grandpa Dexter and Grandma Emma."After greeting them politely, the kids stared at Emery and Ellar."This is Uncle Emery and Uncle Ellar," Nicole introduced."Hi, Uncles," Nolan and Lana sweetly called out.Emma smiled, filled with envy. "Oh my, you two are so adorable!"She then took out the gifts she had prepared for them. "Here yo
"Let's get it done now. Samuel and Spencer aren't back yet. We'll be done by the time they're back, and we'll have dinner together," Daniel proposed."Sure, I'll do the writing," Dexter volunteered.Watching the others get busy, Ellar turned to Nicole and asked, "Hey, Nicole. The wedding day is getting close. When are you announcing Nolan and Lana's identity?""We're not preparing to announce it in advance. We'll wait till the wedding banquet," Nicole answered while exchanging glances with Jared.Nicole had already discussed the matter with Jared. They planned to announce the kid's identity in front of the guests, but not the public. Those attending the wedding were all important friends, families, and business partners. As for the others, they felt it was not necessary to inform them.Ellar pondered for a moment before agreeing, "You're right. Those not within the list don't really need to know anyways."Nolan and Lana were still young, and keeping them hidden from the public wa
"Oh, it's nothing. We just heard about the kids and figured we should visit them. Besides that, the wedding for you and Spencer is getting closer, so we're here to help your parents with the guest list," Dexter explained while smiling."Thank you, Dexter and Emma," Samuel said. "I really appreciate your help.""Don't say it like that. It's a joyous occasion, and we are more than willing to help," Emma laughed."Speaking of which, after all the preparations, we're almost ready for the wedding. We're just waiting for the big day," Gloria said contentedly.It was a relief for the parents to see their two kids getting married."Next one up is Nicole, right?" Emma chuckled and looked towards Nicole. "When are you and Jared going to hold the wedding? Be sure to call me for help.""Thank you, Emma," Nicole thanked politely and added, "However, we don't have plans for now.""We're naturally not in a position to comment on your matters. I'm just saying when you do, please hit me up," Emm
The only person Nicole could think of was Damien and Everett, no one else would have such a grudge against DillCorp aside from them."What should we do?" asked Lulu, in a serious expression.Nicole's mouth twitched. "Let's seek Johnston Group's cooperation.""Oh... John-Johnston Group?!" Lulu took a minute to get the big picture and when she did, her eyes widened in shock.Nicole raised her eyebrows. "Why? Can't we work with them?"Lulu shook her head. "No, I thought you were going to fight fire with fire."'It didn't cross my mind that Nicole would collaborate with Johnston Group, on top of everything else,' Lulu thought to herself."I mean, not just collaborating with Johnston Group itself but there are a few subsidiaries that their company has. We'll collaborate with them all," Nicole declared.She turned to look Lulu in the eye. "I'll arrange this with the headquarters myself."'If Everett is thinking of ruining DillCorp's collaborative work, then he ought to try harder. N
"Looking for me?"Lulu looked at the secretary and frowned. 'Who would want to find me?'"Did they say who they were?" asked Lulu."No, do you want to head downstairs?" asked the secretary as she shook her head.Lulu hesitated for a while before standing up. "I'll go down and have a look."Lulu's heart was filled with worry as she inched closer to the lobby. Her eyes fell on a strange looking woman. She walked up to her and asked, "Are you looking for me?""Are you Lulu Barrera?" the unknown woman asked, scanning Lulu up and down."I am, but may I ask why you're looking for me?" asked Lulu, her voice filled with uncertainty. Lulu had never seen this woman before in her life, unclear of what her objective could be.Suddenly, the woman grabbed her by the collar and screamed, "You evil bitch! My brother almost died because of you and you're here enjoying your life like nothing happened!""Hey! Excuse me, ma'am. What are you talking about?" Lulu whimpered, frightened by the sudden
Nicole slowly walked over to the lobby. In her office earlier, she saw a mob of people rushing into the building from her window. She wanted to ask Lulu to check what was going on, not knowing that something had happened to Lulu."I don't know her! She suddenly came here and started slandering me and even dragged me around for a few feet!" exclaimed Lulu as she burst into tears.Nicole held Lulu's hand tightly, but it did not stop Lulu's hand from trembling. Lulu was traumatized. Nicole gave Lulu comforting pats on the back. "You go home and rest.""But..." Lulu stuttered, looking at Nicole like a lost puppy."Don't worry. I'll take care of things here," said Nicole as she turned around to signal the front desk. The front desk understood immediately and ushered Lulu away.Nicole's expression darkened almost immediately after Lulu left. She turned to look at the report, completely overlooking the woman's existence."Which media publication do you belong to? I see that all the medi
"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