Besides, taking Nolan and Lana out to play was better than going on a blind date, at least to him.Gloria hesitated for a moment before reluctantly agreeing, "Fine, Ms. Jean loves children too. Taking Nolan and Lana with you might offer you some common topics."Stanley's smile immediately froze, as he began feeling that something was off."Then it's settled. Take us with you tomorrow, Uncle Stanley!" Lana instantly grinned in satisfaction.Her task was done, and all they had to do was to watch things unfold tomorrow. Meanwhile, Nicole chuckled as she watched her kids exchanging smiles. She could tell that Nolan and Lana were planning to disrupt Stanley's blind dates."Mommy, I'm tired. Let's go upstairs and get some sleep." Lana tugged on Nicole's shirt.She intended to sleep now so they could wake up early the next day."Okay." Nicole stroked Lana's hair and went upstairs with both Nolan and Lana in tow.Stanley had a complicated frown on his face. All of a sudden, he began to
"But, will Stanley be okay by himself?" Gloria frowned, thinking that Nicole would follow them around to keep the kids under control at least."He should be fine," Nicole reassured Gloria. "Nolan and Lana are quite well-behaved."Gloria acknowledged this, but she was still worried that things would go south if Nolan and Lana did not like the girl they were meeting for the blind date."It's okay. If it doesn't work out, it's probably just not meant to be," Daniel comforted Gloria, understanding her concerns.Gloria sighed and nodded her head, realizing that all she could do was respect their wishes for the time being.Meanwhile, Stanley had arrived at the designated cafe with Nolan and Lana. However, he was stunned for a moment when he saw Tia looking around at the cafe entrance.'Why is she here?' he wondered.Tia's face lit up with joy when she finally saw Nolan and Lana. However, her smile instantly froze when she saw Stanley.'Mr. Riddle?' She stood, petrified."Tia!" Lana
"Stanley raised his brow a little upon hearing that. "Do you go on blind dates a lot?""Yeah, I have no choice. My family just gets anxious. It's like, if I don't get married now, I'll never get married," Cherry said in defeat."Don't you object to any of it?" Stanley asked, surprised. 'So she just allows her family to arrange dates for her?'Cherry looked at Stanley for a while and smiled. "Well, what would come out of it? I'll just end up like you, Mr. Riddle."They were obligated to come even if they did not want to.Stanley was taken aback for a moment, but in a moment considered rare for a situation like this, he smiled. "Touché."That was what came of their resistance."Mr. Riddle, you haven't been on many blind dates, have you?" Cherry looked at Stanley, her eyes brimming with curiosity."Four times. Is that a lot or a little?" Stanley admitted."Not bad. That's still fewer than me, at least." Cherry laughed.It was rare that the two of them got along well, so they cha
"Well then, just call me Cherry too," Cherry happily agreed.Soon, the group left the cafe and headed to the amusement park.In the car, Tia was sandwiched between Nolan and Lana at the back, while Cherry took the passenger seat.Nolan and Lana both exchanged glances, feeling increasingly anxious as they were sensing that this person was about to become their third uncle's wife. Although they did not dislike Cherry, they still preferred Tia over her."Nolan, what should we do?" Lana asked Nolan softly."Go with the flow," Nolan whispered to Lana.Curious, Tia looked at the muttering kids. "What are you talking about?""It's nothing." Nolan and Lana smiled.This was something they could certainly not tell Tia.Meanwhile, Cherry chattered all the way to the park from the front seat. "I haven't been in one of these places for so long. It was fine when I was abroad, but after I came back, my family was strict with me. They wanted a refined lady. You know, someone who is elegant an
To that, Nolan replied, "Yes, we originally wanted Tia to take us there, but then Ms. Jean said she wanted to go too, so she came along with us."Gloria quickly imagined how Cherry had doted on Nolan and Lana, leading them to become even more fond of her.'It seems that Cherry really likes children, so Nolan and Lana might just have one more person to love them, which is great,' she thought."Stanley, come here and tell me, how was it today?" Gloria asked, almost starting to see Cherry as her future daughter-in-law and was eager to hear Stanley's opinion.Stanley, feeling a headache, ran fingers through his hair and said, "Mom, I'm tired. I'm going to get some sleep."And after he had spoken, Stanley hurried up to his room"Look at him, acting all shy." Gloria became even more elated, feeling that this issue was basically settled.Stanley, however, just could not be bothered to explain anything to Gloria. Although Cherry had spent the entire day with them, he did not feel much f
Jared gently helped Nicole dry her hair and spoke softly, "I was waiting for you."This amused Nicole. "So that's why you were standing at the door."'You made me bump into you as soon as I came out, and now my nose feels sore too,' she thought."Well, keep that in mind then," Jared said meaningfully."Keep what?" Nicole was puzzled. 'Did I say something just now?'"That I shouldn't be standing at the door, and that I should..." Jared deliberately paused before continuing, "I should just go in."Just as Nicole was about to react to what Jared had said, his last remark took her aback."No... Ahem." After a bout of coughing, Nicole blushed and refused. "No, it's fine."It was better for Jared to stand at the door. If he went in...Nicole's cheeks burned bright red as she thought of the image of them taking a shower together."Really? I think it's quite nice, or do you have something that you're not happy with?" Jared continued to tease Nicole while feigning a pitiful look.Nic
Nolan's remark left Lana feeling even more puzzled. "How am I stupid?""Next time, don't ask questions that you shouldn't ask." Nolan, looking like a little adult, reprimanded Lana. "Come on."After that, Nolan pulled Lana along and walked off.However, Lana was still grumbling, "What did I say wrong?"Nicole pursed her lips as she watched her kids, and she then proceeded to warn Jared through gritted teeth, "You're not allowed to kiss me out of the blue anymore, especially when Nolan and Lana might see us."After a moment of thought, Jared said, "As a matter of fact, I actually think it's because we are not intimate enough. That's why you're always so shy. So, from now on, I'll kiss you once every day, and you'll gradually stop blushing.""Why, you..." Nicole glared at Jared. 'So it's my fault now?'Gnashing her teeth, Nicole sighed. "You wish."After saying that, Nicole left Jared to stand there on his own and went downstairs for breakfast.Jared chuckled softly, after which
Nicole immediately furrowed her brows. 'Ellison-and-Riddle? What kind of stupid name is that?'"Ms. Riddle, this... sounds terrible," Patricia whispered to Nicole.No matter how they thought about it, they did not anticipate that Harvey would have such a twisted sense of humor. 'Why did he name it like that? Does he have a screw loose? Is he off his rocker?'"Hello, everyone, I am Nicole Riddle," Nicole interrupted, not wanting to hear what was coming next.The scene instantly fell silent, and Nicole's gaze swept over the faces of the crowd, her eyes frosty and piercing.Then, she loudly announced, "Mr. Ellison probably made a mistake. Although this factory is a joint venture, its name will not be changed."She did not have the energy to think and come up with a name for the time being, so she decided that it would be better for her to keep the original one."The name's not changing?""But that's not what Mr. Ellison said."The crowd broke out in discussion, but Nicole ignored
"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