"Let's not talk about other people now," Jared said while carrying Nicole to the bed. His eyes were dark with lust. He gently set Nicole down and leaned in to kiss her lips.The next day, the sun rose and shined brightly.When Nicole arrived at the company, Patricia hurried and followed her into the office."Ms. Riddle, it's about the Ellison Group," Patricia whispered. "Harvey is making preparations for a new factory. He might be thinking of expanding it to collaborate with us. This information is being kept very quiet within the Ellison Group, and the news isn't made public yet.""Why is he so sure that I'll agree?" Nicole was at a loss for words. 'So what if Harvey made preparations? He still had to discuss it with me first.'"Maybe he's up to something," Patricia speculated. She felt that Harvey must have thought of something Nicole could not reject.Nicole's expression darkened, realizing that possibility too. 'What did Harvey devise to make me not just interested but also c
The assistant prayed that Harvey would not blame him for the matter. He had followed Harvey's orders without knowing that Thomas would leave so suddenly. Thomas never showed signs that he planned to leave the country."Go investigate what happened now!" Harvey barked aggressively. If his grandfather had gone, his plan would have gone to waste."Yes, sir," his assistant replied, quickly leaving the office.Harvey's expression darkened. His previous triumphant demeanor had vanished, leaving only a sinister look in his eyes.Meanwhile, Nicole was resting after lunch at Riddle Corporation.Patricia entered her office and reported, "Thomas Ellison has already left on the plane. Harvey's men are currently investigating the matter, and soon they'll find out. Should we do something to stop them?""Never mind. There's nothing wrong with me inviting Thomas for medical treatment abroad," Nicole explained. Thomas agreed to go abroad on his own, and he was not forced by Nicole."You're right
"Nicole, is this how you're thinking of repaying me? It was a shame I wasted such precious time missing you," said Lulu, pretending to be hurt."Though I did miss you, I'd rather you have a relaxing honeymoon after all. You'll miss it once it's over," Nicole said seriously.Nicole was well aware that Lulu had been the happiest she had ever been ever since she went on her honeymoon. As a friend, Nicole could not be happier for her."That's more like it." Lulu smirked."Why? Did you call me just to tell me you missed me?" teased Nicole, raising an eyebrow."Oh, that's the main reason, but of course there are other things... I heard a lot of things are happening lately. I wanted to check up on you," said Lulu, trying to keep calm.Nicole smirked. "Everything's fine here. Don't worry! Things have been resolved."Lulu let out a sigh of relief. "That's good to hear. I was worried something might've happened to you. I was even discussing with Spencer about cutting the honeymoon short."
"Mrs. Wallace Sr. How have you been recently?" Tia asked. She looked embarrassed as she met Mrs. Wallace Sr.'s eyes."Don't worry about it, Tia. I'm fine. Luna's been here taking care of me. Please don't pretend you're fine when you're not in the future, okay? It's worrying," said Mrs. Wallace Sr. with some agony in her voice.Mrs. Wallace Sr. had overheard that Tia had gotten pneumonia and was at the brink of death due to her delay in getting treatment."I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry everyone, especially Mrs. Wallace Sr." Tia had guilt written all over her face.Stanley spoke up and warned, "If you don't want anyone to worry about you, please tell us if there's anything troubling you.""Well, enough about that. Everyone, let's dig in," he then said, clapping to get everyone's attention.Everyone quickly changed the topic and started chatting amongst one another. Tia sneakily took a glance at Stanley, an unreadable look was on her face.'Stanley had been taking care of me fo
"From now on, we're a family! Today's a happy occasion, so let's celebrate," cheered Gloria. She grinned happily, looking at Tia who could be her new daughter-in-law.Stanley sneakily hid his smirk as he coolly continued to eat.After dinner was over, Tia wheeled Mrs. Wallace Sr. out to the garden for a breather.Meanwhile, Gloria grabbed Stanley and pulled him to the side. "What's going on?""What? What do you mean?" asked Stanley, confused."What happened over the past two days? Did you not progress well?" Gloria bombarded Stanley, looking at him in disbelief.Stanley had a calm expression as he answered, "Well duh, you have to stop overthinking." Then he turned around and walked up the stairs."What about Cherry Jean?" shouted Gloria.Stanley did not respond and disappeared from Gloria's sight as he reached the top of the stairs.Gloria shook her head helplessly. 'I guess I should leave this to him to sort it out.'The next day, the sun was shining brightly and everyone st
Harvey smirked. "Oh don't be in such a rush, Ms. Riddle. We just finished talking about personal matters. Now let's talk business.""Business? Could you be frank please?" Nicole asked in a serious tone.Harvey sighed helplessly as he looked at the annoyed look on Nicole's face. "It's about the factory. They received a huge international order, and it has over stressed our production limit. So, I'm afraid I would have to ask you to pay attention to the factory for the time being."Nicole frowned. "International orders?"'I haven't received any information regarding this bulk order,' she recalled."We had just negotiated and signed off the contract for it. The order has yet to be placed into the factory's system. I came over to give you a heads up," said Harvey."Okay, I got it," said Nicole monotonously.Harvey was surprised by Nicole's calm composure. "Is that all?""Yeah, what else is there?" asked Nicole, looking completely unbothered. She blinked at him.Harvey almost choke
Harvey stormed out of Riddle Corporation and climbed into his car. He sulked in his seat and demanded, "Drive.""Mr. Ellison, is the project still a go?" his assistant asked cautiously. He looked at Harvey's pissed off expression.Harvey shot back harshly, "Why can't we proceed?"His assistant timidly replied, "Okay, Mr. Ellison." He quickly revved the car engine and began to drive without another peep.Harvey was lost in his own thoughts, looking depressed. He had a lot of things to digest, especially after Nicole had noticed his plans and sent his grandfather away to save him from his threats.Nicole's cold and distant attitude had thrown Harvey off. It told him that Nicole did not want to get involved with him in any way.'Nicole is a treacherous person, with all her calculations. I'd like to see how long Jared will stay by her side and protect her,' thought Harvey.Meanwhile, Jared and Nicole had just arrived at the Biz Club which was different from their usual clubs. It was
After coming to an agreement on the project, Nicole and Jared bid goodbye to everyone and left the Biz Club.Nicole was rendered speechless. "I could never wrap my head around it. How could such an important business negotiation happen at such a serene place like this?""You'll gradually get used to this. In fact, some projects are completed this way," explained Jared, smirking.Nicole nodded. "I see... This way, I guess one can hold a meeting with a clear mind without external factors bothering them. The success or failure of the meeting will all depend on the individuals involved, with no intervention of third parties."Jared interlocked their fingers together. "The most important thing here is that it saves a lot of trouble."Nicole shrugged. "You're right."'Afterall, the scale of this project was quite extreme. If it were to undergo a bidding or investment method, it might not even be resolved within a few months. Companies after companies would come flocking in and come at
"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