"Yeah. I got it." Lulu nodded, understanding June's implication.Initially, she was just making a joke, but upon seeing Patricia's reaction to the innocent little remark she had made, she came to realize that the latter had taken it seriously.Curious, Lulu furrowed her brows and whispered to Nicole, "Is Patricia worried about something she can't divulge to us?"She always felt that while Patricia did care about Ellar, she had never reciprocated Ellar's feelings for her, and there must be a solid reason for that.After glancing over at Patricia and back to Lulu, Nicole simply responded, "Maybe."Since it was a personal matter which Patricia did not seem too keen to talk about, Nicole did not want to probe too deeply. She believed in giving Patricia her personal space to figure things out on her own."Okay then," Lulu responded, sighing as she looked at Patricia and Ellar.She thought it would be a pity if the two missed the chance to get together, but ultimately, the final decis
After she had dished those words out to him, Patricia hurried off to her car parked at the lot.Ellar's eyes glinted with pain and anguish at Patricia's response, but he gritted his teeth and followed her anyway. He could feel that Patricia's resistance toward him was not as strong as he had expected, so he would do well not to give up now.Once they were in the car, Patricia, her tone cold and indifferent, said, "Sit tight, I'll take you home first."After that, she floored the gas pedal, bringing the car out of the parking lot in a jiffy. Having anticipated how fast she would be going, Ellar instinctively fastened his seatbelt and grabbed the handle.On the way, Patricia was going at 80 miles an hour, making the atmosphere in the car quiet yet tense, with a nervous Ellar tightening his grip on the handle, his face scrunched up in fear and concern. He knew that Patricia was in a bad mood, and could not help but wonder if it was because of the confession he had made earlier.After
Even if Jared had demonstrated nary an ounce of care for others, he would definitely not disregard Nicole and her concerns.Upon hearing this, Nicole smiled and replied, "No."If Patricia and Ellar did indeed share mutual feelings of affection, she hoped they would get together.As for Jared, he simply raised his hand to caress her hair. He had never cared about this matter from the very beginning, as it never concerned him."Since you won't object, why not tell Patricia?" she asked, thinking that Patricia would not be bogged down by any of her concerns anymore if Jared was willing to step up and tell her about his lack of objections."Well, it's about Charlie," Jared said indifferently.Since Patricia was working as a subordinate under Charlie, her freedom from the constraints of the organization was his to determine.Nicole raised her eyebrows, and thought about it for a moment. 'Indeed, it's clear that Jared will never interfere with the personal lives of those under his payr
Lulu grinned. "I know. But what if Patricia becomes the female CEO of BayCorp one day?"Nicole shot Lulu a frown and with a sneer, she replied, "Only you would think of that.""Hehe, preparations are still in order, right? We don't want to be caught off guard later on, do we?" Lulu laughed."Well, let's hope so. Alright, back to work," Nicole said, dismissing Lulu."Okay," Lulu turned around and exited the office.Nicole then glanced over at the stack of documents on the table, picked up one, and got busy with it.Meanwhile, in the CEO's office at Ellison Group, Harvey had been sitting at his desk, wide-eyed and motionless after he was done with his work, as if the thoughts darting across his mind had overwhelmed him."Are you okay, Mr. Ellison?" his assistant asked cautiously.He had not barked any orders or given any instructions in over thirty minutes now, so his assistant had been left to wonder what was going on.Today was his first day of recovery, and yet he had been le
"He'll be there. Otherwise, Aunt Emma will definitely notice something unusual." Nicole nodded.Emma would not think too much about his absence if she remained convinced that he was still on his trip abroad. However, she would definitely find it suspicious if he did not return for Emery's wedding."Do you think Patricia will attend the wedding with Ellar?" Lulu asked Nicole, her brows raised in curiosity.Lulu's gossipy nature being in full swing amused Nicole, who replied. "If you're so curious, why don't you ask her yourself?""It's not that I don't want to ask. I'm just worried that if I do, Patricia won't show up," Lulu said, explaining her dilemma.Then, Nicole smiled and said, "She probably won't be there.""But she cares a great deal about Ellar. Isn't she worried about the fact that he's still injured?" Lulu argued, puzzled and in disbelief.'Seriously?!' she thought."Ellar's injury should be fine by now. Besides, everyone from the Riddle family will be there. Think ab
If it was not something important, Jared would not have gone out of his way to work overtime."We need to modify a proposal," Jared explained. "Recently, we've been dealing with a project abroad and we've encountered some practical operational issues. That's why we're planning to make some alterations to the proposal.""I can help too." Nicole nodded in understanding, knowing everyone in Johnston Group was working overtime because they did not wish to put their progress on hold.Jared then glanced over at Nicole and passed her a tub of creamed spinach. "Just wait for me."Nicole had been working the entire day, so he did not want her taking on more than she needed to do for the day."You don't have to worry about me. Perhaps we can get it over with sooner than later with my help." Nicole smiled.Nodding, Jared brushed the stray strands of Nicole's hair aside. "Let's have dinner first."While having dinner, Nicole could not help but think about the project Jared was working to fi
Suddenly, an idea occurred to Nicole, and that was when she looked up at Jared and suggested, "Why don't we turn the tables?""Are you suggesting..." Jared furrowed his brows, mulled over it for a moment, and nodded. "Alright."Since their adversaries had taken action, they could very well use this opportunity to capture the mastermind.Turning to Max, Jared ordered, "Spread the word tomorrow. Tell everyone I will be traveling abroad.""Yes," Max replied."Do it discreetly. Make sure nobody catches what you're up to," Nicole added, offering her addendum to the first set of instructions."Understood. I'll make the arrangements accordingly," Max assured.After Max had left the office, Nicole flipped through the documents in her hand and said, "Looks like we'll have to get this done today regardless of what."Once their task today was complete, they would be able to set their sights on Eastern Falcon and devote themselves to bringing the organization down to its knees."It's almo
Noticing that Jared had also gotten up, she asked, "Are you going out?""No, I'm not," he replied.Max should have left the country by now, with the people in San Joto and abroad believing that Jared was no longer in the country. Thus, he could not make an appearance in public for the time being."Why aren't you sleeping then?" Nicole asked, thinking he should get more sleep."It's okay now. There are a few things I need to take care of for now," he replied.Jared then made a beeline for the bathroom but was stopped midway by Nicole, who hugged him around the waist.Nicole smiled as she looked up at him. "I'm going to work. You will eat well and rest well, okay? I'll be back early after work."After giving her a tender smile, he lowered his head to kiss Nicole on the lips."Sure." Jared nodded following the lingering morning kiss.Nicole then rolled her eyes and walked out of the house, her cheeks as red as roses. As for Jared, his eyes were brimming with tenderness as he watc
"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