A sharp shout interrupted their movements. "Who's there?""Take them all down!" Adolph shouted back, aware that time was even more of the essence now.With discovery, stealth was unnecessary. The group leaped into action, engaging in a fierce melee. The sounds of the fight echoed inside the building."What's happening out there?" the leader of the captors asked, frowning."Somebody's here, not sure who. They're tough, definitely skilled," someone nervously reported. "Could we have been discovered?""How could anyone find this place!" the leader snapped, his face pale with anger.Silence followed as they realized they had company.Nicole exchanged a glance with Paige, understanding that Adolph and Zane must have arrived. Subtly nodding in agreement, they began secretly working on the ropes binding their hands. Soon enough, the knots were undone, and with a flick of her wrist, Nicole dropped the ropes.Flexing their wrists, they launched an attack on the leader before their capto
Even though the victory they had nearly grasped was slipping away, Adolph remained calm. He stopped and formed a protective circle with his men around Nicole.'You want us all to die?' Adolph's eyes locked onto the opponent, cold.Focused, he observed the enemy's remote control. Sacrificing himself was an option, but Nicole's safety was non-negotiable.'Not bad as a backup plan, huh?' scoffed one of the Eastern Falcon's men, ready to face death.'Press it and save us time,' Nicole replied calmly, unfazed.Taken aback, the Eastern Falcon member provocatively said, 'Dying alongside you would be worth it.'Nicole shook her head. 'No, only you're dying today.'The Eastern Falcon member realized something was off. 'Why is she so calm?''What have you done?' he asked, foreboding taking over.Aware that Nicole must have done something, despite signal jamming, they had planned around her capabilities. 'But will we still fail?'A slight smile on Nicole's face as she replied, "Why don'
Nicole grinned, "Alright, time to head home.""But you can't just leave like that!" Zane protested.Nicole replied casually, "You've got this. It's all yours."She and Jared had to get back to Nolan and Lana. They missed their kids a lot in the past few days.Seeing them leave, Zane rolled his eyes."Looks like I'm stuck with the cleanup," he muttered."Handle the aftermath," Adolph told him, leading his team away.Zane frowned. "So, Jared brought me here just to clean up after them?"He sighed and directed, "Take care of them all."Meanwhile, Nicole and Jared had already left in their car.Back at the hotel, Nicole, holding some documents, said, "I need to finish this with Reggie, then we can go back.""Do you need help?" Jared asked softly."Nope," Nicole replied with a smile, leaning in for a kiss on his cheek.Jared wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her passionately.As the night fell and the lights twinkled, a car stopped in front of a club. A couple got ou
"Mr. Martinez, since our trip was a bit rushed, we won't stay much longer. We hope you'll get a chance to visit San Joto and let us return the hospitality," Nicole said, raising her wine glass again, inviting Reggie."Sure, I'll visit when I have the opportunity," Reggie happily agreed.As they chatted, time slipped away, and soon Nicole and Jared excused themselves to leave the club.Their business was almost wrapped up, and they were eager to return to San Joto. Things had gone smoothly, and they longed to be home.After Nicole and Jared left, Reggie took out the documents Nicole had given him. As he read through them, his expression changed, showing signs of excitement and surprise."Come in," Reggie called, and his assistant entered. "Check Nicole's flight time for tomorrow," he instructed."Yes, sir." The assistant, slightly puzzled, went to carry out Reggie's orders.The next morning, Nicole and Jared were preparing to board their flight when they were stopped by Reggie's
"The kids have been waiting for you eagerly at home. They really missed you," Max said, smiling a bit."Yeah, we missed them too," Nicole replied, smiling.Even though it had only been a few days, it felt like a long time to them.When they got back to the Riddle residence from the airport, it was already dark.As they entered the house, Nolan and Lana rushed over and hugged Nicole and Jared."Daddy, Mommy, we missed you so much," Nolan and Lana said, looking up at them with their little heads tilted.Nicole gently stroked their heads and softly replied, "We missed you too.""You're back earlier than we thought," Gloria said with a smile.Nicole and Jared, holding Nolan and Lana, settled on the couch."We finished work and decided to come back early," Nicole replied, smiling."It's great to have you back. These two have been eating less the past few days, really missing you," Gloria said, looking at Nolan and Lana with a touch of concern.Nicole touched the little ones' chee
"Leave it to Zane," Jared said coolly."Scorpio has already been handed over to Pisces and should be with Zane by now," Max replied.With Scorpio captured, the Eastern Falcon's influence in San Joto was effectively wiped out. Now, only Lawrence remained a concern.After a pause, Max added, "Lawrence knows about Scorpio's capture, but he's unusually quiet. It feels like he's plotting something.""Keep an eye on him," Jared instructed. "Lawrence must be feeling the pressure now. He's bound to make a move."Even if they didn't go after Lawrence, it was likely he would come after them. Without Scorpio to shield him, Lawrence had two choices: retreat or strike first. But knowing his character, retreat seemed unlikely."Yes," Max acknowledged respectfully.The car continued forward, Jared leaning back in his seat, his eyes filled with deep contemplation, though his thoughts remained inscrutable.***Meanwhile, at another location."Mr. Royce, Jared and Nicole have returned. They ca
Looking out at the blue sky through the window, Lawrence's eyes deepened in thought.Nicole had secured the design and development project with Apex Corp. With her capabilities, success was almost certain. However, Nicole's former identity meant that Zane would likely be the biggest beneficiary of this success.This development could be a fatal blow to their opponents.Meanwhile, Nicole and Lulu arrived at the office in Riddle Corporation."How's everything going?" Nicole asked Lulu."Oh, everything's been running smoothly, no major issues," Lulu replied."What about Patricia? How is she doing?" Nicole followed up.Lulu thought for a moment, "She's been seeing Martin regularly, but it seems like there hasn't been much progress in her treatment."Nicole sighed, "I've been trying to think of a solution, but nothing suitable comes to mind.""Don't worry, you'll figure it out," Lulu consoled her.Nicole bit her lip, then asked, "How's Ellar doing lately?"Lulu hesitated, "Things
Nicole looked at Lulu with a smile, seemingly reassuring her.With a sigh, Lulu regained her composure. After all, they couldn't just ask Lawrence to leave since he wasn't going anywhere."Everything went smoothly overseas, I hope," Lawrence said, feigning concern."Quite smoothly, and we even had some unexpected gains," Nicole responded, not revealing too much. She believed Lawrence was already aware of the details.Lawrence smiled wryly, "Well, congratulations then."He understood Nicole was being deliberate. She knew he was aware of everything, so there was no need for him to pretend otherwise.Nicole nodded politely, "Thank you."Observing Nicole's seemingly polite but distant demeanor, Lawrence's eyes darkened slightly.Just then, the waiter brought their lunch. After setting it down and wishing them a pleasant meal, he left."Let's eat," Lawrence said with a smile, looking at Nicole."Sure," Nicole replied, showing no sign of discomfort, and started eating and chatting
"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