"Ms. Riddle, you should check the news online," Patricia said."What's going on?" Lulu, just as curious as Nicole, pulled out her phone.When Lulu saw the news, she was shocked. "Dillon really did that!"She hadn't thought Dillon would personally step in to defend Nicole. This meant all the bad stuff said about her online didn't matter anymore.Nicole was surprised too. She hadn't expected Dillon to clear things up for her."Ms. Riddle, all the mean stuff about you online is gone now. This should all work out fine," Patricia said. She hadn't even put their plan for DillCorp into action yet."I guess I owe Uncle Dillon a thank you," Nicole said, genuinely surprised. "I'll go to the Riddle family place after work.""I'll come with you," Lulu said."Sure," Nicole said, smiling."What about NandoCorp?" Patricia asked."With DillCorp sorted and BayCorp's problem likely to be cleared by tomorrow, NandoCorp's the only one left," Nicole said."No worries there," Nicole said. "We mig
"Okay," they all said together, heading to the dining room.Once they were seated, June asked Nicole about the company stuff. "Is everything sorted out now?""Yeah, all good," Nicole confirmed."That's a relief," June said, feeling better.She had heard about the problems at Riddle Corporation and had planned to talk to Nicole and Lulu after work. When she found out they were going to the Riddle family manor, she decided to go with them."Today was crazy. Patricia helped with BayCorp, Nicole and I went to NandoCorp... DillCorp was the trickiest, but Dillon saved us," Lulu told June about their day."It's surprising how much of a difference it made," June said, surprised. Everett had been quiet for a while, but this was big."I just hope we can catch him this time," Lulu said, thinking hard. 'If we have proof, we can get him in trouble.'"He's sneaky; he might not leave any proof," Spencer said, looking serious.Samuel added, "We need to be careful.""We know," Lulu said.Nic
"Then we'll keep at it," Jared said, undeterred by the lack of evidence."What's your plan?" Benjamin asked, curious."I wanted a permanent solution, but if that's not possible, I'll keep playing the game with him," Jared said, determination in his eyes. He wouldn't let Everett win easily."Do what you have to. I..." Benjamin paused, his tone firm. "I've cut ties with that bastard. The Riddle family doesn't need him."To Benjamin, Everett didn't deserve to be part of the family, and cutting him off was the right choice."Got it," Jared said, his expression serious."Jared, thanks for looking after Nicole," Benjamin said, sighing. "I know she's not as agile as she used to be, probably because of everything she's been through.""Grandpa, it's my job," Jared replied. Protecting Nicole was important to him.But Jared couldn't shake the feeling. Even though he hadn't told Benjamin everything, he'd noticed the changes in Nicole.Seeing Jared's contemplation, Benjamin spoke frankly.
Meanwhile, at BayCorp, Patricia had already reached Ellar's office."Did the companies we planned to meet with arrive?" Patricia asked Ellar."Yes, they're here. My secretary showed them to the conference room," Ellar replied, standing up. "Let's go.""Okay," Patricia agreed, and they went together to the conference room.Inside were four people, each with an assistant behind them.Ellar looked at them and said, "Now that everyone's here, let's begin."He sat at the head of the table and said loudly, "If you have doubts about my company's qualifications, please check out these documents first."The secretary handed out some papers, and the attendees started to read them."When you wanted to partner with our company, you liked that it was connected to Riddle Corporation. Now, you're questioning my qualifications," Ellar said, looking around the room. "I understand. Legally, it's a problem on my end.""Mr. Riddle, some things were out of our control," one person tried to explain
"So, you're saying you don't want to end the contract?" Ellar raised an eyebrow, seeking confirmation.Aadesh sighed, "Let's not jump the gun. If the investigation goes ahead, not ending the contract will mean bigger losses for you."By then, not only would getting compensation be impossible, but they'd also be facing double the loss."But..." The others hesitated, their expressions showing concern."Hey, since you're not into canceling the deal or losing out, I've got an idea," Patricia chimed in, sensing it was the right time to speak."Who are you?" Aadesh scrunched up his face, not too happy. He'd thought Patricia was just Ellar's secretary, and usually, secretaries don't get a say in stuff like this.Patricia gave Aadesh a calm look. "I'm from Riddle Corporation, Nicole Riddle's assistant.""Nicole Riddle..." Aadesh's voice trailed off, sensing something wasn't right. His tone got a bit accusing. "You're Riddle Corporation CEO's assistant!"The other CEOs also started look
"Let's hear it then. What's the outcome?" Lulu asked with curiosity.Patricia recounted the meeting with the CEOs of BayCorp's partners, which made Lulu smirk. "Aadesh Lane must be regretting his decisions now.""Yeah, he looked pretty bummed when he left," Patricia said, figuring anyone in his shoes would feel the same."The more he regrets, the happier we are," Lulu said, relishing the situation. "Who does he think he is? Now he knows what it feels like."Watching the exchange, Nicole couldn't help but smile. "As long as things are sorted, that's what counts." They wouldn't push away those who wanted to keep working together, but they wouldn't cling to those who didn't."Now we just have to deal with NandoCorp. We're still waiting to hear back," Lulu said, getting back on track. "Nicole, how did you set everything up?""Everything's ready, just waiting for the official paperwork," Patricia replied."I can't wait," Lulu said, raising an eyebrow with anticipation."Same here,"
"Nolan and Lana's birthdays are almost here, and I was thinking..." Lawrence stopped for a moment, then said, "I thought about taking them to the amusement park for some fun."Nicole's expression changed as she replied, "I can take them. You don't have to bother.""But as their godfather, I want to show them some love too," Lawrence said, sounding a bit upset.Lately, he often found himself thinking about Nolan and Lana, remembering their time together on Crescent Island. Watching them grow up day by day and calling him 'goddad' was a precious memory. Unfortunately, things hadn't been the same since they moved to San Joto.Nicole frowned, realizing Lawrence's request was not as simple as that.After a moment of hesitation, Nicole's tone turned frosty. "I think it's best if you don't have any more contact with them."Lana might handle it better, but for Nolan, Lawrence's actions hit hard. Even though Nolan didn't show it much, Nicole understood. Back on Crescent Island, Nolan reli
"If Lawrence decides to break our agreement and see Nolan and Lana behind my back, I won't hesitate to cut off all contact with him," Nicole stated firmly."What is he even thinking? I can't wrap my head around it," Lulu fumed. "How can he hurt you and then act like nothing's wrong?"Lulu found Lawrence's actions incomprehensible. 'Is he heartless, or is he just not thinking straight?'"There's a lot you don't know," Nicole said, her eyes narrowing with meaning.Lawrence wasn't just a company's CEO; he held significant influence in Mecrounia. When Nicole and Jared sought his help five years ago, his status was already high.Now, his position in Mecrounia was even more prominent, not to mention his hidden, darker identity.Nicole was aware of all this, as Lawrence hadn't kept it from her before she regained her memory.As Lulu observed Nicole's thoughtful expression, her own demeanor grew more serious.While Lulu didn't know all the details, she could tell from Nicole's tone tha
"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