Ellar pondered, 'Don't people usually meet and chat first, even for a blind date? But my mom's acting like she's arranging a marriage straight off?'"Just tell her straight; you've got someone in mind. That's the truth, right?" Lulu nudged Ellar, urging him to confess.Right as Lulu's words hung in the air, Patricia was seized by a sudden coughing fit."Easy there, drink some water," Ellar quickly handed her a glass, concern etched on his face.Patricia's coughing subsided after a moment, and she took a few sips of water, murmuring, "Thanks.""Long as you're alright," Ellar commented, pained to see Patricia flush from the coughing spell."Let's focus on the meal, Lulu," Patricia interjected before Lulu could delve deeper, steering her away from further probing."Alright, let's eat," Lulu agreed, holding back her questions.She recognized that some issues needed to be navigated delicately. The evolving dynamic between Ellar and Patricia was something they had to untangle on thei
"Alright, get to work," Nicole gently patted Lulu's shoulder."Okay." Nodding, Lulu headed to her own office.After returning to her office, Nicole sat down at her desk. She flipped through the documents on her desk, her brow slightly furrowing. Concerned about Ellar's situation, she felt somewhat relieved that Patricia had arranged for someone to follow Ellar, ensuring his personal safety.Meanwhile, Ellar was making his way toward BayCorp.He had deliberately chosen the lunch hour for his visit, hoping to discuss some investigative matters and also hoping to catch a glimpse of Patricia.Since the last incident with Patricia, when she came for the surveillance footage and encountered Emma and Doretta, he was aware that Patricia might misunderstand the situation. Patricia, being highly intelligent, would easily see through the intentions behind Emma bringing Doretta along.After all, if he could understand the situation, Patricia surely would too.But some things, once they had
After dinner at home, Nicole received a call from Patricia."Ms. Riddle, Dr. Wyance gave me some application medicine, saying that although my face has recovered, it would be better to continue using it for a while longer."Hearing Patricia's words, Nicole responded cheerfully, "I see, then you should use it for a while longer."It seemed the visit was for this reason; Martin had been thoughtful."Ms. Riddle..." Patricia hesitated, then said, "But something doesn't feel right."Nicole's brow furrowed slightly. "What do you mean?""The medicine Dr. Wyance gave me looks like it could last a very long time." It seemed excessive for just a follow-up treatment; she could always go back for more if needed.Nicole, sensing Patricia's implication, couldn't help but ask, "Did you notice anything else?"Given Patricia's suspicions, there had to be more than just this one concern."When I was there, Dr. Wyance was instructing his assistant about some matters, and from his tone, it seemed
The aroma of coffee lingered in the air as Martin's voice slowly filled the space."Actually, I'm planning to go find Cindy," he said frankly, though his demeanor showed a bit of unease.Nicole's eyebrows rose slightly in surprise. "Cindy? You...""Yes." Martin nodded, speaking softly, "It's only in her absence that I've realized I can't live without her."Without Cindy, Martin's life had turned unbearably dull and monotonous. His days were confined to the laboratory, with no one to share his thoughts with, no one to break the silence of his solitude. This solitude, once a sanctuary, had morphed into a suffocating cell.He recognized that Cindy's presence had injected vibrancy into his life, turning the monochrome to technicolor. Her departure had reverted everything back to a bleak grayscale. The void of her absence made every idle moment a gateway to memories of their shared times, each memory a sharp, vivid sting.The haunting image of Cindy's desolate departure was a constant
"Okay, I understand," Nicole said, taking the document with her."I'll get back to work then," Lulu replied, turning to head to her office.Back in her office, Nicole opened the document and frowned slightly after a brief look. The project seemed promising, clearly a worthwhile investment opportunity. However, something about the content felt eerily familiar. 'I've never heard of the company, but why does the project's design seem so familiar?'After a moment's hesitation, Nicole took the document to Sean's office."What's up?" Sean looked surprised to see her; it was rare for her to visit him during work hours."Sean, take a look at this," Nicole handed him the document. "Lulu found it, and I think there's something off about it.""Hmm." Sean's expression turned serious as he began to read through the document, his brow furrowing more deeply as he continued.Nicole's gaze sharpened slightly. "Did you find something?""This was a project initiated by Uncle Damien a long time ag
After a moment's thought, Patricia started the car and followed the man.At a corner, the man removed his hat, glanced around with a smug look, then climbed into a car parked by the roadside and drove off. Patricia snapped photos of both the man and his car, sending them straight to Charlie with instructions to dig deeper.Later, Patricia made her way to Ellar's office."What brings you here?" Ellar's surprise at seeing her was tinged with a note of happiness."Nicole asked me to keep an eye on things here," Patricia said, pausing before asking, "Everything alright on your end?""Absolutely, everything's running smoothly," Ellar assured her.Patricia's brows knit together slightly. "No unusual incidents, or unexpected visitors?"Having just seen Doretta downstairs, she couldn't help but speculate, 'Doretta's visit... was it to see Ellar? And that man she was dealing with seemed off. Could there be more to Doretta than meets the eye?'Ellar, taken aback, responded, "As far as I'
"Vouch for you?"?" Ellar's brows furrowed as he asked, "Which company?"He hadn't heard of companies requiring a local reference to vouch for a job candidate for employment."It's just a couple of blocks away, at a place called—"Doretta couldn't finish the sentence before Ellar cut in with a hint of suspicion, "A couple of blocks away... Are you sure it's not some front company?"That area wasn't known for hosting significant, reputable businesses. With Doretta's skills, she shouldn't need to look into lesser-known entities."I..." Doretta faltered, "I'm not sure, but I don't think it is."Ellar exhaled deeply. "Go home for now. I'll look into this."While Ellar preferred keeping his distance from Doretta, given her arrival in San Joto and his mother's assurance of support, he felt obligated to ensure her safety. He wouldn't stand by if she was potentially being scammed, especially since she was family.Doretta seemed to hesitate, wanting to say more, but ultimately nodded. "A
"What should we do then?" Lulu asked, filled with concern."Let's keep an eye on Doretta for now, to see exactly who she is and what she intends to do," Nicole decided.Given that Doretta had already moved into Ellar's house, it seemed likely her target was Ellar. Now that they suspected Doretta's identity was problematic, surveillance could be more focused, potentially revealing her true intentions.Directly informing Dexter and Emma wasn't ideal without concrete evidence.Furthermore, even if they believed the suspicions about Doretta, she might simply find another way to achieve her mission if her initial plan was thwarted. That could lead to even greater danger outside their control."Alright then." Understanding Nicole's reasoning, Lulu reluctantly agreed."Ms. Riddle, let me handle this matter," Patricia offered, her gaze turning serious."Okay," Nicole agreed. Since Patricia had encountered Doretta and had been investigating, she was indeed the most suitable to handle the
"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