"They've succeeded," Nicole responded.Lulu was somewhat surprised. "If they've succeeded, why do you look so troubled?""We've got control over the people, but they can't help with the situation at the affected companies," Nicole explained."Oh, right, they can't really interfere with the operations of other companies," Lulu nodded, then asked, "So, what do we do now?""It looks like we'll have to ask them for help," Nicole said, her eyes darkening slightly."Them?" Lulu didn't understand who Nicole was referring to.Watching Nicole began to fiddle with her watch, Lulu realized and couldn't help but exclaim in shock, "Are you really going to use their power?"That was a force only crest holders could wield. She wondered, 'Is Nicole really going to use it to help those companies?'"There's no better option at this point, and helping them is helping ourselves," Nicole sighed."Will Everett move against the families behind the force then?" Lulu asked, a bit worried.Nicole smil
"Yeah, Zane's people have already taken control of those individuals. We're just waiting for the right moment to make our move." This resolved one of her concerns."The timing should be about right," Jared commented, his eyes narrowing slightly."I think Doretta is getting impatient and might make a move soon," Nicole speculated.Jared also felt this was very likely and reminded her, "Remember to tell me if anything happens.""I won't be in any trouble, and there's nothing I need to do," Nicole said, looking at Jared with a smile.Gently squeezing Nicole's hand, Jared looked at her, his gaze deep.Upon returning to the Riddle residence, the two entered the living room.Seeing Gloria organizing some photo albums, Nicole asked curiously, "Mom, what are you looking at?""These are the prewedding photo album samples Emma and I chose today. We're gonna hand them over to Stanley and Tia when they're back so they can choose their own," Gloria explained."Emma went with you? Why didn'
Nicole thought Benjamin must have known something, which was why he asked Daniel."You can trust us to handle it, so you don't need to feel any pressure," Daniel reassured Nicole, indicating that Benjamin was asking out of concern and nothing more.Nicole nodded. "We'll take care of it as quickly as possible.""Good." Daniel then changed the subject. "Let's have dinner then.""Okay," everyone agreed, and they all headed toward the dining room.Seeing Nolan not staying to watch TV but heading upstairs instead, Lana couldn't help asking, "Aren't you watching TV?""No, I've got things to do," Nolan said, already stepping up the stairs."Oh," Lana didn't think much of it and turned on the TV to watch.Nicole glanced over upon hearing this, a thoughtful look crossing her eyes.Meanwhile, Ellar and Patricia had just arrived at Ellar's home. They were late because Patricia had insisted on buying some gifts.Carrying those gifts, Patricia politely greeted, "Hi, Mr. Riddle, Mrs. Riddl
"I just found out she's quite capable, so I was curious," Ellar said, relieved that his parents didn't become suspicious. He still didn't want Doretta's matters to affect them, so he preferred to keep it hidden.Meanwhile, Patricia quickly sent out a message. If Doretta made any moves tonight, they would receive a notification.Returning to the living room, Emma invited Patricia to the dining room, and the group started their dinner.Meanwhile, at the Riddle residence, everyone went upstairs to rest after dinner.Jared went back to his room to deal with some urgent work, while Nicole headed to Nolan's room.Lana was quietly reading a book, while Nolan was sitting in front of his computer."Mommy." Seeing Nicole enter, Lana put down her book and approached her.Nicole, with Lana in tow, went over to Nolan."What are you doing?" Nicole asked Nolan."I'm researching some information," Nolan replied, his gaze still fixed on the computer screen, his hand controlling the mouse and c
"Okay, what do you plan to do next?" Nicole asked.Doretta had finally made her move, probably giving the fake seal to Everett by now. However, since it hadn't been revealed as fake yet, Doretta's trickery was still a secret."I think we should hold our position for now," Patricia spoke quietly. "If we expose Doretta now, it might alert Everett. It's better to wait and see what he does.""That sounds good. I'll arrange the other matters," Nicole agreed."Ms. Riddle, we should still be cautious about Everett," Patricia hesitated before reminding her."I understand," Nicole said, her gaze deepening as she hung up the phone. She knew Patricia was right; Everett was indeed someone they needed to be wary of."Nicole, is it time to act?" Lulu asked in a low voice."Yes, Doretta has taken Ellar's seal and will likely find an opportunity to give it to Everett," Nicole's expression darkened slightly. 'Doretta has been cautious, waiting so long to make her move.'"What did you and Patric
'But besides those two, who else in San Joto could it be? Could it be Lawrence?' Everett wondered."Did you check on Lawrence?" Everett's eyes were filled with darkness. 'Is this person intending to help me, or oppose me?'"No, but... it shouldn't be him," Jerry's tone was uncertain, yet he felt that since Lawrence had helped them covertly before, it was unlikely he'd act against them now."Check!" Everett suppressed his rage, his words through clenched teeth."Yes," Jerry complied and then turned to leave.The office was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, with Everett's gaze as cold as if it could swallow the world whole.An hour later, Jerry returned.Seeing Everett's nearly out of patience demeanor, Jerry took a deep breath and braced himself. "Sir, it wasn't Lawrence. And there's more...""What else?" Everett snapped impatiently. "Spit it out!""While we don't know who did it, it might be related to Nicole." Jerry lowered his head even further, his voice involuntarily sof
Jared was well aware of all Nicole's plans and actions; as long as she was doing well, that was all that mattered."Don't worry about me, I can take care of myself. You should focus on your own things. If you try to help me, Everett will become even more difficult to handle," Nicole said confidently, raising an eyebrow. Jared's decision not to interfere had made Everett less vigilant.Upon returning home, they found that the living room was livelier than usual.Stanley and Tia were fussing over several sample albums on the coffee table, while Nolan and Lana watched on, offering their opinions."Just go with whatever one you like," Gloria said, smiling contentedly from the side."Still haven't decided?" Nicole asked with a smile.Everyone looked at Nicole and Jared and replied, "We're still choosing.""Just in time, you two can help us decide," Gloria invited them over.Approaching the couch, Nolan and Lana pulled Nicole over and said, "Mommy, Tia says they're all good, and Uncl
"Mr. Royce, as expected, Nicole has leveraged the power of the Crests, enlisting the aid of several families to navigate through this crisis," Ian said softly."Mm," Lawrence responded nonchalantly, seemingly unsurprised."Everett has been very quiet. I wonder what he's planning. Should we make our move?" Ian inquired.Leaning against the couch, Lawrence replied calmly, "No rush, the real show hasn't started yet.""What do you mean, sir?" Ian was somewhat puzzled."Do you really think Nicole would ignore the matter with Ellar?" Lawrence countered.Ian furrowed his brows. "Patricia has been at BayCorp, and if she hasn't found anything, it must be because Doretta has hidden it too well."He felt that Nicole wasn't ignoring the issue; it was just that Doretta had hidden it too deeply."No, Patricia's capabilities aren't that weak. More importantly, they should know that the seal is missing, yet they've kept it quiet. That indicates there's a problem.""Should we warn Everett?" Ia
"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