"Ouch!" Ellar suddenly yelped, then looked at Nicole with a mix of annoyance and complained, "Why did you press on my wound?""If you're alright, why the scream?" Nicole retorted with a hint of disdain. She thought that both of them needed rest and yet here they were, not taking their injuries seriously and trying to act tough.Ellar, looking a bit dejected, drooped his head and said, "I just wanted to check on Patricia.""You've seen her, now go back and rest," Nicole instructed firmly, her eyes conveying serious concern.Realizing Nicole was unbending in her stance, Ellar acquiesced quietly."I'll take him back to his room," Emery offered, wheeling Ellar away.Ellar glanced back, his eyes lingering on Patricia until he was out of the ward and the door closed behind him."He really is worried about you," Lulu commented, looking at Patricia."Yeah," Patricia nodded, acknowledging the sentiment but also recognizing the importance of prioritizing their health. Now that both were
The house was quiet, with only a few lights left on for Nicole and Jared's return.Seeing Nicole asleep, Jared didn't wake her. Instead, he gently lifted her from the car, holding her close as they headed inside. Nicole, nestled comfortably in his embrace, snuggled closer, contentedly drifting back to sleep.Jared, with a tender smile, carried her to their room, setting her down gently.As dawn broke, a new day began, and Nicole woke feeling somewhat refreshed."Daddy, Mommy," Nolan and Lana, having not waited up for Nicole and Jared the previous night, came into their room early in the morning.Greeting her two children, Nicole smiled. "You're both up early.""Mommy, what were you doing that you came back so late?" Lana asked, tilting her head."Just some work stuff," Nicole replied, not wanting to worry Lana with the actual events and choosing a simple explanation instead."Let's go downstairs for breakfast," Jared said, lifting Lana in his arms and leading the way out of the
Ellar felt that if Everett was going to arrest someone, it couldn't possibly be that many people, right?"There's no one." Nicole shook her head, finding the situation truly bizarre."Could it be that Emery is right?" Ellar felt there was still hope. In truth, he also didn't want anything bad to happen to Charlie; after all, Patricia would be devastated. So, he preferred to think positively, not daring to contemplate the worst.Nicole frowned slightly. Emery's speculation made some sense, but since it couldn't be confirmed, they remained somewhat anxious."Should we wait a bit longer?" Ellar suggested tentatively.Nicole glanced at Ellar and instructed, "You should rest well; we'll handle the rest.""Okay." Ellar nodded, understanding he couldn't be of much help now, his priority was to recover as soon as possible."Mr. Johnston, Ms. Riddle, my brother..." Patricia looked at Nicole and Jared, her words trailing off with hesitation.Nicole patted Patricia's shoulder reassuringly
Nicole and Jared had arrived at the Riddle Corporation.Zane was already there when they entered the office, and Lulu, upon noticing Nicole's arrival, promptly excused herself."You came in person!" Nicole expressed her surprise."Don't worry, I just happened to be passing through San Joto, so I stopped by," Zane replied with a gentle tone in his eyes.Guessing that Zane was on another mission, Nicole didn't press further and directly inquired, "Any news about Charlie?""They've checked already. There's nothing unusual around the parking lot, but they found a night security guard knocked out in the control room," Zane explained.Nicole nodded, already suspecting that the absence of security last night was due to an assault."Can we confirm if Aquila was involved?" Nicole continued her questioning.Their primary concern was whether Aquila had appeared, as his presence could imply that Everett might have escaped rather than being captured."It's still unclear, but it seems likel
"Their escape route headed toward Northside?" Lulu furrowed her brows."It seems so. Did they go into the mountains?" June chimed in, noting that beyond Northside lay expansive wilderness.Zane pondered for a moment and then suggested, "Regardless, this at least indicates that Charlie and his team might have pursued Everett into the mountains, hence their current incommunicado status.""So, they're out of signal range because they're in the mountains," Samuel agreed.Everyone breathed a sigh of relief; under the circumstances, this was relatively good news."I'll arrange for backup support right away," Zane declared, stepping aside to make the call.Nicole, scrutinizing the surveillance footage that Preston, Ryder, and Gary had restored, narrowed her eyes thoughtfully.It seemed that after Ellar and Patricia had escaped, Charlie had a chance to capture Everett, but Aquila unexpectedly intervened, helping Everett escape. Charlie then pursued them, and there had been no news since
"Yes, sir," the team responded in unison.Charlie looked at his signal-less phone and handed Seth a beacon, saying, "Use this to contact us if there's any news."Splitting up was necessary to cover more ground, but given Aquila's cunning, coordinating their efforts upon finding any clues was crucial.Taking the beacon, Seth confirmed, "Got it, we're off."With that, Seth led his group to the left while Charlie took his team to the right.Shortly after, the support team at the mountain base arrived.Max's scouts had just returned, and Zane's reinforcements had also reached the location. Both groups exchanged knowing looks before Max suggested, "Let's hear the updates together.""Sure." The scout quickly briefed them, "We've confirmed they went up the mountain, and we found markers left by the Commander...""Alright," Max nodded and turned to Zane's team, "Let's split into two groups, and we can complement each other's numbers.""Good, we aren't familiar with the signals your te
"Why have you been following Aquila and Everett for so long?" Max asked, looking confused.He thought that even though Aquila was tough, having Everett and Doretta with him should have made him slower. Plus, Charlie had a lot of people in his group."Aquila took Everett and Doretta to the mountains and then vanished. I bet he had a way out planned already," Charlie answered. He and his team had searched the mountains really well but couldn't find them anywhere."That explains it," Preston said, a slight smile on his face. Now it made sense why they hadn't been able to catch them, even with so many people."Then, Seth and I split up to look for them. We might have trapped them, and that's when Aquila appeared out of nowhere, surprising me and hurting two of my team," Charlie shared, sounding a bit upset."Good thing you sent the signal in time so we could find you fast," Max said, clearly relieved. Charlie and two of his team were hurt, and the other two couldn't stand up to Aquila
Charlie realized that Doretta had helped him because she was one of Zane's operatives."So, if Everett gets caught this time, he'll truly have no way out." With all the evidence in place, Everett could only await the full extent of legal retribution."Will Doretta be in any danger?" Charlie couldn't help but ask Zane.He understood that if he could notice something off about Doretta, Aquila might as well, and if they decided to harm her...Understanding Charlie's concern, Zane shook his head. "Don't worry, Doretta can handle it. Besides, if the mission fails, I've instructed her to prioritize her own safety."Evidence can be gathered again, but lives cannot be carelessly sacrificed."Is she capable of handling it?" Preston sounded skeptical, as Doretta appeared quite fragile."You'll see in time," Zane said with a hint of a smile. Doretta had merely concealed her skills; it wasn't that she lacked competence.Seeing Zane's expression, Preston nodded in acknowledgment. "It seems
"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