"It's not that," Lulu shook her head with a sigh. "It's not that. I'm just glad Patricia really likes you. Otherwise, she might have given up waiting for you to make a move!"Ellar looked a bit downcast. "I've tried my best. I have to consider Patricia's feelings too, not just rush things."He silently wished love wasn't so complicated, pondering the challenges of winning someone's heart.Emma, picking up on the subtleties, asked, "Wait, have you two not officially dated yet?" She was surprised, having assumed their relationship was more developed.Ellar blushed, realizing he'd let slip more than he intended."Mom, I had no choice," he tried to defend himself, mixing seriousness with a hint of jest.Emma frowned. "What do you mean no choice? Were you planning to keep up a pretense?"Ellar hurried to explain, "It all started with Doretta. If you hadn't tried to set me up with her, I wouldn't have turned to Patricia for help. And it turned out, Patricia felt something was off abou
"Dad, we're off now.""Grandpa, time for you to get some rest; we're leaving.""Great-Grandpa, we're heading back home."Benjamin, with a warm nod, responded to each farewell, "Take care, then."As everyone left, Dillon and Karen reminded them, "It's late, drive safely."The house became quieter, and Dillon offered, "Dad, let me assist you to your room."Benjamin, maintaining his independence, declined, "I'm fine, I'll go up on my own."Karen sighed as she looked outside. She reflected, "I never imagined Preston would be the last one single. He's always done things his way, so different from the others."Dillon reassured her, "Everyone finds their own path in time. I'm just happy we have such a peaceful life now." He thought about past hardships, grateful for the present calm.Karen nodded, lost in thought.Dillon, holding her hand, encouraged, "Let's focus on the present and the future. We've made it through a lot.""All I want is for Preston to be happy," she said, echoing
Nicole gave Patricia a knowing look and simply said, "You're back."Now that Ellar was out of the hospital, it was normal for Patricia to resume her regular responsibilities at the company."Ms. Riddle, it seems clear Lawrence was involved with what happened to Everett, but he's covered his tracks too well for us to prove anything," Patricia reported, her frustration apparent. 'We've caught the people who did it, but linking them to Lawrence is proving impossible.'Nicole wasn't shocked. "That's to be expected," she acknowledged. Lawrence would naturally ensure his involvement was untraceable.Patricia, looking concerned, asked, "What's our next move?" The inability to directly connect Lawrence to the crime was troubling."We stay vigilant and wait," Nicole replied calmly, maintaining a composed demeanor. They needed to keep their cool, especially when Lawrence was likely feeling the heat.Patricia nodded, understanding the cautious strategy.Just then, Lulu burst in, delighted
"Yes, sir," Ian said.Lawrence looked up a bit at Ian and asked, "How are Nicole and Jared doing?""They went back to the Riddle family's house yesterday. It looks like they sorted out the problem with Everett. Everyone seems pretty calm; I think they feel it's all settled," Ian answered."That's good. They haven't caught on to us," Lawrence said, with a pleased look. He thought if Nicole and Jared had found out sooner, it would have messed up his plans.****In the afternoon, when the sun was brightest, Nicole was relaxing in her office after lunch.Suddenly, there was a quick knock on the door. Lulu came in, looking very happy, and said, "Nicole, Sally had her baby."Nicole got up quickly. "When?""Just now, Steve called. Your mom and dad are already at the hospital. Do you want to go see?" Lulu was smiling with excitement, looking forward to meeting the new baby."Let's go." Nicole was already heading out as she spoke, and Lulu quickly followed.No sooner had they left the
"I don't have kids yet, but when I do, Grandpa will pick a special name for them too. The most important thing is that the child is healthy and happy," Sean said, giving Steve a teasing look to show that he shouldn't worry too much about it.Steve, smiling widely, scratched his head and replied, "Okay, then let's name him Lucian.""Should we have a big party for Lucian's post-birth celebration?" Lulu asked Benjamin, smiling. In Hustuaburg, this celebration was a big deal for families, usually held when the baby turned 100 days old."Definitely, we'll invite Maximillian first. He always talks about how Nolan is the oldest great-grandson in his family. Now that we have a great-grandchild too, he can't make fun of me anymore," Benjamin said, with a cheeky grin.Everyone laughed together, shaking their heads and teasing, "Grandpa, are you and Jared's grandpa still acting like children?"Everyone was happy and joking around, it didn't matter if Nolan was a Johnston or a Riddle; everyon
June couldn't help but laugh, "He's too little right now. It will be a few months before he needs toys to help with hand-eye coordination. What's the rush?"Lulu raised an eyebrow. "Who said I was rushing? Seems like you're the keen one, knowing all this. Nicole understands because she's a mom. You're not yet, are you? Have you started looking this up?"June's smile briefly stiffened as she awkwardly said, "I was just making a guess.""Really? Guessing about hand-eye coordination? You're quite the predictor," Lulu joked, playfully turning the tables on June after her earlier remark.Nicole watched their friendly teasing, smiling, and feeling like they were back in their school days, enjoying each other's company.Eventually, they arrived at the mall and headed straight to the baby and maternity section, browsing for gifts.As dusk settled and lights began to twinkle, Nicole returned home to find dinner preparations underway."Mommy!" Nolan and Lana ran to greet Nicole happily up
"Okay," the family agreed, heading toward the dining room.Jared gently held Nicole's hand, smiling. "You seemed to have a lot of fun today.""Yes, the three of us haven't had such a relaxed outing in a long time," Nicole nodded, clearly happy."In the future, when you're off, you should hang out with them more," Jared suggested, pleased to see her joyful."With our own families, we are all so busy. How can we just go out and play whenever we're off?" Nicole chuckled, finding occasional outings like this quite nice.Jared smiled tenderly, content to see her happy.After dinner, the children were brought back by the butler because it had gotten quite dark outside. Concerned that they might get too excited and accidentally hurt themselves, he had them come in.Nolan was so fascinated with his new drone that he insisted on keeping it beside his pillow at night.Nicole, with a face full of indulgent laughter, agreed, and Nolan went to bed satisfied.After the children were asleep,
'But without Lawrence's confession, there wouldn't be any concrete evidence, would there?' Nicole thought"Sambawe must have disclosed something," Jared hinted vaguely, not going into detail but guessing that Zane's sudden decision to capture Lawrence was probably linked to Sambawe."I get it," Nicole acknowledged, her eyes narrowing slightly. After Zane rescued her, Sambawe had agreed to cooperate and likely spill a lot of information.Nicole had an inkling about Lawrence's influence in Mecrounia and his possible involvement in illegal activities. Those in his inner circle, like Sambawe, would have a better idea.Jared gave Nicole's hand a gentle squeeze, hinting, "It might not be long now." Now, they were now just waiting for Lawrence to slip up so they could bring him to justice."Got it," Nicole nodded slightly, realizing that Lawrence must be feeling the pressure.The car came to a stop, and they had arrived at Riddle Corporation.As they got out of the car, Nicole entered
"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