"Alright, then we're off to sleep. You should go to bed early too," Gloria said, as she and Daniel went upstairs.After they left, Nicole, Jared, Nolan, and Lana also went to their rooms.Only Stanley and Tia were still in the living room. Stanley, holding Tia's hand, said, "You must be tired after today.""Not really," Tia answered, blushing a little as she looked down."Then... should we head to bed?""Yeah."Holding hands, they gently walked up the stairs to their bedroom.****The next day dawned bright and sunny, and everyone got up as usual and gathered in the dining room.The only new thing was that Tia was now officially part of the family."Stanley, when is your flight? Do you have enough time?" Gloria asked."We have lots of time. Our flight isn't early, so we're not in a hurry," Stanley answered."Good, then have breakfast and prepare to leave," Gloria said, relieved.Stanley nodded, "Tia has already packed everything, Mom, don't worry."Gloria smiled at Tia, "
Jared said, "Alright, then we'll set it for a month from now." He looked at her warmly.They had been planning the wedding for a while, and he was just waiting for her to confirm the date."Okay," Nicole agreed, feeling sure about her choice.Thinking about their soon-to-happen wedding made Nicole excited.Soon after, the car came to a stop.Seeing they had arrived at Riddle Corporation, Nicole opened the door and got out. "I'm heading up.""I'll pick you up after work," Jared said, his eyes brimming with affection."Okay." Nicole smiled brightly and turned to enter the building.After watching Nicole go inside, Jared instructed Max, "Drive.""Yes, Mr. Johnston." The car started moving, and Max spoke softly, "I'll arrange for someone to reconfirm the wedding party's schedule and all related arrangements once more."Even though everything was ready, it was best to be cautious as the actual moment approached."Good," Jared replied, pleased, then instructed, "Keep the news unde
"Just... happy with how things are," Cindy said, her voice tinged with shyness."So, you're together now," Lulu chuckled, shaking her head. "After all the heartbreak he caused you, you forgave him so quickly. You should have tested him more."Martin had only realized his feelings for Cindy after she left heartbroken and hopeless. Lulu thought Cindy should have made Martin experience the same feelings.Understanding that Lulu was just being protective, Cindy smiled and said, "He has made a lot of effort already.""Oh, there's a story here," Lulu immediately revealed her gossip-loving nature."You're right," Cindy agreed, starting her story. "When I returned, my family tried to make me marry someone right away."Despite still feeling heartbroken from San Joto, I didn't want to rush into marriage like that, so I refused."However, my family then took my phone and restricted me from going anywhere except home, cutting me off from the world.""No wonder Martin couldn't reach you and
"What's up?" Lulu asked, seeing Nicole's worried look."I think that car following us looks suspicious," Nicole remarked, eyeing a car discreetly."Where?"Lulu began to look but Nicole warned, "Don't show we've noticed."Lulu nodded seriously, "Got it."Lulu quietly asked Nicole, "What should we do?""Just be careful for now," Nicole suggested, staying alert."Got it," Lulu nodded, her expression turning more vigilant.Although she didn't know what was happening, she felt confident that following Nicole's lead was the right decision.Nicole then instructed the driver, "Let's head back to the company first.""Yes, Ms. Riddle." The driver responded and accelerated toward Riddle Corporation.Back at the company, Nicole and Lulu had just alighted from the car when Patricia returned as well."Ms. Riddle," Patricia approached them."Why are you back so soon?" Lulu asked, somewhat puzzled."All the work at BayCorp has been handed over clearly, so I came back," Patricia replied.
"Alright, tell them to be cautious," Nicole advised.Patricia assured, "Don't worry, they will be.""Nicole, who could those people be?" Lulu frowned slightly, puzzled about who could be tracking them at this time and for what purpose.Nicole's eyes narrowed, her voice low, "They are likely Lawrence's men.""Lawrence?" Lulu puzzled. She wondered, 'What's going on? Why would Lawrence have people tailing Nicole, and what does he want?'"Lulu, I've only recently come to know about some past incidents. This time..." Nicole paused, her tone turning serious, "Lawrence helped Everett not just because he needed to use him. Everett had something over him. That's why he had Everett killed.""He did all that!" Lulu's eyes widened in shock."Yes, but he was well-prepared, so in the end, he couldn't be charged," Patricia explained.Lulu looked at Nicole with a slight frown. "So, what's the deal? Is Lawrence planning to do something to you now that he knows you figured out he was the one beh
Nicole understood Lulu and Patricia's worries, but she wasn't too concerned. She knew about Lawrence's past deeds and felt in control.At first, she respected Lawrence because she thought she owed him for saving her life. But after discovering it was all manipulation, she stopped worrying about that debt.Knowing Lawrence was after the Fire Crest and Water Crest, and probably had already acted, Nicole chose to wait and see what would happen. She knew soon it would be clear who the winner or loser would be.After leaving Nicole's office, Lulu turned to Patricia."Patricia, you're staying to protect Nicole. What about Ellar, aren't you going back there?" Lulu asked."My primary duty is here, and everything at BayCorp has stabilized; they don't need me there anymore," Patricia replied, her priority clearly being Nicole's safety at the moment."And what about you and Ellar? What's going on with you two?" Lulu probed further."Us?" Patricia bit her lip slightly, "There's nothing goin
"Are you sure about that?" Patricia remained somewhat skeptical."Of course," Ellar reaffirmed, sensing that Patricia was just speculating, and he doubled down with more certainty.Patricia eyed Ellar critically. Despite his convincing tone, she couldn't shake off a lingering sense of doubt.Seeing Patricia's hesitancy, Ellar quickly changed the subject, "Do you have any other concerns?""No, that's all," Patricia replied."Great, my mom has asked me to invite you over for dinner," Ellar offered. "If you're free, why don't you come along?"Patricia felt a bit uneasy. "I'd better not, considering our history..."Although they had clarified their situation to their families, she still felt somewhat guilty toward Emma and was apprehensive about facing her."It's okay, my mom knows that our relationship was just a temporary arrangement. And now that everything with Doretta has been cleared up, she doesn't see you as my girlfriend anymore. But she mentioned she likes you a lot and h
Doretta nodded, understanding that Patricia and Charlie had also been through tough times. Fortunately, through their own efforts, they had supported each other and made it to this point.Emma glanced at the time and suggested, "It's about time; let's talk over dinner.""Sure," everyone agreed, standing up and heading to the dining room.After a lively dinner, Patricia and Doretta said their goodbyes and left.Ellar was a bit sad as he watched Patricia and Doretta walk away together, refusing his offer to escort them. He had been happy when Patricia agreed to come with him, but now he wondered if she only came because of Doretta, which made him feel more alone.After they left, Patricia and Doretta didn't go their separate ways. They found a quiet spot."Is there something else?" Doretta checked their surroundings before she spoke."It's about Ms. Riddle..." Patricia then briefly explained the situation that had unfolded earlier in the day and cautioned, "I know you're investiga
"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