Nicole nodded, understanding the situation. "So that's what happened."She had been curious about how Patricia came to meet Doretta, and it turned out Doretta had gone to see Emma."Also, I found out about the two guys from yesterday; they are Lawrence's men. They didn't have any specific task except to follow you. I think they were just probing," Patricia said with a dark look in her eyes."Lawrence must be planning to make a move," Nicole remarked, her expression somber. She knew that his decision to have her followed was partly to test the waters and partly as a precaution.Even if she showed no reaction, he would not wait indefinitely; he was probably ready to act."What should we do then?" Patricia asked, her expression turning serious, sensing they might need to prepare for Lawrence's next moves."Leave it to Charlie and the others. We should continue as if nothing is amiss on our part," Nicole instructed, feeling that they should observe the situation quietly. Still, they
"It's possible," said Nicole. Otherwise, Lawrence wouldn't need to resort to such roundabout tactics."What should we do? Play along with his plan?" Lulu asked.Nicole looked at Lulu, pausing for a moment before replying, "I might need your help with this.""Don't say it like that. I'll do everything I can to help," Lulu responded with resolve.She was committed to supporting Nicole, both professionally and personally.Tapping the file, Nicole spoke firmly, "I'm entrusting this project to you. It might be challenging, but you can requisition personnel or any resources from any department in the company."The company Lawrence had transferred the project to had no real substance, even nearing collapse, which meant the entire burden would fall on Riddle Corporation, specifically on Lulu. She could anticipate the difficulties.Lulu nodded vigorously, "I understand. I'll do my best."She couldn't let Nicole down, especially since the task was entrusted to her. She was determined to
As Nicole was surrounded by her family's joyful faces, her eyes brimmed with happiness.She thought to herself, 'This is how a peaceful and beautiful life should be. I will strive to maintain it.'****Patricia had just gotten back to her apartment when she found Ellar waiting for her, which surprised her. "Why are you here?" she asked."Just waiting for you," Ellar said, like it was totally normal.Patricia looked puzzled. "Is there a problem?""Yes," Ellar nodded seriously. "We need to talk about something."Patricia couldn't explain why, but she suddenly felt nervous. She bit her lip and asked, "What's up?"Ellar's serious tone made her heart beat faster, filled with both excitement and worry."Let's go inside," Ellar suggested, taking Patricia's hand and leading her confidently into the apartment.Patricia was shocked. "How did you get keys to my place?""I borrowed them from my brother-in-law," Ellar said confidently."Brother-in-law?" Patricia was confused for a secon
Patricia gradually regained her composure. As she looked down into Ellar's eyes, the raw intensity in his gaze enveloped her, rendering her momentarily breathless."Ellar..." She tried to speak, but couldn't find the words.Ellar, worried she might say no, quickly said, "We've been through a lot together. You know how I feel, and I get how you feel. I don't want to lose the chance to be with you; I hope we can be together forever.""I..." Patricia felt her face get warm. She really did understand how he felt, and she cared about him too. Before, she was hesitant because of her commitment to Charlie. She chose to stand by Charlie through thick and thin.'But now...' Thinking about what Charlie had said before, Patricia realized he was okay with her moving on and she started to feel ready to back him in his decisions.And for her, since Charlie wanted her to be happy and safe, and all she wanted was a calm life, following her heart seemed the right choice.Seeing Patricia still uns
Doretta cast a glance at Ellar, her expression turning serious. "There's a situation. I thought it best to discuss it in person."Hearing these words amidst their personal joy seemed to dampen the mood."What's going on?" Ellar, noticing the sudden change in Patricia's demeanor, furrowed his brows in concern. 'Why do I get the feeling that they all know something I don't?'"Let's sit down and talk about it," suggested Charlie.Initially, Charlie hadn't planned on informing Patricia. But considering she was close to Nicole, he thought she might need to be prepared for what was coming, or perhaps it could be beneficial for her to know.Hence, seeing their door open, he had decided to come in with Doretta.Since Ellar was there, it seemed fitting that he should know as well. Besides, if Patricia and Ellar were together, it would be hard to keep secrets from him. He was bound to find out sooner or later, so there was no point in hiding anything now.Once everyone was seated, Doretta
"Ms. Riddle, Doretta came to my place yesterday..." Patricia shared the information Doretta had given her with Nicole.Nicole's eyes showed a hint of seriousness. 'It looks like Lawrence is finally making his move. He's probably getting impatient.'"Jared has started the process to buy the MierMare Group. We're hoping to see results by the day after tomorrow at the earliest. Do we have enough time?" Lulu asked, worried.Nicole's eyes narrowed a bit. "It should be enough time.""They're keeping a low profile right now, not wanting to show themselves, so they won't act too quickly. We should have enough time in three days," Patricia added."That's good to hear," Lulu responded, feeling resolved. "I'm speeding up our work here, trying to get a plan ready quickly our company can handle this situation smoothly."With Jared's move to acquire MierMare Group, her job was becoming a lot easier.With Jared's move to acquire MierMare Group, her job was becoming a lot easier.Once MierMare
Patricia wanted to keep her relationship with Ellar discreet because she didn't want to leave when she felt she needed to be there for Nicole.Nicole gave her a reassuring smile, "It's fine, don't worry."But Patricia was firm. "No! Ellar agrees that I should stay. It's important for me to be here with you right now."She was determined to stay, not just because of the risks facing Nicole, but also because she felt a strong sense of duty and loyalty.Nicole saw how determined Patricia was, thought for a bit, and then agreed, "Okay, stay for now. After everything calms down, Ellar can come for you.""Thanks," Patricia breathed out, relieved she could stay.With a gentle smile, Nicole said, "Okay, go ahead with your work.""I will," Patricia replied, and left the room.Nicole watched her go, moved by the care and commitment Patricia and Ellar had for her.'After this is all over, I'll move Patricia to BayCorp. She can't stay here forever, or Ellar might start holding grudges aga
Nicole smiled. "Doretta and Charlie make such a great team. Their cooperation is seamless."She felt the operation was more effective and smoother due to their teamwork."Yeah, having Doretta and Charlie working together really puts my mind at ease," Patricia agreed, thinking back to her past worries about Charlie facing danger or getting hurt."Let's be extra careful for now. Even if Lawrence can't find solid evidence, he might still suspect something," Nicole advised cautiously.She knew that Lawrence, aiming to target her and Jared, would naturally suspect them if his plans were foiled. She assumed Jared must have received the news by now and would know what measures to take next."Got it, no need to worry," Patricia affirmed solemnly."Good," Nicole nodded.After finishing her report, Patricia left the office.Nicole's expression turned contemplative. She bit her lip slightly, feeling a mix of emotions.****In his office at Johnston Group, Jared listened to Max's report.
"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