63.**Nicole's POV**I can't believe Demi Luciano is here. Gosh! I was still trying to put up with Kayla, now this! Just when I thought things would get better. She had to show her rotten face here and ruin my day.How on earth did she even convince Mr. Leo to bring her here? Because I'm sure he didn't just meet her by himself.She cat walked to where we stood and locked eyes with me. I didn't lower my eyes. I wasn't scared of people who go about bullying others while acting like angels, and she definitely belonged to that category, so to hell with her.She smiled at me before bowing to the girls.“Girls welcome her, she's being so humble.” Mr. Leo exclaimed and we bowed our heads.“Welcome.” They chorused, but I kept my mouth shut. She didn't deserve any form of welcome from me. “Like I said, she will be your guide for tonight's fashion show. She knows what Mr. Ferdinand likes and would help you all to impress him. Please, do take her ideas seriously and make sure you listen to her,
64.**Author's POV**Demi chuckled nervously as she approached Easton, who was already walking towards them. “Nothing is going on, sir. I was only trying to ask her to choose other clothes, since Mr. Leo put me in charge of them. I wanted her to pick something that'd look better on her, but she picked up a fight with me.”Nicole blinked. “I don't see anything wrong with the ones she's holding. Besides, why would they put clothes that the models wouldn't be able to wear in places like this? And if by chance that even happens, aren't the models mature enough to handle it themselves?” He asked and Nicole smiled.Demi was speechless. She didn't expect him not to take her side. As much as she was embarrassed, she didn't want to show it, so Nicole wouldn't laugh at her. “Yes, I understand what you're saying, sir. I was confused before and blinded by the love I have for them, that I didn't see that.” She bowed apologetically.Nicole shook her head. The girl was really a good actress. How cou
65.**Author's POV**Nicole couldn't believe her dress had been destroyed. She screamed, drawing the attention of the models, who rushed in immediately. They all gasped.“What happened to your dress?” They asked and Nicole placed her hand on her head. There was no way she would be able to finish the show without her dress. The dress had been torn beyond repair, and she didn't have enough time to go back to the fashion house for another dress. Even if she did go, the dresses there won't do.“What are you going to do?”“It's only a few minutes before you'll be up!”“This is so sad!”The models commented one by one and she felt like crying. Who the heck had the heart to do this to her? This wasn't a competition. Why would they sabotage her to disgrace her, knowing everybody was watching?“Girls, please give her some space. Go prepare for your show. Tell Mr. Leo something came up and Nicole would be ending the show instead.” Emily told them.They nodded and walked out.“You should have t
66.**Author's POV**When the news got to Mr. Leo, he rushed to Nicole's dressing room, and met her and Emily, trying to fix the dress. “What happened?” He asked and they turned to look at him.“One of your models precisely by the name Kay—”“The dress got ruined,” Nicole interrupted Emily, stopping her from exposing Kayla. “I came back from the show, and met it this way. But there's nothing to worry, sir. We're getting it fixed.” Nicole explained and he sighed, placing his hand on his forehead.“How are we going to get this fixed in time for you to come up, Nicole? It's a disaster. It's obviously beyond repairs, and there's not enough time to get you a new dress.” He felt so bad that this had to happen. He wanted her to make a comeback with this, but now everything is ruined.Nicole gave him a small smile. “Stop worrying too much, Mr. Leo. We're getting it fixed.” She encouraged him but he shook his head.“Even if you fix it, it might not be in accordance with the theme. I suggest yo
67.**AUTHOR'S POV**Nicole exchanged shocked glances with Easton, wondering what Kayla was doing here. She suddenly remembered that she was in Easton's room, and they might get exposed if Kayla sees her.“What do we do?” Nicole asked Easton and he looked around.“Go hide in the curtains, I'll make her leave immediately,” He said and she nodded. Nicole looked around and rushed into the nearest curtain, making sure to cover herself. Easton helped her to cover her feet before leaving for the door. He turned the night lights on and opened the door.Nicole shifted the curtains a bit so she'd be able to see whatever was going on. She wanted to know what Kayla was up to.“How may I help you?” Easton asked and Kayla walked in without uttering a word. Nicole rolled her eyes as Kayla took a seat on the couch in the room. Easton sighed and closed the door before going to take a seat, facing Kayla.“How may I help you, Miss. Riggs?” He asked firmly this time around, and Kayla flashed him a smile
68.**Author's POV**“What are we going to do, Demi? At this rate, the fans will forget about everything she has done and start liking her again. She is already making her comeback bit by bit with this. We have to stop her from getting people's love.” Kayla expressed her disapproval. This was getting her worked up. She went through extreme measures to make sure Nicole was disgraced, and to make sure people hated her. She wasn't going to allow her step on the ladder of success again. She deserved to be heard.Demi paced back and forth as she thought of what to do. If Nicole makes a comeback with this, her popularity was going to boost ten times faster which make Nicole better than her again. That must not happen.“We have to make her embarrass herself, Kayla.”“We have tried that and it didn't work. We have to look for something else. Something that will get people gossiping.” Kayla massaged her temple.“How about we use the already laid down news as foundation for another scandal?” Dem
69**Nicole's POV**“Mrs. Sullivan, please you can't terminate my contract. I worked hard to be here. I swear I didn't do all those things they talked about. I was swimming and he jumped into the swimming pool and—”“Does that even make sense?” She cut me off, her eyes red with anger. “You were swimming and he jumped into the swimming pool? Then he forced you to hold his hand get intimate with you?”“Please—”“Enough! I don't want to see you here by tomorrow except you're willing to watch the remaining parts of the shoot and also pay for your stay in the hotel.” She ordered with a tone of finality and stormed out of the room.I rushed to Mr. Leo's desk. “Mr. Leo, you know me. You know what I can do. You believe me, right?” “At this rate, Nicole, I don't know who or what to believe. The picture clearly shows you holding hands with him and smiling. Even if it was a friendly gesture, the smile on your face already gave them a whiff of what is going on. I know you aren't someone who sleep
70.**Nicole's POV**My eyes widened in shock at his words. “What? You believe me?” I asked, and he pulled away from the hug with a nod. I moved back from him.“Are you sure? You actually believe me?” I asked again and he just chuckled.“Of course I believe you. I'm not the kind of person who listens to what others say, especially in this industry. After you shocked everyone at the fashion show, your fans started to trust you again. Your rivals knew that this was going to lay the foundation for your comeback, so they had to destroy it.” He said and I gasped.I didn't really think that far. I just thought things weren't working the way I wanted them to.“How did you manage to know all these?” I asked and he sighed.“I've been here for a long time. I know how the industry works. It is something like survival for the fittest, and you have to be cautious. They're making people say mean things about you again,” He facepalmed and balled his fists. “I swear, if I catch the fool behind this,
180.FINAL CHAPTER**Author's POV**The day for the wedding finally came and Nicole couldn't stop her tears. She had come so far with Easton, and she was proud to say he was the best thing that has ever happened to her.As she stood, facing the mirror in her wedding gown that sparkled like diamonds in the soft light, she couldn't help but think about how far they had come. From the first day they met until this day, she had no regrets.It had started with some sort of agreement, but today it was something real; something sacred and something that would usher them into a new phase of their journey in life.Her makeup artist had to retouch her face and begged her not to shed any more tear. Nicole nodded with a smile.“You look stunning. I'm sure Easton's jaw will drop once he sets his eyes on you.” Emily complimented as she walked into the room.“I know, right? I ain't a model for nothing.” Nicole smirked and Emily laughed.“I see your ego is still intact,” she said, causing Nicole to c
179.SEMI-FINAL CHAPTER**Author's POV**The files were collected and handed over to the judge, who looked through them while Easton explained everything. “It turns out that Ariana was pregnant for her boyfriend and when she saw that he wouldn't be able to take care of her, she pinned it on my father because they had a one-night stand before and made him marry her. When she came into the house, she refused to acknowledge my mother as her co-wife and did all manner of things to get rid of her. All didn't work, and she resorted to poisoning her,” he explained, and the people present gasped.“That's not all, she made sure it was done neatly and did all she could to bury the secret in the rug. She thought she had escaped, and now she's trying to claim properties for a son who isn't even my father's. The DNA test has been conducted, and the results are there. She is a deceitful woman and must be punished by the law!”Carson couldn't believe all these. He faced his mother. “So, he is not my
178.**Easton's POV**As we drove back to my house, Nicole held me tight as she rested her head on my shoulders. Whenever we passed by a speed bump, her grip on me would tighten like she still couldn't believe I was alive and felt like I would vanish if she let me go. I placed a soft kiss on her forehead to remind her that I was going nowhere.Now that I have been granted a second chance to love her again, I would make her the happiest woman on earth. She looked at me with a huge smile on her face and I couldn't help but smile back. It was good to be back. We drove into the compound and I released a long breath. It's been a while and I wondered how Dad and the rest are doing. Edwin told me everything that happened and how things took a turn for the worst, including Ariana and Carson's atrocities. The good thing is I am back, and I am going to return order to this family.We got down from the car and Nicole intertwined our fingers as we walked in together. “I can't wait to see the lo
177.Author's POVTHE HOSPITAL…Nicole's eyes fluttered open and she looked around. She sat up, realizing that she was in the hospital. She laughed out loud when she suddenly recalled what happened.“I must be delusional! No, I'm going crazy!” she exclaimed, placing her hand on her head. “How can I be so dumb, huh? I missed Easton so much that I now have hallucinations because of him.” she spoke to herself, tears rolling down her cheeks.“You were not hallucinating, Nicole, it's real. Easton is alive,” Maven walked in with Edwin and Mrs. Felicia.Nicole shook her head. “No, I'm going crazy. You all are lying. You're just saying this to make me feel better. Easton is dead,” she snapped, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I was at the hospital. Edwin, you were there too. He wasn't breathing. His body was cold and stiff and when I took his hand, it went limp! He got buried right before my eyes, so stop making it worse for me. Just take me to a mental asylum because it's obvious I've gone
176.NEXT DAY…**Nicole's POV**My eyes fluttered open to the ray of sunshine that filtered in through the windows and I couldn't help but smile sadly; it was my birthday.“Hurray,” I muttered lazily and sat up on the bed. I looked up at the ceiling and pictured Easton looking down on me. “Hey, handsome, today is my birthday. It was supposed to be my first birthday with you, and I had already thought of how today would have been, but everything got ruined. You died and left me all alone here to celebrate today on my own. You have plenty of explanations to give me when we see each other again, mister!” I snapped, hoping he would hear me wherever he was.I smiled as tears rolled down my cheeks. I quickly wiped them off as Mrs. Felicia's words rang in my ears. I stood to my feet; I should make this day worthwhile for myself and for him.I rushed into the bathroom and took my bath. When I was out, I walked straight to my wardrobe and scanned through the clothes I had. My eyes went to the
175.Nicole's POVDays passed after my encounter with Ariana and Carson and everything seemed to have calmed down after that. We agreed to go to court as planned, but the case was adjourned until next month due to reasons best known to the court.My birthday is tomorrow, and I had already intended to spend the day with Easton. If I can't spend it with him while he was alive, I can as well spend it beside his grave.This was supposed to be my first birthday with him and…I trailed off in my thoughts and wiped the tears that rolled down my cheeks. I heaved a deep breath and stared at my computer. I missed Easton so much. Every day, I keep seeing things that remind me of him, and it hurts whenever I go out for an evening walk and see couples being all lovey-dovey with each other. He was the best thing that has ever happened to me and I would forever be grateful to him for that.I checked my wristwatch and sucked in a deep breath. Why was Edwin not back yet? He told me he was going to the
174.**Nicole's POV**The next day, it was already sunset and I couldn't help the eerie feeling that crawled up my skin. Ariana's threat kept echoing inside my head. I had a feeling that something bad was going to happen and till now I have no idea why.I took my phone and called Edwin. “Edwin?” I called immediately he answered the phone, my voice shaking.“Nicole, are you okay?” He asked.“No, I'm not,” I answered and he hung up. Before I knew it, the door to the office opened and he rushed to me. “What is wrong with you? You can tell me anything.” He said and I sighed.“I'm scared, Edwin. Ariana came with Carson tested and threatened to do something drastic if I didn't release the company's documents to her by sunset today. It'd already sunset and I keep having this sick feeling in my stomach that something bad is about to happen.” I explained to him and he sighed.“You don't need to worry. I already reported to the police by showing them the email sent to you and they are trying t
173.**Author's POV**BACK IN AMERICA…“Have you been stressing lately, Ms. Brennan?” Doctor Faith asked and Edwin gave Nicole the look.She dabbed her index fingers together and stared at the doctor. “She's been burying her face in work lately without breaks. At this rate, she has turned into a machine.” Edwin answered with his arms folded.Doctor Faith smiled. “I thought as much,” She brought out a paper and wrote something in it. “Your body has been stressed lately and you need rest. I'd suggest you take a two weeks break, go out for exercise, do recreational activities and go out to have fun more often. Your body needs it.” She suggested and Nicole shook her head.“I don't need any of that. Just hand me some drugs and I will be fine.” She countered.“Of course I'll give you drugs that'll ease your fever and make you feel better, but I won't go back on my word, Ms. Brennan. I insist that you take a break to bring your body back together. If you keep stressing it, you'll have a men
172.**Author's POV**The next morning, Nicole woke up with a severe headache. Her head banged like it was being put inside a mortar and pounded. She held her head and came down from the bed as she head to the water dispenser in the room.She took a cup and drank from it. “Fuck, why did I drink too much?” She asked herself and sighed.A knock sounded on the door and she muttered a “come in”. Edwin walked in with a tray of food in his hand. “Good morning,” He flashed her a smile and she returned it. She rushed to him and took the tray from him. “Good morning. You shouldn't have stressed yourself like this.” She ruffled her hair.“You were drunk last night. It's necessary that you take some hangover soup to help.” He replied, causing her to smile.“I'm already being a nuisance,” She sighed and sat on the bed. “I feel like I'm making you do a lot of strenous things, you know? You've been acting like a father and I've been more like a troublesome baby.” She placed the food in her mouth