Ch. 2996..3000: My Wife Is A Hacker Chapter 2996-3000
Chapter 2996
"The kids have been waiting for you eagerly at home. They really missed you," Max said, smiling a bit.
"Yeah, we missed them too," Nicole replied, smiling.
Even though it had only been a few days, it felt like a long time to them.
When they got back to the Riddle residence from the airport, it was already dark.
As they entered the house, Nolan and Lana rushed over and hugged Nicole and Jared.
"Daddy, Mommy, we missed you so much," Nolan and Lana said, looking up at them with their little
heads tilted.
Nicole gently stroked their heads and softly replied, "We missed you too."
"You're back earlier than we thought," Gloria said with a smile.
Nicole and Jared, holding Nolan and Lana, settled on the couch.
"We finished work and decided to come back early," Nicole replied, smiling.
"It's great to have you back. These two have been eating less the past few days, really missing you,"
Gloria said, looking at Nolan and Lana with a touch of concern.
Nicole touched the little ones' cheeks gently and said, "I've been video calling you every day, and yet
you're still like this."
"But we're really full," Lana said, patting her belly.
She felt that the food didn't taste as good when her parents weren't at home.
Jared affectionately picked up Lana and asked, "Are you sure you're full?"
"Yes," Lana nodded vigorously.
Jared playfully pinched Lana's nose and said, "Then the cake I bought might just have to be for your
brother."
"Cake?" Lana's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
"Yes, Mommy said it's your favorite cake," Jared said as Max walked in with several bags.
"Put them down," Jared instructed quietly.
Max placed the bags on the coffee table and reported, "The luggage has been sent to the rooms."
"Okay," Jared acknowledged.
After Max left, Nicole started opening the bags and said," Dad, Mom, these are gifts for you..."
After sorting the gifts, Nicole packed them in bags, planning to distribute them the next day.
The last box she opened contained two smaller boxes, each holding a cake.
"These are specially bought for you on our way back," Nicole said, giving a box to Nolan and Lana.
Lana, eyeing the cake, swallowed hard and said, "Daddy, I think I'm hungry again."
Laughter filled the living room, a joyful atmosphere enveloping the family.
The next day dawned bright and sunny.
After breakfast, Nicole and Jared left for the office.
Dropping Nicole off at Riddle Corporation, she stepped out of the car with the bags in hand.
"Nicole!" Lulu's cheerful voice rang out, followed by a quick approach.
Nicole, recognizing Lulu, couldn't help but shake her head and smile at her enthusiasm.
"I thought you'd never come back. I was getting so bored," Lulu complained as she reached Nicole.
Nicole handed her a gift, saying, "This is for you."
"Thank you!" Lulu said, accepting it with excitement.
The two chatted as they entered the company.
"Let's go," Jared said, turning his attention back and instructing Max.
Max started the car and said in a deep voice, "Mr. Johnston, we've captured Scorpio."
Chapter 2997
"Leave it to Zane," Jared said coolly.
"Scorpio has already been handed over to Pisces and should be with Zane by now," Max replied.
With Scorpio captured, the Eastern Falcon's influence in San Joto was effectively wiped out. Now, only
Lawrence remained a concern.
After a pause, Max added, "Lawrence knows about Scorpio's capture, but he's unusually quiet. It feels
like he's plotting something."
"Keep an eye on him," Jared instructed. "Lawrence must be feeling the pressure now. He's bound to
make a move."
Even if they didn't go after Lawrence, it was likely he would come after them. Without Scorpio to shield
him, Lawrence had two choices: retreat or strike first. But knowing his character, retreat seemed
unlikely.
"Yes," Max acknowledged respectfully.
The car continued forward, Jared leaning back in his seat, his eyes filled with deep contemplation,
though his thoughts remained inscrutable.
***
Meanwhile, at another location.
"Mr. Royce, Jared and Nicole have returned. They came back last night,” Ian reported as he entered
Lawrence's office.
Lawrence scoffed scornfully, "Scorpio turned out to be useless."
He was disappointed that Scorpio had squandered such a good opportunity and ended up captured.
"Nicole has already signed the contract with Apex Corp, and also..." Ian hesitated, glancing at
Lawrence.
Annoyed, Lawrence glared at Ian. "And what? Spit it out."
Ian's face paled slightly as he replied, "Apart from that, they've also signed a project for the joint
development of high-tech military robots. It's a confidential project, not widely known."
Lawrence fell silent, stunned that Nicole had secured such a significant project. This was Nicole's forte,
and the project's difficulty level wasn't high for her. If they succeeded in this collaboration, Nicole's
backing would become even more formidable.
After a long silence, Lawrence finally sighed, "Her trip seems to have been quite fruitful."
"Now that Scorpio has been captured, what should we do?" Ian asked Lawrence, feeling conflicted.
The possibility of a direct confrontation with Nicole seemed imminent.
Lawrence fell into silence again. With Scorpio's capture, their options in San Joto were limited.
His eyes narrowed slightly as a name crossed his mind, prompting a cold snort.
"It's time for him to come out of hiding," Lawrence said, his voice carrying a chilly undertone.
Ian, lowering his voice, asked, "Do you mean Everett?"
Lawrence's gaze was cold and distant. "Tell our people to lay low for now."
Ian seemed to understand, speaking softly, "Do you mean... Everett will come back?"
Lawrence understood that their best strategy was to wait for Everett to make a move.
"He's more anxious than us,” Lawrence said, the corner of his lips curling in a slightly amused arc.
Jared had been searching for Everett and was close to finding traces of him. Everett couldn't stay
hidden forever; he would have to come out eventually.
"But if he does come back, won’t he be captured immediately?" Ian wondered. Given Everett's actions,
his return seemed futile.
Lawrence's expression darkened slightly. "That depends on his skills."
He was confident that Everett had ways to avoid capture; after all, he had managed to stay safe until
now.
"You're fine, I'll head out," Ian said, seeing that there was nothing more to discuss.
"Alright," Lawrence replied, turning his gaze toward the window, deep in thought.
Chapter 2998
Looking out at the blue sky through the window, Lawrence's eyes deepened in thought.
Nicole had secured the design and development project with Apex Corp. With her capabilities, success
was almost certain. However, Nicole's former identity meant that Zane would likely be the biggest
beneficiary of this success.
This development could be a fatal blow to their opponents.
Meanwhile, Nicole and Lulu arrived at the office in Riddle Corporation.
"How's everything going?" Nicole asked Lulu.
"Oh, everything's been running smoothly, no major issues," Lulu replied.
"What about Patricia? How is she doing?" Nicole followed up-
Lulu thought for a moment, "She's been seeing Martin regularly, but it seems like there hasn't been
much progress in her treatment."
Nicole sighed, "I've been trying to think of a solution, but nothing suitable comes to mind."
"Don't worry, you'll figure it out," Lulu consoled her.
Nicole bit her lip, then asked, "How's Ellar doing lately?"
Lulu hesitated, "Things at BayCorp are going well, but recently he's been visiting Martin a lot. He must
be getting anxious."
She thought Ellar's frequent visits to Martin might be to check on the progress of the treatment, but
visiting every day seemed excessive.
Nicole raised an eyebrow slightly, "He's going there every day?"
"Yes, right after work," Lulu nodded, clearly seeing Ellar's concern for Patricia.
Nicole's brows furrowed slightly as she was puzzled, "Even if he's anxious, he doesn't need to go every
day, right?"
Lulu shrugged, "Maybe it's just love that runs too deep."
So Ellar's extra worry and urgency might be due to his deep affection.
After a moment of thought, Nicole said, "As long as everything's okay."
Perhaps, as Lulu suggested, Ellar was simply too worried.
"Right,” Lulu nodded, trying to comfort Nicole. "You don't need to worry too much, everyone's doing
fine."
Nicole, with a small smile, looked at Lulu and said, "Good, that's a relief. You can go ahead and get
busy.”
"Sure, I'll leave then," Lulu said, turning to leave.
"Let's have lunch together," Nicole suggested.
Lulu smiled back, "Sounds great."
Once Lulu had left, Nicole turned her attention to the documents on her desk and began working.
When lunchtime arrived, Nicole and Lulu headed to the restaurant. They had just ordered their meals
when suddenly a shadow loomed over them, prompting Nicole to look up.
"Why are you here?" Lulu asked, frowning slightly in displeasure.
Lawrence, with a casual smile, said, "Just happened to run into you and thought I'd say hello."
"Really?" Lulu looked outside, skeptical about the coincidence.
Lawrence, however, was already addressing Nicole, "May I join you?"
"Sure," Nicole replied indifferently, nodding her head.
After Lawrence sat down and ordered his meal, Lulu muttered under her breath, "Who said he could
join us for lunch."
Chapter 2999
Nicole looked at Lulu with a smile, seemingly reassuring her.
With a sigh, Lulu regained her composure. After all, they couldn't just ask Lawrence to leave since he
wasn't going anywhere.
"Everything went smoothly overseas, I hope," Lawrence said, feigning concern.
"Quite smoothly, and we even had some unexpected gains," Nicole responded, not revealing too much.
She believed Lawrence was already aware of the details.
Lawrence smiled wryly, "Well, congratulations then."
He understood Nicole was being deliberate. She knew he was aware of everything, so there was no
need for him to pretend otherwise.
Nicole nodded politely, "Thank you."
Observing Nicole's seemingly polite but distant demeanor, Lawrence's eyes darkened slightly.
Just then, the waiter brought their lunch. After setting it down and wishing them a pleasant meal, he
left.
"Let's eat," Lawrence said with a smile, looking at Nicole.
"Sure," Nicole replied, showing no sign of discomfort, and started eating and chatting with Lulu.
Lawrence narrowed his eyes slightly, listening to their conversation while eating his lunch.
Nicole and Lulu chatted, subtly keeping an eye on Lawrence's every move. Noticing his calm
demeanor, Nicole's eyebrows slightly raised.
After lunch, Nicole and Lulu prepared to leave.
Lawrence offered, "Let me drive you."
"No, thank you, we have a driver," Lulu declined immediately.
Having lunch with him was already a stretch; they wouldn't accept a ride from him. Who knew what he
might be planning.
"Since that's the case, we won't disturb you any further," Lawrence said, not insisting further and
bidding them farewell before leaving first.
Lulu, pulling Nicole aside, whispered, "What's his deal, anyway?"
She was puzzled about how Lawrence could approach Nicole so calmly and join them for lunch as if
nothing had happened before.
"It does seem a bit strange," Nicole said; her expression became serious with thought. She wondered if
Lawrence was trying to test her, or if he had some other reason for showing up.
"Let's head back," Lulu suggested, feeling a bit uneasy as they left the restaurant.
The driver brought the car around, and they headed back to
Riddle Corporation.
Meanwhile, Lawrence watched Nicole's car drive away before instructing Ian, "Drive."
"Mr. Royce, won't Nicole become suspicious?" Ian asked, concerned about their recent open
confrontation.
"I'm trying to slowly ease her suspicions," Lawrence replied calmly.
He found it more unusual that Nicole wasn't suspicious of him. By maintaining a friendly distance like
before, he hoped to gradually lower her guard and relax her vigilance.
Ian wanted to say more but, noticing Lawrence's stern expression, remained silent and started the car.
Lawrence leaned back in his seat, his gaze shifting to the car window. His goal was to have it all, both
Crests and Nicole, and he was not willing to let go of either.
Back at Riddle Corporation, Nicole and Lulu returned to work. After a while, to their surprise, Jared
showed up.
Chapter 3000
"Why are you here?" Nicole asked in surprise.
"I came to see you," Jared replied softly, his gaze gentle as he took a seat beside her on the couch.
Nicole joined him, her body leaning against the soft cushions. "I just got back."
"I know," Jared said, reaching out to take her hand.
Nicole's eyebrows raised slightly. "You knew?"
Her mind raced to a conclusion. Jared must have known about her lunch with Lawrence. His arrival
here was far from a mere coincidence.
"Yes," Jared confirmed, "What did he say to you?"
Nicole's frown deepened. "What if I told you we just had lunch? Would you believe that?"
"Just lunch?" Jared's voice carried a hint of disbelief. 'Is that all? What's Lawrence planning?'
"Who knows? He's a weird one," Lulu added with a pout, "But for sure, he's up to something fishy."
Nicole agreed silently. Although Lawrence appeared calm, she knew he was a wolf in sheep's clothing,
not to be trusted.
Jared looked at Nicole, his eyes calm yet filled with concern.
"Don't worry, I'm fine," Nicole reassured Jared, squeezing his hand. 'He's probably just buying time,'
she thought.
"Does this mean he wants a temporary truce to lower your guard?" Max asked, catching on.
"Possibly, but he must have a plan behind it," Nicole responded, nodding thoughtfully. She had known
Lawrence for a few years and had some insight into his character.
"So what does he want?" Max looked at Jared, puzzled.
Jared's gaze darkened slightly. "You said his men have disappeared?"
"Yes, those who were active before have quieted down, some even left San Joto," Max confirmed.
"He's playing a deep game," Jared said coldly. ' Retreating to advance, preparing to gather strength in
secret, or maybe he has some information we don't have."
"Nicole, could he be scared?" Lulu asked with wide eyes. Nicole considered this. 'Could it be that
Lawrence knows he can't beat us, so he's seeking mercy now?" she wondered.
Nicole shook her head, a wry smile playing on her lips. No, that's not Lawrence's style. He doesn't give
up until he gets what he wants."
"How about he's trying to get closer to you, maybe to steal the Crests?" Lulu speculated. But she
quickly realized that since the Crests had recognized their master, simply stealing them wouldn't be
effective.
Nicole chuckled at Lulu's wild imagination. "Let’s not jump to conclusions. Why don't you take a break
during lunchtime?"
Lulu agreed but cast a meaningful glance at Jared before leaving the room, thinking it wise to give
them some space.
After Lulu's departure, Max also stood up. "I'll look into it," he said, and then he too exited.
Left alone in the office, Nicole turned to Jared. 'What do you think?"
"Ever since Scorpio's been captured, he's been lurking in the shadows. With Scorpio gone, showing
weakness could mean he's found a new shield," Jared speculated, his eyes flashing with a cold light.
Nicole bit her lip, deep in thought. 'Who could be Lawrence's new shield in San Joto?' she pondered.
"Could the Eastern Falcon have sent someone else?" Nicole frowned. 'After such a loss, could they still
be a threat?'
"It's possible," Jared replied in a deep, somewhat oppressive tone.
Nicole's eyes narrowed as she realized Jared's thoughts were probably right.