Ch. 2211..2220

Chapter 2211 Clayton’s Voice

Julie paused and sighed.

"I'm not worried about my past being known. I did nothing wrong, and it's nothing shameful, so if this kind of thing happens again in the future, don't worry about me. You don't dare to resist. But it probably won't happen in the future. After this time, our relationship is officially made public. It looks like I have to be like you in the future and wear a hat and a mask when I go out!"

More importantly, someone was always staring at them. If they caught anything, it would become a sign of their marriage failure.

Kai patted her head.

"Jules, I'm sorry..."

Nicole got on the plane with Luca, Roland, Logan, and Kai.

Kai was still forced to go with Nicole and had no choice but to tag along.

Especially since Kai was happy lately, and Julie had been convincing him to go and take care of Nicole.

Chatty and Fischer insisted on following Nicole too.

Floyd suggested that since they had a villa over there, they should just go for a vacation and relax.

Thus, they brought Chatty and Fischer along.

When they arrived at the villa, Chatty played hide-and-seek with Fischer in high spirits.

However, no one had the energy to accompany them.

Fortunately, the butler and servants in the villa were thoughtful in preparing everything for them, so they did not have to worry about anything. Nicole called Grant in the study to discuss the private reception.

Although they received an invitation, the identities of other VIPs who were invited were kept confidential.

She was not sure how difficult it would be to invest in the project.

However, there were still a few days before the reception.

Nicole took Chatty to a university.

Michael jumped grades and went to school here. This was a prestigious school with a long history, and it was the best school for his favorite major.

After receiving Nicole’s call, Michael came out on his bicycle in a hurry. He was taken aback when he saw them and ran over excitedly to hug them.

"Pretty Lady!"

Chatty was very surprised to see Michael and clapped her hands, signaling for him to carry her.

Michael pinched her cheek happily and hugged her. He looked elated.

"Chatty, did you miss me?"

"Yes, I miss you..."

Chatty nodded.

Michael could not hide his joy.

He was already a teenager, but he still looked childish. He also had a youthful energy that could not be concealed. His life in this school was peaceful and perfect.

"Pretty Lady! Oh, forget it... Dad's going to scold me again. Why isn't he here?"

Michael did not change the way he addressed Nicole and was pleasantly surprised to see his relatives in a foreign country.

Nicole smiled. Tm here for business and came to visit you in the meantime. Can you keep up in school?"

Michael was the youngest in his class, but he should not be underestimated.

Coincidentally, Maverick was his idol. Although Michael had never met Maverick, he had always regarded him as a god.

"It's easy. Why don’t I take you guys for a stroll?"

Nicole raised her eyebrows and nodded.

"Okay."

She looked at Chatty and winked.

Chatty received Nicole’s hint and immediately got down from Michael's embrace.

She said softly, "Brother, I’ll walk by myself! I’m afraid to tire you out!"

Chatty even touched her brother's hand as if he was tired from carrying her just now.

Michael smiled, put Chatty on the back of his bicycle, and tidied up her little skirt.

"Where’s your little follower Fischer?"

The two children were inseparable, but why was there only one left all of a sudden?

Chatty pouted. "I didn’t bring him!”

Nicole laughed. "Fischer’s parents are here on a business trip, so I brought him along to reunite with them."

Michael clicked his tongue. 'That's such a coincidence."

Nicole was wearing a casual beige dress and a beautiful hat. She looked youthful and vivid.

On this campus, Nicole seemed to become a unique scenery that people could not take their eyes off.

Michael stole a few more glances and noticed something different about Nicole.

He had long regarded her as his family.

Those embarrassing things Michael did in the past seemed to be the catalyst for Clayton to pursue Nicole.

To be honest, if it was not for Michael, Clayton might not have ended up with Nicole so smoothly.

However, Michael realized it too late.

The deal was done.

Even so, Michael was glad that Nicole became his family. She was the mother he dreamed of because she was a motherly yet sisterly figure.

Anyway, Michael would not acknowledge anyone else to be his mother.

Only this time, he felt that there was some gloomy absence in Nicole's expression.

"Where’s Daddy? Is he too busy to come and see me?"

Michael said aggrievedly.

Nicole paused, glanced at him, and smiled, but her eyes turned red.

When she glanced at Chatty, her opened mouth closed again.

At this moment, Chatty stretched out her hand and revealed her smartwatch.

"Brother, Daddy's here!"

She tapped on the screen and dialed a number. Soon, the call was answered.

Clayton's voice came through.

"Chatty baby?"

The warmth and gentleness were very familiar.

"Daddy, Big Brother and I miss you!"

Chatty said happily, then raised his hand to let Michael talk to Daddy too.

Just as Michael was about to speak, he paused slightly when he saw the number on it.

His smile slowly subsided.

His expression changed from surprise to strangeness. Then, he slowly calmed down.

Michael touched Chatty's arm and said, "I don't miss Daddy. Did you tell Daddy to come here?"

Chatty nodded and said happily into her watch.

"We’re here to see Michael! He's very happy and obedient. I'm a good girl too! Only Fischer is disobedient!"

The voice from the watch was familiar and brisk. Clayton chuckled and said, "Chatty is the best behaved!"

There was no difference in his voice or tone that made Michael feel the chills.

Michael looked at Nicole with doubt.

Nicole carried Chatty down from the bike and said, "Go and play for a while, but don't run too far. Come back in ten minutes, okay?"

Chatty smiled. "Okay!"

She could not sit still and wished she could run around freely.

Once she got on the ground, she ran away like an elusive butterfly and disappeared out of sight.

They were on campus, and Luca was watching from a distance, so there were no problems.

A sycamore tree in the distance was tall and thick. It looked like it had hundreds of years of history.

Under the tree was a thick layer of fallen leaves that looked wild yet beautiful.

The beautiful scenery was all around them.

"Auntie, I don't understand. The one talking to Chatty isn’t human right? Is it a robot?"

Michael was learning about this in school, and the voice in Chatty's watch could be easily forged.

As soon as he saw the number on the phone, he knew it was fake.

However, Chatty did not know.

She still shared her happiness with her dad every day.

If Clayton was safe and sound, why did they have to use Al?

Chapter 2212 other People's Kindness

Michael's face turned pale, and his beautiful blue eyes were full of panic.

"Where's Daddy?"

Nicole took a deep breath.

She tried her best to suppress the surging emotions in her heart.

She paused for a while and said calmly, "Michael, you probably heard about the earthquake in Mediania a while ago, right? We happened to be there when the earthquake struck, and Clayton went missing..."

Michael's face instantly turned pale.

He stood there looking shocked.

Nicole took a deep breath. "Michael, I came here to tell you this. I don't want to hide anything from you. I know you’ll get suspicious if you can’t contact him, so I want to tell you in person. You're a strong kid. No matter where he is, I hope you can grow up healthily. He has paved the way for you, and he loved you no less than anyone else. Michael, we're your family, so you can come to me for anything, and I will take good care of you and Chatty on behalf of your father."

Michael's expression changed, and his tears were about to overflow from his eyes.

"How could it be? Is this a joke?"

Nicole's calm expression was filled with sorrow.

The corners of her lips twitched.

"I wish more than anyone else that this is just a joke."

But unfortunately, it was true. This was not a dream.

Michael stood there silently, unable to hide his pain.

Clayton raised him. Even if Clayton did not have time to take care of

Michael and was a little negligent, Clayton struggled as a single parent and loved Michael.

Clayton pampered Michael when he was a child and strictly disciplined him when he grew up. That was his way of showing his love.

Even after Michael found out that he was not Clayton’s biological son, he was not estranged from Clayton.

Clayton had always been actively involved in Michael's growth.

Even when Clayton got married and had his own daughter, he never regarded Michael as an outsider.

Michael had never been in an awkward position.

Nicole walked over, stroked his hair, and gently hugged his shoulders. "Michael, we're family, and we'll never abandon you."

Michael’s tears fell. Nicole could feel her shoulders getting wet.

Her heart felt uncomfortable as if it had been pierced by a sharp knife.

This kind of grief was too familiar to her, and she had gradually come out of it.

However, Michael just started to face it.

Accidents always happen suddenly and take away important things that they thought would accompany them throughout their life.

Thus, Nicole learned to cherish the people around her more. "Mommy! Brother..."

Chatty ran over from a distance and carried the hem of her skirt.

Her carefree appearance easily infected those around her.

Michael took a deep breath and quickly wiped away his tears.

Nicole paused and then said, "She doesn’t know anything. She kept asking for Daddy at first, so I had no choice but to get Tigger to imitate Clayton's voice."

Michael nodded. "Let's keep this from her first. She's still too young."

How could a young girl like Chatty face such a cruel thing?

Nicole smiled and remembered one thing.

"By the way, I heard that your aunt wanted to bring you back. What do you think about it?"

Michael was silent for a few seconds.

"Daddy disagrees. He wants me to concentrate on school."

Nicole nodded. "I studied a bit about that family. Their background isn't clean, and it's very complicated. It'll be difficult for you to face it alone, so let's listen to your father's arrangements for now." Michael nodded.

Nicole sighed.

Chatty ran to them. She held a delicate rose in her hand and gave it to Michael.

"Brother, it's for you..."

Michael paused. "Who gave it to you?"

Chatty turned around and pointed to the person behind her. "He did..."

Michael and Nicole looked over.

In an instant, Nicole's expression became complicated.

The man was dressed in a British-style suit and looked lean and tall. His features were distinct and handsome, and he had an imposing presence.

"Nicole, what a coincidence!"

Nicole raised her eyes, glanced at Eric, and said in a neutral tone, "It's truly a coincidence that you're also here, Mr. Ferguson."

The cordial mood just now was inexplicably ruined. Nicole just wished she could get out of there immediately.

Eric had a slight smile on his face, and his gestures were not as cold as before. He was a little softer and gentler.

This side of Eric was weird.

That was because the two vibes were contradicting. It was as if he was deliberately restraining his coldness and seriousness.

Michael looked at him and suddenly said, "I remember now. There was a mysterious person who came to the school to donate supplies a few days ago. Was that you?"

Eric raised his eyebrows. "Yes, it was me. Michael, you don't need to rush to thank me. I'm just doing my part for the good cause of education."

Eric came a few days in advance in order to avoid being seen as deliberately stalking Nicole. Thus, he purposely came to Michael's school to make a donation because he knew that she would definitely come here.

Only then would they have the opportunity to meet today.

Such a roundabout way of creating a chance to meet Nicole really took a lot of planning and money.

Hearing this, Michael chuckled.

"Mr. Ferguson, you're Medianian, yet you're sponsoring education abroad?

Of course, I should thank you for training so many foreign talents!"

Eric's face froze slightly.

Nicole let out a low chuckle with a hint of mockery.

In the next second, Eric glanced at him calmly and smiled.

"Michael, you're thinking too much. My money is donated to the foundation that supports Medianian students abroad, so foreign students won't be able to get it. Don't worry, I spend every penny wisely!"

Michael rolled his eyes, snorted coldly, went to pick up Chatty, and put her on the back of his bike.

"Chatty, do you want to go for a ride?"

Chatty clapped her hands happily. "Okay!"

Nicole smiled. "Michael, it's getting late. Why don't you come back to the villa with me for dinner? Your third uncle is here too."

Michael agreed immediately.

"Okay, but I'll bring Chatty for a ride around the campus first!"

Chatty was so happy and excited that Michael could not bear to just let her leave like that.

No matter what, she should play to her heart's content. Nicole nodded in agreement.

She did not look at Eric and went to sit on the steps beside her. Eric took off his coat and placed it on the ground for her.

Nicole froze and slowly stood up straight.

She glanced at Eric meaningfully, then picked up his coat and handed it to him.

"Mr. Ferguson, you should save your gentlemanly attitude for other women. I don't need it."

Eric's face tightened. He pursed his lips, and his eyes darkened.

He put the coat over his arm and asked her lightly, "Nicole, I don’t deny that I'm trying to please you. But as an ordinary friend, is it so difficult for you to accept other people's kindness?"

Chapter 2213 Need a Father

Listening to Eric's words, Nicole felt the air around her ears freeze for a moment.

She thought about it for a second and found that there was actually no fluctuation or feeling in her heart.

There were no emotions, shock, or regret.

There was nothing.

It was like talking to a stranger.

Nicole raised her head and looked at Eric's face.

It was familiar, but she did not feel anything.

The corners of her mouth twitched, and her voice was as soothing as the wind.

"Eric, it's because I saw your intentions that I refused your kindness. Do you understand?"

Eric's eyes were stunned for a moment.

He frowned. His facial features were as delicate as a sculpture. At this moment, he looked unreconciled and puzzled.

"Why? He's no longer here. I can understand that you can’t get over him for a while, but it won't last forever. Since you can get out of the pain, you can also forget about your feelings for him eventually, right?"

Nicole looked at him. Her tone became a little cold.

"No. I will never forget about him, and I've never put the pain behind me. I just stopped thinking about the pain for the time being. I didn't forget it. I love him, so I naturally can't forget every moment that I was with him. Even if I do fall in love again one day, it'll only be because Clayton is standing in front of me."

It was Clayton's appearance that made her feel like she had gotten a tenfold response for her feelings.

He made her feel warmth and kindness all the time, as well as an irreplaceable sense of security.

No one else in this world could make her feel the same way.

The wounds that Eric inflicted on her had healed perfectly.

Nicole knew what it was like to be loved by someone, so how could she still like someone so selfish?

Eric's expression slowly stiffened.

He deeply suppressed the strong emotions in his eyes, and he looked hurt. "Back then... Did you love me that much too?"

In those three years, Eric never responded to her feelings. Three years later, every day was torture for Eric.

Eric wanted to recall the beautiful memories, but he could not find the slightest trace of them.

Nicole had given all her love to another person.

She looked straight at him without the slightest fluctuation in emotion.

"No, it's different. Before I was with Clayton, I thought that my fondness, passion, and sacrifice for you was love, but that was not it. It was more so because I was unreconciled. I knew you didn't like me, but I forced you to marry me. It was my wishful thinking. Later, our marriage ended in failure. I thought you wronged me, but in fact, you just looked down on me. Those three years were very important to me, but they were nothing to you.

Speaking of it now, I morally kidnapped you back then. But after I was with Clayton, I felt so stupid for my past behavior. That was not love. It was just an obsession because I didn't get my feelings reciprocated. Love is every moment I’m with Clayton. Every emotion we give will receive a response, and we won't ignore any changes in each other. We cherish the time we're together and won't waste a minute of it."

When she said this, Nicole lowered her head and smiled as if she was recalling something beautiful.

When she smiled, her side profile was beautiful and delicate. The light from a distance outlined her profile in an extraordinarily soft and beautiful way.

It was as if a faint halo had enveloped her.

Time seemed to stand still.

Eric stared at her quietly while his heart was bleeding.

However, he had to smile and listen to her calmly as she told him she never loved him.

That was too painful.

Nicole had long let go of her feelings for him, but he could never let her go.

How unfair. 1

Why was his timing of falling in love with her off?

Eric lowered his eyes and chuckled lightly.

'There's no way you can convince me. Since Clayton could win your heart after the two of US got divorced, I can too. Besides, you can't be alone forever. Chatty also needs a father, right?"

Nicole frowned. Her face sank slightly.

"Eric, do you not understand English?! I don't seem to have given you an illusion that you can pursue me, have I?"

She thought that Eric should have let go of his feelings long ago.

However, the frequency of his appearance and what he said made Nicole feel repulsed.

Especially with Clayton's absence, Nicole could not adapt to the existence of another man.

Eric's face tightened. The things he had already decided would not be changed easily.

What was more, this was a good opportunity given to him by God.

Eric looked at her without changing his expression and said in a heavy tone, "You have the right to reject me, but I won't change my decision. Nicole, I won't let go of your hand so easily this time."

He stared at Nicole affectionately and wished that he could imprint her deeply in his heart.

Eric had thought about this day for a long time.

Nicole glanced at him indifferently. It was difficult to hide the impatience in her eyes.

Then, she turned and walked away.

"Michael, let's go!”

Nicole yelled. Michael slipped out of nowhere and rode his bike smoothly.

Chatty was amused and kept laughing.

When they got in the car, Michael saw Nicole's glum face. Michael was saddened by what happened to Clayton.

He thought about Eric, 'He probably didn't have any good intentions...'

It would be strange if Nicole would pay Eric any attention at this time when she was in a bad mood.

Nicole was silent for a while and noticed the heavy atmosphere in the car. Thus, she found a topic to talk about.

"Michael, do you live far from here now? Do your bodyguard and nanny live with you? Should I hire more people for you?"

Michael smiled. "No need, my bodyguard and nanny have taken care of me since I was a child, so we're like family. It'll be very uncomfortable to get used to a new person."

Clayton had handpicked these two people for Michael. The bodyguard and Susan, the nanny, were both orphans and had no family attachments, but they were efficient and very attentive in taking care of Michael.

Nicole nodded and patted his head.

"Stay with me for the time being. When we return to Mediania, you can continue to live in the villa. You can also invite your classmates over for a vacation."

Michael smiled helplessly.

"I'm very busy with the homework that Dad assigned to me. The apartment I live in now is great, so I don't need to move. It has everything, so don’t think that I’m living in the slums. You should know my financial strength better than anyone."

Nicole was taken aback.

It suddenly occurred to her that since Michael was a child, he was a spendthrift and could give away gold and jewelry at will.

Indeed, Nicole was overthinking things.

Michael had financial freedom since he was young.

Chapter 2215 Accommodate Her World

Nicole fell silent as her heart sank.

No wonder Roland deliberately dragged her over here.

"Madam, if Mr. Sloan is here, he could still restrain them, but they somehow found out about Mr. Sloan’s accident... That's why they started to make trouble."

It was easy to give up this project, but the price to pay later would be huge.

This was also the reason why Clayton struggled to get this project.

He wanted to introduce these easy-to-use and affordable medical products to Mediania. At least then, ordinary people who needed them could afford them.

Nicole blinked and felt a series of mixed emotions in her heart.

Clayton, the profiteer, would also go to such lengths for his country.

She had learned a lot about Clayton in the past, and this time he completely refreshed her impression of him again.

Nicole admired him for it, but he never mentioned this to her.

Perhaps to him, this was just a trivial matter.

When the elevator arrived, everyone went out one after another.

Roland said, "We still have to head upstairs."

Nicole nodded and looked at him. "When did this happen?"

Roland thought about it for a while. "Not long after he married you."

Roland sighed and smiled casually.

"Actually, he's completely different from the Mr. Sloan I used to know. When I first met him, he kept up with other countries’ affairs even though he was based in Liberty. Although he paid attention to Mediania, it’s still not his priority because Mediania had a lot of restrictions on foreign investment. But after he was with you, he almost forgot that he was a

businessman who only cared about profit. He started to read books and newspapers with Chairman Stanton every day and cared more about the Medianian market. He really thought of himself as a responsible entrepreneur. Outsiders would think that he's a native Medianian!"

Nicole's heart trembled slightly when she heard this.

The tip of her heart seemed to be brushed by a feather. That feeling was bitter and astringent and made her feel like crying.

However, now was not the time.

Nicole was unaware that Clayton had slowly changed himself to keep up with her pace.

She never thought about whether he would be uncomfortable or unhappy because he never bothered her with these things. These were just one of the difficulties they had to overcome together.

Thinking of this now, Nicole suddenly felt dismal. It felt as if someone was squeezing her heart.

Nicole enjoyed Clayton's attentiveness and tender care as a matter of course, but she never gave him the same care.

She was not a qualified wife.

Now, it was too late. If she had known earlier, she would love him more than she used to.

What was the use of saying this now?

The elevator arrived.

Roland led the way for Nicole. The receptionist stood there and looked at them politely.

"Excuse me, do you have an appointment?"

Roland took a step forward. 'This is Clayton Sloan's wife, the current shareholder of your company. I've already told Jacques beforehand."

The receptionist paused, bowed, and lowered her head to read a message.

"Please wait a moment."

After a while, a foreigner in a suit came out to greet them.

"Mrs. Sloan, please come in..."

When he saw Nicole, his eyes flashed with surprise, but he quickly restrained his gaze.

Roland glanced at Nicole and nodded.

Although Nicole only knew the brief situation, she already had a plan.

Based on her experience of doing business abroad, it was not beneficial to delay a project for too long as it would get complicated.

Foreign businesses were not the same as Medianian businesses.

Foreigners paid attention to efficiency and results.

Nicole calmly followed the man, who led them to a cafe where other employees relaxed. He did not bring them to an office.

Not everyone in the pantry was drinking coffee. Some were working with their laptops in front of them as if they did not want to waste a minute of their time.

Roland led her to a seat by the window, where a man with a full beard was sitting.

"Madam, that's Jacques, the president of this company," said Roland, in a low voice.

When Jacques looked at them, especially Nicole, he looked slightly startled. His eyes held a bit of scrutiny and appreciation.

"Mrs. Sloan, it's an honor to meet you."

Jacques opened his arms and was about to hug and kiss her.

Nicole was very familiar with this kind of European etiquette, but when she met his gaze, she somehow felt uncomfortable. Thus, she took the initiative to reach out her hand.

"Hello."

Jacques was stunned for a moment before he shook hands with her and smiled.

"I understand that Medianian women are more conservative."

Nicole smiled perfunctorily as she could feel that Jacques had malicious intentions.

Roland went over to say hello. Jacques obviously knew him and stretched out his hand for the two guests to sit down.

Then, he beckoned the waiter.

"Mrs. Sloan, what would you like to drink?"

Nicole replied, "A latte, please. Thank you."

Jacques looked at her without concealing his admiration and enthusiasm.

"Mrs. Sloan, you're the most beautiful Medianian woman I've seen before! You're absolutely stunning!"

'Thank you."

Nicole nodded lightly.

Roland, who was on the side, looked glum. Jacques was bullying them because Clayton was not there.

He even regretted getting Nicole involved.

After a while, the coffee was served, and Jacques's secretary came over with the documents.

Jacques took a meaningful look at Nicole and put the document in front of her.

'We're very sorry about what happened to Mr. Sloan. I've always respected him, but this accident is unavoidable. Please accept my condolences, Mrs. Sloan. Since Mr. Sloan is no longer around, we would like you to sign this document. We want to buy over Mr. Sloan's shares, and this has been decided by our board of directors."

Nicole looked at the document in front of her and opened it.

She carefully read through every clause and saw at a glance that the contract was just to fool regular people who did not know the business.

Many clauses were taking advantage of her, and there were many loopholes. A knowledgeable person could see at a glance that there was a problem.

"Mrs. Sloan, we’re buying back Mr. Sloan’s share at the current market price, which is double what Mr. Sloan bought it for back then. Mr. Sloan has already earned enough. From now on, I think it's better to let US French people manage the company ourselves."

Jacques looked arrogant.

He thought that Clayton married Nicole because of her beauty. Clayton never brought Nicole to these occasions, so he thought that Nicole knew nothing about business.

Since Clayton died, Jacques could get back what belonged to him, and he no longer had to be controlled by Clayton.

Mediania was indeed a big market forthem. If he exported to Mediania through other countries, he could get several times the profit, not just a cost price.

He wanted to swallow this big piece of piece and could not wait for Nicole to sign the document.

Nicole looked at the document for a long time, which made Jacques a little impatient.

"Mrs. Sloan, if you don’t understand this, why don't you ask your assistant to help you? You just need to sign it and don't have to go through so much trouble. We’ve worked together with Mr. Sloan for so long, so how could I cheat you?"

Chapter 2214 Childhood Sweetheart

Nicole smiled and said, "Okay then, just tell me what you need."

Michael nodded, turned around, and started playing with Chatty.

Nicole looked at the rapidly changing scenery outside the window and felt that her heart was at peace.

If only he was here...

If he was still in this world, he would definitely come back to her.

But when would he come back?

They finally arrived at the villa.

Although they called it a villa, it was actually more like a castle. It was a Gothic-style building with a long history that the royals used to live in.

The butler stayed in the villa to take care of the villa and its surroundings.

Chatty ran in holding Michael's hand, and the butler immediately came out to greet them.

When Fischer saw that Chatty was back, he excitedly ran over to hug her.

Nicole was stunned for a moment when she saw Fischer.

"Fischer, didn't your parents come to pick you up? You came back so soon?"

Fischer pursed his lips in disappointment and scratched his head. His tender and fair face looked so pitiful and aggrieved.

Logan, who was next to him, coughed and came over to explain.

"I sent him there and met his parents. They asked me to bring him back and didn't even let him stay for a meal. They were so busy that they were counting the seconds..."

Nicole was shocked.

She was heartbroken when she looked at Fischer.

Although during the time Fischer lived in the Stanton Mansion, Nicole did not hear Fischer being homesick, that did not mean he did not miss his parents.

However, Nicole could not say this out loud.

Nicole walked over and touched Fischer's head. She said with a smile," Fischer, you're really lucky today! I'll get them to prepare your favorite cheese-baked lobster for lunch. I'll take you guys out tomorrow, okay?"

It was rare that Nicole brought Chatty out for a vacation, so she intended to let Chatty have some fun before leaving.

Fischer's eyes lit up. He smiled happily and nodded solemnly.

"Okay! We want to go to the theme park and watch a play!"

"Sure! Then you'll be responsible for taking care of Chatty!"

"No problem, Godmom!"

Fischer was easily coaxed, which made him likable.

Chatty admired her big brother and had been clinging to Michael.

When Michael went to the kitchen, Chatty would follow behind him eagerly like a little follower.

In the end, Fischer used an Ultraman robot to attract Chatty's attention.

Fischer watched as Chatty put skirts on the Ultraman.

He could not bear to look at it directly.

Fischer pinched Chatty's cheek, which was soft, and smiled with bared teeth.

"Chatty, do you want to go out to play tomorrow?"

Chatty nodded and looked at him expectantly.

Fischer pointed to his own face. Chatty reacted immediately, ran over, and gave him a kiss.

Logan and Roland, who were watching them from the side, were stunned. They put down their work and watched this scene.

This pair of childhood sweethearts were so cute!

It was so sweet that they had a toothache!

Fischer pointed to the other side of his face and motioned for Chatty to kiss him again.

He learned this trick from Clayton, and it really worked.

However, Chatty had limited patience. She got a little angry, thinking that Fischer backtracked on his promise.

In the next second, she did not kiss him but slapped him on the face.

She snorted angrily, picked up the toy next to her, and threw it at him.

The sweet atmosphere disappeared in an instant.

The two children switched to war mode.

To be precise, one of them attacked while the other got beaten.

Logan and Roland looked at each other for a second.

Hah, childhood sweethearts also had a rough patch.

What a bittersweet pair!

Michael came downstairs and was shocked to see the two kids fighting.

Nicole got used to it and asked Michael to wash his hands.

"It's okay. They're still good friends after they fight."

After all, the two children did not hold grudges and could forget everything in the blink of an eye.

Both Logan and Roland were glad that they were not kicked out to stay in a hotel.

There was nothing but rooms in the castle.

Thus, they enjoyed waking up in a well-lit state.

The dense forest outside was lush, and there was a fragrance of wild grass.

Michael and Nicole were playing tennis outside. They changed into casual clothes and were sweating profusely.

Although Michael was young, he was growing fast, especially at this age. They could already tell that he would be tall and good-looking in the future.

Nicole had not played tennis for a long time and was a little rusty. After losing several rounds in a row, her competitiveness was stimulated.

The game between the two was in full swing.

By the time the children woke up, it was already afternoon.

Nicole and Michael were also well-rested after their game.

They went downstairs.

The butler went over to convey Kai’s words.

"Ms. Stanton, the Third Young Master is going out to meet a friend. He’ll meet you on the cruise ship."

Nicole nodded.

Roland was going to take Nicole to deal with Clayton’s investment projects.

Thus, in the afternoon, Michael and Logan stayed behind with Chatty and Fischer.

The local buildings on the street were unique, and Nicole could tell that the pace of life here was very slow.

Everyone was more focused on enjoying life.

Nicole wore a long gray dress with intricate patterns. It was elegant yet rustic, which made her look cool and regal.

After they got out of the car, Roland pointed to the tall building in front of him.

"Madam, Mr. Sloan is the owner of this building, but he leased it to many companies. One of them is a medical device company. Although it's not big, its quality and reputation are internationally renowned."

Nicole nodded. The results of the venture capital investment for this stage of the project were out. If there was no problem, they only needed to follow up with the second stage of investment.

However, Roland purposely brought Nicole over to introduce her to these people, so Nicole did not know what his intention was.

Nicole followed Roland inside. Sure enough, this brand received rave reviews all over the world.

She glanced at Roland.

Roland pursed his lips and said with a solemn expression, 'The procedures for other projects are actually easy to handle, but this company is a little complicated because it used to be a family business. Europeans value their business inheritance, and Mr. Sloan put in a lot of effort to invest in them. Recently, they wanted to use their power to squeeze out Mr. Sloan's share."

Other people got on the elevator, so Roland lowered his voice and spoke in a foreign language.

'That's why the next batch of products hasn’t been put into production for a long time. Also, their slogan is to support a pure European economy."

Were they trying to use an external force to make Clayton withdraw his investment?

Nicole immediately understood. Ì see. So, they’re ditching US once they're done using US?"

Roland thought that her description was very apt.

"Right. That's what it means."

Nicole clicked her tongue. 'Then just withdraw our investment. Why should we continue investing in them?"

Roland glanced at her and explained in a low voice, "Based on the contract, if we become shareholders, then all medical products will be sold to us at cost prices. Before we invested in this company, these kinds of medical devices would not get circulated in Mediania. The only way to get these products into Mediania is by going through other channels and importing them from other countries. That will drive up our cost and tariffs by nearly ten times the cost price."

Chapter 2216 Bear the Consequences

Roland frowned. "Jacques, why wouldn't Mrs. Sloan understand the contract? She's the president of Stanton Corporation, not a housewife who doesn't know anything. Usually, lawyers need to read the documents word by word. Why are you so anxious when it's only been a few minutes?"

Jacques's expression changed slightly as if he could not understand what Roland was saying.

'What? Who is she?”

He asked again in disbelief.

Roland saw that Nicole had no reaction or opinion, so he repeated her identity again.

Jacques instantly became serious and looked at Nicole solemnly. He no longer had a frivolous look in his eyes anymore.

"Ms. Stanton?"

He murmured, 'The hospitals under the Stanton Corporation are very popular in our country, so we would like to cooperate with your hospitals. If our products can..."

Nicole raised her hand to interrupt him and put the document on the table.

She said with an indifferent smile, "Let’s talk about the cooperation with Stanton Corporation later. This is a separate matter, and I came here on behalf of Clayton. I don’t think this document is appropriate. Also, based on your country's laws, selling our shares would require our approval. Now, I’m officially informing you that Clayton and I do not agree with this. Since he’s not around, I naturally have the final say in things. There's no doubt about that."

"Ms. Stanton, but the board of directors has unanimously approved it..."

'We're the second largest shareholder, and we didn't attend the shareholders' meeting, so that meeting can't approve anything meaningful."

Nicole said this calmly. She took a sip of coffee and pursed her lips.

"Jacques, I don't think we’ll lose even if we go through litigation, don't you think so?"

Although their country had protection measures, it was only to a certain extent. Once they went through litigation, the company’s image would be exposed to the public.

They marketed that they were a pure European company, but in fact, they were not. They were deceiving their consumers.

In fact, the longer they dragged this, it would only delay the chance of their product going on the market.

Thus, they would not ignore this time cost.

Now, Nicole and Jacques were just playing a mind game.

After Jacques learned about Nicole's identity, he did not dare to underestimate her anymore.

The document that he wanted to use to fool Nicole was now a piece of ridiculous evidence that made him feel embarrassed.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Stanton. I didn't think it through. Getting back our shares is my father's dying wish. He doesn't have long to live, and he had always felt guilty about selling the shares to Mr. Sloan. My family’s business has been around for hundreds of years, and I hope to get the shares back and return them to the family before my father's death."

At this moment, Jacques was much more modest than before.

Nicole looked up at him and smiled slightly.

"Jacques, I’m afraid there’s nothing we can continue to talk about. Why don't you just send your lawyer to meet US next time?"

Then, she stood up.

Jacques did not expect his plan to fail because he thought that Medianians valued family the most.

In the end, Nicole did not have much empathy for him and wanted to leave before he could say anything else

"Ms. Stanton! Mrs. Sloan, I'm sorry. I apologize for my attitude just now. I didn't know your real identity. But can we discuss the shares again? This is my father's dying wish..."

Nicole raised her eyelids, glanced at him, and smiled very gently.

"No. What does your father's wish have to do with me? I'm a businesswoman, not a philanthropist. I think you should know this better than anyone else."

Jacques could not keep his exposure and showed his true colors.

Even Roland gulped in nervousness.

After working with Clayton for so long, he still could not get used to Clayton's unpredictable way of doing things.

However, Clayton seldom refused someone so bluntly. Even if Clayton was angry, he would not show it as a show of respect to the other party.

Nicole was different. She was straightforward and merciless, like a teacher lecturing a student on what was right and wrong.

She was so cool!

Roland felt extremely happy especially when he saw Jacques looking defeated because Jacques had always looked down on Medianians.

Nicole smiled and said, "See you later."

She was about to leave after she spoke.

'Wait a minute, Mrs. Sloan..."

Jacques changed his attitude. Finally, he gritted his teeth and made up his mind.

"Fine, if you really disagree, we can't do anything about it. But I do have another request."

If Nicole was anyone else, Jacques might be able to delay this as he was confident that he could get the shares back.

However, Nicole was a Stanton. Stanton Corporation built the most reputable international hospitals in France and made many medical achievements there.

All medical device manufacturers wanted the opportunity to cooperate with these hospitals for the longest time.

Now, Jacques could only try to fight for their best interests.

"I hope you can facilitate the cooperation between US and United International Hospital so that our products can be used in your hospitals."

If he could sell to United International Hospitals, his products would not just be in France, but also all over the world.

That way, their products would be able to reach the next level.

Compared to exporting his products to Mediania, Jacques felt more optimistic about the benefits of selling his products to United International Hospitals all over the world.

Nicole pursed her lips as if she was thinking about this question seriously.

Jacques looked nervously at this beautiful and calm woman.

During their conversation, Nicole had unknowingly led the topic.

Jacques was completely unaware that this was actually a high-level business negotiation skill.

The reason Nicole was able to reject him openly without being euphemistic was that she was confident she could win.

Nicole was not afraid of offending Jacques because she had nothing to ask of him.

"Okay. I can put in a word to the person in charge of United International Hospital, but I have to make it clear in advance that we’ll only take in products that are beneficial to the hospital and our patients. You can’t sell them forcefully. We can talk about the details later."

Jacques looked delighted.

"Okay, thank you very much."

Nicole nodded and took out a business card from her bag.

"Just call this number to contact that guy.”

This was the business card of the person in charge of United International Hospital. Nicole prepared some after she arrived in France, and now, it came in handy.

Nicole and Roland left, and Jacques enthusiastically sent them downstairs.

Roland was still baffled at Jacques's ever-changing emotions.

"Is that it? Is Jacques really not going to mention the shares anymore?"

Nicole raised her eyebrows. "No. He's really smart, and I can’t believe that he wanted to play the pity card." 1

Chapter 2217 A Familiar Person

The comers of Roland's mouth twitched, and he thought it was a little funny.

"Jacques didn't expect that you wouldn't be fooled by him. He wasted all the feelings that he brewed in him. Madam, why does he want to

cooperate with United International Hospital so much?"

Nicole smiled and glanced out the window.

"All medical equipment that United International Hospital uses is the most advanced in the world. Cooperating with United International Hospital is a kind of proof and honor that their brand is high quality. Although their

brand is good, they can't compare to other international brands. It takes strength to stand out."

Judging from Jacques's expression, Nicole guessed that they had been looking for opportunities but never got a chance.

"So that's how it is. Luckily you came this time. Otherwise, it would be really difficult."

Roland rubbed his head and heaved a sigh of relief.

Nicole's victory in the first battle gave him a lot of confidence.

Nicole was silent for a moment. Then, she suddenly asked, "Do you have the list information of other guests for the private event two days later?"

She wanted to know who was attending because she could only win if she knew her opponents well.

Roland replied, "All I know is that the private event will be held on a luxury cruise ship. Only ten people were invited to the main reception, and you're one of them. The two tech giants - George Quay and Wayne Loewe - will also be there. Oh, right. There’s another person with a special identity that you should pay more attention to - Michael's aunt. I haven't heard about the rest of the guests."

Nicole frowned slightly.

"Michael's aunt? What is she doing there?"

"Who knows? She may just be interested in the guests who will be attending the reception. After all, she dabbles in the gray area, so she needs connections."

Nicole nodded.

'There's also a side reception where some celebrities are invited. It's just for socializing, so you can choose if you want to participate or not."

After Roland explained this, he smiled.

"It’s quite lively there, so why don’t you take Chatty with you?"

Nicole frowned slightly and smiled a little helplessly.

"Let's talk about this later. I'm afraid I can't control her!"

They went to other places before they went back to the villa in the evening.

Chatty did not see Nicole all day, so she looked upset as she threw herself into Nicole's arms and acted like a baby.

Nicole hugged and coaxed her, which instantly lifted Chatty's mood.

Michael played with the two children all day and had to go back to school in the evening.

Nicole wanted Michael to stay with them for a few more days, but he could not forgo his schoolwork.

Thus, Logan had no choice but to send him back.

Chatty saw that her elder brother was leaving and was so sad that she hugged Michael's leg and refused to let him go.

Fischer folded his arms and watched coldly.

He was disdainful of Chatty's undignified pleading and was also jealous of Michael.

Soon, Fischer decided to let go of his dignity and hugged Michael's other leg. He even called out to him.

Michael sighed speechlessly and thought, 'Why are these two slugs so difficult to deal with?*

Fortunately, Nicole picked the two kids up and pulled them away.

After Michael repeatedly promised to visit them again, the two children reluctantly stood at the door and waved goodbye.

They looked so pitiful.

Nicole was ready to call Floyd to talk about what happened in the past two days.

However, before she could go into the study, the butler went over and said, "Miss, there's a guest outside."

"Who is it?"

"It’s Mr. Eric Ferguson." 1

Nicole’s smile disappeared quickly. She looked irritable and impatient.

He was literally everywhere.

Nicole frowned.

Eric came here with great fanfare. If she avoided seeing him, word would get out that the Stanton family and the Ferguson family were at odds, which would cause a series of problems.

Moreover, Eric helped Nicole to search for Clayton during the earthquake, so she had to be diplomatic with him.

"Invite him in."

Nicole wanted to change her clothes first, but now, she felt that it was unnecessary.

She turned back and went downstairs. Meanwhile, Eric walked in with something in his hand.

When he saw her, his eyes lit up.

His expression was gentle, and he said in a soft voice, "I was afraid that Chatty wouldn't get used to it here, so I bought her a gift."

As he was speaking, Chatty ran over from the living room next door and looked up at Eric, who was at the entrance.

Chatty thought about it for a few seconds and suddenly realized who he was.

"Oh, it’s you..."

Eric smiled and said, "Yes, it's me."

Chatty saw that her mother was walking over and said loudly, "Mommy! That weird uncle that likes to throw tantrums is here!"

For a moment, there was only silence in the living room.

Eric's smile faltered, and his expression turned gloomy.

Nicole could not help but chuckle. In the end, she coughed and said," Chatty, don't talk nonsense."

Chatty scratched her head and felt that she was not talking nonsense.

Eric handed over the gift.

"Here's a gift for you. Do you like it?"

Chatty took it over with both hands and politely thanked him.

Eric felt soft-hearted when he saw Chatty being so well-behaved.

His love for this child would never be reduced even though he hated Clayton.

Eric thought that Chatty should be his daughter, and it was not too late now.

Chatty was young and could not remember things, so if he took care of her, she would eventually become his daughter over time.

Eric looked at Chatty lovingly and could not help but reach out to touch her head.

However, Fischer ran over from the side into Eric's body.

Fischer raised his head, covered his forehead, and began to cry aggrievedly.

Eric was stunned.

He clenched his fist as he did not know how to comfort such a fragile boy. Chatty looked distressed and held Fischer as she sighed gently.

"My little fish... Don't cry... Don’t cry..."

Chatty was like a big sister as she led Fischer away.

While walking, she said, "We'll ignore that weird man. It's all his fault..."

Eric was speechless as he thought, 'What unreasonable brats!’

Nicole could not help but smile. She looked at Eric and said, "Mr. Ferguson, what are you doing here? Are you just here to give Chatty a gift?"

Chatty never had a shortage of gifts since she was a baby. She had everything under the sun.

Thus, Chatty did not care for gifts.

Eric paused for a while before he replied, "I came to persuade you not to attend that private reception."

Nicole raised her eyelids. "What?"

"I know why you came here, but it's best if you don’t go to that reception."

"Why?”

Nicole was even more puzzled.

If this was a random reception, Nicole would not go.

However, Grant had already vetted that project and gotten the invitation, so how could it be something shady?

Besides, the guests attending were elites and respectable people.

No matter what grudges they had privately, they would not make it public.

Moreover, it was surely safe because people of such a level would attend the event.

Thus, Nicole did not doubt the purpose of this reception.

Chapter 2219 Weird Feeling

Nicole looked down and smiled at Chatty and Fischer.

'Then can you two take care of each other here?"

Chatty was still a little upset. She pouted and acted pampered.

"But I want Mommy to stay with me. I’ll get scared when I see the monster M The corners of Nicole’s mouth twitched. She looked at Chatty and said helplessly, "Let's not watch this if you're afraid."

"It's okay, I'll overcome my fear! Mommy, you can go to the back. I'm a brave baby!"

Chatty clenched her fists tightly.

The woman next to her could not help but praise Chatty with a smile.

"Is this your daughter? How is she so cute? She looks smaller than my kid, but she can express herself so clearly. She's really smart..."

Nicole was also pleased with the compliment since everyone liked to hear praises of their children.

Chatty smiled and looked at the woman.

'Thanks, Miss! Your baby is also very cute!"

The woman was amused by Chatty. She then looked at her own daughter, who looked like she was about to cry at any time when she clutched her shirt and did not allow her to leave.

She felt helpless.

Nicole smiled and looked at Fischer.

'Then, will you be brave, Fischer?"

Fischer held Chatty's hand and said, "Don't worry, Mommy! I'll protect Chatty!"

"You're a good boy. After the performance, I'll take you two to eat something nice. I'll watch you from the back. Remember to follow the rules they give later..."

Nicole reminded them, then Fischer and Chatty nodded their heads in response.

Needless to say, they also knew these things.

Their teacher at home and Clayton instructed them countless times about these things, so they had it ingrained in them.

The woman looked at Nicole gratefully.

'Thank you so much. I feel very bad about this. Shall I treat you to dinner later?"

Nicole shook her head and said with a smile, "It’s okay. We're all Medianians, so we should help each other. Where's your seat?"

The woman quickly took out the ticket from her pocket, and Nicole made an exchange with her.

In just a few minutes, the venue was almost full.

Her seat was at the very back and was the second seat near the aisle.

When she walked back, she saw that the back row was also full except for the second last seat.

However, there was already someone sitting on the outermost seat.

That person gave her a very weird feeling.

The man was wearing a suit, sunglasses, a mask, and a hat commonly seen in Europe that covered half of his face.

As she walked in that direction, it was obvious that the man had noticed her.

For some unknown reason, the man seemed to tense up for a moment.

Nicole walked over, only to find that he was holding a cane in his hand.

She stood in front of him, and he became motionless.

A very strong and strange feeling suddenly surged in Nicole’s heart.

Her heart was pounding, and she felt an indescribable sense of familiarity.

However, no one here should give her this feeling.

Nicole took a deep breath and said in a calm voice, "Excuse me. My seat is next to yours."

She held the crumpled ticket.

The man raised his head slightly, glanced at her through his sunglasses, and said nothing.

He did not stand up to let her in and only turned his body slightly to let her pass.

This kind of behavior was not very polite, but Nicole did not pursue the matter.

Nicole went in, sat on her seat, and looked to the front.

Chatty and Fischer excitedly turned around and waved to her.

The two children smiled brightly and looked like sunflowers.

Nicole waved to them too, but she could not smile.

For some reason, the person next to her felt so familiar.

Nicole could not help but look sideways.

She noticed that he was looking at the front. He leaned forward slightly and looked as if he was very focused and excited.

The show did not start yet, so why did he look excited and focused?

Nicole was puzzled, but she wanted to get to know this man.

Her heart seemed to be hanging by a thread.

She had a very strong intuition that he was someone familiar.

However, in just a few seconds, the man regained his composure and sat there with a slightly bent body like an old man.

His youthful vibes did not seem like that of an elderly person.

Nicole was surprised by this, and that feeling was too strong.

The performance started. Although it was only ten minutes, it was enough to make the children present cheer loudly.

Nicole wanted to turn her attention to Chatty and Fischer in front of her, but she seemed restless.

That flustered feeling came out of nowhere.

Finally, when the performance was about to end, Nicole could not help but look at the person next to her.

The man next to her was still wearing sunglasses and a mask, so she could not see his appearance or emotions clearly.

However, he had such a mysteriously strong presence. Even so, it did not make Nicole feel threatened.

Just when Nicole was about to say hello to him, the phone on her lap suddenly dropped.

It fell between their feet.

Nicole subconsciously bent down to pick it up. When she picked up the phone, she accidentally touched the man's leg.

At that moment, there was a crisp sound of metal colliding.

Nicole was startled and horrified.

She subconsciously looked up at him and wanted to apologize, but in the next second, the man stood up.

While everyone was still immersed in the joy of the performance, the man turned around and walked out.

It was as if someone had pried into his secret, so he could not wait to escape.

His back was hunched. The cane in his hand was not just for display as he was limping. He was obviously a disabled person.

He wore black trousers that covered his legs, so he looked normal.

However, Nicole's phone case was made of metal, and she heard the sound just now clearly.

The man's right leg was a prosthesis.

In the blink of an eye, the man disappeared without a trace.

Nicole subconsciously stood up.

At this moment, everyone stood up.

It turned out that the performance was over. The curtain closed, and everyone was cheering.

The audience began to leave the venue one after another.

Nicole looked in the direction of the door, but the man had long since disappeared.

"Mommy! Mommy, did you see that? Ultraman defeated the monster!

Ultraman's father came to help his baby..."

Chatty ran over excitedly and described the performance just now.

Fischer held Chatty's hand tightly for fear that she would get lost in the crowd.

Nicole was distracted by the two children’s voices and came back to her senses. 3

She paused. Her heart seemed to be throbbing less than before, and everything seemed to have calmed down. 5

Chapter 2218 I Advise You Not to Go

Eric looked at Nicole seriously.

Nicole understood what he meant and said, "Please, come in."

The butler came over with coffee and handed it to Eric.

Eric was rarely in a good temper and thanked him.

Nicole sat on the sofa and held a cup of tea with no other expression on her face.

"Mr. Ferguson, what did you mean by what you just said?'

Eric looked at her solemnly.

"As far as I know, the company's science and technology exhibition is a trap."

"What trap?"

"Incorporating emotions in artificial intelligence is at a critical point where one wrong move could violate ethics. It’s not like simple cloning in the past. This time, it's DNA duplication in humans. Using technology to create and transform new life still isn't allowed in Mediania."

Eric’s tone was more solemn.

"It's not as simple as you imagine it to be. This isn't a simple exhibition. George Quay, the world’s tech giant, is suffering from cancer. Why do you think he's so interested in this reception?"

Nicole frowned and seemed to understand something.

'You mean, they’re violating the laws of humanity by editing genes and creating opportunities to increase the human lifespan for the rich?”

Eric glanced at her appreciatively.

'Yes."

Nicole pursed her lips and lowered her eyes.

'This time, I just came to observe the situation. I'm not set on anything, so you don't have to be so concerned, Mr. Ferguson.

Gene editing had already made a breakthrough in Mediania. If this was only simple gene editing, then there was no need to make such a big fanfare to exhibit this technology.

Nicole had a vague feeling that there must be some other black technology involved.

Eric said everything he wanted to say.

"I know you won’t trust me easily now, but I’m saying this for your own good. It's dangerous for you to go alone, and I can't stop worrying about you. Why don't you let me protect you?'

Before he could finish his sentence, Nicole dropped the cup on the ground.

She frowned and looked at it.

'The tea is too hot. Butler, please clean this up."

The butler heard the movement and hurried over.

Nicole glanced at Eric expressionlessly.

"Mr. Ferguson, have you finished what you wanted to say?'

Eric pursed his lips. 'Then I won’t bother you anymore. Think carefully about what I said."

He did not mind Nicole's bad attitude toward him.

Eric already felt like he owed Nicole.

Now that Clayton was no longer an obstacle, Eric could take his time mending his relationship with Nicole.

Eric stood up and looked at her deeply. He looked nostalgic and affectionate.

"See you."

He said this in a meaningful tone.

Eric was not disappointed by Nicole’s cold attitude. Instead, it only made him feel that she still cared about him.

Nicole took a few steps back and felt annoyed.

"Bye.”

After that, she turned around and went upstairs.

Nicole planned to take Chatty and Fischer to the theme park the next day, so she would need enough energy.

As a result, at midmorning the next day, Nicole overslept because she was too tired last night.

Chatty and Fischer finished their breakfast and still did not see Nicole.

Regardless of Logan's persuasion, the two children insisted on going upstairs to see Nicole.

Nicole was disturbed in her sleep.

When she woke up, she saw the two kids playing with a chubby Ultraman and a cute monster on her body.

Chatty's Ultraman could not beat the monster, so she wanted to cheat and woke Nicole up.

Seeing her precious daughter, Nicole really could not bear to get angry with her.

Fischer helplessly reminded her.

"Godmother, the theater performance in the amusement park is about to start..."

Nicole got up helplessly. "Go out and wait. I have to wash up!"

Chatty nodded happily and ran out of the room with Fischer.

Twenty minutes later.

Everyone was ready and waiting for Nicole.

Nicole wore a casual black dress with polka dots. The retro style made her look simple and youthful.

When Nicole went downstairs, Chatty held her face and complimented her.

'Wow! Mommy, you're so beautiful!"

Fischer hurriedly followed.

'Wow! Mommy, you're so beautiful!"

Logan and Roland were speechless.

They stood there awkwardly and did not know what to say.

Fortunately, Nicole was not blown away by their flattery. She went downstairs and pinched the kids’ cheeks.

"Nice try. You two promised that you're not going to cry or make a fuss today. If you do, we'll leave the park and come back!"

'We promise not to cry or make trouble!"

Chatty and Fischer replied in unison.

Nicole nodded in satisfaction.

This amusement park was very famous locally. Not only children went there, but also many students and couples.

It was very lively.

Chatty could speak fluent English but not fluent French. Fischer was slightly better than her.

Logan looked at these two fearless children with admiration and gave them a thumbs up.

"At their age, I couldn't even speak my mother tongue properly!"

Nicole glanced at him with a slight smile.

"Do you think they can speak French properly?"

They could only speak enough to be understood.

Chatty and Fischer ran and jumped around in front, looking very adorable.

Nicole wore a sun hat and followed behind them. She was not interested in any rides.

The two children came to watch the theater performance.

There was an impromptu comedy about Chatty’s favorite Ultraman fighting monsters.

This was a brand-new performance that had never been played in the amusement park.

Nicole also heard about it from the butler when she returned to the villa. Otherwise, she would not have brought the kids here.

Seeing that it was almost time, Nicole called out to the kids and took them to the performance venue.

She looked at Logan and Roland.

'You two can walk around. I'll take them in to watch the show. We can meet up when we leave."

Logan nodded. "Please be careful, President. Call me if you need anything."

"Okay."

Nicole held one child in each hand and walked toward the venue.

Chatty looked excited and ecstatic.

There were already quite a few people in the venue. Nicole had originally booked three seats in the front.

When she brought the kids over, she found that there were only two seats left.

One woman was sitting in their seat.

The woman saw Nicole and quickly stood upto apologize.

"I’m sorry. Is this your seat? I'm really sorry. I bought this seat for my child, but mine is at the back because I didn't manage to grab two front seats. I’ll persuade him to go to the back. Sorry for bothering you."

Nicole noticed that the woman was also Medianian from her slang. The woman sincerely apologized and explained the situation, so Nicole did not make it difficult for her.

Moreover, it was difficult enough to go out alone with a child, and it was harder to control them and make them listen.

Fortunately, Chatty was taught very well by Clayton, and she never made a scene in public.

Nicole smiled and said, "It's okay. You can sit here. Your child is too young, so he can’t be separated from you. I’ll go to the back." 2

Chapter 2220 Was It Clayton?

It was getting more and more crowded. Thus, Nicole took the two kids and left.

When she got outside, she called Logan and Roland and told them to wait at the door.

As a result, the woman who exchanged seats with her just now came over with her child in her arms.

"Thank you very much! If it weren’t for you, my child might've made a fuss. Not everyone can tolerate a loud kid here.”

Nicole smiled and nodded politely.

"It’s okay. You're welcome. Next time when you buy seats, you must buy consecutive numbers. Otherwise, you may not be so lucky again."

That woman sighed and shook her head helplessly.

"I wanted to, but when I bought the tickets, I saw that only the three seats in the middle were sold together and reserved. The rest of the seats could only be bought one by one. After I bought one seat, the other seats were taken..."

Nicole's face changed slightly, and she subconsciously looked at her.

"You can only buy the tickets one by one? But when I bought it, I bought three seats at once..."

For some reason, Nicole felt that something was wrong.

The woman also frowned suspiciously.

"It might be a bug in the system. I thought you were a VIP customer of the amusement park. That's why you're so lucky."

Was there such coincidental luck?

Nicole lowered her eyes slightly and smiled.

"Maybe I was lucky."

That woman felt closer to Nicole because they were Medianians, so she could not help but say a few more words.

'Yes, you're really lucky! This performance was a sudden change. This wasn't the original schedule and was changed at the last minute. To be honest, the musicals in this amusement park have a history of more than 100 years and have never changed. Who knows why we're so lucky today and get to see this Ultraman performance? Speaking of which, it's really strange. Isn't Ultraman a Japanese thing? Do French people even like it?"

Nicole's expression looked weirder the more the woman spoke.

It was too much of a coincidence.

It seemed that this performance was deliberately arranged for someone.

Although Chatty liked Ultraman, others probably liked it too.

An inkling emerged in her heart.

At this moment, Logan and Roland came over with a bubble blower.

"President, should we go over there to play since the show is over?"

Chatty and Fischer happily took the bubble blower and looked at Nicole expectantly.

Nicole smiled. "Okay, let's go."

She glanced at the woman who was talking. The woman realized that she had disturbed Nicole's time and smiled apologetically.

"I talked too much. I'm really sorry. You should go and play. I'll head back too."

Nicole nodded politely. Then, the woman left with her child.

Chatty played happily with Fischer, but Nicole no longer had the mood to have fun.

Nicole had a feeling that she had met someone familiar, and not just anyone.

That man’s temperament was too familiar.

Clayton! 2

The moment this name came to mind, a sharp pain began to gnaw at her heart again.

Was it him?

No, it could not be.

If it was Clayton, how could he not see her, look for her, or recognize her?

How could he willingly leave her behind?

The feeling in her heart was getting stronger.

Was he not dead?

Was he hiding somewhere and secretly watching her?

Nicole stood there in a trance. All sounds around her seemed to disappear, and her vision seemed to blur as she stood in her own world.

No one could walk in to disturb her.

Roland ran over and said a few words to her, but she did not hear him.

In the end, he tugged on Nicole's arm worriedly.

"Madam?”

His worried face turned pale.

Nicole was taken aback for a moment when she came back to her senses.

She blinked her eyes.

"What's wrong?"

Roland breathed a sigh of relief.

"You scared me! I thought something happened to you. Just now, I was discussing with Logan if you want to go through the formalities for Mr.

Sloan's real estate and shares first. These are more troublesome..."

Nicole's heart tightened. She observed him thoughtfully for a few seconds and replied, "No, there's no need to go through any formalities."

If Clayton was still alive, then it made no sense to transfer his assets to her name.

Nicole did not care about the assets. What she cared about was their owner.

Roland looked at her in surprise for a moment. Nicole pursed her lips and looked at him.

"Who bought the tickets for this performance in the amusement park?"

"I did."

Nicole’s heart tightened as she clenched her fist.

"Just now, I heard that the tickets can only be bought one by one and that consecutive seats can't be bought. How did you buy three consecutive seats at once?"

Roland touched his head and pursed his lips.

"I went to the manager of the amusement park and asked him to help out."

Nicole frowned. "You know him?"

'Yes. He used to be my colleague, Mr. Sloan’s employee. He resigned after a few years and came back to inherit the family business, which is this amusement park."

Nicole was speechless.

Her agitated emotions gradually calmed down.

Was she thinking too much?

It was Clayton's employee...

Roland's answer could solve Nicole's doubts, but it also aroused other suspicions.

It was as if a stone was weighing down on her heart, making her feel breathless.

Nicole looked at Roland and said in a low voice, "I won't go through the formalities. Let's talk about it later."

Roland looked at her and nodded.

He thought that Nicole still could not accept Clayton’s death and felt uneasy as well.

Although Nicole looked the same as before, Nicole and Clayton's relationship was deep and real, so how could she get over him so easily and nonchalantly?

Perhaps getting her involved in Clayton's affairs on this trip was a kind of torture for her.

Forget it. They could wait until Nicole was really over it to complete the formalities.

Nicole could not hide the disappointment in her eyes.

That was because she was trying to see any flaws in Roland's face to see if he was lying.

However, there was nothing. Roland did not seem to know anything.

The back figure of the man with a cane flashed in her mind more than once.

How great would it be if it was really Clayton?

Nicole saw the corpses of the victims that fell thousands of meters off the cliff. The luckiest one had one final breath when they found him, but no one was lucky enough to survive.

She still remembered the man who was still breathing when he was found. His lower body was completely severed, but he still held on.

However, it did not take long for his breath to die down.

Nicole did not know if Clayton would be like that person, or if he was washed into the river. That was why they could not find him.

She also did not know if it was a good thing or a bad thing that they could not find him.

Roland turned back and took care of the two children with Logan.

Nicole stood there silently as her whole body was shrouded in dejection and grief.

Not far away, a man in a black suit hunched over and quietly looked in Nicole’s direction for a long time with dreary and desolate eyes... 1