Ch. 2271..2280
Chapter 2270 Three Months Later
The countdown timer finally came to an abrupt end.
That one minute felt like it was taking so long, but at the same time, it also felt very short.
In the last few seconds, the ticking timer seemed to drag on infinitely.
It sounded like an air defense siren that pierced through the depths of the sea.
Nicole’s nervous heart calmed down instantly.
The man she loved was by her side, so why should she be afraid of death?
How could she ignore everything and leave him behind?
Nicole squeezed his hand.
Before she could say a word, she heard the explosion.
The explosion almost shattered her eardrums, and it seemed to engulf everything in an instant.
It was cold and indifferent.
At that moment, Nicole felt the impact of the shockwave and was pushed outward.
In this deep sea, their lives seemed insignificant.
The fish on the other side of the glass was soon shaken by the strong shockwave. The seawater swept over and destroyed everything in its path.
All the lights around them went out.
There was a flash of white light at the bottom of the sea, and it was fleeting like lightning.
Then, the area instantly plunged into darkness.
The explosion was more like an earthquake at the bottom of the sea. The glass tunnel shattered, and the remaining debris pierced through everything.
The seawater tumbled violently.
The air disappeared, and the water surged in.
The explosion caused a big commotion, and everything in front of them instantly collapsed.
It happened so suddenly that everyone could not adapt to the sudden loss of air and fell unconscious.
However, Nicole instinctively remembered to grab onto the man in the wheelchair even if they were sinking and suffocating.
The severe pain was unbearable, but she did not dare to let go of him.
Nicole was afraid that once she let go, she would really lose the most important person in her life.
Sebastian was right. Only a few could escape in one minute.
In fact, not even one person made it out.
That was because even if they left the undersea laboratory, they did not have time to reach the cruise ship.
The elevator would only stop in the middle of the sea before it was blasted by the explosion, rendering it useless.
They would either drown or die from the impact.
So, what was the point of running?
Even if they managed to get onto the cruise ship, the turbulent seawater from the explosion would cause the cruise ship to capsize...
The night was dark.
The tumbling waves from the bottom of the sea reached the surface, and it looked normal as if nothing had changed.
Even the explosion was almost inaudible.
Thousands of miles across the ocean.
Floyd was sitting at home drinking tea and suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest. His face turned pale from the pain, and he could not breathe.
He was drenched in a cold sweat.
Floyd suddenly had a bad premonition and immediately called Nicole.
As a result, no one answered.
He also called Kai, but Kai did not answer either... Three months later.
In the research laboratory of LJ Corporation.
Nicole finally woke up.
Even with the most advanced medical equipment and technology, life was fragile in the face of an explosion.
Nicole’s entire body was injured from the huge shockwave.
Her most serious injury was having a piece of iron pierced through her shoulder blade. The back of her head was also hit hard.
Thus, Nicole was in a coma for three months.
When she woke up, many people breathed a sigh of relief.
That was because there was immense pressure coming from Mediania.
Floyd called three times a day and wished that he could go over and look after Nicole.
If Grant did not stop him, Floyd would have been by Nicole's side.
Kai stayed there to take care of Nicole and kept the family updated on Nicole's condition. He also took care of the children.
Hearing that Nicole was finally awake, Kai could not wait to take Chatty and Fischer to LJ Corporation.
Eric had already arrived.
In fact, it was all thanks to Eric that Nicole was found.
Chatty excitedly held Fischer's hand and ran over.
"Uncle K! Is Mommy really awake?"
Kai was also grinning from ear to ear.
"Yes, she’s awake! I can finally go home now! I don't have to get scolded everyday again!"
He said excitedly.
When Nicole was in a coma, Floyd called Kai every day to talk about three topics.
The first thing Floyd would say was how he felt sorry for poor Nicole.
The second thing Floyd did was scold Kai, who was sleeping when Nicole got into this accident.
The third thing Floyd did was to tell Kai to make up for his mistakes by taking care of Nicole and Chatty. Otherwise, he would not allow Kai to go back home.
Now that Nicole was fine, Kai would finally be relieved of his duties.
Thinking about his freedom, Kai carried Chatty on his shoulders and picked Fischer up with one arm. He quickened his pace and went to the lounge.
Leighton sat there and talked to Camille.
Leighton was also injured in this explosion, but he was in a much better condition than Nicole.
That was because nothing was holding him back at the time.
When Fischer saw his parents, he jumped over happily.
Camille went over and hugged him with a smile.
Kai walked over. "Leighton, Camille! Is my sister really awake?"
Camille nodded and said with a smile, "You can go in to have a look. The doctors said that she’s recovering well. Now that she's awake, it means that she's out of danger and just needs to recuperate."
Kai was elated.
'Thanks, Leighton and Camille!"
Kai had been there for so long and was free to come and go in LJ Corporation due to his sweet talk.
Chatty happily imitated Kai’s words.
'Thanks, Leighton and Camille!"
Kai clicked his tongue.
Fischer immediately corrected Chatty.
"You have to call them Daddy and Mommy!"
Chatty nodded cutely and flashed a bright and lovely smile. 'Thank you, Daddy and Mommy!"
Camille's heart melted. She went over to carry Chatty from Kai's shoulder.
'You're such a good girl..."
Once Chatty was placed on the ground, no one could control her.
Chatty ran straight into the ward.
She saw her mother leaning against the wall with a pale face, while the weird man stood on the side.
The medical equipment in the room was cleared.
Chatty was not tall enough to see what was on the bed.
She could not jump on the bed due to her short legs, so she ran to Eric. "Uncle, carry me..."
Eric looked helplessly at the little girl who usually ignored him except when she had something to ask of him. She would come over and act pitiful when she needed something.
Eric pinched Chatty's face and put her next to Nicole.
Chatty happily crawled over to hug Nicole.
"Mommy! Mommy..."
Nicole smiled slightly, reached out, and patted her daughter.
It was an amazing feeling to see someone she loved again.
Nicole was surprised that she escaped death again.
She had too many close calls.
However, this time was the closest she had ever been to death's door.
She was suicidal to think that she could resist the explosion.
That was because she wanted to bring someone back to life.
Thus, she did not let go of him even if she had to die.
However, when she looked toward the door, he was not there.
A bad feeling loomed over her, and she did not even dare to ask about him.
Chapter 2275 Blind Date
Nicole smiled and walked in.
Kai hugged Julie from behind and spun her around happily. "Jules..." Julie pushed him away and smiled.
'You were holding hands with a little girl in a mall abroad, and that made headlines. Don’t think I forgot about it!"
Kai was taken aback for a moment before he realized what Julie was talking about.
"I'm innocent! That girl is Chatty! She's such a shopaholic and pestered me to buy things for her...” As such, the paparazzi misunderstood the situation and described Chatty as Kai's illegitimate daughter. However, Dominic Young quickly blocked this news from spreading.
Kai did not expect Julie to know and pay attention to it.
This showed that Julie had always been paying attention to news about Kai.
Kai smiled and leaned over to Julie.
"Next time, I'll hold your hand, so don't be jealous!”
Nicole looked at Floyd, who was sitting in the living room with a cold expression. Grant and Kai obviously did not intend to help her.
Thus, Nicole had no choice but to walk over by herself. She hugged Floyd's neck from behind and said in a soft voice, "Dad, I'm sorry that I made you worry so much that you couldn’t sleep. Look, you've aged a few years in just a few days..."
Before Nicole finished speaking, Floyd stood up angrily. "Go away! Are you trying to piss me off?"
Nicole looked at him with a smile. "Well... I’d be lying if I said you look a few years younger..." Floyd gritted his teeth and told himself not to be mad at his own daughter.
Everyone ate a meal together happily.
Floyd was clearly in good spirits, and Nicole kept praising Mr. Anderson's soup. Before this, Nicole did not realize how much she missed home-cooked food. After being abroad for a while, she felt the difference.
They hired a famous Michelin chef, but the food he made was just average. However, Nicole was not too picky.
Seeing that everyone was eating happily, Floyd put down his chopsticks and cleared his throat seriously.
Everyone stared at him. "Dad, just speak up if you have something to say!"
Kai said. Floyd looked at Nicole and said in a non-negotiable tone, "Clayton is gone for some time now. Your pain has dulled after this experience, right?"
Nicole did not understand what Floyd meant, but she nodded anyway. It was true, but it was not because time had dulled the pain.
Nicole just could not tell Floyd the reason yet because she was not sure herself.
She did not want her family to worry about him too.
Floyd looked at Nicole and said in a deep voice, "So... My friend's son has just returned to Mediania recently. I think he's a decent guy. You shouldn’t close yourself off to others, and you have to learn to date again like before
Kai could not help but smirk. He asked, "Dad, are you making Nicole go on a blind date? That's so lame! Don't we have the freedom to love?"
Floyd was a little caught off guard when Kai put it so bluntly. He felt a little awkward as he said, "Well, most people in our circle got acquainted on a blind date. Having the freedom to love like our family is simply rare. Besides, I didn't say it was a blind date. I just wanted Nicole and that boy to get to know each other."
Floyd turned to look at Nicole with a fixed gaze.
"I'll get mad if you don't agree to it!"
Floyd did not look like he was joking.
Nicole could see what her father was trying to do.
Floyd intended to add some catalysts to her life. It was better than letting Nicole stay put. However, she would be in a difficult position if she agreed.
After a few seconds, Floyd found a compromise for them.
"Of course, I didn’t force you to date him. I just admire my friend's son. He just returned to Mediania and plans to find a job here. He doesn’t want to work in his father’s company and plans to practice elsewhere. So, I told him to work for you."
Grant raised his eyebrows and realized that his father was a master manipulator. Nicole did not even have a chance to refuse.
More importantly, even if Nicole did not like him, she could not kick him out.
Floyd was planning for the long term.
Nicole knew that Floyd had been anxious and worried for her while she was in a coma. If she refused at this time, it would be hard to repair her relationship with her father.
Thus, she smiled and nodded.
"Okay. I’ll take good care of him.” 1
Floyd breathed a sigh of relief. A bright smile immediately appeared on his face as if he had gotten rid of a heavy burden.
To everyone's surprise, Nicole did not have any plans to go to work in the near future. She took a long break on the grounds that she was not feeling well.
Then, she took Chatty and Fischer home to her apartment.
Fischer had to go to school and had more homework than Chatty. But they still took care of each other in school.
Nicole felt much more relaxed after she moved out of the Stanton Mansion.
The maid who had stayed at the apartment was delighted to see them return to the apartment.
After all, it was boring living alone in such a big apartment and cleaning it every day without anyone to talk to.
Fortunately, Chatty and Fischer were very adaptable. Julie also lived with Nicole for the first few days.
However, when Kai was about to move in as well, Nicole immediately sent Julie back.
Nicole moved out because she wanted some peace and quiet, so if Kai moved in, it would be pointless.
When Nicole was alone sitting at home and looking at the scenery, she no longer felt that sad or empty anymore.
It was probably because she had hope now.
Nicole took a sip of coffee. After a while, she heard the doorbell ring.
Mrs. Zoe came over and said with a smile, "Miss, there’s someone outside who said that he's your assistant. He came to deliver some documents to you."
Nicole paused and replied, "Okay, let him in."
She was in a good mood. She did not expect Logan to be so diligent and thought that it was time to raise his salary.
Nicole felt bored at home, but she did not want to go to the office to meet the guy that Floyd had arranged for her.
Thus, she wanted to dodge him as long as possible.
Mrs. Zoe came in with the man behind her and said with a smile, "Please have a seat. Would you like coffee or tea?”
"Coffee, please. Thank you."
Nicole, who was holding a cup of coffee, paused slightly when she heard an unfamiliar voice.
She became vigilant in an instant and was no longer in the mood to appreciate the scenery outside.
Nicole looked back and saw that the person who spoke was a tall and thin gentleman. He was handsome and had a bright and youthful smile that made him look like a fresh graduate.
She instantly felt tolerant of him and viewed him as a younger brother.
Nicole squinted her eyes, and her mood sank instantly because she knew who the person in front of her was.
The man had a decent and restrained smile as he took a step forward.
"Ms. Stanton, I'm Hamilton Scott, your new assistant. You can call me Milton if you like."
Nicole blinked. She repeatedly reminded herself not to show any weird expressions and smiled slightly.
"Ham, why are you here? Where's Logan? Is he slacking off?"
She thought to herself, 'Logan doesn't need a salary increment anymore...'
Hamilton was a little stunned when he heard Nicole addressing him as " Ham”.
It made Nicole seem like she was much older than him by giving him such a childish nickname.
Chapter 2276 Lectured
Fortunately, Hamilton was mentally strong. He quickly smiled and said," Logan is dealing with some important matters in the office, so I volunteered to run errands for him. It's also because I really wanted to meet you formally, Ms. Stanton. Please forgive me if I've offended you.” Nicole raised her eyebrow. At least, he made her feel comfortable.
He was not a scheming or calculative person and was more like an innocent boy.
Nicole chuckled. "You're welcome, I heard from my father that you're his friend's son. Which family are you related to?”
"Lance Sheldon is my cousin. It's actually quite a coincidence. I was going to join my cousin’s company, but he suddenly withdrew his business from Atlanta. Fortunately, you and Uncle Floyd are still willing to take me in." Nicole paused slightly and looked up at him.
"Lance?”
Lance gave up on his plans in Atlanta not long after Yvette’s passing.
With Lance's ability, if he followed his plan to expand his business in Atlanta, he would have gained a firm foothold within five years and become a force not to be underestimated.
However, Yvette's death was a huge blow to him, to the point that he would not be able to survive if he did not leave this city.
Thus, Lance passed up the opportunity and left Atlanta.
Nicole and Lance were acquainted because of a mutual friend.
They did not keep in touch with each other frequently because they were afraid of invoking each other's pain.
Thus, when Hamilton introduced himself as Lance's cousin, Nicole subconsciously thought of Yvette.
The past that she kept hidden in her heart surfaced again and aroused a stinging pain.
The pain was so sudden that Nicole's face suddenly paled.
Hamilton did not know about the things that happened in the past and the relationship between Lance and Nicole.
He spoke in a clear voice. "Ms. Stanton, you don't need to take special care of me. Just treat me as an ordinary assistant. I’m here to learn, so it won’t be good if I get special treatment." Nicole was speechless.
She did not know what to say for a few seconds.
The sadness in her heart faded away after a while, and she looked at him with a complicated gaze.
"It's good that you have some self-awareness." Nicole thought, 'Hamilton is merely an assistant. Did he think that I was planning to treat him like some VIP? Even if Lance is here right now, Lance won't show any sense of superiority. What a naive kid!'
However, Nicole changed her impression of him.
Hamilton did not seem to have anything on his mind other than work, let alone a blind date. He was not at all interested in her, and he was simply weird.
Nicole finally accepted his existence and did not find him so annoying anymore.
She lowered her eyes.
"Ham, you can ask Logan for your task, and he'll arrange some work for you." 'Then, when will you go back to work, Ms. Stanton?"
Nicole paused. "What did you say?”
"You've been on vacation for a long time. This year alone, you were out of the office for several months already. How can the president of a listed company be so relaxed and nonchalant? I think our company lacks a sense of crisis. Aren’t you afraid that your subordinates will betray you if you hand over all your work to them? If they do, it'll be too late to cry over it. Ms.
Stanton, although I heard about your abilities when I was abroad, you're still too protected, so you don’t know the dangers in this world!"
Nicole raised her eyes and looked at Hamilton in shock as he lectured her endlessly. Right.
He was lecturing her. This was the first time Nicole was lectured by a subordinate, let alone by a subordinate who had just started work not long ago.
More importantly, what he said made sense.
Nicole started to feel ashamed because of what he said.
She suddenly felt like her vacation was not so leisurely anymore.
Nicole felt a little awkward as she looked at the man who was lecturing her without realizing his identity.
She coughed heavily and interrupted his words.
"Hamilton, what do you know anyway? This is a business strategy. You're still too young and have a lot to learn. You don’t need to tell me what to do. The company has its own rules and regulations. I'm the president of the company, so if I can't even take a break as I wish, what’s the point of being in this position?"
Hamilton expressed dissatisfaction with her nonchalant attitude. However, he did not continue to talk due to his status.
He sighed helplessly as if he was kind to remind her.
"Well... Anyway, I've said everything I needed to say!"
Nicole took the document speechlessly, signed her name, and handed it to him.
"In the future, get Logan to run errands. You're not suitable for this job.” At least Logan would not affect her mood.
Nicole felt horrible.
Hamilton took the documents and left with satisfaction after having met Nicole.
Nicole sneered and felt that the coffee was tasteless.
She had promised Eric to pick Chance up from school along with Chatty, Fischer, and Levi because Eric saved her life, and there was no reason to backtrack.
When she arrived at school, Levi was reading as usual.
Chance was hovering around Chatty while Fischer looked speechless and disgusted, trying to draw Chatty's attention to him instead of Chance from time to time.
The teacher enthusiastically let them leave with Nicole.
Chatty naturally held Nicole’s hand. Fischer was just going to hold Nicole's other hand when he saw that Chance had gone to Chatty's side.
Thus, Fischer thought about it and ran to the other side of Chatty to hold her hand. Chatty tried to shake Fischer off but could not.
Nicole sent the children back to the office to drop off Levi and Chance, then she left with Chatty and Fischer.
When Nicole passed by the office, she saw Hamilton coming out of her office. How strange.
She was not in her office, so why did he go in there?
Just as Nicole was about to say something, she saw Logan coming out of the elevator. Logan happened to see Nicole.
"Ms. Stanton, you're back?"
Nicole pursed her lips and nodded.
Chatty went over and took Logan's hand. "Hi, Uncle Logan!"
"Hello, Ms. Sloan.”
"Can you buy me some ice cream please?"
Logan was speechless as he thought, 'Why did she have to put me in such a dilemma?’
Logan looked at Nicole inquiringly. Nicole glanced at the excited Chatty and Fischer. 'We're going home soon, and it's past the time for ice cream.”
She patted Fischer’s head.
'Take Chatty to the lounge to play for a while. I need to deal with some things first." Fischer nodded obediently and left with Chatty in tow.
They had been to the office many times and were familiar with the place.
Nicole turned around and went to her office. Logan immediately followed.
Seeing that Nicole's expression was off, Logan did not know what went wrong. "President, what’s the matter?"
"How is Hamilton performing lately?"
Logan paused and looked at her with a complicated gaze. He stuttered and did not know what to say
Nicole frowned.
'You don't know how to talk anymore?"
Chapter 2275 Blind Date
Nicole smiled and walked in.
Kai hugged Julie from behind and spun her around happily. "Jules..." Julie pushed him away and smiled.
'You were holding hands with a little girl in a mall abroad, and that made headlines. Don’t think I forgot about it!"
Kai was taken aback for a moment before he realized what Julie was talking about.
"I'm innocent! That girl is Chatty! She's such a shopaholic and pestered me to buy things for her...” As such, the paparazzi misunderstood the situation and described Chatty as Kai's illegitimate daughter. However, Dominic Young quickly blocked this news from spreading.
Kai did not expect Julie to know and pay attention to it.
This showed that Julie had always been paying attention to news about Kai.
Kai smiled and leaned over to Julie.
"Next time, I'll hold your hand, so don't be jealous!”
Nicole looked at Floyd, who was sitting in the living room with a cold expression. Grant and Kai obviously did not intend to help her.
Thus, Nicole had no choice but to walk over by herself. She hugged Floyd's neck from behind and said in a soft voice, "Dad, I'm sorry that I made you worry so much that you couldn’t sleep. Look, you've aged a few years in just a few days..."
Before Nicole finished speaking, Floyd stood up angrily. "Go away! Are you trying to piss me off?"
Nicole looked at him with a smile. "Well... I’d be lying if I said you look a few years younger..." Floyd gritted his teeth and told himself not to be mad at his own daughter.
Everyone ate a meal together happily.
Floyd was clearly in good spirits, and Nicole kept praising Mr. Anderson's soup. Before this, Nicole did not realize how much she missed home-cooked food. After being abroad for a while, she felt the difference.
They hired a famous Michelin chef, but the food he made was just average. However, Nicole was not too picky.
Seeing that everyone was eating happily, Floyd put down his chopsticks and cleared his throat seriously.
Everyone stared at him. "Dad, just speak up if you have something to say!"
Kai said. Floyd looked at Nicole and said in a non-negotiable tone, "Clayton is gone for some time now. Your pain has dulled after this experience, right?"
Nicole did not understand what Floyd meant, but she nodded anyway. It was true, but it was not because time had dulled the pain.
Nicole just could not tell Floyd the reason yet because she was not sure herself.
She did not want her family to worry about him too.
Floyd looked at Nicole and said in a deep voice, "So... My friend's son has just returned to Mediania recently. I think he's a decent guy. You shouldn’t close yourself off to others, and you have to learn to date again like before
Kai could not help but smirk. He asked, "Dad, are you making Nicole go on a blind date? That's so lame! Don't we have the freedom to love?"
Floyd was a little caught off guard when Kai put it so bluntly. He felt a little awkward as he said, "Well, most people in our circle got acquainted on a blind date. Having the freedom to love like our family is simply rare. Besides, I didn't say it was a blind date. I just wanted Nicole and that boy to get to know each other."
Floyd turned to look at Nicole with a fixed gaze.
"I'll get mad if you don't agree to it!"
Floyd did not look like he was joking.
Nicole could see what her father was trying to do.
Floyd intended to add some catalysts to her life. It was better than letting Nicole stay put. However, she would be in a difficult position if she agreed.
After a few seconds, Floyd found a compromise for them.
"Of course, I didn’t force you to date him. I just admire my friend's son. He just returned to Mediania and plans to find a job here. He doesn’t want to work in his father’s company and plans to practice elsewhere. So, I told him to work for you."
Grant raised his eyebrows and realized that his father was a master manipulator. Nicole did not even have a chance to refuse.
More importantly, even if Nicole did not like him, she could not kick him out.
Floyd was planning for the long term.
Nicole knew that Floyd had been anxious and worried for her while she was in a coma. If she refused at this time, it would be hard to repair her relationship with her father.
Thus, she smiled and nodded.
"Okay. I’ll take good care of him.” 1
Floyd breathed a sigh of relief. A bright smile immediately appeared on his face as if he had gotten rid of a heavy burden.
To everyone's surprise, Nicole did not have any plans to go to work in the near future. She took a long break on the grounds that she was not feeling well.
Then, she took Chatty and Fischer home to her apartment.
Fischer had to go to school and had more homework than Chatty. But they still took care of each other in school.
Nicole felt much more relaxed after she moved out of the Stanton Mansion.
The maid who had stayed at the apartment was delighted to see them return to the apartment.
After all, it was boring living alone in such a big apartment and cleaning it every day without anyone to talk to.
Fortunately, Chatty and Fischer were very adaptable. Julie also lived with Nicole for the first few days.
However, when Kai was about to move in as well, Nicole immediately sent Julie back.
Nicole moved out because she wanted some peace and quiet, so if Kai moved in, it would be pointless.
When Nicole was alone sitting at home and looking at the scenery, she no longer felt that sad or empty anymore.
It was probably because she had hope now.
Nicole took a sip of coffee. After a while, she heard the doorbell ring.
Mrs. Zoe came over and said with a smile, "Miss, there’s someone outside who said that he's your assistant. He came to deliver some documents to you."
Nicole paused and replied, "Okay, let him in."
She was in a good mood. She did not expect Logan to be so diligent and thought that it was time to raise his salary.
Nicole felt bored at home, but she did not want to go to the office to meet the guy that Floyd had arranged for her.
Thus, she wanted to dodge him as long as possible.
Mrs. Zoe came in with the man behind her and said with a smile, "Please have a seat. Would you like coffee or tea?”
"Coffee, please. Thank you."
Nicole, who was holding a cup of coffee, paused slightly when she heard an unfamiliar voice.
She became vigilant in an instant and was no longer in the mood to appreciate the scenery outside.
Nicole looked back and saw that the person who spoke was a tall and thin gentleman. He was handsome and had a bright and youthful smile that made him look like a fresh graduate.
She instantly felt tolerant of him and viewed him as a younger brother.
Nicole squinted her eyes, and her mood sank instantly because she knew who the person in front of her was.
The man had a decent and restrained smile as he took a step forward.
"Ms. Stanton, I'm Hamilton Scott, your new assistant. You can call me Milton if you like."
Nicole blinked. She repeatedly reminded herself not to show any weird expressions and smiled slightly.
"Ham, why are you here? Where's Logan? Is he slacking off?"
She thought to herself, 'Logan doesn't need a salary increment anymore...'
Hamilton was a little stunned when he heard Nicole addressing him as " Ham”.
It made Nicole seem like she was much older than him by giving him such a childish nickname.
Chapter 2277 Voluntarily Resign
Seeing that Nicole was furious, Logan immediately said, "No, President. Hamilton is a rookie in the workplace because he just graduated. He's very curious and wants to learn everything. Since you're not around, I don't know what work I should arrange for him."
Nicole glanced at him.
"He just came out of my office. What is he doing there?"
Logan was slightly surprised. "I told him not to casually go in and out of your office." Nicole looked at him in silence.
Logan pursed his lips and stood up immediately.
"I'll go and check the surveillance footage."
Logan was too careless. In the past, no one could enter Nicole's office.
Logan would only go in to get some documents. Everyone else also knew the rules.
Hamilton went into Nicole's office rashly and got caught by Nicole.
If he took away any confidential documents, Logan would not be able to bear the consequences. Logan saw the surveillance footage and instantly relaxed.
He showed it to Nicole and smiled.
"Hamilton went in to water the flowers. He probably noticed that your flowers haven't been watered for a few days. He’s quite attentive." Nicole watched the video. Hamilton was happily putting on gloves and holding a spray bottle while whistling and watering the flowers in her office one by one. He looked like he was in a good mood.
After he watered the plants, he went out.
It was a false alarm.
Nicole frowned as she thought, 'Hamilton is so weird... If only I could drive him away...' While she was in thought, Logan looked at her and said with interest," President, Hamilton said he's supposed to go on a blind date with you. Is it true?"
Nicole was shocked. Her eyelids twitched, and her face was extremely glum.
'What kind of nonsense are you spouting?"
"He said so himself. This kid is really outspoken. I already warned him not to spread this!" Nicole took a deep breath.
Hamilton was really ignorant.
Everyone said that dating a younger guy was cute, but Hamilton was not as sensible as those young hunks she dated before.
Nicole gritted her teeth. "Hah... I'll come to work tomorrow. You can make Hamilton leave on his own accord."
Logan paused and suddenly understood what Nicole meant.
"Do you want him to resign voluntarily?"
"Of course! How can I fire someone that my dad stuffed over? We have to be tactful..." It would be annoying to keep him around especially since he did not understand the rules.
Thinking about it, Nicole had already made up her mind. She stood up.
"Okay. It's settled then. I have to go back now."
Logan nodded. "Goodbye, President."
Nicole said, "Hamilton can follow me around in the future and do some chores."
"Understood."
Hamilton would naturally leave when he gets bored.
He could learn anywhere, so why did he have to stay at Stanton Corporation?
If Hamilton left, Floyd would dispel his thoughts of finding a match for Nicole.
The next day, Nicole went to the office and held a meeting with people from various departments.
Logan prepared the materials and asked Hamilton to deliver the coffee.
Hamilton carefully prepared brewed coffee that he spent the whole morning making and happily delivered it to the meeting room.
He paid special attention to Nicole's evaluation of the coffee.
However, Nicole did not pick it up. The others casually took a sip. Their expressions changed dramatically as they wished they could spit it out.
Most of the people were dissatisfied with the coffee that morning. Hamilton looked defeated.
At the end of the meeting, Nicole packed up her things and glanced at Hamilton.
"Get me another cup of coffee." Hamilton nodded energetically.
Then, he went to the pantry and tinkered for almost half an hour before he went to Nicole's office with a steaming cup of coffee. The rest of the secretariat could not help but sigh. Someone spoke to Logan, who came over to arrange some work.
"Logan, are you really not going to tell him the coffee preferences of the various heads of departments? Hamilton only makes coffee according to his own taste. I already heard some managers' opinions on this morning's coffee."
Logan raised his eyebrows. "Oh? Why didn't I hear it?"
After that, he saw Hamilton coming out of Nicole’s office looking dejected. He was holding the cup of coffee and looked like he was doubting life.
Then, he went into the pantry to make more coffee.
Logan shook his head and went about his own work. At noon, Nicole had a lunch appointment with a client. That client was an old acquaintance, so Nicole asked Hamilton to reserve a table.
Unfortunately, when they arrived at the restaurant, the client could not come because of something urgent. She apologized to Nicole repeatedly.
Nicole understood that it was an emergency, so she did not say much. Hamilton paused for a while when he heard that the client was canceling the appointment.
"President, are we still having lunch then?"
'We?* Nicole thought as she glanced at him and suppressed her emotions. "Sure. I’m hungry anyway."
Hamilton got out of the car happily.
"Great! This is a newly opened French restaurant with high ratings online. It's limited to ten tables a day, and I managed to make a reservation.”
Nicole sighed and pushed the door open.
She saw a simple "S" logo on top with no other superfluous words in its name.
Nicole followed Hamilton inside. The ambiance was peaceful and elegant with multiple dividers separating the tables. She could also hear the sound of water trickling slowly.
"Hello, are you Ms. Stanton?”
Nicole nodded.
The waiter smiled. "This way, please."
Nicole glanced at Hamilton, who was already one step ahead of her as if he knew the way around here.
For a moment, Nicole thought that he was the client.
Nicole could not help but roll her eyes as she followed him.
Hamilton sat across from her and handed the menu to Nicole.
"President, what would you like to eat?"
Nicole took a look. The names of the dishes on the menu were ordinary and no different from those in other restaurants.
She randomly chose a few of her favorite French dishes and returned the menu to Hamilton.
Hamilton did not stand on ceremony and added three more dishes.
After the waiter left, Hamilton looked around and said with a smile, "Not bad! I didn't expect Atlanta to have authentic French food here. By the way, I ordered a vol-au-vent with chicken crests as an appetizer. I heard it's a new dish that's been gaining traction in Mediania." Nicole paused and looked up at him.
"Is that edible?"
Hamilton paused and looked at her speechlessly.
He seemed to be accusing her of being close-minded to other cultures.
Nicole smiled faintly and felt amused.
The waiter placed an hourglass on the table, which Nicole did not pay attention to. At that moment, she just wanted to finish eating and head back to the office.
She treated her assistant to lunch for no reason, and Hamilton accepted it with ease.
Nicole felt annoyed by him. She propped her face up with one hand and looked at the small landscape fountain in the yard. The sound of the water was clear and soothing.
There were waterside pavilions and long corridors that did not seem French, but they were pleasing to the eye.
Hamilton was stunned by Nicole's delicate and beautiful features.
He coughed and said, "Um..."
Chapter 2278 Refuse to Admit It
Nicole did not move and responded, "Speak.” Looking at the scenery was better than looking at Hamilton. Hamilton said, "When Uncle Floyd arranged for me to be by your side, he actually wanted US to go on a blind date!”
Nicole blinked and gritted her teeth.
"I don't think so. Why haven’t I heard of it? He just told me to take care of you and didn't say anything else. Besides, I have a daughter. You wouldn't just blindly listen to our parent's arrangements, right?"
Nicole said everything she wanted to say.
Hamilton paused slightly.
He blushed unconsciously and sneaked a glance at her indifferent face. "Of course, I won't. But this has nothing to do with your kid or marital status."
Nicole finally looked at him seriously.
Hamilton said, "If we have feelings for each other, I won't mind that you have children of your own, and I won't mind that you're a year older than me."
Nicole blinked. "I mind. I don’t like younger men." Hamilton was a little disappointed. "Oh." The waiter served the dishes, which surprised Nicole and whetted her appetite.
Nicole ignored Hamilton and ate on her own.
When she tasted the food, she was startled. This taste was very similar to the dishes from the French restaurant that she used to frequent when she was studying in France. In Mediania, only one person could replicate this taste.
Back then, Clayton was interested in culinary arts. After he heard Nicole describing the taste of food from that French restaurant, he specially invited the chef over so that he could learn a few dishes. Nicole did not expect to taste it here.
Hamilton, who was opposite her, completely forgot about their conversation earlier and was beaming with joy.
Nicole became more doubtful the more she ate.
Her heart sank.
She tasted the sole meuniere. Even the color and plating looked so similar. Nicole instantly teared up. 'Is he back?’
Nicole put down the cutlery, took a sip of water, and was not in the mood to continue eating. Hamilton saw that she stopped eating.
"Are you full?”
'Yeah."
'Then can I have your fish?"
It was so delicious that he did not want to waste it.
Nicole was speechless.
She glanced at him silently, gritted her teeth, and nodded. Hamilton happily turned his attention to the dishes again.
Nicole looked around and pressed a button on the table.
Soon, the waiter came over.
"Ms. Stanton, do you need something?"
Nicole pointed to the dish in front of her. "Who made this dish? It's not clean!"
The waiter smiled and said with a straight face, 'You can rest assured about our food safety and sanitation."
Hamilton was drinking his soup and looked at Nicole with a puzzled expression. Nicole pointed to the soup he was drinking and said solemnly, "I just saw a fly."
"Where is the fly?"
"He just ate it."
Hamilton, who sipped on the soup, did not know whether he should swallow it or spit it out.
He glanced at Nicole with a complicated expression and then at the waiter.
He was speechless. The waiter was stunned. He clenched his hands nervously and said, "Ms. Stanton, is there a misunderstanding? Your meal today is on the house."
If ordinary people tried to make trouble, the waiter would have retorted at them. However, Nicole was a distinguished guest. The patrons at this restaurant were people of high net worth.
Thus, they did not know how serious the consequences would be if they offended Nicole.
Nicole saw that the waiter was nervous and deliberately softened her tone.
"If you can't solve this, get your boss to come over."
The waiter paused and said apologetically, "Sorry, Ms. Stanton. Our boss is not around now. Why don't I ask my manager to come over?"
Nicole’s eyes flickered slightly. "Sure."
As soon as the waiter left, Hamilton spat out the soup without hesitation. "President, was there really a fly in my soup?"
His face was distorted with disgust as he wiped his mouth.
"Why didn't you say anything earlier?"
Nicole looked at him and rolled her eyes.
Hamilton looked at her cautiously. "Did I really eat a fly? I'll call the food and safety department to report them right now!"
Nicole felt that Hamilton was an idiot. He was really dim-witted.
"Hamilton, I think you should go to the hospital for a checkup so that you can get a scan to see the fly before it gets digested by your stomach acid. Otherwise, you won’t have any evidence!"
Hamilton had a complicated look on his face.
Soon, the manager came over. She looked like an intellectual and elegant woman and smiled at Nicole as soon as she came over. Then, she took out two cards from the tray that the waiter held.
"Ms. Stanton, I apologize for your bad dining experience. This is my business card. If you feel any discomfort, we will send someone to accompany you to the hospital. We will take full responsibility for all examination and treatment costs. This is our restaurant's exclusive membership, which we will give you, free of charge. You're our first VIP guest, so you can dine with US in the future without reservations and queues. All of your meals will also be on the house."
Hamilton looked at the manager in shock as if she was a fool.
He initially thought that they would have to argue more and did not expect the restaurant to give them such a big discount.
Nicole was moved by the offer.
She looked at the card that the manager handed over with both hands and silently suppressed her emotions.
"Are you the manager?"
'Yes. My name is Kira."
Nicole paused and did not take the card from her.
"I want to meet the chef." Kira hesitated for a few seconds before she nodded.
"Okay. Please wait a moment. I'll get him to come over shortly." As she spoke, she pressed the call button and asked the chef to come over.
Soon, a French guy in a chef uniform came out.
"Kira, what’s the matter?"
When Nicole saw that person, she had an undisguised disappointment in her eyes.
It was not him. Kira had a flawless smile on her face.
"Ms. Stanton?”
Nicole paused, got up, and was about to leave when she suddenly remembered something. She stopped in her tracks and turned back.
She picked up the membership card and glanced at Hamilton. Then, she reminded him in a gentle voice, "Milton, remember to pay."
Nicole raised the card as a gesture before she left.
Hamilton was dumbfounded and frozen in place, but Nicole had already disappeared before he could react.
The restaurant wanted to give them a free meal, but Nicole still wanted him to pay.
Hamilton thought about it and realized that Nicole was not short of money anyway.
The manager was humble, and Nicole was not someone who would make things difficult for others.
Thus, Hamilton took the card and paid so that both parties would not be embarrassed.
He glanced at Kira. "Bill, please." Hamilton thought of getting reimbursement from Logan later.
Kira smiled and said a number.
It was the amount of their meal.
Hamilton hesitated for a moment. "What about this card?”
"It's free, so you don't have to pay for the card. Sir, what is your relationship with Ms. Stanton?"
Kira was presumptuous to ask this question.
That was because Nicole's intimate and gentle address at the end made Kira misunderstand Nicole's relationship with Hamilton.
Hamilton coughed and did not answer her directly.
"What do youthink?"
After he finished speaking, he paid for the meal and left without hesitation.
Chapter 2279 The Person in the Hospital
Kira's smile stiffened, but she did not reveal anything.
When Hamilton went outside, he saw that Nicole was still there.
She stood by the car and looked like she was in a trance. Hamilton walked over. "President, you didn't eat much earlier. Why don’t we eat somewhere else?"
Nicole raised her chin and gestured arrogantly for him to open the door. Hamilton was speechless as he thought, 'Was she waiting for me to open the car door for her all this time? She’s such a princess! No wonder she's never satisfied with the coffee I make!'
He opened the door for her.
Nicole got into the car and said, "Let's go back to the office."
Hamilton sat in the passenger seat and looked back at her hesitantly. "President, did I really eat a fly just now?”
Nicole did not even lift her eyelids.
'What do you think?"
Hamilton hesitated. Although he did not eat much earlier, he no longer had an appetite. Nicole held the phone and was contemplating calling Camille.
Camille might know whether Clayton was back in Mediania. Nicole thought about it, but since Clayton left LJ Corporation, even Camille did not know of his whereabouts, so why would Clayton update Camille later?
Jeff Lieberman and Clayton Sloan.
He still did not admit his true identity at the last moment. However, Nicole could vaguely feel that he was safe even though she did not know where he was.
Nicole looked at the passing scenery outside the window and felt dispirited for a while.
What identity would he use to come back?
Would he return to her?
Or was she just thinking too much and being delusional?
When Nicole arrived at Stanton Corporation, Grant happened to be rushing out. Nicole was a little surprised and asked, "Big Brother, where are you going?"
Grant did not have time to elaborate and briefly said, "Your sister-in-law is about to go into labor, so I have to go to the hospital." Nicole's expression changed slightly. She immediately turned back and followed him. "I'll go with you."
Grant did not refuse. He looked serious, and his face was tense. Nicole took a deep breath. "Don't worry. I'll notify the hospital first, then I'll tell Dad and the others. I’ll get Logan to pick up the kids later." Grant nodded. He was so anxious that he could not think thoroughly.
Nicole called the hospital to inquire about the situation before she called Floyd and Kai.
After everything was arranged, Nicole turned to look at Grant. "Isn't Aida's due date a month away?"
Grant nodded with a pale face.
Although this was Aida’s second pregnancy, Grant was still very worried about her. "I think she accidentally fell down the stairs when I was on a call with her. I don't know the full situation yet. What did the doctor say?"
"The doctor said that he gave her an injection and that she'll most likely give birth today."
Grant acted calm, but sweat was dripping from his forehead, which showed how anxious and panicked he was.
The driver sped to the hospital.
When they arrived, Grant pushed the door open and got out of the car. Nicole followed suit.
However, when she got on the elevator, she suddenly saw a familiar figure walking past the other end of the long corridor.
The man was limping with a cane, and his side profile resembled Clayton's. He looked handsome and indifferent.
It was Jeff or Clayton. Nicole’s expression changed dramatically. She had a feeling that he was back. Nicole was about to go out of the elevator, but some people squeezed inside, and the elevator doors closed.
That silhouette also disappeared.
Nicole's heart trembled slightly, and her breathing became a little rushed.
Grant was very nervous at first. When he noticed that something was wrong with Nicole, he pulled her toward him to prevent others from crowding her.
Since they came in such a hurry, they did not ask the hospital to temporarily vacate the elevator. Thus, they had no choice but to cram inside with everyone else. "Lil N, are you okay?"
Nicole’s face was slightly pale. She tugged on his arm. "Brother, I think I saw Clayton." Grant's expression changed slightly, and he looked at her hesitantly.
He wanted to say that she was mistaken, but he was also afraid of hurting her.
Finally, he patted Nicole on the shoulder. "I'll get someone to help you look for him shortly. Don't worry." Nicole nodded and tried her best to keep her heart from pounding. She did not want her emotions to get out of control.
If it was really Clayton, he would definitely come to her, right?
After a while, everyone went out of the elevator.
Nicole and Grant went up another floor before they went out.
The nurse was already waiting at the elevator. "Mr. Stanton, Ms. Stanton, this way please..." Grant followed the nurse with a solemn face. "How is my wife?"
"Mrs. Stanton's condition isn't ideal. The doctor is taking care of her, and her amniotic sac is still intact."
Grant pushed the door open with a glum face and went into the ward. Nicole also followed.
Aida was sweating profusely and lying on the bed with a pale face.
Several doctors around her were discussing the treatment plan.
As soon as Grant left, they immediately made way for him.
Grant wiped Aida’s sweat in distress and said with a trembling voice, "Aida, Lil N and I are right here. Dad will be here soon, so don’t be afraid. We’ll be with you." Aida was in a trance from the pain. She gritted her teeth and reached out to grab his hand. "Where's Levi?"
Nicole quickly said, "He's still at school. Don't worry, Aida. I’ll send someone to pick him up."
Aida breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "I'm fine. This isn't my first pregnancy. I accidentally slipped and fell. Fortunately, I knelt on the ground. Otherwise, it would've been risky." Grant hurriedly looked at her knee.
Her right knee was badly bruised. Grant put his hand on her knee and felt heartbroken. The doctor quickly ordered the nurse to take the medicine.
"I didn't notice the injury on Mrs. Stanton knee just now. We'll deal with it now." "It's okay. It doesn't hurt now." Aida tried hard to speak.
Grant held her hand. "Listen to the doctor. You'll heal faster with medicine."
Aida smiled. When they looked at each other, they seemed to be the only ones in the room. Nicole sighed and walked out.
One of the doctors followed her out.
"Doctor, when will she give birth?”
"Judging by Mrs. Stanton's condition, it will probably be tonight."
'There won't be a problem, right?"
Nicole asked worriedly. 1
"No. Please believe that we'll try our best to ensure the mother and the baby's health." Nicole was relieved when she heard what the doctor said.
She regarded Aida as her family.
If something happened to Aida, Nicole could not imagine how Grant would spend the rest of his life. After the doctor finished speaking, he returned to the office.
Nicole sat on the chair by the door and struggled to deal with the complicated emotions in her heart. It was as if she was getting at something, but she did not know what it was. She sent a message to Logan and told him to remember to pick up the children from school and send them to the hospital. She also told Logan to send Chance to Ferguson Corporation.
Logan was glad to do this because he did not have to work overtime. Then, he would have an excuse to go home early.
He immediately replied to Nicole’s message and agreed. 1
Chapter 2280 His New Life
Nicole stood at the railing at the center of the hospital and looked down, waiting for Floyd and the others to come over.
She wondered whether she should get someone to search through the entire hospital for that man, but she was not sure.
Floyd and the others would certainly find out if there was a commotion, and they would worry about her.
Nicole took a deep breath. Just when she was about to take out her phone to ask the driver why Floyd had not arrived yet, she inadvertently saw a familiar person. It was the woman she met during lunch, Kira. Kira limped toward the seating area downstairs and looked as if she had sprained her foot.
Nicole frowned slightly.
What a coincidence.
The next second, Nicole’s face instantly paled.
A man in black clothes also limped over with a payment receipt. Kira raised her head and smiled at him shyly.
That man looked like Clayton, not Jeff or someone else.
It was Clayton!
Nicole did not know how he reconstructed his face back to its original look. She had seen, thought, and dreamed about this face countless times.
It felt like someone was squeezing her heart until it was about to burst. The pain was dense and deep.
It messed up her calmness. She wanted to scream and call out to him. She wanted to run down and hug him immediately. Tears unconsciously streamed down her face. She felt elated and blessed.
The dishes from the French restaurant and that silhouette earlier were not her illusion. He was right in front of her.
He was back!
Nicole was so excited that she clenched the railing until her nails started to turn white. There were a lot of people waiting to see the doctor downstairs, and many who were waiting to pay the bill, but Nicole only noticed him.
She stretched out her hand and was just about to shout when she saw Clayton reaching out to support Kira's arm. The two smiled tacitly and limped away to the hospital door.
Nicole froze instantly.
It was like having ice water poured over her head.
Nicole looked at the backs of the two people holding each other and felt uncomfortable as if a thorn had pierced her heart and eyes.
The two of them seemed to sense her gaze and turned to look in her direction. Nicole was shocked and suddenly squatted down.
She hunched over and hid behind a wall as she did not want to be discovered by them. At this moment, she suddenly realized something. After the initial surprise faded away, she felt that she was momentarily blinded. In fact, this was not a surprise.
It was a fright. He started a new life. Was it really him?
If he still remembered her, how could he be with another woman?
Was Kira merely a manager of the restaurant?
Or did they have some other relationship?
Nicole was not sure.
Was Nicole in his plan to start over?
The two of them looked so close. Were they already together?
Nicole only felt suffocated and uncomfortable.
She felt like everything around her was spinning, and her face gradually turned pale. Grant, who just came out of the ward, was terrified when he saw Nicole like this. He quickly picked her up. "What's the matter? Doctor!"
Grant was so frightened that he quickly carried Nicole into Aida’s ward.
The doctor surrounded him. "Ms. Stanton..."
Nicole sat for a while. After she calmed down, her face was still a little pale. She smiled and said, "It's nothing. I didn’t eat anything for lunch. When I squatted down and stood up suddenly, I just felt a little dizzy. Maybe it's just low blood sugar."
Grant's expression eased. "You scared the hell out of me!"
The doctor looked into her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Ms. Stanton, if you feel uncomfortable, do you want to do a checkup?"
The doctors on this floor were specially selected to cater to the VIP.
Nicole shook her head, i’ll just eat something." Grant glanced at her helplessly. He picked up a banana from the fruit basket on the side and handed it over to Nicole. "Eat this first. Maybe you'll feel better afterward."
Nicole did not blame Grant for being perfunctory and took a bite of it.
Aida, who had a pale face, looked at Nicole with concern.
"It's better to go for a checkup even if you're hungry. You shouldn't neglect your health."
Nicole smiled and said, "Aida, don't worry about me. I know my body."
Just when Aida was about to say something else, Grant realized something. "Did you see someone familiar?"
Grant knew that Aida would be concerned, so he did not elaborate.
Nicole paused. Her face turned pale.
She calmed down after a while and smiled.
"No, I was mistaken earlier. It wasn't him."
Grant breathed a sigh of relief and glanced at Nicole again.
"You should tell US if you feel uncomfortable. Why don't you rest here first? Don't wander around, okay?"
Nicole nodded.
Shortly after, Floyd and the others rushed over.
Nicole sat there motionless, which was very out of character.
Even Aida felt that something was wrong.
"I think you should get someone to check on Lil N..."
Grant nodded.
Thus, when Floyd came, he saw Nicole walking out of the doctor's office while clutching her fingers.
Floyd was stunned for a moment. Kai was the first to speak.
"Isn't Aida the one who's hospitalized? Why do they need to take your blood? Are you donating blood?"
Julie followed behind and took a step forward. "Are you alright?"
Nicole nodded her head. "It's nothing, just a little low blood sugar. Grant and Aida asked me to do a checkup."
Kai said, "You haven't eaten yet, right? You should always bring a pack of instant noodles with you!" Julie said to Kai, "Just shut up!" Kai shrugged his shoulders and knocked on the door of the ward. Floyd frowned and looked at Nicole.
"Are you unwell? You should go home and rest. We'll be here." Nicole smiled and reached out to hold Floyd's arm.
"No, Grant and Aida are just making a fuss. I feel much better after eating a banana."
Floyd twisted her ears. "No one can take care of you tonight, so you should take care of yourself, got it?"
Nicole quickly nodded.
Julie smiled helplessly.
"Don't worry, Dad. I'll watch her for you!"
Floyd smiled and knocked on the door of the ward to see Aida.
Nicole did not follow. Julie went in to say hello and came out again. Seeing that Nicole's expression was off, Julie sat next to her and asked in a low voice, 'What happened?"
They were best friends for many years, so Julie could tell at a glance that Nicole had something on her mind.
Nicole pursed her lips. "Jules, I saw Clayton..." Julie was surprised. "What? Are you sure?"
Nicole nodded.
'Then why didn't you..."
Julie hesitated to speak. She wanted to ask, 'Why didn't you keep him?"
But if it was really Clayton, how could Nicole not recognize him?
Nicole took a deep breath and looked up at the ceiling.
'There's another woman beside him."