Ch. 2291..2300

Chapter 2291 Very Kind

Kira felt a kinship with Clayton because of their similar circumstances.

She dragged her crippled leg and followed Clayton.

Kira had no other choice because she could not be a model anymore. She did not have a degree either because she dropped out of high school to become a model.

In the beginning, she had a great career, but she gradually lost the limelight. She relied on her so-called "editorial face" which was popular internationally. However, her looks were not sought after in Mediania because the audience did not like such looks.

Moreover, Kira worked with brands that were hostile toward Mediania back then, so she did not have many Medianian fans.

Thus, she had no reputation in Mediania. There were plenty of people waiting to replace her in the fashion industry.

Staying in the fashion industry was a dead end.

Clayton had just undergone facial reconstruction surgery at that time, so he looked unnatural.

His face was cold as he told her not to follow him. Kira did not listen and followed him pitifully.

Clayton got someone to make a prosthesis for Kira because he pitied her.

In the end, when Kira was discharged from the hospital, she said that she wanted to go back to Mediania.

Clayton glanced at her, said nothing, and returned to Mediania with her.

Kira could vaguely feel that Clayton was not as lonely as he appeared on the surface. Some part of his heart was sealed shut, and no one could step in.

When Clayton opened the "S" French restaurant, Kira asked him what the " S" meant. Clayton said it was his wife's name.

Kira's yearning heart instantly cooled.

It turned out that Clayton had a wife and a family.

They were both disabled, so Kira understood Clayton's inferiority complex and embarrassment. Thus, she thought that Clayton's wife, who was somewhere far away, was not her opponent. How could Clayton and his wife have a future together if she minded his disability?

However, it was not until Nicole came for the first time that Kira saw the calm Clayton losing his composure.

Clayton was nervous, flustered, and embarrassed, but he could not hide his excitement and joy. For the first time, Kira saw other expressions on his indifferent and stern face.

It was a pity that he could only watch from a distance as the regal and beautiful Nicole ate with other people while Clayton was a spectator.

Kira discovered this secret, so she paid extra attention to it.

Clayton did not shy away from giving Nicole all the privileges he could as a customer. However, he still hid from her.

Sometimes, Kira did not know whether to envy or sympathize with Nicole.

As soon as Kira left the kitchen, Clayton was silent for a few seconds.

He was digesting the complicated emotions in his heart before he picked up the order and prepared the ingredients.

The meal was ready in less than half an hour. Hamilton saw an unfamiliar man coming out of the kitchen with a lunchbox and was taken aback for a moment.

The man standing in front of him was too handsome. Even if he did not say a word, he carried himself with such grace and composure.

He wore black clothes and black trousers, and he looked gentle. However, he was secretly scrutinizing Hamilton.

The man's eyes were beautiful. The light cast a faint shadow of his eyelashes on his lower eyelids. There were no other emotions in his eyes, and he looked indifferent and cold.

Hamilton stood up in a daze. "You are...?"

Clayton raised his chin and pointed to the lunchbox on the table. 'That's your meal."

Only then did Hamilton come to his senses. "Oh, it’s done. Thank you." Clayton looked at him for a few seconds before he said in a hoarse voice," The dishes she ordered for lunch are all cold vegetarian dishes, and eating so little isn't good for her health."

Hamilton suddenly raised his head and looked at Clayton strangely.

However, Clayton did not say much. He turned around and left.

Hamilton scratched his head and felt puzzled, not understanding what he meant.

Kira came over in a hurry and said with a smile, "The dishes are ready. For the best dining experience, please persuade Ms. Stanton to eat as soon as possible!"

Hamilton nodded and smiled.

"Alright. Was that man just now the chef?"

Kira's face stiffened. She smiled and replied, "Yes."

"He looks so handsome. I thought he was your boss!"

Kira smiled and remained silent.

After Hamilton finished speaking, he took the lunchbox and left.

At the office, Nicole just came out of the conference room and rubbed her stiff neck. Hamilton approached her with a smile.

"President, your lunch is here..."

Nicole responded and took it over.

Hamilton went in and said casually, "I saw their chef today. He's really good -looking, but he's a bit nosy." Nicole raised her eyes. "What happened?"

"He said that all the dishes you ordered are vegetables, and it's not a balanced diet. He's crazy. He doesn’t know that girls like to eat more vegetables to lose weight..." Hamilton said with a light chuckle. Nicole's hands froze slightly. She looked at the dishes on the table. Aside from the soup, the rest were cold dishes.

Her chest felt tight like someone squeezed her heart.

She curled her lips. "Yeah, he's nosy."

Hamilton was inexplicably happy because she agreed with his words. "Why don't I buy lunch from another restaurant tomorrow?"

Nicole said indifferently, "No need. You may leave."

Hamilton was speechless and thought, ‘What a picky woman!'

The next day, Nicole was so busy at noon that she did not have time to eat lunch.

Chatty and Fischer skipped school again. This time, they brought Levi along.

Levi reluctantly followed them with a book.

Fortunately, this time, they took a taxi and went straight to Stanton Corporation. Logan happened to be downstairs to see off a client at that time. Thus, he paid for their fare and brought them up.

He was a little scared.

Logan trembled as he knocked on the door and told Nicole about it. Nicole reluctantly let the children in.

"Mommy, we think school is too boring!"

The corners of Nicole’s mouth twitched. "Have you guys eaten yet?"

Nicole avoided the subject perfectly.

Chatty pondered for a moment and shook her head.

"No. I'm hungry..."

Nicole stood up. "Let's eat French food!"

Chatty raised her head and said excitedly, "Mommy, I don't want to eat French food. I want KFC!" Nicole touched her little face. "No, you can't." don't want to."

Chatty pouted. "Fischer wants KFC too..."

Fischer said sensibly, "French food is good too. The restaurant must have hamburgers!"

Nicole snorted lightly and did not rain on their parade.

She was nice enough not to lecture them about skipping school, yet they still requested for fast food.

Nicole brought Fischer out, and Chatty followed behind. Logan looked at them with a smile. "President, there's another meeting soon."

"You can host it. Oh, get Hamilton to drive US."

"Okay."

Logan sighed.

Since Hamilton worked here, Logan no longer needed to run errands.

Was it because Hamilton was more good-looking?

Hamilton did not refuse because it was much better to go out for lunch than to stay in the office and sort out some documents.

He happily acted as the driver.

Chatty scrutinized Hamilton, then looked at Nicole with a smile and said," This uncle is quite handsome."

Nicole was speechless.

Fischer was angry to hear that and frowned as he corrected Chatty.

"You shouldn't say that. You should say that he looks friendly!"

Chapter 2292 Remind You

Hamilton, who was grinning from ear to ear, closed his mouth instantly as if he had eaten a fly.

He thought, 'I look friendly?'

In order to express his dissatisfaction, Hamilton got out of the car and left with only Chatty in his arms.

He left Fischer behind, so Fischer had to chase after him anxiously with his short legs.

Nicole laughed out loud and followed behind. She took Fischer's hand and coaxed him not to worry.

Someone saw this scene and was irked by it. Eric was socializing nearby. He did not expect to see such a harmonious and irksome image.

Nicole actually went out with another man.

That man was also close to Chatty, which meant that he was not just anyone. They looked like a happy family.

"Mr. Ferguson, please come in..."

The business partner on the side politely invited him in.

Eric straightened his clothes and took a deep breath. His mood worsened. "Please excuse me. I suddenly have something urgent to attend to. Let's reschedule the appointment." Before the other party could react, Eric had already strode into the French restaurant nearby.

Nicole did not come to the restaurant for a few days, and the environment was still the same.

Chatty pouted her lips and blinked expectantly.

"Mommy, do you really want to eat here? Really? Really?"

Nicole nodded firmly. 'Yes!’’

Hamilton smiled at the side. "Can I join you for lunch? I can send you back tonight before I get off work."

Nicole raised her eyebrows. "Okay."

Anyway, it was a bit difficult for her to subdue these two little monsters by herself. She sat at her usual spot.

Everyone took their seats.

The children were well-behaved and sitting obediently.

Kira walked over and smiled politely.

"Welcome, Ms. Stanton."

Nicole nodded and smiled.

"It might get a bit out of hand with the kids, but they won't bother others." Kira smiled, glanced at the two children, and suddenly stared at Chatty's face.

It was so similar.

Kira paused and withdrew her gaze. Her smile was stiff and awkward. "Don't worry. There aren't a lot of customers now..."

As she spoke, a tall figure suddenly walked toward them.

Kira stepped back in shock.

Nicole raised her eyes which were slightly cold and frowned. "Mr. Ferguson, what a coincidence."

'Yeah. Did I interrupt your date?”

Eric's voice was low and hoarse as if he was restraining his anger.

Hamilton instantly looked up and tried to explain, but he suddenly noticed Nicole’s expression.

He immediately understood that it was not his place to speak. Although Hamilton had no experience of being a boy toy, he was self- aware of his position.

Nicole paused, looked up at Eric, and said in a cold voice, "Mr. Ferguson, you’re crossing the line. What I do is none of your business."

She thought that she had made herself clear the last time.

She was willing to restore a normal friendship with Eric, but he actually stood here to accuse and interrogate her.

What right did he have to do so?

Nicole tried to remain calm, but Eric's attitude made her blood boil. Both of them fell silent.

Eric glanced at the outsider, Kira, next to him with a gloomy face.

Kira immediately understood and left quietly.

She wanted to tell Clayton what was happening in the meantime. Eric broke the silence first. He stared at Hamilton and said in a cold tone,' Who is he?"

Chatty and Fischer were looking at Eric in confusion.

Nicole took a deep breath and looked at the children.

'Why don’t you two go and wash your hands first?"

Chatty nodded and ran out hand in hand with Fischer.

Hamilton knew that Eric had misunderstood their relationship, but he did not explain himself and sat there like a puppet.

That was because he felt that Nicole did not want him to leave now. Seeing the anger in Eric's dark eyes, Nicole suddenly laughed. 'What does it matter to you? Mr. Ferguson, do I still need to remind you to have a sense of propriety?"

"Propriety?"

Eric’s face was cold. His Adam's apple bobbed, and his voice was deep and rough. "Nicole, I gave in to Clayton last time, but he died. Even if he's not dead, he didn't come back to look for you. Maybe he’s enjoying his life in some corner of this world! You're the only one who’s still obsessing over your marriage. Never mind Clayton, who the hell is this guy? He looks like a high school student! Did your preferences change so drastically?"

Nicole’s face turned pale.

It was not because Eric accused her of having an illicit relationship with Hamilton, but because he belittled her feelings for Clayton so lightly.

Eric spoke very fast without the slightest pause.

It was clear that he had been brewing these words in his heart for a long time. His eyes were bloodshot, and he did not conceal his emotions as he accused her.

It was as if he could let her know his grievances and let her see his bloody heart.

Eric acted innocent and miserable.

Why did Nicole not give him a chance, yet she could talk and laugh with other men?

Eric looked cold, arrogant, and indifferent. Hamilton only felt sorry for Eric because he saw through the complex emotions in Eric's scarlet eyes.

Although Hamilton wanted to say that he was not a high school student and was only three years younger than Nicole, he could not interrupt the awkward situation.

Nicole bit her lower lip and said coldly, "Eric, I never agreed to be with you, nor did I ever lead you on. I am grateful to you for saving me, but you have no right to intervene in my private life and speak ill of my friend. You're a respected person, so why can't you give yourself some leeway? Will you only be satisfied when you let things get out of hand?"

She stood up and stared at him without a hint of fear. Her eyes were indifferent and distant.

Eric was suddenly speechless.

He felt his heart constricting.

He gritted his teeth indifferently and looked at her with difficulty.

"I don't want to lose my temper with you, but have you really understood me? Do you know what’s on my mind? I gave you enough space and freedom to forget Clayton, and I gave you enough time to rebuild your relationship. But I can only endure so much. Why can this guy who came out of nowhere replace Clayton, but I can’t? I was the one who met you first, and I paid the price for my past mistakes. What about him?”

Eric pointed at Hamilton coldly with a look of disdain.

Hamilton pursed his lips and raised his eyebrows. He did not want to get involved at first, but he suddenly felt annoyed by Eric's attitude. How rude!

Hamilton coughed and said, "Bro, maybe you should reflect on yourself on where the problem lies."

Hamilton’s youthful smile coupled with the word, "bro", almost made Eric explode in exasperation. Eric was livid.

He yelled at Hamilton with a glum face.

"Get lost!"

Chapter 2293 Unless It's Him

Hamilton raised his eyebrows and looked at Nicole.

Nicole glanced at him. "Will you help me check on Chatty and Fischer?"

Hamilton flashed a cute smile. "Sure!"

He just wanted to piss Eric off on purpose.

Nicole and Eric were the only ones left in the room. Eric raised his eyes irritably and sneered. "Did you meet this guy at some club? Is he a scammer?"

Nicole’s face was slightly pale.

She was exasperated because of Eric's unreasonable criticism and struggled to stay calm.

However, they were in public, so Nicole tried her best not to lose her temper and become a laughingstock.

Her patience reached its limit.

"Eric, don't go too far. Whoever I want to be with is my freedom!" Eric took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and chuckled softly.

"Freedom?"

His eyes looked frenzied as if he could no longer hold back. He suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist.

"Nicole, I gave you enough freedom. Since Clayton refuses to come back, you have no choice but to accept your fate!"

His eyes were dark and sinister. Eric only let go back then when he lost to Clayton because of his guilt. He also could not bear to hurt her further. However, when he saw Nicole talking and laughing with other men and going around like they were a family, he felt like a joke.

He approached her repeatedly but was rejected over and over again. Who did she think he was?

The chill and unwillingness that he kept suppressed in his heart surged in an instant and made him lose his mind. Eric waited for Nicole to consider him again, but she was so cruel.

How could he watch her fall in love with someone else again?

Eric could not bring himself to do that.

Nicole tried to break free from his grip, but she could not. Her heart ached, and she did not believe that he would do something to her in public.

However, she still felt uneasy.

"What are you doing?"

Eric casually sneered. It was as if a part of his heart exploded. He did not want to pretend anymore. 1

How could he pretend to be a gentleman? How could he pretend to have a modest and harmless face like Clayton?

Eric was a selfish and mean person who only did things his way.

Eric stared at her intently. "What am I doing? You'll find out soon enough..." After he finished speaking, he dragged her out.

Nicole turned pale with fright.

"Eric, you b*stard! Let go of me!"

She was horrified and wanted to shake him off, but she was not as strong as him. For some reason, she felt that Eric was no longer bothered to pretend.

Eric was revealing his terrifying side.

He no longer wanted to keep up the act, so he reverted to being the stubborn and indifferent Eric again.

No one would dare to stop Eric if he wanted to take her away.

However, at this moment, Kira suddenly stepped out and stood in front of Eric.

"Get out of my way!"

Eric yelled.

At this moment, he was exuding a terrifying chill. Kira gritted her teeth and thought about Clayton's instructions. Thus, she did not dare to retreat.

"Sir, Ms. Stanton is our VIP customer. Please let go of her."

"I said, get out of my way!”

Eric emphasized it again with a cold voice.

Kira gestured for the security guards and waiters to surround Eric.

It looked like they did not intend to let Eric take Nicole away without resistance.

Eric raised his eyebrows with disdain, let go of Nicole’s hand, and rolled up his sleeves. The surrounding air turned cold.

"Call your boss over."

His voice was low and unwavering, cold and menacing. Kira bit her lip and said calmly, 'This is my boss's instructions. We have an obligation to protect the customers who dine here." Eric snorted lightly as if he was looking down on this high-sounding excuse.

Eric always had special treatment everywhere he went unless the boss of the restaurant did not know who he was.

Nicole rubbed her wrist and calmed her emotions.

She subconsciously looked in the direction of the bathroom.

Fortunately, Chatty and Fischer did not come out yet. Otherwise, they would get frightened. Eric was a real lunatic.

Nicole said in a deep voice, "Eric, you should leave. I never want to see you again!"

Eric's eyes turned fierce as he sneered.

"Who do you want to see then? That boy toy? Do you think that I’m someone who will hand over my things to others? Unless Clayton shows up right now, I will never let you go again!"

Eric would rather be ruthless and keep Nicole by his side than watch her fall into another man's arms.

Even if Nicole hated him, he would do anything for her, just like how Keith treated Livia.

Keith and Livia were living happily together.

Nicole just thought that he was ridiculous and wanted to say something.

Kira’s expression changed as she retreated to the side and quickly walked upto the man.

"Sir..."

The man in black clothes walked over slowly with a cane. Although the man was limping, he was very steady.

His face was cold, indifferent, forbearing, and restrained.

He looked even more handsome and stern.

Eric was shocked to see him, and his face turned pale instantly.

He subconsciously glanced at Nicole.

Nicole looked at the man standing there with red eyes. She held back her tears and did not intend to reunite with him.

Her body was tense as she stood there.

She was like a hedgehog who guarded herself with thorns.

Clayton glanced at Nicole, suppressed the emotions in his eyes, and looked at Eric coldly and oppressively.

"Mr. Ferguson, we haven't seen each other for a long time. Are you sure you want to make a scene in front of so many people?"

Clayton knew he should not have come out in this miserable state.

However, when he saw Eric bullying Nicole unscrupulously and insulting her, his blood boiled.

"Unless Clayton shows up right now, I will never let you go again!"

That was what Eric said.

Thus, Clayton came out.

Clayton could not stand others bullying her. He did not dare to imagine how Nicole endured these rumors when he was not around.

Even Eric could say that about her, let alone other people.

Eric's eyes gradually turned cold as he stood there. His face turned glum.

Eric was silent for a few seconds and smiled mockingly. He sneered and looked at Nicole.

"So, he came back a long time ago, but you didn't know? Nicole, he's toying with you, but you’re only wary of me?”

After Eric finished speaking, he took a deep look at her, turned around, and left the restaurant without hesitation.

The only person he was afraid of was Clayton because Clayton was willing to do anything for Nicole. 1

Eric knew that he had no chance of winning against Clayton, so there was no need to continue this entanglement and embarrass himself.

Chapter 2294 Goodbye, Daddy

Eric left the restaurant and felt the cold wind blowing on his face.

He lost control when he saw Nicole with that boy toy, but the moment he saw Clayton, he was relieved.

It was useless even if he was more persistent because everyone else had to step back as soon as Clayton returned.

It was quiet in the restaurant.

The few minutes felt like centuries.

Kira saw this and asked everyone to retreat.

Clayton stood there and stared at Nicole's side profile intently, not knowing what to do for a moment.

His appearance was too sudden.

Nicole might not be mentally prepared, and she might be frightened.

Clayton did not know how to explain what happened to his leg and that he might never be able to do strenuous exercises in the future.

Would she despise a handicapped person like him?

That complicated emotion surged up again, and no one made a sound for a while.

Suddenly, they heard Chatty and Fischer playing nearby.

Chatty spotted her father from far away. She excitedly left Fischer behind and ran toward Clayton.

She hoped that Clayton would carry her in one arm and spin her around like before.

"Daddy! Daddy..."

Chatty was so happy that her eyes lit up.

When she rushed over, Clayton panicked for a moment. His hand that was holding the cane tightened for a moment.

He glanced at Nicole helplessly.

Nicole did not look in his direction. Instead, she turned her away and walked out. Hamilton, who was at the back, was stunned for a moment. "President..." "Let's go." "Uh..." Hamilton froze for a moment before he turned to look at the two children. He was shocked. Chatty excitedly wanted to jump on Clayton, but Clayton's attention was partly drawn away by Nicole leaving. Clayton wanted to chase after Nicole, but he stopped in his tracks again. The pain and dilemma in his eyes were too obvious.

Did Nicole leave because she did not want to face him in his current state?

As soon as he thought of this, his body stiffened, and he could not move anymore.

Chatty tugged on his arm and wanted to climb on him.

"Daddy, why don't you carry me? I miss you so much! Why aren't you a transformer anymore?"

Chatty seemed to have a thousand questions for him, and Clayton could not answer any of them.

When he was Jeff Lieberman, he had a completely unfamiliar face, and Chatty was the only one who was sure that her father had transformed.

Clayton's chest overflowed with guilt and longing when he saw his cute daughter seemed to have grown a little taller.

They were blood relatives, and Chatty did not know that she almost did not get to see him again.

In this world, they were the two most important people to him.

Once he had that kind of guilt, the longing that he had suppressed for a long time started to spread and filled every part of his heart.

Clayton lowered his head. His eyes were slightly red as he looked at the little girl who opened her arms wide to beg for a hug.

He did not even dare to speak. He dropped his cane and squatted down.

Chatty hugged his neck contentedly and kissed his forehead repeatedly.

She felt that kissing him was not enough, so she beckoned to Fischer, who was next to her.

"Come on, Fish! Kiss Daddy!"

Fischer ran over, frowned at Clayton, and touched Clayton's face.

"Are you really my godfather?"

Children had the most accurate intuition.

Although the man in front of me looked very similar to Clayton, something was off. If this man was really Clayton, why would Nicole leave?

Clayton raised his eyes, took a deep look at him, and hooked the corners of his lips.

"Fischer Malone, what do you think?"

Fischer's eyes immediately turned red because the man knew his full name.

The boy rushed over. Although he was not as ignorant and enthusiastic as Chatty, he also kissed Clayton several times before he stopped. 1

Hamilton’s eyeballs almost popped out of their sockets.

'You... You're not the chef here?"

How did this man become Chatty's father?

So, was he Nicole's dead husband?

Did he come back to life?

Clayton took a look at Hamilton and carried Chatty to coax her.

"Chatty, Daddy knows that you've been a good girl. Daddy will see you

some other day. Why don't you go back with Mommy first?"

One of his legs was a little unstable, so Clayton did not dare to move and only stood still. 1

Chatty pouted and shook her head aggrievedly.

"Daddy, come with us! We can go home together!"

Clayton's eyes were slightly red, and his voice was hoarse.

"Daddy still has something to do, so I can't go home yet."

Clayton could clearly feel Nicole's indifference toward him. Thus, he did not dare to test her patience.

He would immediately leave if she showed the slightest disgust toward him because of his inferiority complex.

Clayton was no longer the high-spirited and influential person he used to be.

The gap between them had to be filled, but now was not the time.

Chatty hugged Clayton’s neck and did not want to let go.

Kira was worried that Clayton would not be able to withstand Chatty's weight, so she subconsciously walked to the side to help him.

However, Clayton stopped her with a look.

Clayton hugged and patted Chatty.

He patiently coaxed her. "Chatty, my baby, Daddy won’t leave. Daddy's right here, so if you miss Daddy, you can come here anytime. You're the smartest baby I know. Remember what Daddy told you? No matter what, you must go home every night. Do you remember what you should do before going to bed?"

Clayton guided her with a gentle voice that was like a stream of hot spring water.

Chatty choked up.

"Kiss Mommy and say good night to Mommy before going to bed."

"You're such a clever girl!"

Clayton kissed his daughter's forehead and put her on the ground.

He touched Chatty's watch and accidentally turned on her screen, which showed her call history.

It read: "Daddy (14) Duration: 1 hour."

When he looked at the number again, his eyelids trembled.

Clayton's eyes instantly became hot.

He felt a lump in his throat as he smiled and patted Chatty's head. 1

"You can call Daddy when you miss me, but you shouldn't let it affect your class..."

"Okay..."

Chatty agreed reluctantly.

Clayton quickly re-entered a number to replace the old one. Then, he pinched her little face dotingly.

"Go on then.”

Although he was very reluctant to part with Chatty, he could not take her as his own.

Chatty reluctantly grabbed his clothes and wanted to say something, but Clayton's attitude was very clear.

Clayton glanced at Hamilton, who was standing there. He was not as gentle as he was with Chatty, but he was still polite as he said, "Please send them back safely, Mr. Scott. Thank you."

Hearing his address, Hamilton instantly knew that Clayton paid attention to him.

Kira called him Mr. Scott and treated him as Nicole's assistant, but Clayton might have realized that Hamilton was more than an assistant.

Suddenly, Hamilton felt a sudden pressure.

Chapter 2295 Not Going Back

This kind of pressure was different from the feeling when Hamilton faced Eric just now.

Eric's rage came from anger and unwillingness, as well as his sense of self­superiority and contempt for others.

However, Clayton was different. He was gentle but stern, and he made people feel oppressed by just standing there without speaking.

It was obvious who was stronger among them. Hamilton subconsciously felt inferior to Clayton.

He did not dare to be sarcastic as he did to Eric. Hamilton pursed his lips and nodded blankly.

Then, he took Chatty's and Fischer’s hands. "No worries, it’s my job. Goodbye.”

After that, Hamilton took two steps out and suddenly remembered something, so he looked back at Clayton.

"By the way, I’m Hamilton Scott, Ms. Stanton's assistant... Don't misunderstand our relationship. I just came here through the back door for an internship. I'm not her boy toy!"

Hamilton said this mainly because he was afraid that Clayton would think the same way as Eric.

Hearing this, Clayton eased his expression and nodded. "I know. Sorry to trouble you."

Clayton looked at the little girl and waved his hand.

"Bye, baby!"

Chatty waved her hands reluctantly. "Goodbye, Daddy!” "Goodbye, Daddy!"

Fischer followed suit and waved.

Clayton smiled and looked at their departing backs. His smile gradually faded and turned bitter.

He was so close to happiness and warmth, but he dared not touch it.

This feeling really made him feel powerless.

Clayton did not take a step back until they were all gone, but he lost his footing.

Kira immediately picked up the cane on the ground. "Sir..." Clayton took it over and took a deep breath. His face returned to its cold and distant look. Then, he turned around and walked slowly toward the stairs.

Kira's eyes were hot. Although she relied on Clayton for survival, she felt that Clayton seemed to be more pitiful than her.

She had nothing to lose.

On the contrary, he had everything, yet he could not reunite with his family even though they were in front of him.

Nicole just left without saying anything, which made Clayton very sad. Hamilton thought that Nicole had left.

However, she just sat in the car and looked at the restaurant's entrance through the window.

Hamilton got into the driver’s seat and looked at Nicole in the back seat.

He paused. "President, is he really your husband?"

Nicole did not answer. She was silent as if no one was able to enter her world. Her forehead was pressed against the glass, and her eyes seemed watery. She cried before this, but Clayton was not among the people who came out of the restaurant.

Clayton did not even chase after her.

Nicole was sure Clayton did not lose his memory or forget about their relationship. Otherwise, why would he stand up for her at that time?

But that was all there was.

Nicole did not speak, so Hamilton started the car and drove back.

Chatty and Fischer were immersed in excitement. Only these two carefree kids would be overwhelmed with excitement because they saw Clayton. Their constant chatter made Nicole feel exhausted.

Thus, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

"President, although I don't know what happened between you two, it's a good thing that he's still alive. You two didn’t look like a couple who had just reunited after a long time. But he's the nosy chef that I mentioned to you before. It turns out that he's the one who has been cooking your meals. That's quite romantic..." Hamilton spoke casually.

Now that Nicole's husband was back, it was time for him to step back.

However, he still had a job to do as his assistant and helped her to analyze their relationship.

Hamilton was a little disappointed when he did not hear Nicole’s response.

"President, you should forget about that Eric guy. I have a feeling that he's a little crazy. Fortunately, your real husband showed up. Otherwise, I really can't imagine how it would end..."

"Hamilton—" Nicole spoke lightly.

"Yes, President?"

Hamilton looked excitedly through the rearview mirror. Nicole glanced at him casually. "Can you shut up and be quiet?"

"Oh."

Hamilton was speechless.

Nicole said, "Don't tell anyone about what happened earlier."

After they arrived at the apartment, Hamilton left.

Nicole was exhausted. Fortunately, there was a nanny at home to help her take care of the kids.

Chatty was very excited today and wanted to tell Nicole about Daddy.

However, Nicole did not know how to explain it to her. Fortunately, the phone rang. It was a company matter.

Chatty was very sensible and let Nicole do her work. Then, she found Clayton's phone number and planned to call him.

This time, Clayton quickly picked it up.

"Chatty baby, are you home yet?"

"We're home, Daddy! When are you coming home?"

Clayton was silent for a few seconds before he replied softly, "Daddy still has something to do. Don't worry, baby. You should listen to Mommy, okay?”

"I know, Daddy. I miss you so much! You haven't been home for a long time!"

Listening to the familiar voice coming from Chatty’s room, Nicole stood at the door and suddenly felt powerless.

She leaned against the wall and felt that her eyes were warm and sore.

She did not know how to face everything ahead.

Did Clayton not want to come back?

Was Kira treating him well?

What was their relationship?

Clayton would rather talk to Chatty than contact her.

Her number had never changed.

Nicole kept sending him various messages until Jeff Lieberman left France. Did he see those messages?

Countless thoughts were tangled in her mind.

Nicole felt that her mental state was getting more unstable lately.

It might be that the psychiatrist was no longer useful to her.

Would the person who could heal her return to her?

It was late at night, and the sky gradually darkened. Fischer came out in his underwear because he had just taken a shower. He was at a loss when he saw Nicole standing there and crying. "Mommy..." Nicole immediately wiped her eyes and looked at him with a smile. 'Why did you come out without wearing your clothes?"

Fischer walked over. 'Why are you crying? Isn’t it great that Daddy is back?"

He asked and blinked his eyes.

Nicole took a deep breath and said in a gentle voice, "I only cried because I thought of something sad. Fischer, don't tell anyone about this, okay?"

Fischer pouted and nodded. He went over and took her hand.

"Mommy, don’t be sad. Don't think about sad things."

"Okay, I won't. Go inside and get dressed. Don't catch a cold."

Nicole touched his head. Fischer immediately nodded and ran to his room. Nicole went to the study. She waited until the children's voices had subsided before she went into the room quietly.

Nicole did not have to tell them a bedtime story today.

Chatty held her smartwatch like it was very precious.

Nicole gently took it out and intended to charge it when she saw an unfamiliar number. She paused slightly and felt a dull pain in her heart, i She instantly felt suffocated

Chapter 2296 Find Him

Nicole hastily recharged Chatty's smartwatch and left the room.

She went back to her bedroom and had no desire to continue working.v After taking a shower, she lay on the bed without a hint of sleepiness.

She went to look for the medicine prescribed by the psychiatrist, took two pills, and lay down again.

Nicole felt that her current state was very strange. However, she did not know what was weird about it.

They were obviously close, but there seemed to be an invisible distance between them. Thus, they lacked the intimacy of reuniting after so long. Hamilton was right. Nicole and Clayton did not look like a married couple.

Something went wrong between them.

That was the weird part.

Nicole reached out and subconsciously touched her arm. She suddenly felt like hurting herself.

The place she cut herself had a light scar.

Thus, she avoided wearing sleeveless clothes recently, Fortunately, it was not summer. The corners of her mouth twitched. Soon after, she felt sleepy and closed her eyes.

The next day, Chatty was still excited because she saw her father. She did not laze around in bed anymore and got up early in the morning wanting to find Clayton.

Nicole coaxed her for a long time before she agreed to go to school today.

"It's Saturday tomorrow, so you can do whatever you want then. Today, you must go to school. You're a sensible kid, so don’t be stubborn.” Chatty had no choice but to agree perfunctorily. No one could stop her from meeting her father.

Chatty lied to Nicole, who watched the two kids enter the school compound before she left.

Unexpectedly, they ran away after half a day.

No one knew if the hole in the school's wall was fixed or not.

At that time, Nicole was having a meeting in the office. When she came out, she saw Logan and Roland whispering.

Seeing Roland at this time, Nicole was reminded of someone.

Nicole's heart sank, and she walked into the office with her usual expression. Logan and Roland also went in.

"President, Roland wants to report to you about the recent situation at Mr. Sloan’s company. Some things need to be decided by you."

Roland nodded while he held several stacks of documents.

Nicole glanced at him and thought, 'He probably doesn't know anything yet.’ She chuckled.

Suddenly, she remembered what Roland said about losing an important flash drive in the hotel where Clayton usually stayed when they were abroad. Thus far, Clayton's business did not have any problems, which meant that the flash drive was not stolen and misused by a rival. The only thing that made sense was that the owner of the flash drive had taken it back.

They were so stupid to be played by Clayton.

If Clayton had no choice but to become Jeff Lieberman back then, what did it mean now?

He had Clayton's face, but what about his identity?

Logan and Roland saw Nicole's expression. They looked at each other and did not know what happened.

Nicole stared at Roland and took a deep breath. "In the future, there's no need to report to me about his business."

Roland's face changed slightly. He was clueless. "Madam, this..."

Nicole raised her eyes indifferently.

"Since he's back, I have no reason to watch over his company. He can take care of his own business."

Roland's body stiffened. He was shocked and confused. "What? Who came back? Do you mean Mr. Sloan?"

Nicole pursed her lips. "You can go to the "S" French restaurant to have a look. In the future, you don't need to send his things to me anymore."

Since Clayton was back, everything that belonged to him should return to him.

Nicole did not have that much energy to look after them.

Roland’s eyes widened in shock. Before he could react, Nicole had already waved them off.

Logan was also shocked. He went out and returned to his senses. He watched as Hamilton walked over with a croissant and coffee, looking relaxed and content.

Logan suddenly remembered that Hamilton followed Nicole out yesterday.

He immediately went up to Hamilton and asked, "Hamilton, did something happen yesterday?"

Hamilton asked back, "What do you mean?"

"Did you see anyone?" i Hamilton looked puzzled. "Who?"

"Someone... Special...?"

Logan did not know what to say.

After all, Hamilton was Nicole’s blind date, so it would be awkward to make things clear.

Hamilton pursed his lips lightly, took a sip of coffee, and shook his head.

"No, everything was normal."

After that, Hamilton continued to tinker with coffee in the pantry on his own. Logan and Roland glanced at each other.

They felt that something was wrong.

Roland lowered his voice. "Logan, even you didn’t know about this?

Hamilton doesn’t seem to know anything. Is he really stupid or faking it?"

Logan also felt that he was going to be fired for a moment.

According to experience, if he lost the boss's trust, then he would not be able to intervene in their private affairs.

This was not a good sign!

Logan gulped and said in a low voice, "It doesn't matter if he's faking it or not. You’d better go there and have a look to see if Mr. Sloan is really back

Only then did Roland realize that they should not take such an important matter lightly.

"Right. I'll get going then. See you later!"

Logan smiled and nodded. He watched as Logan left and felt confused again. 1 If Clayton was back, how could Nicole be so calm?

This was too abnormal!

Logan also did not expect Hamilton to do his job well.

Roland left Stanton Corporation and did not return to the office. Instead, he went straight to the restaurant Nicole mentioned.

He could not believe it. If Clayton was back, how could everything be so calm?

Clayton should reappear with great fanfare, and his return should be announced to everyone!

What was this?

It was an uncanny silence.

Roland walked in, and the waiter went over to greet him.

"Excuse me, do you need something?"

Roland paused. "I’m looking for... Mr. Sloan."

The waiter replied with a smile, "Sorry, there's no one here by that name."

Roland breathed a sigh of relief and calmed his emotions.

He knew that Nicole was joking with him.

How was that possible?

Roland smiled and said, "Alright. Goodbye." He turned around to leave. At that moment, a familiar voice suddenly came from not far away that made Roland pause in his footsteps, 1

"Roland?"

Roland froze, turned around slowly, looked at Clayton, who was standing upstairs in black clothes, and frowned.

He thought he was mistaken and rubbed his eyes.

"Mr. Sloan?"

The waiter saw this and left. He did not know that the person Roland was looking for was their boss.

Clayton pursed his lips and did not speak. His eyes were cold and indifferent.

"Why did you come here?”

Although Clayton did not want to announce his identity so soon, Nicole and Eric had already seen him yesterday, so it was impossible for him to keep hiding.

Clayton just needed time to lessen the shock and other emotions in everyone's hearts.

Roland turned around and quickly walked over. He could not contain his excitement.

"Mr. Sloan, is it really you? You're not dead? I thought you died during the earthquake, and Madam was..."

Chapter 2297 Shrinking Net Worth

Roland’s eyes were red as he spoke, and he did not finish his sentence. How could Clayton not know these things?

Roland walked over excitedly and watched as Clayton limped down the stairs with a cane. Roland was shocked.

He thought, ‘What happened to Mr. Sloan’s leg?’

Roland’s face stiffened.

Clayton looked indifferent and had no change in expression. A waitress who was in uniform and had a good figure quickly went over to Clayton when she saw this. “Sir...”

Clayton glanced at Kira indifferently and looked away.

The waitress withdrew her hand, looked at Clayton worriedly, and stepped aside. Roland blinked and suddenly realized something.

He remembered Nicole’s expression when she told him that Clayton was still alive. Suddenly, Roland pursed his lips.

There was a bit of silence in the air.

Clayton came down the stairs slowly and steadily. He looked at Roland blankly and walked to the area behind the divider.

“Follow me.”

Roland hurriedly followed Clayton.

He looked at Clayton’s tall and straight back and noticed that Clayton’s gait was no longer brisk Clayton looked like he was shrouded in sadness and decadence, and he seemed to have aged considerably. He should not look like this.

Suddenly, Roland felt his eyes getting a little sore.

Clayton sat by the window and happened to see the extremely unique and detailed landscape in the courtyard.

He was silent for a moment before he thought of Roland.

Roland was still standing there, at a loss.

Clayton raised his chin and pointed to the chair opposite him. “Have a seat.”

Roland silently walked over and sat down. He raised his eyes and could not help but say, “Mr. Sloan, when did you come back? We thought that you...”

Before he finished speaking, Clayton curled his lips. “Thought I was dead?”

Roland was silent.

“Well, not everyone. Your wife never believed that you were dead.”

Clayton’s face froze slightly.

Roland suddenly remembered the waitress with the good figure from earlier. There was something between her and Clayton that made it seem like she was not an ordinary employee. Roland immediately felt sorry and indignant for Nicole.

He felt that it was wrong for Clayton to do so.

Clayton should have returned to his original life just based on what Nicole did for him. Not to mention, he had a family and responsibilities. How could Clayton hook up with a waitress with a good figure and a mediocre face? It was an insult to Nicole!

Roland did not expect Clayton to be such a shallow person.

The more Roland thought about it, the angrier he became. He misunderstood the situation.

In a fit of anger, Roland said, “Back then when you were missing, Ms. Stanton couldn’t sleep for several days. If her family hadn’t taken her back, I don’t think she would be able to survive. After a while, she finally got better. I heard that she went to see a psychiatrist too. Mr. Sloan, you don’t understand how difficult it was for her to survive while taking care of her daughter. None of us dared to mention your name in front of her. I didn’t even dare to appear in front of her often. How could you suddenly show up without saying a thing? How could you not contact her when you were safe? Why did you make her worry for so long?”

The more Roland spoke, the paler Clayton’s face became. Finally, his face was paper white.

Roland suddenly stopped talking.

Clayton looked to be in pain.

Roland thought of Clayton’s leg and immediately fell silent. “I know you didn’t mean it...” Perhaps it was because of some force majeure that Clayton could not return to Nicole immediately.

Clayton was in pain.

After a long silence, Clayton’s face and lips were still pale.

Clayton did not explain what happened.

He pursed his lips and said in a hoarse and dry voice, “She told you I was here?”

Roland lowered his head and responded.

“I went to Stanton Corporation to report on the progress of your company today, and she said that I no longer need to report to her anymore. Then, she told me to look for you. I didn’t expect to really find you here...”

Clayton sighed helplessly and seemed to be at a loss for what to do, but Roland could not see his fragility.

Roland put the documents in front of him, paused, and said guiltily, “The business flash drive that you kept in the hotel abroad is gone. I looked for it but couldn’t find it. The safe is fine. I don’t know if I remembered it wrong...”

“I know. I took it.”

As soon as Clayton said this, Roland was shocked.

This meant that Clayton was already in France when they were there. He even took away the flash drive first.

In other words, Roland was not entirely wrong with the accusations earlier.

Roland took a deep breath and thought, ‘No wonder Ms. Stanton was angry... Anyone else will also be pissed off!’

He suppressed the emotions in his heart, coughed, and talked about business. “By the way, Mr. Sloan, part of your movable assets and real estate has been transferred to your wife’s name according to your will. Now that you’re alive, those properties will be restored under your name according to the law. We will need to go through the procedures again for those that were already transferred...”

Some of Clayton’s property could not be transferred for a long time. If it were not for that, Clayton would not have a penny left in his name.

Clayton’s net worth shrunk significantly.

Almost half of his net worth became Nicole’s. That was because he did not show up sooner. Clayton was unfazed. He said in a flat voice, “There’s no need to transfer them back. Just leave it.” He felt more at ease if his property were in her hands.

It was as if this would link them together.

Roland nodded and thought about another important question.

“Mr. Sloan, when will you return to the office? This restaurant is losing money, right?”

Roland did not see many customers around. It was a high-end restaurant, so the cost of ingredients must be expensive.

Such restaurants generally did not make much profit.

Clayton’s face was indifferent, and he did not seem to care.

“I won’t go back for the time being. You can deal with the company matters yourself. If you’re unsure, you can ask me.”

Roland was even more puzzled.

“If you don’t go back to the office, are you also not going home? I think that Madam isn’t in the right mental state. Is that waitress just now your...”

Roland was doubtful and embarrassed for meddling in Clayton’s affairs. He had been working with Nicole for a long time, so he thought that no woman could compete with Nicole in every aspect.

Roland could not help but advise Clayton. “Mr. Sloan, you should turn back while you can. Otherwise, you might regret it if your wife is taken by someone else.”

Clayton rolled his eyes at Roland and had a gloomy complexion.

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

Roland mentioned the waitress, so he must have noticed something wrong with Kira.

However, Clayton was not bothered to explain to Roland.

“Don’t spread such nonsense.” Clayton’s voice was cold.

“Okay...”

Roland looked at him.

Clayton glanced out the window. His eyes flickered slightly.

“You said that she was seeing a psychiatrist. Is it serious?”

Chapter 2298 You Can Leave

Clayton knew that mental health should not be neglected. His heart was hurting as if it was being eaten by ants.

Roland paused. “I don’t know. I heard it from Logan. Madam usually contacts the psychiatrist privately.”

“Go find out who her psychiatrist is.”

Clayton spoke lightly.

“Yes, sir.”

Roland was in high spirits.

He must fulfill Clayton’s request because this meant that Clayton still cared about Nicole.

When Roland noticed that Clayton fell silent again, he realized that he should leave.

Thus, he got up to say goodbye. Clayton nodded. Then, Roland left without saying anything. Clayton sat in the chair and was immersed in the shadows.

He was silent and dispirited.

At some point, Kira came over, pursed her lips, and said softly, “ Sir, you should go in and rest. Otherwise, you’ll catch a cold.” Clayton frowned, and his handsome face darkened. His tone was not polite, but he was not ruthless either. There was a sense of oppression in his gentleness.

“Kira, I said that you can leave.”

Kira instantly panicked and raised her head to look at him.

“Did I do something wrong? Sir, you know that I have nowhere to go, and I have nowhere to stay here. If others know that I’ve lost a leg, I won’t even be able to find a job...” She had a crying and pleading tone.

However, Clayton’s expression was still stiff.

His tone was calm as he said that it had nothing to do with him. He was not concerned about Kira.

“I know that there are policies on helping the disabled in Mediania. If you want, I can ask someone to help you inquire about it.”

Kira’s face was pale, and her lips trembled slightly. “I... I don’t want people to know I’m a cripple. I don’t want them to laugh and sympathize with me just so I can keep my job. Sir, I want to work here...”

She was earnest and voiced out her inner thoughts.

That was because she felt that Clayton, who was also disabled, would be able to understand her feelings.

They were the same kind of people.

Clayton raised his forehead. He was a little irritable and silent. He pondered for a moment and said lightly, “This restaurant is just a temporary business, and I don’t plan to keep it open. So, you’d better find another job.”

“I’ll go wherever you go, sir. You saved my life, and I’ll follow you for the rest of my life! ”

Kira looked at him in panic and spoke firmly.

Clayton glanced at her with a complicated expression and said, “I don’t need a maid or a burden. You heard what Roland said. All my property is in my wife’s hands, so I don’t have any money to support freeloaders. I don’t have the power to place you anywhere either.” Clayton’s explanation was so that Kira would leave. Kira was hurt that he called her a burden.

Kira’s face turned pale in an instant. She muttered softly, “Sir, you helped me so much before. Even if it was out of pity, I hope that you can continue to help me. I really have nowhere to go if I leave this place.”

Clayton tapped the side of his chair loosely with his fingers as if he was deep in thought. It made Kira nervous.

His voice was mellow and deep. “I just helped you randomly back then. Whether it was another person, a kitten, or a dog, I wouldn’t turn a blind eye to it. Kira, I hope you can understand that I didn’t save you to cause trouble for myself. Back then, I only took you back to Mediania because I pitied you. Our interaction should’ve stopped there. You were the one who kept going back on your decision.”

Kira’s face was pale. She choked and hastily said, “Sir, I thought you would understand me...” Clayton’s expression froze slightly. He paused and his face turned glum.

Kira realized that she said something wrong and panicked for a moment.

She pursed her lips and lowered her voice.

“I don’t expect much, but you know how hard it is for a disabled person to live here. I’ll leave when I find a suitable job. Sir, I won’t push any boundaries and expect anything from you. I’ll look for a job seriously before you close this restaurant.”

Clayton’s complexion changed. In the end, he lowered his dark eyes calmly. “Alright.”

Clayton hated Kira’s habit of pretending to be pitiful, but he had to admit that her life was miserable.

If Kira was a man, or if she had always been self-aware, Clayton would not mind introducing her to other jobs.

However, Kira would only take advantage of him if he helped her.

Roland’s words reminded him.

Even Roland easily misunderstood their relationship, not to mention other people. What about Nicole?

Clayton only saved Kira because of his conscience. He was not a saint.

If Nicole asked about it in the future, how would he explain this to her?

Thus, it was better to deal with Kira as soon as possible.

Kira heaved a sigh of relief, smiled, and wiped away the tears from the comers of her eyes. “I’ll get to work then, sir.”

After she finished speaking, she left in a hurry for fear that the man would backtrack on his words.

She thought, ‘Look, he still can’t bear to see me suffer. He won’t be so cruel.’

Although Kira’s leg looked normal when she walked, after she got off work at night, she had to remove her prosthesis to clean and disinfect it. She hated the complicated procedure.

Apart from Clayton, Kira had no one else to rely on.

She used to be an international model and had seen the finest things in life. Thus, she knew what kind of life she wanted to live and was not attracted to ordinary people.

Clayton looked mysterious, and he was definitely not poor.

Kira did not want to leave Clayton so easily.

Time passed by the minute.

Two uninvited guests snuck over.

“Daddy...”

Clayton looked at Chatty and Fischer in shock. The two of them were still wearing their beautiful and expensive school uniforms. Chatty ran in, followed by an honest-looking middle-aged man.

Clayton leaned on his cane and looked at her anxiously.

“How did you get here?”

Fischer did not run as excitedly as Chatty and fell a few steps behind.

“We took a taxi...”

Chatty nodded, took out a black card from her bag, looked at Clayton in confusion, and said in a baby voice, “Daddy, I thought I could buy everything with this card. But this driver said that it can’t be used as money. We came in his car and didn’t pay yet...”

The middle-aged man touched his head in embarrassment. He was hesitating whether to come into such a high-end restaurant.

At first, he thought he was fooled by those two children, but the children were not dressed in ordinary clothes. They were able to speak eloquently and said that someone would pay for their fare if he sent them there.

Clayton glanced at the driver and instantly understood.

He was frightened and glad that nothing happened to the children.

Clayton pursed his lips, glanced at the driver gratefully, and reached out to shake his hand.

“Thank you for sending my kids here.”

Chapter 2299 Craving Candy

“You’re welcome. I’m glad that they came to the right place. These two kids were running around in the street hailing a cab. I wanted to send them to the police station, but they said they contacted you a long time ago. That’s why I brought them here...”

The driver touched his head and felt a little embarrassed.

Clayton’s face softened. He quickly took out $500 from his wallet and handed it over.

“Thankyou very much.”

The driver glanced at it and handed back three $100 bills. “It’s not that much. $200 is enough.”

He stuffed the money into his pocket shyly, nodded, and walked out. Clayton nodded.

After the driver left, Clayton took a deep look at Chatty and Fischer.

Fischer stood there obediently and knew he was in trouble.

However, Chatty was unaware and happily hugged Clayton.

Her eyes curved into little crescents.

“Daddy, don’t you think we’re smart?”

Clayton was silent for a moment. He squatted down and hugged Chatty.

“You shouldn’t do this again.”

He looked at Fischer and said seriously, “Have you thought about the consequences if the driver was a bad person?”

Fischer pursed his lips. “Mommy wouldn’t let us skip school anymore after we ran out last time, but Chatty wants to come and see you...” Clayton was stunned and pursed his lips tightly.

He had mixed feelings as he looked at them helplessly.

“Don’t do this again. Fischer, if you can’t take good care of Chatty, I’ll get Levi to take care of her next time.”

Clayton could tell that Fischer could not resist Chatty’s unreasonable demands. The boy did not even have any opinions on what Chatty wanted to do.

Thus, it would be bad to go on like this.

Fischer suddenly raised his head.

“Okay, Daddy. I won’t let this happen again.”

Chatty pouted her lips in displeasure.

“But I miss you so much that I don’t want to go to school...”

Clayton’s heart softened, but he still insisted on saying, “You can call Daddy after school or on weekends. You can’t just come here whenever you want because Mommy doesn’t know that you’re here. If no one knows where you are, they’ll be worried about you. Do you want Mommy to cry because she’s worried?” 1

Chatty shook her head silently.

Fischer said from the side, “But Daddy, why don’t you go home? Mommy is always crying at home. I saw her cry last night! ”

Clayton was shocked to hear this.

Chatty blinked in confusion.

“Why didn’t I know this?”

“You were sleeping...”

Fischer sighed and looked at Clayton.

“I really don’t understand. You went out on a business trip for so long. Did you fight with Mommy? You always told me that boys shouldn’t fight with girls, and we should compromise. Did you forget that?”

Fischer’s words stunned Clayton. His gaze suddenly became complicated.

His heart tightened. He pursed his lips, stood up, and looked elsewhere in a panic.

“Well, since you guys are already here... Chatty, you should call Mommy first so that she doesn’t get worried!”

As he spoke, he leaned on a cane, carried Chatty, and walked forward.

Fischer said in surprise, “Daddy, what’s wrong with your leg?”

Clayton froze for a moment.

“I accidentally fell. Fischer, are you hungry? You can tell the chef what you want to eat. They’ll cook for you.”

Fischer shook his head and followed him.

“I’m not hungry.”

Chatty said softly, “Daddy, I’m hungry. I want candy...”

“No, you’re not hungry.”

Clayton touched her head and interrupted her thoughts.

After Chatty called Nicole, she smiled and asked for praise.

Clayton helplessly pinched her little face.

“Chatty, you’re so smart!”

Fischer was speechless.

Stanton Corporation.

Nicole hung up the phone, took a deep breath, and tried to restrain her emotions. However, her heart clenched after she heard that name.

She clutched her chest to relieve her pain, and her face was distorted for a while.

Suddenly, the phone rang again.

It was from the school.

Nicole took a deep breath, pulled herself together, and picked up the call.

“Hello?”

“I’m sorry to bother you, Ms. Stanton. Liliana and Fischer ran away from P.E. class just now. We’re searching the school now....”

“I know. They’re safe now. It’s okay.”

Nicole did not have such a strong reaction as she did last time.

After reassuring the school, Nicole hung up the phone and was not in a hurry to pick the kids up.

There was a knock on the door outside the office.

“President, Ms. Nixon is here.”

Logan moved to the side, and Julie walked over with a smile.

“Rich biatch, will you buy me lunch?”

Nicole looked at her and raised her eyebrows. She could not help but smile.

“Aren’t you very busy? Why are you here today?”

Julie sighed and walked over.

“I was supposed to meet someone for work around here, but they stood me up. So, I came here.”

Nicole rubbed her hair and said with a smile, “Okay. What do you want to eat?”

“I haven’t eaten French cuisine in a long time. I heard from your employees that you’ve been eating French food recently. I want to try it too!”

Nicole was slightly startled and looked a little stiff.

Julie knew her well and saw that Nicole’s expression was not right. She squinted and said, “What happened? Can’t I eat there?”

Nicole’s gaze was complex as she said, “Sure you can...” Julie smiled. “Let’s go, then. Kai said that you’ve been so busy with the company’s affairs recently that you have no time to eat properly. So, he asked me to bring you out for lunch because he doesn’t want to sub in for you when you fall sick!”

Nicole could not help but shake her head with a smile.

Kai was really smart.

Nicole drove.

Julie smiled, looked at her, and said, “So, did you make any progress on what you told me last time?”

Nicole’s eyes flickered slightly. She smiled stiffly and replied, “No.”

“You didn’t go to him?”

Nicole took a deep breath. “I don’t know what to say, and I don’t know where to start. I don’t know what to do to make the situation better.”

Julie’s smile gradually faded as she watched Nicole silently for a few seconds.

“What are you going to do if the stalemate continues?”

“At least he came back alive. That’s something to be happy about. I shouldn’t expect too much.” Julie was stunned by Nicole’s indifferent words.

She frowned and looked at Nicole with some surprise.

“Those used to belong to you. Do you want to watch as another woman steals your happiness?”

Nicole restrained her smile and pursed her lips.

“No one can steal him unless he wants to be with her. You know that I can’t bring myself to fight with another woman over a man. I’d hate to become like that.” Nicole looked ahead, and her heart was as cold as ice.

Back when Nicole was married to Eric, Wendy Quade, who was a third party in their relationship, had exhausted her energy and patience.

Nicole hated those days when she had to compete with other women for a man.

She did not want to repeat history. She did not want to lose herself and crush her soul and dignity.

If Clayton was deliberating between her and another woman, Nicole would never force him to change his mind.

There was no need to maintain a marriage without love

Chapter 2300 Coaxed

Nicole parked the car.

Julie had already walked into the French restaurant.

She had not noticed anything wrong yet.

She just felt that it was quiet and elegant, which was decent compared to other high-end restaurants.

“Hello, may I know how many people will be dining today?”

“Two.”

“This way please.”

The waiter guided them to a table behind the divider.

Julie inadvertently saw two familiar people.

Kira knew that one of these two children belonged to Clayton.

Clayton pampered the cute little girl and gave her everything she asked for. He even spoke to her gently and would not raise his voice at her.

This little girl was really cute and tender. She inherited all the advantages of her parents.

She had big eyes and long eyelashes. Her dark eyes were glimmering, and she had two small dimples when he smiled. She looked so sweet and pretty that it made people’s hearts melt.

Clayton had to treat his leg with electromagnetic therapy for 40 minutes to an hour every day. He brought the equipment from abroad and placed it in his room.

He could do it himself without any help.

However, he had delayed treatment for several hours because of Chatty and Fischer. Thus, his face was a little gray, but he still insisted on playing with the two children.

Kira could not bear to watch him suffer, so she volunteered to watch the children.

Clayton pondered for a while and agreed.

“You don’t need to mind them or coax them. Just watch them and make sure they don’t get hurt.”

Kira nodded.

Clayton touched Chatty’s face.

“Wait here for Daddy. Daddy will come back soon.”

Chatty was engrossed by the fountain and was playing with the little goldfish inside. Thus, she readily agreed.

Fischer patted his chest and said, “Don’t worry, Daddy! I’ll watch her!”

Clayton nodded with a satisfied smile.

Then, he stood up with difficulty. His forehead was dripping with cold sweat as he limped away.

Kira tried to talk to the children, but they were so immersed in their own world that they ignored her.

Kira suddenly had an idea to establish a good relationship with Clayton’s daughter.

For some reason, Kira wanted to get close to everything about Clayton.

“Kids, do you want to go out and play?”

If Clayton saw that she was having a good time with his daughter when he came downstairs, he would not kick her out so soon.

Fischer looked at her seriously.

“Auntie, Daddy won’t let us go out to play. He told you earlier not to coax us!”

Chatty was holding onto the goldfish’s tail and laughing non-stop. She immediately echoed Fischer’s words.

“Yes, Daddy said to be obedient!”

Kira paused. Her eyes flickered when she saw the candy on the table next to her that was for the customers.

She grabbed a handful, took it over, and asked with a smile, “Then, do you want candy?”

Chatty’s attention was immediately attracted.

Fischer gulped and opened his eyes wide.

Kira knew at a glance that she made the right move. Kids this age, especially if they were in a home with a strict upbringing, could not eat candy as they pleased.

She immediately unwrapped a piece of candy and placed it near Chatty’s mouth to tempt her.

“Open your mouth. I won’t tell anyone...”

Chatty blinked her big eyes and tentatively licked the candy with the tip of her tongue. Her eyes lit up instantly.

She quickly stuffed the bite-sized candy into her mouth, which bulged like a little squirrel.

At this moment, someone at the door suddenly ran over.

“What are you feeding her?”

Julie watched in shock.

She did not expect to see the two kids here and thought she was mistaken.

Fischer looked at Julie in surprise. “Aunt Jules?”

Julie’s face was a little cold as she opened Fischer’s mouth.

“You didn’t eat it, right?”

Fischer immediately shook his head.

Julie knelt down to look at Chatty and stretched out her hand. She did not want to scare the girl and said cautiously, “Chatty, be a good girl and spit it out...”

Chatty was reluctant to spit out the candy. She shook her head with puffed cheeks.

Kira looked at Julie and heaved a sigh of relief. When she heard that Fischer called the woman “Aunt Jules”, she assumed that they knew each other.

Kira smiled and said, “It’s just candy.”

Julie glanced at her coldly. Just as she was about to say something, Nicole had already walked over.

“Jules, what’s wrong?”

As soon as Kira saw Nicole, her smile subsided, and she subconsciously took two steps back.

Julie held Chatty’s shoulders.

“That woman just fed her something.”

Kira added, “It’s just candy.”

Nicole glanced at Kira with a glum expression.

Julie frowned. “How can you just feed someone else’s kid candy?

She’s not even three years old! ”

Kira blinked and said innocently, “Don’t all kids love candy?”

Nicole frowned, squatted down, and looked at Chatty.

“Come on, Chatty. Be a good girl and spit it out. The candy will get stuck in your throat.”

Chatty shook her head and took a step back.

Nicole coaxed Chatty for a long time, but Chatty was so stubborn and refused to spit it out.

Nicole also gradually lost her patience.

As soon as Nicole let go of Chatty, Chatty wanted to run away to the other side.

However, there was a lot of water next to the fountain, and the stone pavement was very slippery. Chatty fell as soon as she ran and started to cough violently.

Nicole’s face turned pale. She quickly carried Chatty. “Chatty!”

Julie was anxious. “Call an ambulance! Let’s go to the hospital!” “Chatty...” Fischer was also terrified.

The restaurant suddenly became chaotic.

Nicole could not remain calm. She looked frightened and pale.

Chatty could not cry because she was choking on the candy that was stuck in her throat. She could not spit it out or swallow it.

She tried to cough, and she started to have difficulty breathing. She retched, and her face began to turn purple...

Chatty was overwhelmed by fear as she suffocated.

Nicole turned around in a hurry and shouted in a hoarse voice, “ Get a doctor...”

Julie suddenly thought of something.

“Try the Heimlich maneuver and make her spit it out...”

Nicole immediately nodded and tried to calm herself down first.

She hurriedly put Chatty on the ground and turned her upside down.

Chatty was hunched over, and Nicole pressed her stomach.

Kira, who was next to her, was frightened. She hurriedly asked someone to bring water and handed it over.

“Flush it down with water so she can swallow it. Here...”

Nicole angrily waved away the water that was blocking her sight when she was interrupted.

Kira’s face was gloomy.

Nicole carried the little girl and did abdominal thrusts a few times.

Watching Chatty retching and having difficulty breathing tormented Nicole.

Finally, she heard a “plop” as the light green candy fell into the fountain.