Ch. 2301..2310
Chapter 2301 You Don’t Deserve It
The next second, Chatty could not bear it anymore and burst into tears.
Chatty was in pain and terrified as she had never experienced this before.
She hugged Nicole tightly and did not let go. Her tears streamed down her face, and she did not care that they were in a public place.
Nicole also cried in fear, and her whole body was tense.
However, Nicole did not dare to cry out loud. She patted Chatty’s back and comforted her in a gentle voice.
“Chatty, don’t be scared. Mommy will take you to the hospital to see a doctor.”
Nicole choked between sobs. Then, she stood up with Chatty in her arms and ran out.
Everyone was shocked.
Clayton endured the pain in his leg and limped out of the room with cold sweat on his back. When he looked down, he saw Nicole carrying Chatty and running out.
Fischer was helpless and terrified, and Julie was furious and frightened.
He could not care less anymore and asked in a trembling voice, “ What happened?”
The moment Julie looked up, she saw Clayton.
She suddenly understood why Nicole was acting so weird.
Julie felt scared when she thought of Kira feeding Chatty hard candy earlier.
She also felt indignant for Nicole.
Julie’s face was glum, and she was so angry that she pointed at Clayton and yelled, “Why don’t you just wait for your daughter to die before you show your face? You threw your daughter to a stranger and let that woman feed her hard candy. Will you only be satisfied if something happened to Chatty? You and that woman did it on purpose, right? You two can go to hell! Don’t think that I’ll let you get away with hurting Chatty and Nicole! ”
She glared at Clayton, turned around, and left.
Clayton stood there trembling.
His complexion was extremely pale.
Kira was bewildered, and no one else dared to step forward.
“Sir, I... I didn’t do it on purpose. I just wanted to coax the kids...”
If Kira knew this would cause such a big commotion, she would not have fed the kid candy to get close to her.
Clayton did not say a word, turned around, and went back to the room. He came out with a cane and walked downstairs as fast as possible.
Fischer was crying on the side, not knowing whether to leave or stay.
Nicole had already driven Chatty to the hospital.
Fischer thought that he was at fault for not taking good care of Chatty.
When Clayton went downstairs, Kira wanted to explain what happened, but Clayton ignored her.
He went straight to Fischer, stretched out his hand, and patted Fischer’s head.
“Tell me what just happened.”
Kira’s face turned pale.
Fischer sniffled, pointed at Kira, and said, “This auntie wanted us to go out and play, but we refused, so she fed Chatty some candy. Aunt Jules and Mommy happened to see it. When Chatty ran away, she fell, and the candy got stuck in her throat...”
Fischer was very straightforward and did not add anything superfluous.
However, this made Clayton break out in a cold sweat.
Clayton glanced at Kira with dark and gloomy eyes. The chill he exuded was unbearable. It was as cold as a glacier, and it made people shudder.
Kira’s face was ugly and pale. She walked over and explained, “I just wanted to play with them for a while. I didn’t want to hurt them...”
Clayton’s face was cold. He suppressed the anger in his eyes, and his voice was rough as he said, “Did you forget what I told you?
You don’t need to bother them or coax them. Just watch them so they don’t get hurt.”
However, Kira did not do so.
Kira was guilty and stopped talking.
“Sorry, I... I’d like to apologize to Ms. Stanton personally.” Clayton curled his lips slightly.
“Apologize? Do you deserve to talk to her?”
His voice was weak without much strength, but Kira felt scared.
Kira had never seen this side of Clayton. He was no longer gentle, and his ruthlessness made her heart tremble.
Clayton took Fischer’s hand and walked out. His steps were unsteady, and he was extremely anxious.
He was heartbroken when he heard their voices and Chatty’s cry earlier.
Clayton took his new mobile phone and called a familiar number, but no one answered.
Then, he called Julie.
“Which hospital did she go to?”
Julie was silent for a few seconds.
Clayton could not help but soften his tone. He suppressed his anxiety.
“Chatty is my daughter, so I feel bad too.”
Julie pursed her lips and told him the name of the hospital.
Fischer sobbed in the back seat.
“Daddy, will Chatty be okay?”
He regretted not stopping Chatty from eating the candy.
If so, Chatty would not have to suffer like this.
Clayton stabilized his emotions before he drove toward the hospital.
His car was specially modified so that he did not need to use his right leg. Thus, it would not affect his driving.
When Clayton and Fischer arrived at the hospital, only Julie was waiting downstairs.
She glanced at Clayton and smiled coldly.
“Mr. Sloan, you’re really something. You can even disguise yourself with different identities. How amazing! ”
Clayton pursed his lips and said, “Is Chatty okay?”
Julie did not say a word and went into the elevator.
Clayton pulled Fischer along.
Julie was standing in the elevator. Fortunately, it was evening, and there were not many people. 1
She looked at the man in the elevator who was still handsome and indifferent, but he was not as spirited as before. Julie did not know whether she should pity him or if he deserved this.
Julie pursed her lips and deliberately used her words to hurt him.
“Do you know why Nicole chose this hospital despite it being so far away?”
Clayton’s eyelids trembled.
Julie curled her lips and said, “That’s because Aida just gave birth in the private hospital that we usually go to, and Grant is there.
Nicole was probably afraid that you’d bump into them. She doesn’t know how to explain why you didn’t go home even when you’re safe,”
Clayton’s complexion paled slightly. He was tense for a moment, and he could feel his chest tighten.
Julie had always been a gentle person, but tonight, she was relentlessly attacking Clayton.
Clayton could easily imagine how angry and indignant Julie would be standing from Nicole’s point of view.
If an outsider was like this, wouldn’t Nicole be angrier and more aggrieved?
However, Nicole did not say a word.
They did not speak since he showed up in front of her.
Clayton lowered his head helplessly, and he was in a tangle.
The elevator arrived.
Julie went out first.
Clayton followed.
Nicole sat on the chair by the door in a daze. Her eyes were very red.
Julie went over immediately. “Where’s Chatty?”
Nicole pointed to the opposite room.
“The doctor is checking on her inside.”
Nicole saw Clayton and his cane as she spoke. She noticed that his right leg was obviously thinner than before.
For some reason, she felt bitterness in her heart.
The anger and discomfort she felt earlier dissipated when she saw his pitiful look. The tip of her nose became sore, and her eyes turned watery. 1
Nicole quickly turned her head away.
Chapter 2302 Prop
Fischer ran in.
Clayton stood there waiting.
He looked at Nicole and felt a pain in his chest. It was so painful that he felt suffocated.
He wanted to go forward but he did not dare to.
He did not dare to look at her sad and reproachful eyes, and her pity and surprised look.
No matter how subtle it was, Clayton could always see the sympathy in people’s eyes.
He did not want to see it in Nicole’s eyes.
Fortunately, the doctor came out carrying Chatty.
Chatty’s face was flushed from crying. The poor little thing was frightened. Her eyes were watery, and she was still sobbing in fear.
When she saw Nicole and Clayton, she felt even more aggrieved.
Chatty stretched out her hand toward Clayton and shouted aggrievedly, “Daddy, hugsies....”
Clayton’s eyes darkened instantly, and his heart melted.
He reached out to take Chatty, who sobbed and clung to his neck. Her body was so soft like cotton candy and they could not bear to pinch her.
The doctor looked at Nicole and said, “I did a checkup and found no foreign object in her throat. The Heimlich maneuver you performed was timely and accurate, and it prevented a serious accident. It’s hard to imagine what would happen if you didn’t perform first aid in time...”
Nicole’s face turned pale, and her scalp was numb. She smiled and said, “Thank you, doctor.”
“However, her throat is scratched because of the hard candy, so there might be some bleeding. You should pay extra attention to her these days. Don’t feed her any solids. It’s best if she eats soft foods and liquids.”
The doctor looked at the child in distress and sighed.
“You adults must pay more attention to your child. How can you feed such a small child hard candy? If you want to coax children, a lollipop would be better than ordinary hard candy. You’re too careless.”
Nicole pursed her lips and remained silent.
Clayton’s face was gloomy, and he could not maintain his previous demeanor.
Julie replied with a smile.
“Thankyou, doctor. This time, it was an accident. We’ve been watching her closely, and this won’t happen again. Does she need any medicine? I’ll get it from the pharmacy.”
The doctor nodded. “Let’s go. I’ll prescribe some medicine for her.”
“Alright.”
Julie followed the doctor.
There were only two adults left outside - Nicole and Clayton.
Fischer worriedly stood on the side and held Chatty’s hand as he silently blamed himself.
There was a moment of silence in the air.
Clayton’s eyes were full of guilt.
He took a deep breath, put Chatty on the chair next to Nicole, and held his forehead.
“I’m sorry. It’s my fault.”
He used so much force that there were marks on his forehead.
Besides apologizing, Clayton did not know what else to say.
Nicole raised her head at this time. The corners of her eyes were red, and her lips were bold. She was still as stunning as before.
“Who are you apologizing to? Me or your daughter?”
Clayton gave her a deep look as if he wanted to look into her heart.
He replied, “To you. I’m sorry.”
He wanted to apologize to Chatty and Nicole personally.
Clayton was ready to take on the blame. He almost killed his daughter because of his own carelessness.
Chatty was the only blood relative that Nicole left for him in this world, and she was more important than his life.
Nicole stood up and looked at the handsome man who looked so exhausted. His powerless and restrained look made Nicole heartbroken.
She clenched her fists, closed her eyes, and opened them again. She felt a little helpless as she said, “Anyway, I’m glad you’re alive.”
Nicole knew that Clayton was blaming himself and that he was in more pain than her.
There was no point in dwelling on his mistake now.
Clayton was certainly not feeling any better than she was.
Thus, all that came out of her mouth was that she was glad that he was alive.
That way, she did not waste her efforts when she was abroad in the undersea laboratory.
Nicole did not mention the thrilling experience they had shared together.
Clayton’s lips trembled, and his eyes flickered with strong emotions.
Nicole was downcast when she was met with his silence.
Were they so detached from each other now that they had nothing to say?
Or was it because he did not want to say anything?
Would this stalemate continue forever?
Nicole pursed her lips, spun her heels a few times, and felt irritable.
Finally, she stopped in front of Clayton, looked at him solemnly, and said in a gentle and calm voice, “I want you to understand that the reason I didn’t stop Chatty from getting close to you is that you’re her father. But I don’t want the women around you to approach my daughter in any way. I won’t allow it whether it’s out of good intentions or malice and whether they’re sincere or have a motive.”
Nicole made it clear that she did not want her daughter to be used as a prop.
Clayton pursed his lips and said slowly, “Okay. This won’t happen again.”
This was also his thought.
Clayton knew that he was careless this time, and Nicole was right to be mad at him.
Moreover, Nicole was not throwing a tantrum.
She had a gentle voice and a negotiating tone.
At that moment, the rage Clayton felt was terrifying, but he hid it too well.
Of course, Clayton also did not notice what Nicole was implying in her words.
Julie came over in a hurry and looked at the two people.
“I got the medicine. Do you want to continue talking?”
Nicole pursed her lips, glanced at Clayton, and remained silent.
Clayton reluctantly touched Chatty’s head.
“Chatty, do you want to go home with Mommy first?”
Chatty hugged his neck and refused to let go. She grunted and pouted.
“Daddy, come with us.”
Chatty did not want to be separated from her father for another moment.
Clayton froze for a moment. He lowered his eyes to quickly cover up his emotions and said softly, “We can play together tomorrow since it’s a Saturday. You should go back and sleep, okay?”
Chatty felt that she had suffered a lot today, so she did not want to be separated from her father.
“I want to sleep with Daddy.”
Chatty pleaded in a baby voice.
Clayton glanced at Nicole and pursed his lips.
Nicole would not agree to let him take Chatty away, and he could not bring himself to ask either.
Besides, he still had to deal with the problem in his restaurant. How could he put his daughter in a dangerous and unfamiliar environment again?
Clayton gently kissed the top of Chatty’s head.
“Be a good girl and go back with Mommy, okay? Daddy has other things to do.”
Chatty held Clayton’s neck and looked at him with a pitiful gaze.
“Will you take us home then?”
Clayton could not refuse his adorable daughter’s reasonable request.
He looked at Nicole, pursed his lips, and asked, “Shall I send you guys home?”
Nicole lowered her eyes and looked calm.
“Whatever.”
She felt overwhelmed with sadness and grievance, but she did not show it at all.
Chapter 2303 Does It Hurt?
Chatty begged Clayton to go home with them, but he still refused to go back
Nicole thought, ‘Is it because I’m at home? Or is it because there’s someone he can’t forget at the restaurant?’
Nicole did not want to think too much. She turned her head away awkwardly and walked out with Fischer.
She gave the father and daughter pair enough time and space alone.
Julie did not say anything. She only took a look at Nicole and followed her.
When she got on the elevator, she did not close the doors in a hurry and waited for them.
Clayton carried Chatty and walked over unsteadily, only to notice that Nicole and the others were waiting for him in the elevator.
For a moment, he was a little embarrassed, especially when he noticed Nicole’s gaze was fixed on his right leg and cane.
Clayton clenched his cane tightly.
He wished he could find a crack in the ground to hide in.
Instantly, his face turned hot.
He hated himself for appearing in front of Nicole in this state.
It seemed that no matter how much time passed, Nicole did not change. She was still so glamorous and gorgeous.
But what about him?
Clayton felt like he should be in the dark because of his mutilated limbs. What right did he have to approach her again?
While he was in a daze, Fischer took Nicole’s hand and said to Clayton, “Daddy, come quickly!”
Clayton finally returned to his senses.
He walked in with difficulty with a tense body.
Clayton was the closest to the elevator buttons, and he was too proud to ask the people next to him for help.
However, he could not press the elevator buttons while carrying Chatty and holding a cane.
Clayton frantically tried to move his cane to his other hand and use his free hand to press the elevator button, but he suddenly felt severe pain in his right leg as if countless ants were chewing at his bone.
He was a bit unsteady.
Clayton knew that his treatment earlier was not as effective as usual because he delayed it for a long time.
In an instant, cold sweat seeped out of his forehead.
The next second, a clean and slender hand stretched out from behind and gently pressed the elevator button.
The elevator doors closed immediately.
It was quiet as the elevator descended slowly.
Clayton stood up straight. His back was extremely stiff.
He felt like he was running barefoot on a volcano, and he could not outrun the lava no matter what.
His cane fell to the ground and made a dull but crisp sound.
Before he thought about what to say, Nicole spoke nonchalantly from behind.
“Does your leg hurt?”
Clayton was silent for a moment. He clenched his fists tightly and replied, “It’s fine.”
He sounded calm, but Nicole knew that it must not be as simple as it appeared on the surface.
Clayton was a very forbearing person.
He had been very patient since he was a child.
They opened up to each other after they fell in love with each other, but the earthquake brought them back to the starting point.
Nicole’s heart tightened. Her gaze did not fall on his leg because the elevator walls were mirrored, and they could see each other through the mirror no matter what angle they were in.
They were both faking it.
Nicole never asked Leighton and Camille about Clayton’s recovery.
No matter how advanced their technology was, they could not drastically stimulate human growth.
Cell regeneration technology would take time, and it was impossible for Clayton to look like a normal person in just a few months.
His facial reconstruction surgery was more advanced than the other surgeries.
However, his recovery was unexpectedly fast, especially since he could only sit in a wheelchair or use crutches when he was Jeff Lieberman. Now, he could walk with a simple cane.
Nicole pursed her lips and looked at Chatty. She said in a hoarse voice, “Let Mommy carry you for a while.”
Chatty pouted her lips and thought about it.
Clayton’s body froze slightly because he knew what Nicole was trying to do.
Nicole was afraid that he would not be able to withstand Chatty’s weight.
At this time, Clayton did not want to admit defeat.
He patted Chatty on the back and said casually, “It’s okay. We’re almost at the car.”
After he spoke, the elevator arrived downstairs.
Julie knew that something was wrong between the two of them and they needed some privacy.
Thus, as soon as they left the hospital, Julie looked at Nicole and said, “I won’t go back with you. I have to go to the hospital to see Grant and Aida.”
Nicole nodded and smiled apologetically.
“I’ll treat you to dinner next time.”
“Don’t worry, there are plenty of opportunities in the future!”
Julie laughed, waved at her, and left.
Nicole and Clayton drove to the hospital earlier.
Thus, Nicole looked at him and said, “I’ll drive, and you can hold Chatty.”
Clayton did not refuse.
After all, he was happy to spend more time with his daughter.
Fischer sat in the back with Clayton and played with Chatty.
Chatty quickly forgot about the incident earlier now that she was in a comfortable environment.
She smiled and hugged Clayton’s neck as she played hide and seek, thinking that Fischer could not see her.
Fischer was speechless when he saw this.
When they arrived at the apartment, they went upstairs as usual.
Mrs. Zoe, who was at home, happily greeted them when they came in the door.
“Madam, you’re back...”
When Mrs. Zoe saw the person behind Nicole, her expression changed, and she covered her mouth excitedly.
“Mr. Sloan, you’re back too?”
Everyone was excited about Clayton’s return except Clayton himself.
Clayton flashed a smile. He wanted to hand Chatty over to Nicole and leave by himself, but Nicole walked into the house on her own with Fischer in tow.
Thus, Clayton stood at the door awkwardly. He seemed redundant.
The slippers that he used to wear were still on the shoe cabinet, which shocked him.
Mrs. Zoe saw Clayton’s cane and walked over to help put the slippers in front of him.
The past seemed to flood back into Clayton’s mind.
Nothing seemed to have changed in this house.
It was exactly the same as when he left.
Clayton liked to experiment with new dishes in the kitchen, and he liked to see Nicole’s surprise when she tasted his food.
He loved every second they spent in this apartment.
For a moment, Clayton seemed to have returned to the past.
In less than half a year, his life had been turned upside down.
His whole body was tense. He felt that if he stayed for a second longer, he would be reluctant to leave.
Clayton looked at the girl in his arms and was about to hand her over to Mrs. Zoe when he heard Nicole’s calm voice coming from the living room as she looked back at him.
“Why don’t you come in and feed Chatty her medicine first?”
Nicole gave him an excuse to enter the house.
Clayton pursed his lips, changed his shoes, and walked in with Chatty.
Chatty no longer clung to Clayton when she arrived at her own territory.
She twisted her small body, jumped down, and went to play with Fischer.
Clayton’s arms were empty. Thus, he could only walk toward the living room.
The decor in the living room had not changed one bit.
It was clean, tidy, and cozy.
Clayton stared at the family photos on the bookshelf in a daze.
It seemed that time rewound to the day when the photo was taken.
Every day after their marriage and before the earthquake was warm and splendid.
Clayton did not dare to take another look and turned his head away.
Chapter 2304 On Medication
Nicole read the label on the medicine and frowned.
“Jules didn’t tell me the instructions properly, and I don’t remember the doctor’s contact. What’s the dosage of this?”
Nicole was clueless.
In the past, Clayton would portion the medicine and put it in a small container for Nicole so that it was easier for her to take it. Nicole did not have to worry about such things at all.
Thus, Nicole was a little overwhelmed when she had to do these.
Clayton sighed helplessly, walked over, and said, “Let me see.”
Nicole handed it to him.
Then, she went about her own business as if nothing was wrong.
Clayton read the instructions, took out a pen, and began to write on the box.
However, he was still worried after he wrote down the instructions.
Fortunately, the medicine was packaged in sealed vials. Thus, Clayton separated the vials one by one and split them into two doses a day.
Clayton remembered that they had a medicine box with dividers at home, but he did not want to look for it. However, Nicole had already gone to the study, and Mrs. Zoe was helping Chatty and Fischer pack up their toys.
He had no choice but to look for it by himself.
The medicine box was in the master bedroom.
Fortunately, it was under the cabinet at the door of the master bedroom, so he could take it out without stepping into the room.
Clayton walked over, opened the door, and picked up the medicine box. He was about to close the door and leave when he inadvertently saw the scattered bottles of medicine on the gray cabinet on the bedside table.
The labels were big, and he saw that they were for therapeutic use.
Clayton recognized what they were — sleeping pills.
Shock instantly overwhelmed his reason.
Clayton was startled, and his expression changed instantly.
It was such a large bottle of controlled drugs. However, with Nicole’s ability, it was not difficult for her to get her hands on it.
It was also not difficult for her to eat it.
The other bottles of medicine were for depression.
Clayton felt like he was standing in the snow. His body was frozen, trembling, and tense.
He had no feeling even if the sky was falling apart.
His chest heaved laboriously.
The pain in his leg was nothing compared to the unbearable pain in his heart.
Nicole could not sleep.
She was on sleeping pills and antidepressants.
She was seeing a psychiatrist.
Clayton thought Nicole was doing well.
She looked fine on the cruise.
At this moment, he felt like he was slapped in the face by his own presumptions.
He thought he was the only one who was in dire straits. He fell from his pedestal and became someone he was not proud of.
However, Nicole did not seem like she was doing much better than he was even though she was in the same place.
She refused to believe that he was dead when he was missing.
She waited for him day after day and could not sleep all night.
She must be so scared and helpless.
Nicole, who was so smart and rational, also could not escape fate.
How could such a bright person be depressed?
His eyes turned sore, and he felt as if a huge stone was crushing his spine.
Clayton felt powerless against fate countless times, but this was the first time he wanted to resist, explode, and scream.
Why was Nicole affected?
The pain was unbearable.
Mrs. Zoe came over at some point and said with a smile, “Are you going to wear these pajamas tonight, sir? I took it for dry cleaning before. Madam said that these are your favorite and told me to keep them aside.”
Mrs. Zoe said while she held Clayton’s gray silk pajamas.
Those were the pajamas he wore the day before they went for the hike and before the earthquake. Clayton had asked Mrs. Zoe to take them for dry cleaning.
It was a very ordinary day.
These pajamas brought Clayton back in time.
Clayton came out of his thoughts. He was stunned for a moment, and he said in a hoarse voice, “No, I’m not staying here tonight.”
Mrs. Zoe’s smile froze.
Clayton took the medicine box and closed the door.
He saw Nicole sitting at the bar in the living room with an opened bottle of red wine. Her wine glass was stained, which indicated she had already had a glass.
When Clayton saw this, he felt like someone hit him hard on the head.
His complexion changed, and he remembered that she was on medication.
His lips trembled slightly, and he could not speak for a moment because of the pain.
“Stop drinking... It’s not good for your health to drink too much at night.”
His voice was dry and stiff.
Clayton did not dare to tell Nicole that he stumbled upon her secret.
Mixing sleeping pills and wine could kill her.
Nicole probably knew this, but she was playing with her own life. She glanced at Clayton in surprise and smiled indifferently.
At that moment, she looked a bit sleepy as if she did not care about his advice.
Nicole heard his conversation with Mrs. Zoe.
She looked up at him and asked, “Are you leaving now?”
Clayton froze slightly and nodded.
He walked over, divided the medicine into different boxes, and brought it to Nicole.
“Feed her twice a day, one vial each time.”
Nicole nodded.
Her reaction was surprisingly calm.
She held the wine glass and seemed to be pondering on something.
Clayton suddenly did not know what to say.
His voice was dry. “Then I’ll get going first...”
Nicole looked up at him. “You should feed her first. She won’t take the medicine if I feed her.”
Compared to Clayton, Nicole spoiled the children more.
However, Nicole could not bear to see Clayton being so lenient to the children, so she had to step forward from time to time to set things right.
Upon hearing this, Clayton nodded without saying a word. He took a small vial and went into Chatty’s playroom.
Mrs. Zoe could not help but walk to Nicole’s side.
She was delighted to see that Clayton was back, but she was shocked that Clayton was not staying here.
Mrs. Zoe was not being nosy. She was just concerned.
“What’s the matter, Madam? Why did Mr. Sloan leave after finally coming back? His leg is injured, and it’ll be inconvenient for him to go back and forth. Why isn’t he staying here?”
Nicole took a big gulp of red wine and swallowed it. Her lips were bright, and she smiled.
“I didn’t ask him to leave. Why don’t you ask him?”
Mrs. Zoe paused and immediately realized that the couple might have a conflict.
Thus, she sighed and went about her own business.
Chatty was playing with her toys when Clayton walked over with the medicine. He smiled and beckoned to her.
Chatty walked over obediently, smiled, and hugged him.
“Daddy!”
Clayton opened the lid of the vial. “Come on, drink this. Your throat won’t hurt after drinking it.”
Chatty away immediately. She pouted and thought, ‘I’d rather be in pain!’
Clayton coaxed her until she drank it. He felt heartbroken when her face wrinkled up.
He appreciated every second that he was with Chatty.
Nicole heard laughter coming from the room, and she felt lonely outside.
She did not dare to interrupt them because she was afraid it was a dream.
She was afraid to wake up from this dream.
She was even more afraid that Clayton would leave as soon as she entered the room.
Chapter 2305 Speak Clearly
Chatty played until she was tired before Mrs. Zoe carried her away to take a bath and get ready for bed. Afterward, Clayton tidied his clothes and walked out of the room.
He thought he would see Nicole again, but she was no longer in the living room.
Mrs. Zoe cleaned up the wine glasses on the bar counter, looked at Clayton, and said with a smile, “Sir, Madam drank too much and went to bed.”
For some reason, Clayton breathed a sigh of relief.
He nodded and went in the direction of the master bedroom by accident. He opened the door gently and saw that there was only a wall lamp turned on in the dim room.
Nicole was lying on the bed, already sound asleep.
He glanced at the bedside table. The bottles looked unopened and untouched as they were still in the same place as earlier.
Clayton finally calmed down and had complex and bitter emotions in his heart.
He was dejected.
Later, he closed the door gently and slowly without making a sound.
Which was better for sleep? Pills or alcohol?
No matter what it was, Clayton could not accept it.
It was more difficult for her than he imagined.
Mrs. Zoe sent Clayton to the door when Clayton refused to stay no matter how she persuaded him. Clayton only said he had important things to do.
However, when Mrs. Zoe saw his crippled leg, she could not bear for him to go back and forth.
“It’s not easy to take a taxi here. Why don’t you ask the driver to pick you up?”
Clayton nodded and went straight into the elevator.
Only a few people knew that Clayton had returned.
His driver was also oblivious.
Clayton turned on his phone and contacted Roland, who agreed without hesitation.
In less than fifteen minutes, the car arrived.
Roland drove over by himself.
“You’re fast.”
Clayton looked at the time.
Roland smiled in embarrassment. “I was socializing with a business partner nearby. Would you like to make an appearance?”
Clayton pursed his lips and shook his head.
“No, take me to QH Hospital.”
“Why do you need to go to the hospital?”
Clayton glanced at him and said indifferently, “Get my car.”
“Okay. It’s so late. Why did you leave at this hour? You can get your car tomorrow. You haven’t seen your wife for so long. You must have endless things to talk about. I haven’t told the company of your return. Why don’t you show up in person and surprise everyone?”
Roland said excitedly and did not notice that Clayton’s face had darkened slightly.
Clayton replied with silence, but Roland did not notice it.
After all, Clayton’s return was something to be excited about.
When they arrived at the hospital, Clayton got out of the car. “You can go back. Drive safe! ”
“Okay. Mr. Sloan, if you need anything, please feel free to contact me.”
Clayton nodded and walked toward the parking lot.
If it was before, there was no need to drive his car away overnight, but this car was tailor-made for him. No one could drive it except Clayton, so he had to drive it away. Otherwise, he would not be able to use it the next day.
He went back to the French restaurant.
Their business was better at night than during the day.
However, Clayton never expected to make a profit from this restaurant.
When he walked in, the waiter recognized him and greeted him briefly.
When Clayton was walking outside, the cold sweat on his forehead seemed to be blown dry by the cold wind. At this time, his face was slightly pale, and his expression was glum.
“Where’s Kira?”
He looked at the nearest waiter and said in a cold voice, “Kira is upstairs greeting the guests.”
Clayton’s chin moved slightly. His eyes were deep and dark.
He pursed his lips and said in a calm voice, “Tell her to meet me in the upstairs office.”
Clayton did not go to that office often.
It was a spare office that had been vacant.
The waiter nodded and went to call Kira.
Clayton tugged at his collar. His face was gloomy as he limped upstairs.
Kira did not show up for a long time because she wanted to delay this talk.
However, Clayton did not rush her.
He just waited in the office, downloaded a template from the internet, modified some things, and printed it out.
When he sat down, the pain in his right leg eased a little.
Not long after, a message popped up on his phone.
It was from Roland.
“Mr. Sloan, this is the psychiatrist who is treating your wife. He’s well-known in Mediania and abroad, and he refuses to disclose your wife’s situation.”
Clayton’s vision blurred.
He was helpless when he thought about the medicines on Nicole’s bedside table.
Was her illness related to him?
It definitely was.
He had no doubt about that.
Clayton reached out and rubbed his forehead so hard that his fingertips turned white.
After a long time, he finally heard some slow and heavy footsteps at the door.
Then, someone knocked on the door.
Clayton opened his clear eyes.
“Come in.” His voice was rich and deep.
The door was pushed open.
Kira walked in and closed the door behind her.
If one listened carefully, one could hear that her footsteps were uneven. However, it was not very obvious.
Kira sat there and stared at the person in front of her with dark eyes.
Kira’s face was pale, but she was wearing lipstick and had put on makeup.
However, she just could not hide the panic and dismay on her face.
Kira pursed her lips. She had worked very hard that night and wanted to make up for her mistakes as if she wanted to punish herself.
But it was pointless. What should come would still come.
Before Clayton could speak, Kira burst into tears.
She choked up and said, “I’m sorry. Is Ms. Sloan alright? I’ve been worrying that something happened to her. I have no experience in taking care of children, and I’ve never interacted with children of her age when I was working abroad. I’m really sorry. Ms. Stanton must be very angry, and I don’t know how to atone for it. If possible, I would like to apologize to her in person tomorrow.”
Clayton looked at her indifferently. He did not need to reprimand her or say anything.
Kira only felt more guilty when he was silent.
Kira pursed her lips, wiped away her tears, and looked up at Clayton.
Her voice trembled as she said, “Sir, please give me one more chance. I promise this won’t happen again. I have no ill intentions toward Ms. Sloan. If you don’t believe me, I’ll stay away from her in the future.”
She suppressed her voice, and she almost wanted to cry.
“I have nowhere to go if you kick me out now. If others know that I’m disabled, they will bully me more. Sir, please let me stay.”
Kira bowed deeply and kept her posture very low.
Clayton looked at her quietly. Her eyes were cold without the slightest emotion.
There was a moment of silence in the air.
After a full minute, Clayton knocked on the table, which made Kira shudder in fear.
He finally opened his mouth. His eyes darkened, and his voice was cold as he said, “My daughter almost died because of you. Whether it was intentional or not, I won’t keep you here for another day. My daughter is fine because Nicole came on time. She got lucky, but that’s not a reason to let you go. Kira, I don’t run a charity. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a normal or a disabled person. You can’t use your disability as an excuse to stay.”
Chapter 2306 Interrupted
Hearing Clayton’s voice, Kira finally realized that Clayton had made up his mind this time.
Kira could faintly feel the difference in Clayton’s attitude.
He was no longer tired of facing everything and was particularly serious about dealing with this matter.
Moreover, Clayton was not as gentle as before. His ruthless words disrupted Kira’s plan of playing the pity card.
Acting pitiful could not arouse his sympathy anymore.
How could he turn a blind eye to his wife and daughter?
Kira’s face turned pale. She looked up at him with the last glimmer of hope.
“Sir, can you at least let me find another job before I go?”
Clayton took out the termination contract.
Kira’s complexion changed as Clayton said indifferently, “You’re fired. According to Mediania’s labor law, I only need to pay you an extra half a month’s salary because you’ve worked here for less than three months. But I’ll pay you three months’ salary. My only condition is that you pack up your things and leave immediately. Don’t appear in front of me again.”
After he said this, Kira felt her heart turn cold.
Her palms were dripping with cold sweat. “Sir, I...”
Clayton raised his hand to interrupt her and pointed to the door.
“You can leave now. If you still haven’t left in an hour, I’ll ask someone to help you pack your things and send you to the train station. It doesn’t matter to me if you call the police and make me compensate you.”
His attitude was firm, and he looked away.
He did not want to see her again.
His stern side profile was handsome. His jawline was smooth and clear, and he was ruthless.
Kira trembled all over. She took a deep breath and wiped away her tears.
Looking at his stern profile, Kira seemed to have made a decision.
“Okay, I will leave. But in return for saving me, I hope you’ll accept my repayment.”
Kira slowly put her hand on her collar and started to unbutton her coat.
The waiter’s uniform was slim fit, which outlined her figure well.
Her colleagues were very envious of her tall and thin figure because it was perfect.
Kira took off her coat and revealed a thin white shirt and matching pants.
When she started to unbutton her shirt.
Clayton sensed that something was wrong. He turned his head, and his face darkened instantly when he saw her.
His eyes were filled with hostility as he casually picked up the ashtray on the table and threw it at her.
“Get lost-”
Clayton did not deliberately suppress his voice, nor did he hide his disgust and contempt.
He aimed the ashtray at Kira, but she dodged, so the ashtray slammed on the door.
“Bang—” The ashtray collided with the door and created a large hole in the door before it fell to the ground.
Kira was startled.
She looked up at him in shock.
Clayton looked like a piece of garbage was stuck to him. He felt so disgusted that he wanted to vomit.
Kira was startled by his reaction and froze for a moment. Her face turned red, and she could not stand his repulsed gaze.
She wanted to speak in embarrassment, but Clayton did not give her a chance. His eyes were cold and ruthless as he said harsh words.
“If you don’t leave in half an hour, I’ll get someone to break your other leg too!”
Kira trembled violently.
She had never suffered such an insult.
This was harder for her to accept than the time she was raped by two homeless men on the streets abroad.
Did Clayton dislike her that much?
Kira panicked, picked up the clothes on the ground, and ran out without looking back.
No one outside knew what was going on.
However, since the restaurant had always been quiet, everyone’s mind began to wander when they suddenly heard that abrupt sound.
Kira came out of the office looking wretched shortly after.
Seeing this, everyone seemed to understand something.
Everyone knew that Kira had feelings for Clayton, but they also knew that it was her wishful thinking.
Kira went back to her room to sort things out.
Not long after, a colleague with a round face walked over and asked cautiously, “Kira, is there anything I can do for you?”
Kira wiped away her tears, put aside the humiliation, and took a deep breath.
“No. Why are you here?”
Kira was very grateful as she did not treat the staff very well, yet someone came to comfort her at this time.
The round-faced colleague looked at her and said, “The boss asked me to come over and watch you... He said that if you don’t leave within half an hour, he wants me to help you pack your things.”
Kira’s face was pale. She was ashamed.
She trembled all over and felt that she might as well die in the streets abroad.
Clayton saved her, and now he threw her away.
This was a great humiliation and embarrassment for her.
Kira took a deep breath, put her personal items in a box, and left with the box in less than twenty minutes.
The round-faced colleague reported this to Clayton cautiously.
They thought Kira was Clayton’s confidant and did not dare to offend her.
Unexpectedly, Kira was the first to be fired.
They heard that it was because she hurt Clayton’s daughter. Although there were no serious consequences, Clayton had no reason to continue to forgive her.
Who could she blame?
Kira could only blame herself for overstepping bounds.
How could Clayton let Kira go when she hurt his daughter?
Clayton stood up and said, “You can take her place in the future.”
The round-faced colleague looked at him happily and immediately reassured him.
“Thankyou, Sir! I will do well!”
As soon as the new manager left, Clayton finally calmed down.
Although he solved this problem, he did not feel relieved.
Clayton slowly returned to his room and continued his treatment.
After the treatment was done, the machine stopped automatically, so Clayton turned it off and walked to the bathroom with difficulty. He washed up and massaged the acupoints on his legs.
At last, Clayton looked at the dark sky outside the window. He did not feel sleepy at all.
He wondered if Nicole fell asleep.
Early the next morning, Nicole received a call from Floyd.
“It’s the weekend. Do you want to invite Hamilton over?”
Nicole clicked her tongue. “There’s no spark between us. What are you trying to do?”
“I didn’t say anything. I only wanted to treat him to a meal. After all, he’s an employee of the company, so we should reward him.”
Nicole did not want to expose Floyd’s thoughts, so she laughed and said, “Logan is also my assistant, so why didn’t you invite him over? By the way, I heard that his wife is about to give birth. Why don’t you prepare a big gift for him?”
Floyd was displeased when the topic was diverted.
However, there was nothing he could do about his daughter, so he could only sulk by himself.
“Hamilton’s father called me to ask about his recent progress and his plans for the future. I can’t possibly be ignorant, right? After all, Hamilton’s the son of a family friend, so even if you don’t plan to date him, we still have to be good hosts.”
Chapter 2307 Misunderstood
Floyd persuaded Nicole earnestly.
“It’s just a meal. I won’t be able to explain it to Hamilton’s father if you don’t invite Hamilton over.”
Nicole pursed her lips and felt helpless.
“Fine, I’ll bring him back for lunch.”
Floyd was delighted. “Okay. I’ll ask Mr. Anderson to prepare more food!”
Nicole hung up the phone, smiled, and shook her head.
She called Hamilton, who picked up the call. “President, do you need me to work on the weekend?”
“No. My dad wants to invite you over for a meal. You can refuse if you already have plans.”
“I don’t have plans. It’ll be too rude to refuse. I’ll go over right away.”
Hamilton agreed happily.
Nicole frowned.
Did young people nowadays not know what embarrassment and avoidance was?
How could he agree so happily when having a meal with someone’s parent was so boring?
Nicole could not comprehend.
Julie also received an invitation to the family banquet. She called Nicole.
“Dad is probably too bored. Grant and Aida are still in the hospital, and Kai always provokes him, so Dad misses you all. By the way, you haven’t told the family about Clayton?”
Nicole was silent for a moment. “No.”
“What’s the matter? You two haven’t talked it out yet? This is so weird. You two are such a loving couple, so there shouldn’t be a problem. It’s a good thing that he’s back. Why are you suddenly acting so strange?”
Julie asked a series of questions. “I was so anxious yesterday that I scolded him because his staff fed Chatty the candy. He won’t hold a grudge against me, right?”
Nicole curled her lips. “No. He didn’t take good care of his daughter, so he deserves to be scolded. I would’ve yelled at him too.”
Julie sighed. “You guys... I don’t know why you two have to be so awkward with each other. You’re married, so you should talk openly.”
Nicole was silent. She was also frustrated about this.
Julie knew that Nicole did not want to talk about this, so she suddenly mentioned Hamilton.
“By the way, is that young hunk interested in you? Otherwise, why would he agree to come over for lunch?”
Nicole pursed her lips and immediately denied it.
“Absolutely not.”
“Don’t underestimate your charm, Ms. Stanton! Have confidence in yourself! ”
Nicole had no choice but to say confidently, “Don’t worry. I can still tell whether someone likes me or not. If he’s really interested in me, I would’ve transferred him to another department long ago. I only kept him around because I knew he didn’t have feelings for me.”
Julie laughed. “Then why would he come for lunch? You told him that he can refuse. Only a fool won’t take that hint!”
Nicole paused for a second.
“To be honest, I think Hamilton is a bit silly!”
Although it was not right to talk badly about someone behind their backs, Nicole truly felt this.
The two ladies were chatting happily when Nicole received a call from Logan.
“President, there’s something urgent at the office that you have to attend to.”
“Okay, I’ll be right there.”
Nicole hung up the phone and sent a message to Hamilton, asking him to stop by to pick up Chatty and Fischer.
After all, Hamilton was her assistant.
Hamilton replied in seconds. [Okay! ] 1
Nicole told Mrs. Zoe that she could send the children downstairs when Hamilton arrived.
Then, Nicole went to the office.
There was a slight problem in the tech department.
When Nicole went, everyone in the tech department was there.
Logan briefly told Nicole about the situation. Everyone’s expression was gloomy.
“The couple’s vacation event this time was a marketing gimmick, but the package price of a week-long vacation was mistakenly stated as $999.90 instead of $9999. At present, thirty thousand people have paid for the package. After we found out, we closed the payment channel with server failure as an excuse. Our online promotion is expected to lose $100 million this time, excluding our early advertising costs. More importantly, we might lose our target market for this high-end resort because of this low price...”
Nicole’s heart gradually turned cold.
She finally knew why the staff was not in the mood to enjoy their weekend.
This couple’s vacation promotion was one of the main events of Stanton Corporation. They had put in a lot of investment for the initial advertising and publicity costs. The event also gained a lot of traction on the internet.
Due to a small mistake, their hard work was wasted.
How could they be in a good mood?
The director of the design department also sat there with a livid face and was still fuming.
A pale-faced employee stood next to him, terrified.
Nicole had never seen this employee before, but Nicole guessed that she was probably the one who made the mistake.
“I... I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. I have a bit of a fever today, so I was groggy and posted it without reviewing the content...”
The girl was wearing black-rimmed glasses, and she was shivering in fear.
The director of the design department stood up angrily, pointed at her, and reprimanded her.
“Are you stupid? Or are you a spy from our rival company? You cost us $100 million. You’re not even worth $100 million! Didn’t I tell you to stay at home if you’re sick? If you come to work, you should bring your brain! Do you think a simple apology can cancel out the loss of the company? Everyone in the company has to pay for your mistake. The company has the right to sue you and make you pay for this money. You’ll lose everything!”
The design director’s face was flushed as he pointed at the employee and cursed at her.
The employee was frightened and burst into tears.
Nicole was also upset because this was a big loss.
Everyone in the office was staring at them.
Nicole took a deep breath, looked at the design director, and said, “ Let’s start the meeting first.”
She turned and left because she would not yell and curse at the employee like that design director.
Nicole had to come up with a solution to recover their losses.
The design director hurriedly beckoned for the staff to follow Nicole upstairs.
Nicole called Floyd and told him that she would be late for lunch before she went into the meeting room.
In the meeting room, the heads of various departments were waiting there. They knew that this was a serious issue, so they looked serious.
Nicole took a deep breath, looked at the design director, and said, “ How are the comments online?”
“Everyone knows that there’s a problem with our system. Those who have successfully paid won’t want a refund, and the media is also keeping an eye on it. President, if we force a refund on the grounds that it’s a system error, we can at least recover the losses even though it’ll tarnish our reputation temporarily.”
The head of the public relations department also nodded.
“But our company image will be damaged, and it may affect the product release and promotion next year.”
Another person in charge said impatiently, “Then what should we do? We can’t possibly absorb those losses, right?”
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!
Chapter 2308 Go Back to the Stanton Mansion
There was a moment of silence in the conference room as everyone pondered on a solution.
Nicole pursed her lips, and her eyes darkened.
“We have to absorb the losses even if we don’t want to. This isn’t the first time this kind of accident happened. A hotel made a pricing mistake before and refunded the guests, but the public criticized the hotel, and it took a full year for them to resume business. We can’t afford to wait that long, so we have no choice but to absorb the costs and treat it as publicity. We should be honest about what happened. We have to ensure quality for those who have already bought the vacation package at a low price so as to earn a good reputation.”
Nicole finished speaking.
Everyone had different opinions.
Some agreed, and some disagreed.
After all, this was not a small amount.
“President, but this loss...”
Nicole looked over. “What’s done is done. We shouldn’t lose more because of something like this. This is the only way.”
As she spoke, her phone rang. It was a call from Chatty.
She frowned slightly and picked it up without much thought.
“Mommy, did you ask Uncle to pick us up?”
Chatty was talking about Hamilton.
Nicole responded and softened her tone, “Yes, be a good girl. Grandpa is waiting for you at home.”
“I want to go somewhere first...”
Chatty hesitated to speak
“Okay. Don’t take too long.”
Nicole said a few words and hung up the phone.
She looked at the people in front of her. Each of them had concerns about Nicole’s solution, but she could not think of a better way. 1
The director of the public relations department had no choice but to agree with Nicole.
“I agree with the President’s opinion. I’ll write an explanation to minimize other losses.”
“Then I agree.”
“I agree too.”
Everyone felt relieved.
Nicole also heaved a sigh of relief and let them arrange the rest.
The design director earlier said, “What about that employee?”
He gritted his teeth, and his face was livid with anger.
Although they already had a solution, he knew that someone would have to bear the responsibility for such an accident.
The HR director laughed.
“Forget about the compensation. She won’t be able to pay it back even if she worked for the rest of her life. Instead of making it a big deal, it’s better to just fire her.”
“You’re letting her off easy?”
“Forget it. Having this incident on her resume won’t do her good. At least she’ll learn from this mistake.”
Nicole looked down at her phone and raised her head slightly.
“You can fire her, but you don’t have to put this on the record. Keep this under wraps for her. She’s still young and has a long future ahead. Don’t force her into a corner.” 1
When Nicole said that, the HR director nodded.
No one else had an opinion either.
Nicole stood up. “Meeting adjourned.”
She walked out with her mobile phone.
Logan waited outside.
The employee who made the mistake stood not far behind him. She was trembling with a pale face.
Logan went up to Nicole, and Nicole said as she walked, “I’m going back to the mansion. Call me if there’s anything.”
“Okay. I’ll arrange a driver for you.”
“Sure.”
Nicole had just arrived downstairs to wait for the driver when she heard hurried footsteps from behind.
The employee who made the mistake had a flushed face from a fever.
Her complexion was not great, and she looked embarrassed.
“President, thank you for not holding me accountable. I’m really sorry for causing such damage to the company.”
The girl suddenly bowed to Nicole. She felt guilty and uneasy.
The HR director had probably told her the consequences, so she knew she could not stay.
The girl expected to be fired, but she did not expect the company to let her off the hook
Nicole curled her lips and said in a calm voice, “Forget it. You probably know that we can’t keep you here. You must be careful when you work for another company in the future.”
“Thank you.”
When the car arrived, Nicole nodded and opened the door to get in the car.
Hamilton never thought that the children wanted to come to the French restaurant. 1
After the children got out of the car, they ran in excitedly.
“Daddy...”
Chatty shouted without hesitation. She treated this place as her own territory. 1
No one dared to stop her either.
After Kira left, everyone understood what the reason was.
Soon, a tall and lean man appeared beside the railing on the second floor. The man was handsome and stern as he held a cane and looked down with a smile. 1
“Chatty...”
Just as he was about to say something, his smile froze instantly when he saw Hamilton who walked in from behind.
Clayton’s eyes narrowed and darkened.
Hamilton was frivolous and was not as considerate and careful as Logan was.
He was spinning the car keys in his hand with one in his pocket as he watched the two children run inside with a smile.
When he saw Clayton upstairs, Hamilton froze for a moment, then nodded with a smile.
Clayton’s eyes were a little cold. He did not say much and walked downstairs steadily, trying to act normal in front of the children.
Chatty jumped up happily with a grin. She rubbed her face on Clayton’s clothes and looked up at him.
“Daddy, why did you leave last night? I dreamt about you!”
Clayton’s face and voice softened.
“Oh yeah? It must be a nice dream, right?” 1
“Yup!”
Chatty nodded heavily and opened her arms wide, wanting to be carried.
Clayton hesitated for a moment. When he was about to bend down to carry her, Hamilton coughed from behind.
“Chatty, it’s almost time. Grandpa is still waiting for you. If you take too long, he’ll get worried.”
Chatty frowned.
Fischer came up from behind with a smile.
“Daddy, are you coming with us?” 1
Clayton’s voice trembled slightly.
“Where to?”
“We’re going back to Grandpa’s house. Daddy, are you coming with us?”
Clayton’s eyes darkened, and he did not answer.
Of course, he could not go back at this time.
He pursed his lips, squatted down, and coaxed Fischer and Chatty.
“Daddy has something to do, so I can’t go back for the time being. When you guys go back, you must be obedient. Don’t make a mess!”
Fischer nodded obediently.
Chatty was not so easily fooled. She hugged Clayton’s arm and pouted.
“Let’s go and see little Kenji! Daddy, Levi has a younger brother. I want one too!”
Clayton’s face turned red for a moment. He coughed and said, “ Chatty, Levi’s younger brother is also your younger brother! ” 1
“But I want one from Mommy’s belly! ”
Chatty looked at him with clear eyes.
“Daddy, a younger sister is fine too!”
Just as Clayton was about to say something, Hamilton’s phone rang.
He picked it up without hesitation.
“Uncle Floyd?” 1
Chapter 2309 Popular
“Hamilton, why aren’t you at home yet? Are you coming back with Nicole?”
Floyd’s voice was loud and resounding, and it reached Clayton’s ears.
Hamilton glanced at Clayton and noticed something was off.
Thus, he walked to the entrance and answered, “Ms. Stanton is dealing with something urgent at the office. I’ll bring Chatty and Fischer over soon. Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“Alright, come quickly.”
Floyd hung up the phone.
Hamilton turned around and wanted to persuade the two children not to dawdle.
However, Clayton already walked over holding Chatty’s hand.
Chatty was upset, but she was still obedient.
Clayton touched Chatty’s head and said, “Go on.”
Chatty nodded obediently and walked over to Hamilton.
Fischer also stretched his head and waited for Clayton to pat him.
Clayton touched his head and said helplessly, “You should go too. Have fun.”
Fischer nodded obediently. “Goodbye, Daddy!”
Clayton nodded.
Hamilton curled his lips, nodded, and pulled the two children away.
The two men did not speak to each other because they could feel that they did not get along.
Just as they got into the car, Fischer suddenly thought of something and got out of the car.
Fischer ran to Clayton and looked up at him.
“I know! Daddy, does Mommy not like you anymore? Is that why you don’t go home?” 1
Clayton’s face darkened. He looked at him coldly, pursed his lips, and remained silent.
Fischer blinked and said softly, “Why don’t you kneel and apologize to Mommy? Otherwise, we’ll have another Daddy! ” 1
Clayton’s face was inexplicably cold.
Before Fischer left, Clayton ignored Fischer’s bad idea and told him.
“When you go back, don’t tell anyone that you saw me! ”
Fischer’s eyes widened. “Daddy, you offended so many people that you can’t even meet Grandpa and my uncles?”
Clayton frowned. His face looked like it was carved from ice. Seeing that Clayton was about to get angry, Fischer turned and ran away.
Clayton thought, ‘That little brat!’
When Fischer got in the car, he saw that Chatty was upset.
She asked, “What did you tell Daddy?”
“It’s a secret!”
“Hmph!”
“Whatever! ”
Hamilton was helpless when he saw the two children’s temper.
He started the car and headed toward the Stanton Mansion.
The Stanton Mansion.
The Stanton family valued Hamilton as a guest. Even Grant, who was supposed to be at the hospital, came back.
Kai was lying on the sofa while Julie was sitting beside him and feeding him grapes. He looked like a king.
Floyd was annoyed to see that, so he went to the yard to trim the flower bushes. 1
Mr. Anderson was watering the yard. When he saw Hamilton’s car, he asked security to open the door.
Floyd turned his head. He hesitated for a moment because it was an unfamiliar car.
When Floyd saw Chatty and Fischer getting out of the car, he immediately grinned happily.
“Baby...”
Chatty pounced on him. “Grandpa! ” 1
Floyd happily carried her and spun her around. He then saw Hamilton walking over.
Hamilton looked well-dressed and dignified, which obviously left a good impression on Floyd. 1
It was just too bad Nicole was not interested in him.
Floyd smiled. “Hamilton, I’ve wanted to invite you over for a long time. How are you doing at the company?” 1
Hamilton took the things he had prepared and handed them to the butler behind him before he said with a smile, “I’m doing well. Ms. Stanton and the other colleagues have taken good care of me. I feel very honored to be able to work here.”
Floyd nodded.
“As long as you’re happy! Your father told me that you can decide how long you want to stay, but I feel that it’s a waste of talent for you to be Nicole’s assistant. I’ll ask her to put you in another role so that you can learn more.”
Hamilton smiled politely and walked in with Floyd.
“Thanks, Uncle Floyd, but I’ll have to decline your offer.”
“How come?”
“I don’t plan to stay for too long. I just want to finish my task at hand and start my own business.”
Floyd was taken aback by Hamilton’s words and asked him with a smile, “Okay, what kind of business do you want to start?” 1
Floyd appreciated this young man more and more.
Hamilton pondered for a while and said, “I want to open a cafe.”
Floyd’s smile stiffened before he chuckled. “Okay, okay. It’s good for practice. A cafe is also a business! ”
“I’ve been making coffee for Ms. Stanton every day, but she’s not satisfied with what I make. So, I had to buy it from a cafe. After going there so frequently, I’ve gained an interest in the business and want to start one myself! ”
Hamilton spoke frankly. He looked very expectant.
Floyd nodded.
“It’s a good idea, but your father wants you to go home and take care of the family business. If you...” 1
“Uncle Floyd, my sister is much more capable than I am. With her looking after the family business, I don’t need to worry about it at all!”
Floyd smiled and said nothing.
Kai heard their voices, got up from the sofa, and smiled politely.
“Hamilton, you should’ve come over sooner! My father has been talking about you since you arrived in Atlanta.”
Julie said hello to Hamilton, smiled, and went out to help.
Grant was working in the study, but he came out when he heard the commotion.
Hamilton was more solemn when he saw Grant.
He thought that Grant had a similar vibe to his sister. They were so cold that it made people shudder.
Thus, Hamilton tried hard to calm himself down.
Chatty ran over to hug Grant and asked him with a smile, “Uncle G, where’s Levi?”
Grant smiled and touched her face.
“Levi’s in class.”
Chatty sighed regretfully.
“Poor Levi...”
Grant smiled gently and said, “He wanted to go to class. If you want to join him...”
“No, I don’t!” Chatty immediately rejected Grant’s suggestion.
Chatty was not like Levi. Levi took the initiative to study, but Chatty did not like to study.
While they spoke, Nicole came back.
Nicole felt that her family was very welcoming toward Hamilton.
Kai also liked Hamilton, probably because they had the same funloving personalities.
After they ate, Kai even pulled Hamilton to play video games with him.
When it was time to leave, Nicole followed Hamilton because she was worried about the company’s affairs.
The two children were tired from playing and began to doze off in the back seat.
Thus, it was quiet inside the car.
Hamilton drove and saw Nicole answering emails with her mobile phone.
He suddenly thought of someone, pursed his lips, and said softly, “ Ms. Stanton, I told Uncle Floyd that I plan to start my own business. I’ll leave the company when I finish the task at hand.”
Nicole paused and nodded.
“Okay. Feel free to ask if there’s anything the company can do to help you.”
“Before we went to the mansion, Chatty asked to go to the French restaurant, and she met the boss. I can tell that there may be some misunderstanding between you two. As an outsider, I know I shouldn’t intervene, but I think it’s best to just be open about your feelings. It’s weird if you continue to be so awkward with each other.” 1
Chapter 2310 Not Separated
Hamilton glanced back at the kid, who was dozing off with his eyes closed, and lowered his voice when he spoke.
“The children probably won’t understand why you two are separated.”
After a long time, Nicole did not respond.
There was a bit of silence and forbearance on her beautiful face.
“We’re not separated,” Nicole said.
Hamilton looked at her in surprise, understood what she meant, and nodded with a smile.
When Nicole went to the office, she watched as the online reaction to the promotion incident turned from dissatisfaction to doubt. In the end, most people were understanding.
Gradually, everyone understood why Stanton Corporation closed its promotion beforehand because of the prompt statement from the PR department. The employee who made a mistake also took the initiative to explain. Thus, the public appreciated Stanton Corporation’s response.
Although there were losses, Stanton Corporation managed to save its reputation.
[Wow, Stanton Corporation is so generous! I can really see the difference between them and another company. Back then, a certain hotel made the same mistake, but they went back on their word and issued a compulsory refund. They even said that there’s no free lunch in this world! Well, isn’t this a free lunch now?] 1
[Goddess Nicole, I love you forever! I got the vacation package!]
[It’s a pity that I didn’t get the package, but I really like their attitude, so I’ll stay there next time even if it’s at the original price! ]
Seeing that the netizen’s comments were under control, Nicole breathed a sigh of relief.
However, she could not bring herself to be happy.
The things she kept hidden in her heart made her feel burdened, and she could not relax. 1
Nicole took a deep breath. Suddenly, her phone lit up. Her eyes flickered slightly, and she picked it up.
“Hello. Okay, I’m free now.”
When she stood up, she felt a bout of vertigo.
However, she recovered after a few seconds.
Nicole left with her things and went to the psychiatrist’s office nearby.
Kai had introduced that psychiatrist to her.
The members of the Stanton family did not secretly inquire about her situation, so Nicole felt safe.
That was why she could trust her psychiatrist, Malcolm King, completely.
When Nicole went over, the receptionist was about to get off work.
When she saw Nicole, she smiled and asked, “Are you Ms.
Stanton?”
Nicole nodded politely.
“Dr. King is waiting for you inside. Please come in.”
The receptionist led Nicole inside, closed the door, and left.
Malcolm was waiting for her in the office.
He looked at Nicole and smiled. “Ms. Stanton, although we’ve been in contact regularly, this is your first time here. Does it make you feel nervous?”
Nicole glanced around, smiled, and shook her head.
The surrounding environment was simple and cozy, with greenery covering half of the wall. It was beautiful, and it made people feel at peace. 1
Nicole sat there and smiled. “1 feel like I’m better now.”
“I just saw the news, and I was worried that your company’s affairs would put too much pressure on you. But it seems like it’s been resolved?” 1
Malcolm stretched out his hand and casually poured her a cup of tea. The fragrance of the tea was soothing and made her relax instantly.
Nicole nodded with a calm expression.
“It’s alright. There’s no pressure at work.”
Malcolm asked a few simple questions before he got into the topic.
“Have you seen anything or anyone related to Mr. Sloan recently?”
Nicole took a sip of tea, raised her eyes, and said in a low voice, “I found him.”
Malcolm was slightly taken aback.
The corners of her mouth twitched. “But we’ve been separated for too long. Even though we know where each other are, we dare not go back to the way we were due to other factors and concerns.”
Malcolm frowned and smiled calmly.
“Then, I should congratulate you first.”
Nicole’s depression did not show because she had strong self- control. Thus, she would not lose control of her temper as other patients would due to her upbringing.
However, the stronger she was in controlling her emotions, the better she was at hiding her true feelings.
Malcolm was worried about this too.
“All concerns can be resolved. The temporary unfamiliarity shouldn’t affect your relationship. Even the closest relatives will feel this way. If you meet Mr. Sloan next time, you can find out what his concerns are.”
Nicole was slightly taken aback.
She had to find out?
In their relationship, Clayton had always been the one taking the initiative.
Ever since Nicole knew that Jeff Lieberman was Clayton, she did not expose him. Instead, she had been waiting for him to confess on his own initiative.
Now that Clayton’s identity was no longer kept hidden, Clayton still did not explain everything to her.
Nicole really wanted to know if he was doing well, but she did not know what to say to him.
She felt like the love he had for her was suddenly withdrawn, which made her feel insecure.
Nicole did not know where to start.
Malcolm smiled slightly. “How is your sleep recently? Are you feeling more anxious because of his presence? Or is your sleep better now?”
Nicole blinked. “It’s better.”
“Ms. Stanton, I’m your psychiatrist, so please don’t lie to me. Your face tells me that you haven’t had a good rest.”
Nicole was silent for a while. She looked at the sunny sky outside the window and said softly, “Yeah, I can’t sleep. I don’t dare to continue taking the meds because I’m afraid that he’ll worry about me and hate me if he finds out.” 1
Malcolm looked at her silently. He looked more solemn.
Nicole took a deep breath, smiled, and said, “I’m trying to fall asleep on my own, or with the help of alcohol.”
Malcolm did not ask too much and just nodded with a smile.
“It’s good that you’re trying to cure yourself, and it’s okay to stop taking the medication. You should try drinking a glass of milk before bed, or you can gradually reduce the dose of medicine. If possible, you can ask Mr. Sloan to come to me. I think he may also need my help.” 1
Nicole frowned slightly without objecting or agreeing.
“I’ll try.”
Malcolm breathed a sigh of relief. “Okay, that’ll be best. It’s a good thing that Mr. Sloan is back. You should relax. Nothing is more important than being alive. You two have experienced life and death together, so you should cherish each other more now.” 3
Nicole froze for a moment, then stood up.
“I have something to do later, so I’ll get going.”
“Sure.”
Malcolm watched her leave.
There was a bit of worry in his eyes.
Nicole left because she suddenly felt unwell.
The gap between her imagination and reality made her feel lost about how to deal with Clayton. 2
She felt irritable.
Thus, Nicole went to a newly opened bar nearby called The Good Vibes Bar.
Tattle Bar had shut down some time ago.
Back then, Tattle Bar was so popular in Atlanta, and it had many regular customers. Nicole was also familiar with this place. 1
However, since Tattle Bar was also involved in Yvette’s mishap, the authorities quietly shut it down. 2
Nicole also had not gone out for a drink in a long time. 1
Most bars open at night, but this bar was also open during the day.
The environment inside was unique. It had a bit of an Italian bourgeois style. The music was mellow, and there were a lot of people socializing there. 4