Ch. 2311..2320
Chapter 2311 Meet Again
Nicole went into the bar and asked for a glass of wine. A woman was singing and playing the guitar on the round stage in front. Her voice was hoarse and deep, and she was wearing heavy makeup, so Nicole could not tell what the woman would look like without makeup. 1
However, the woman gave off a casual and nonchalant vibe.
When the bartender saw that Nicole was staring at the woman, he said with a smile, “That’s our boss.”
Nicole raised her eyebrows and took a sip of wine. “She has a nice voice.”
The bartender nodded with a smile.
Nicole had too many thoughts in her mind, so she absentmindedly drank one glass after another. 1
It did not take long for the bartender to realize something was wrong.
After the boss finished singing, the bartender called her over.
“Boss, this lady is drunk. We don’t know who she is...”
The bar owner, Selena, squinted and thought that Nicole looked familiar.
After some thought, she went over and patted Nicole on the shoulder.
“Hey, if you’re drunk, I can help you to call your family or friends. Who do you want to contact?”
Selena did not think much of it, took out Nicole’s phone, and pulled Nicole’s hair back to unlock the phone using Face ID.
Nicole squinted in a daze.
“Please call my husband.”
Selena nodded, but she was a little curious why such a young and elegant girl was already married.
However, Selena noticed Nicole’s bag and clothes and could tell that Nicole was not from an ordinary family.
Selena searched Nicole’s contact list and did not find a contact called “Husband”.
In the end, Selena had no choice but to call Nicole’s last contact.
“Ms. Stanton?”
Selena said, “I’m not her. She’s at my bar, and she drank too much. If it’s convenient for you, can you call her family to pick her up?”
Malcolm was silent for a few seconds before he answered, “Please wait a moment. I’ll come over right away. Please keep her safe before I arrive.”
“Certainly.”
Malcolm arrived quickly. Selena saw that the man who came was about forty years old. He looked like a gentleman with his glasses, and she could not tell what his occupation was.
Malcolm smiled. “Thankyou for taking care of her. I’ll take her away.”
Selena nodded.
Malcolm took Nicole away.
When he got in the car, he was about to contact Kai to come to pick her up, when he suddenly saw Nicole’s arm. Her sleeves were accidentally rolled up when he was helping her into the car earlier.
Malcolm was shocked by the marks on her arm.
He quickly turned on the lights in the car and looked at the marks carefully. He felt uneasy when he saw the gruesome scars on her fair and tender skin.
Malcolm’s expression changed dramatically.
He had overestimated Nicole’s mental strength. She was not as calm as she appeared on the surface.
Her depression was serious since she harmed herself.
Malcolm looked at the scars again. It looked like she did not cut herself recently, but even so, he still felt guilty and frustrated.
He was too careless. He should have communicated with her more.
Malcolm felt that his career was hanging by a thread. If something happened to Nicole, he would not be able to explain it to the Stanton family.
Suddenly, he thought about what Nicole had said to him earlier today and paused slightly.
He put down his phone, started the car engine, and went to the nearby hospital.
Nicole was sent to the emergency room, where she was given gastric lavage because she overdosed on alcohol. In the meantime, Malcolm requested a full-body examination for Nicole and arranged for her to be sent to the intensive care unit.
Malcolm took Nicole’s phone and searched through the contact list, but he could not find Clayton’s phone number.
When he came across an unfamiliar number without a caller ID, he hesitated slightly.
As a psychiatrist, Malcolm had a vague feeling that this phone number was special to Nicole.
Nicole was so careful to not let others know who that person was.
Thus, Malcolm took a gamble and called that number.
The other party picked up the call quickly and answered with a hoarse voice, “Nicole?”
He sounded eager and surprised.
Malcolm felt that he made the right bet. He suppressed the excitement in his heart and said in a calm voice.
“Hello, do you know the owner of this phone number?”
“Yes. Who are you?”
Malcolm said, “I’m a staff member of a bar. This customer was sent to the hospital because she drank too much, but we can’t contact her family. If you know her, can you come over?”
Although Malcolm’s words were full of loopholes, Clayton did not have time to think too much.
Clayton was anxious and immediately asked, “Hospital? Which hospital?”
“The one on Century Avenue. The ward number is 809.”
“Okay, I’ll be right there.”
Clayton did not sound sleepy at all. Instead, he was anxious and worried.
After he hung up the phone, Malcolm went back to the ward.
Nicole’s doctor came over. “Sir, there’s nothing wrong with the patient. We pumped her stomach, and her blood alcohol level dropped. She’ll be fine after this IV infusion, but it’s best if she can stay overnight for observation.”
Malcolm smiled. “Okay. I think staying one night is best too. I’ll register for her.”
It was evening, and there were quite a lot of people.
The queue took a long time.
When Malcolm went back to the ward, he saw the man with a cane anxiously looking at the ward number and the person inside through the window.
For some reason, Malcolm had a feeling that the man was Clayton.
Clayton was back.
When Nicole told him that Clayton was back in the afternoon, Malcolm did not believe it for a moment.
Now, Malcolm knew he made the right bet.
Malcolm walked over with a smile. “Hello, are you looking for Ms. Stanton?”
“Yes.”
Although Clayton looked gentle and handsome, he was exuding a vaguely intimidating vibe.
Clayton was worried and anxious, but he hid it well.
Malcolm smiled, led him to the door of the ward, and opened the door.
“This is the person you are looking for, right?”
Clayton walked over unsteadily.
His heart ached when he saw the pale-faced Nicole lying on the hospital bed with her eyes tightly closed. He felt as if someone had cut his heart.
His throat moved slightly, and his expression changed. In the end, he restrained his surging emotions.
“How is she?”
Malcolm sighed. “In what aspect?”
Clayton turned his head to look at him. His gaze was deep and cold.
Malcolm smiled, took out a business card from his pocket, and handed it over.
“Mr. Sloan, I’m Nicole’s psychiatrist. I hope you can help me.”
Clayton’s eyelids trembled violently, and his pupils constricted.
That micro-expression was fear and shock.
When Clayton saw antidepressants in Nicole’s apartment, he was shocked and afraid.
Now, when Clayton met Nicole’s psychiatrist, he suddenly had a bad feeling.
During this period of his disappearance, Nicole’s life must have been drastically different.
Was Clayton ready to accept these changes?
Clayton could hardly maintain his expression. He looked down at the business card.
It read, “Malcolm King, Psychiatrist”.
Clayton’s face was gloomy for a moment. He nodded and looked at Malcolm with a deep gaze. 1 “Hello, I’m Clayton Sloan.”
Chapter 2312 Hinting
This was the first time Clayton admitted his identity so frankly after his return. 2
He felt like he was risking everything and letting go of a huge burden.
Clayton could not avoid this.
The seemingly gentle middle-aged man in front of him seemed to be able to see through his identity and thoughts at a glance.
Thus, he had to admit that he was Clayton because Malcolm called him over using Nicole’s drunkenness as an excuse.
Clayton stood there, and Malcolm could not help but size him up. When Malcolm saw that Clayton had to use a cane, he felt a hint of sympathy.
However, this shortcoming did not seem to affect Clayton one bit.
In just a few minutes, Malcolm roughly figured out how powerful Clayton was.
Malcolm smiled lightly, looked at Clayton’s pale face, and could not help but revel in making the right decision.
“Sorry, I was the one who called you earlier. But Nicole was sent to the hospital because she overdosed. Since I was her last contact, the people at the bar mistook me for her friend and asked me to pick her up. But I think as her husband and first guardian, you should take care of her.”
Malcolm emphasized the word “husband”.
Clayton frowned slightly.
“Thanks.”
His voice was low and hoarse.
Malcolm said, “You’re welcome. Ms. Stanton and I get along well, but she shies away from medical treatment, so she probably doesn’t want to see me when she wakes up.”
Clayton had a little reaction when he heard that Nicole shied away from medical treatment.
Malcolm felt that he could control Clayton’s emotions, but he also knew that Clayton had a strong mental defense and that it would be hard to see through his thoughts usually. His psychological defense was stronger than Nicole’s.
Clayton only allowed Malcolm to guide his emotions because he was too anxious about Nicole, and he could not remain objective.
“Since you’re back, Ms. Stanton’s illness should recover quickly. In the future, please encourage her to take her medicine and come to see me regularly. It’ll be good for her mental health.”
Malcolm saw that Clayton was uneasy, but he continued to talk anyway.
Clayton looked at the person on the bed with dark eyes while in deep thought.
Malcolm smiled, lowered his eyes, and thought about it for a moment. He lied and said, “I still have another patient to tend to, so I can’t stay any longer. The nurse said that Ms. Stanton will have to stay the night. You can change her clothes so that she can have a good rest. By the way, please pay more attention to her behavior and tell me in time if you notice anything abnormal.”
Malcolm’s hint was obvious, and he hoped that Clayton would discover the truth soon.
Nicole’s mental illness stemmed from Clayton, but Clayton’s return did not make her feel better. This showed that the two of them had not yet reconciled with each other.
What Malcolm could do now was to let them spend as much time as possible together so that they could repair their relationship.
Nicole and Clayton needed an opportunity to be alone.
They were married but estranged.
Clayton nodded and sent Malcolm off.
He returned to the ward and saw Nicole lying there quietly. Her small and pale face had an abnormal redness. She had become thinner than before.
Clayton noticed that Nicole had lost weight since the time they met on the cruise ship, but he thought that Nicole was strong and independent, so she could get through these hard times.
He could not remain calm ever since he saw the few bottles of medicine in Nicole’s apartment.
Nicole was not doing well. Instead, she was in very bad shape.
Clayton felt like his heart was chopped into pieces, and he was so uncomfortable that he could not breathe.
In the past two days, Clayton tortured himself and endured the pain in his legs.
When Clayton saw Nicole, all his pent-up emotions seemed to burst out instantly. However, he could only sit there quietly as he looked at her carefully with red eyes.
After a few minutes, the nurse at the door came in quietly and brought in a new towel.
“Sir, this is a new towel for you to wipe her down.”
Malcolm asked the nurse for it before he left to push their relationship in the direction that he wanted it to develop.
Clayton paused, took the towel, and said, “Thanks.”
The nurse nodded and left without saying anything.
Clayton stood there holding the towel.
From the moment he met Nicole, they had not had any intimate contact.
At this moment, there was no reason to avoid it.
Clayton looked at Nicole, who was lying there, and frowned uncomfortably
Nicole was unconscious, so perhaps he could be braver.
Clayton went to the bathroom in the ward, washed the new towel first, and took it out again after he wrung it.
Nicole did not have a change of clothes here, so Clayton thought that he would just wipe her limbs.
It was quiet in the ward.
Clayton wiped Nicole’s hands lightly. She was wearing a beige long -sleeved shirt, which was made of a material that could not get wet. Clayton was worried that her clothes would get wet, so he rolled them up.
The moment he rolled up his sleeve, his eyes flickered, and he stared at the inside of her arm without blinking.
Blood instantly drained from his face. Even his lips turned white.
There were five scars of various shades on her arm. His pupils constricted, and he felt suffocated.
In a panic, Clayton pulled down her sleeve into its original state and sat there motionless and stiff like a sculpture.
Clayton looked out the window at the busy traffic.
He thought about his hesitation before he returned to Mediania. Was it a good thing or a bad thing for him to return to Mediania?
For him, it was no doubt a good thing.
His family was here. Thus, when he was in the country, he felt some warmth in his life.
Clayton was cautiously trying to interact with his family again, but he did not dare to face them.
He was afraid that his current state would make his family feel burdened. He was afraid that they would not be able to accept him.
What scared him even more was seeing Nicole’s sympathy.
Nicole was still as bright as the sun and as beautiful as ever.
But what about him?
He was wretched and disabled.
How could he match up to her?
At the last moment before the cruise ship exploded, Clayton wondered if Nicole knew that Jeff Lieberman was him, but even if she knew, she did not expose him. This cover-up made him more uncertain.
However, it was also because Nicole did not let go of his hand at the last moment that he wanted to come back and give it a try.
He would rather those scars on Nicole’s arm be inflicted on him.
Clayton could not bear to look at those shocking scars.
He suddenly thought of what the psychiatrist said to him, “Please pay more attention to her behavior and tell me in time if you notice anything abnormal.”
Clayton panicked.
He took out his phone and Malcolm’s business card with trembling hands and called Malcolm immediately.
Clayton was careful. He was afraid of disturbing Nicole, so he went out of the ward to make the phone call.
When Malcolm saw the incoming call, he knew that it was Clayton because he had seen that phone number on Nicole’s phone.
However, Clayton acted faster than Malcolm expected.
Chapter 2313 Save Her
Malcolm parked the car on the side of the road slowly and answered the phone.
"Hello?”
"Hello, Dr. King, I'm Clayton Sloan. We met earlier."
"I know. Mr. Sloan, what can I do for you?”
His tone was patient and calm like the way he treated every patient.
After ten seconds of silence, Clayton replied in a hoarse and deep voice. Clayton seemed to have mustered all his courage, and he choked up.
"I discovered that Nicole has suicidal intent. Please save her!"
Clayton felt like a dense pain in his bones.
Nicole was not as brave and strong as he imagined.
During the days he disappeared, Nicole also wanted to perish with him.
Before they got married, Clayton knew that Nicole did not love him as much as he loved her. Thus, he exhausted all methods to marry her and felt blessed that his wish came true.
He felt that it was good for her not to love him that much so that she would not be too sad if anything happened to him.
However, he expected too much, and it was difficult to express it.
Now that he saw that she was suffering, he found that her mental trauma from that incident was more serious than his physical injuries.
Clayton felt that he was absurd for ignoring the opportunities presented to him time and time again.
He pushed her away repeatedly because of his ridiculous self-esteem.
Every time he did that, he was hurting her.
Those scars were bloody and shocking. It made it extremely difficult for him to breathe.
Clayton did not dare to recall those memories.
He was afraid that he could not control himself. He was so annoyed at himself that he felt like slapping himself a few times. How dare he underestimate her love for him?
The pampered Miss Stanton, who was loved by everyone, loved him so much.
She loved him so much that she could sacrifice herself.
Clayton felt like the luckiest man on earth.
He put one hand on his knee and closed his eyes. The veins on his neck bulged, and his face was glum.
Upon closer look, the corners of his eyes were moist. Clayton was trying his best to suppress his emotions.
Malcolm's voice was soft and gentle over the phone. However, the words he said were harsh and struck Clayton ruthlessly.
'That depends on you, Mr. Sloan. Only you can save her. Since your accident, Ms. Stanton has had trouble sleeping. She also had hallucinations. That was when she started to take sleeping aids. Later, I diagnosed her with depression and prescribed antidepressants to her. I think she may be punishing herself, and I'm not sure if she's taking the medicine on time. Fortunately, she could control her emotions and hadn't done anything out of control. Mr. Sloan, you should pay more attention to her emotions on a daily basis. You are her medicine."
'You are her medicine..."
Clayton's throat moved slightly. He felt as if it was blocked by something, and he could not speak.
After he hung up the phone, Clayton rubbed his temples. The sadness on his face could not be concealed.
Clayton thought, 'If I'd known earlier...'
It was a pity that he could not rewind time.
Clayton sat there in a daze for a while before he returned to the ward. He washed the towel again and wiped Nicole's body gently and meticulously.
Nicole was a sleepy drunk and would not move. She would not go crazy when she was drunk.
Thus, when she was sleeping, Clayton could look at her without worries. Nicole was so charming and beautiful.
Clayton did not want to leave her.
The sky darkened gradually, and Clayton relaxed.
He dimmed the lights and sat there, completely ignoring the throbbing pain in his leg.
His pain was nothing compared to hers.
Clayton planned to sit there until dawn. He wanted to tell her how he felt about her the moment she opened her eyes.
If she could accept him, they could return to the way things were between them before the earthquake.
With that thought, Clayton finally smiled.
It was a long night.
When it was almost dawn, his phone suddenly rang.
Clayton muted his phone immediately. Just by looking at the number, Clayton knew that it was Chatty, so he did not ignore it.
He stood up feeling exhausted, quietly left the room, and called Chatty back.
"Chatty?"
His voice was hoarse but gentle.
Chatty wept softly.
"Daddy, Mommy didn’t come back last night. You didn't come back either. Are you two abandoning US?"
Chatty was sobbing. She did not cry hysterically, but that was enough to make his heart clench.
Chatty, who had never thrown a tantrum in the morning, was always obedient. She called suddenly because she must have had a nightmare.
Clayton's heart softened.
He wished that he could split himself into two so that he could run back and coax his daughter.
"Baby, don't cry. Daddy and Mommy didn't abandon you. Mommy is with me, and we'll go back to see you soon, okay?"
Chatty, who was still sad, did not know what Clayton said.
She just kept weeping softly.
Fortunately, Fischer woke up soon after, and his voice sounded bewildered as he said, "Chatty, you're awake? Why are you crying? If you cry, I'll cry too!"
The conversation between the two children gave Clayton a headache.
Thus, he patiently told the two children not to be impulsive.
Chatty was getting emotional and insisted on seeing him, so she climbed down the bed with her short legs.
"Daddy, I'm going to you right now!"
She knew that the beautiful restaurant belonged to her father.
Clayton was taken aback. He wanted to say something, but Chatty had already hung up the phone.
He called back again, but Chatty did not pick up.
His scalp went numb all of a sudden.
Clayton did not remember Mrs. Zoe’s phone number, so he could not call and tell her to stop Chatty from going out.
He went back to the ward helplessly and saw that Nicole was still asleep. Nicole would usually wake naturally at around 7:00 am.
Alcohol temporarily alleviated her long-term insomnia, so Nicole would not wake up for a while.
It was only 4:00 am at the moment.
It would take him half an hour to pick Chatty up, and it would take around an hour to go back and forth.
Clayton thought that he should have time.
He was worried that Clayton would be in danger. He was already an incompetent father. If anything happened to Chatty, Clayton would not know how to face Nicole.
At that thought, he picked up his car keys and walked out slowly.
The nurse was sleeping at the front desk.
Clayton walked over and tapped on the table lightly.
The nurse instantly woke up.
Clayton smiled apologetically. "Sorry, my wife is still sleeping, and I have urgent business, so I have to leave for a while. Please take care of her."
The nurse immediately put on a professional smile and nodded.
"Don't worry. We'll take care of her."
'Thanks."
After Clayton finished speaking, he hurriedly left with his cane.
The nurse saw that he was limping and thought about his gentle and polite words just now. He had such a noble air around him, so she felt a little sympathy.
If he was not disabled, so many women would be infatuated with him, but he was already married.
Chapter 2314 She Left
Clayton drove in the direction of the apartment for 20 minutes, but just as he reached the high-end neighborhood where the apartment was, he received a call from the restaurant staff.
"Boss, there are two children in the restaurant. I think one of them is your daughter!"
Clayton cleared his throat and quickly turned the car around.
"Okay. I'll head back now. Don’t let them wander about outside. Just keep them in the restaurant and let them do whatever they want."
The employee immediately understood the importance of these two children based on his boss's tone.
The employee let the children stay and coaxed them patiently.
When Clayton arrived, he saw that the two children came with their nanny, Mrs. Zoe.
Mrs. Zoe was surprised to see Clayton.
"Mr. Sloan?"
Clayton nodded. He looked relieved and exhausted from not sleeping all night.
He rubbed his temples to wake himself up a little.
Mrs. Zoe breathed a sigh of relief and muttered to herself.
"No wonder Chatty insisted on coming here. She said that her dad was here, and I thought she was just having a temper tantrum. It turned out to be true!"
Clayton paused for a moment before he walked in.
Chatty and Fischer started to feel sleepy again because they got up too early.
They were in the lobby sleeping on each side of the sofa.
Several waiters stood by and watched them for fear that they would roll off the sofa.
Ever since they found out that these two were the boss’s children, they were very careful.
They did not dare to be careless because they knew what happened to Kira.
Clayton went over. The new round-faced manager heaved a sigh of relief and asked everyone to back away quietly.
He walked over and pinched Chatty's face. He was heartbroken when he saw the tears at the corners of her eyes. She looked so pitiful.
Chatty was not disturbed.
She ran over with the nanny on a whim, but she was too tired and fell asleep again.
All she could think about right now was sleep.
Fischer was in a deeper sleep than Chatty.
Clayton sighed helplessly and felt so tired because of these two children.
He looked at the time. It was almost 5:30 am.
Clayton was anxious because he did not want to leave Nicole in the hospital alone.
He immediately looked at Mrs. Zoe and deliberately lowered his voice.
"Mrs. Zoe, please watch after them here. There's a small garden in the back. They'll like it. I have something urgent to do now, and I’ll come back later."
Mrs. Zoe nodded and replied, "Okay, go ahead. Leave them to me."
Clayton nodded and hurried out again.
It was past 6:00 am when he arrived at the hospital.
Clayton drove very fast, and he did not expect the person in the ward to be missing.
He was dumbfounded when he saw the empty bed.
It was daybreak.
Thus, the hospital and the road outside were already busy.
At that moment, Clayton felt like a part of his heart was missing.
He felt empty, sad, and dejected.
The nurse came to clean up the ward, so he asked quickly, "Where’s my wife?"
The nurse was taken aback before she recalled that while she was dozing off earlier, this man had instructed her to take care of his wife.
She quickly said, "She discharged herself from the hospital. I think she's recovering well. I also asked her if she wanted to wait for a relative to pick her up, but she said that she already called her driver to come over. Didn't she tell you?"
Clayton's face turned pale.
Nicole did not know that he had been watching her all night. Did she think she was admitted to the hospital alone?
Thinking of this, Clayton felt that his chest was congested, and he was a little out of breath.
He smiled slightly and said perfunctorily, 'Thanks. I'll call her right away."
"Okay."
After the nurse finished speaking, she went in to clean up.
Clayton paused and slowly turned to leave.
He wanted to call Nicole, but he did not know what to say.
Some things were better said in person.
Nicole looked at the call records on her phone and suddenly felt a headache.
She felt a little guilty for disturbing Malcolm at first.
She was not that close to Malcolm. Although he was her psychiatrist, she had always kept a distance from him.
However, she saw the other number...
Nicole pondered for a while and called Malcolm, intending to ask for clarification.
Malcolm was a professional that answered his phone "Hello, Ms. Stanton?"
"Yes. Thanks for taking me to the hospital yesterday, Dr. King. Did I drink so much that you had to send me to the hospital?"
Nicole felt that although she drank a little more than usual, she did not go out of control.
She just felt that using alcohol to help her sleep might be more effective than taking medicine.
However, she did not expect that she would wake up in a hospital.
More importantly, she was a little scared and curious.
She was worried whether Malcolm saw the scars on her body.
That would make her feel like he had pried on her secret.
Nicole was prideful and did not want the stupid things she did when she had a nervous breakdown to be known.
Malcolm's voice was calm and soothing. He sounded nonchalant without any seriousness or pressure.
"You didn't drink that much, but I wanted to send you to the hospital so that your condition seemed serious enough for Mr. Sloan to take care of you for the night. How was it? Are you in a better mood now that you see him?"
His frankness caught Nicole a little off guard.
Her complexion changed, and she smiled stiffly.
"Did you call Clayton?"
'Yes, I did."
Nicole pursed her lips, and her eyes dimmed for some reason.
She did not answer his question directly. Instead, she asked him another question.
"How did you know that the unmarked number was his phone number?" Nicole had memorized that string of numbers from Chatty's smartwatch. No one knew this.
She felt embarrassed because Clayton might find out, and she did not know what to do.
Malcolm's tone was relaxed. He was drinking coffee and said, "I'm sorry. I’ve searched your contact list and couldn’t find his caller ID, so I just tried my luck with that number. I was lucky and made the right bet."
Nicole sighed and felt a little disappointed.
'You could've contacted my family."
"But you want to see him the most, right?"
Malcolm's voice was gentle as he encouraged her carefully like a mentor.
"Follow your heart. He's back, and it's good for your condition to talk through things. There's no problem between you, and I think he still cares about you. Ms. Stanton, you don’t need to be cautious in this regard. He was physically impaired when he showed up last night, and he was very worried about you."
After hearing this, Nicole did not feel relieved. She just smiled faintly.
"He has always been like this. He’s a very gentle and considerate person."
"If that's the case..."
Malcolm wanted to say something else, but Nicole interrupted him.
"But I didn't see him when I woke up this morning. Maybe he had already left." 1
Chapter 2315 What a Waste
Nicole thought that she had caused Clayton a lot of trouble by being hospitalized.
She was disappointed, but also confused and uncertain about their future.
Malcolm was stunned by her words.
He did not expect this to happen.
He was speechless for a moment and did not know how to react.
Fortunately, Nicole did not give him time to react and hung up the phone.
Clayton came and left again.
Nicole took a deep breath. She planned to go back to the apartment to change her clothes and check on the children before going to the office.
Thanks to the side effects of alcohol, Nicole slept really soundly that night.
When she got to the apartment, the children's room was empty.
Mrs. Zoe was also gone.
She pursed her lips and thought, 'Maybe Mrs. Zoe took the children out for a walk...’
Everything was fine as long as the children did not sneak out.
Nicole called Mrs. Zoe, who answered quickly, "Madam, are you back?"
'Yeah, you took the kids out?"
'Yes. Chatty had a nightmare and wanted to see her dad early in the morning, so she insisted on going to the French restaurant. I had no other choice but to bring Chatty and Fischer there. Fortunately, Mr. Sloan is really here."
Mrs. Zoe reported everything to Nicole in detail.
However, Nicole's focus was only on Clayton.
She tightened her grip on her phone and smiled nonchalantly.
"Okay. Please take good care of them."
"I will."
After saying a few words, Nicole hung up the phone.
She stood there quietly for a while before she went to wash up in the bathroom.
Although Nicole did not wash up last night, she felt refreshed. Even so, she could not bear to go to the office without changing her clothes.
Nicole slowly took a bath and did a face mask. She touched the protruding scar on her arm and suddenly thought of something.
It had not been a long time since she cut herself, so the scar was more obvious. The light red marks seemed to be particularly obvious against her fair and tender skin.
Nicole gritted her teeth. Her gaze darkened.
She picked up the phone and called a familiar beauty salon.
"Do you have any scar removal services? I want something that is most effective and least time-consuming."
Clayton came back, and Nicole was not sure if her scars would be seen.
She suddenly panicked because her family would be terribly worried if they found out.
Back when she hurt herself, she did not think of dying. She just wanted to use the pain to stimulate her numbness.
She wanted to replace the heaviness in her heart with the pain in her body.
Strange enough, this pain was addictive.
That was why she repeatedly cut herself.
However, she quickly stopped herself when she realized something was wrong.
Her life had to go back to normal no matter what, even if it was only superficial.
Since it was the weekend, there was nothing much to do, and Nicole did not want to go to the office.
She was dispirited because she lost hundreds of millions of dollars in exchange for the company's good reputation.
Nicole knew that the money could not be recovered, but in the long run, the losses from this promotion alone would not affect the profitability of the entire corporation.
Thus, she was not worried. She only warned the department director and did not pursue their responsibility.
The problem was resolved.
However, there was another event today.
Hamilton tendered his resignation. He was not a regular employee, and he was a family friend. Since he had worked for her for so long and did not cause her any trouble, Nicole asked Logan to arrange a farewell banquet for him after he mentioned it.
Nicole wanted to send him away as soon as possible.
Logan was very efficient.
He considered Hamilton's identity and knew that a trust fund kid like Hamilton did not like ordinary restaurants, so he booked a private room in the Green Club. He did not want to let Nicole down either.
Logan also invited all colleagues who had a good relationship with Hamilton.
He was a little surprised that Hamilton managed to build a close relationship with so many colleagues in just a short period of time.
Even the receptionist on the first floor went to Hamilton's farewell party.
Fortunately, the room that Logan booked was big enough. Otherwise, it would not be able to accommodate thirty to forty people.
Nicole did not plan to go there to eat. After all, her subordinates would feel uncomfortable if she went.
She knew the unspoken rules and gave her subordinates enough freedom. She just needed to show her face at some point.
Thus, when the party was about to end, Logan called Nicole and urged her to come over.
Nicole changed her clothes and drove over.
Everyone was done eating and drinking. Some colleagues even got drunk.
Hamilton was sober because he substituted tea for wine in his toasts.
Even so, everyone was tolerant of this young man.
When Nicole went, everyone was a little shocked.
However, she flashed an approachable smile, "I'm sorry I'm late."
Hamilton smiled and went upto greet Nicole.
"Ms. Stanton, thanks for holding a farewell party for me. You must've spent a lot on this."
Hamilton had a silvertongue.
Nicole smiled. She was always presentable and immaculate, so much so that every strand of her hair was perfect.
'You deserve it, Ham. You've made great contributions to the company. If you hadn't insisted on leaving, I would've kept you around."
Hamilton smiled stiffly and thought, 'Is she still talking about me?’
However, his colleagues nodded in agreement with Nicole's words.
"Yeah! After Hamilton joined US, I had delicious coffee every day. It's all hand-ground. Hamilton is so considerate and attentive, and we're reluctant to let him leave!"
The young lady at the front desk was also regretful.
'Yeah, Hamilton's coffee is great! If he opens a cafe, he can definitely make it a nationwide chain store!"
'We won't have any more hand-ground coffee after Hamilton leaves..."
Nicole glanced at Hamilton in confusion.
Hamilton lowered his head in embarrassment and coughed.
"Ms. Stanton, there are a lot of people here. Can we talk in private?"
Nicole nodded.
After all, her face felt a little stiff from smiling.
There was a small balcony at the end of the corridor that was exquisite. It was covered with jasmine flowers and greenery. The jasmine flowers emitted a nice fragrance that made the environment more charming.
When Nicole stood there, she felt relaxed physically and mentally.
She glanced at Hamilton and chuckled softly.
"Hamilton, you're so popular. There are so many people seeing you off. I should be worried if they want to poach you."
Hamilton was embarrassed.
"I’m sorry, Ms. Stanton. I used your coffee beans to make them coffee. You didn’t like the coffee I made, so I had no choice but to give it to others so as not to waste it!"
Nicole could not help but roll her eyes. 'How dare he take my things to gain popularity?!'
Logan had never done this before.
Hamilton scratched his head. "Logan asked me to do this!"
Nicole's face froze as she thought, 'Stupid Logan! Does he not want his year-end bonus anymore?’
Chapter 2316 Drunk
Nicole stood there with her arms folded.
The wind blew and sobered Nicole up. She thought, 'There’s no need to be unhappy over little things.’
She laughed and said, it's okay. I’m glad you get to find your dream. When your first store opens, I'll ask someone to bring you some more coffee beans from abroad."
Hamilton readily agreed. "Sure!"
Nicole was speechless.
Hamilton and Nicole chatted happily.
The wind blew the jasmine flowers, which fell on Nicole's shoulders and hair.
Seeing this, Hamilton casually swept the flowers off her shoulders.
This seemingly intimate scene had a different meaning to it when another person saw it.
Clayton did not know how he felt when he happened to see this scene.
Roland called Clayton to come over because of an important contract, so Clayton had to show up no matter what.
Since Clayton decided to use his real identity to live in Mediania, he had to leave a way out for himself.
He still had to do business and earn money.
Thus, when he went over to the Green Club, he bumped into this scene just in time.
Clayton thought, 'Why is that annoying young man smiling so happily?'
His eyes turned gloomy.
The way Nicole and Hamilton talked and laughed made Clayton feel defeated, especially when Clayton had decided to open up to Nicole.
Clayton stepped back in pain and hid in the shadow of the door as if he did not exist.
He did not dare to think what if Nicole really gave up on him?
The people in the private room waited for a long time.
When they saw him again, they regained confidence in cooperating with Clayton's company and renewed the contract.
"Looks like those rumors online that you died in the earthquake aren't true! Why didn't you speak out and clarify back then? We really thought something happened to you!"
The other party was puzzled and casually mentioned this after they were done talking about business.
The corners of Clayton's mouth twitched as he said, 'That’s just a rumor, so don't take it to heart. I was recuperating until now, so it wasn't convenient for me to show up"
The other party looked at Clayton’s legs and immediately understood what happened.
However, he did not think much about it and thought that it was a temporary minor injury. Thus, it was not worth making a fuss about.
"If I’d known earlier, I wouldn’t have let you drink with me. I won't do this again. You can tell me next time, and we can drink tea instead!"
Clayton smiled and nodded. His face was cold and handsome, and he was aloof.
"Ok, we'll get the chance next time."
Due to what he saw earlier, Clayton, who usually did not drink alcohol, drank a few shots of strong liquor.
The shots burned his throat, and it felt like his body was torn apart.
Roland watched from the side and could not stop him.
In the end, the business partner was drunk, so Roland booked a room for him upstairs and sent him there.
When Roland returned to the private room, Clayton had already left.
After Nicole went to say goodbye to Hamilton, she went home early.
The apartment was empty.
Mrs. Zoe sent her a message earlier saying that she took the two children to the nearby underwater world, so they would only go back later.
Nicole replied. [Sure.]
The quiet house suddenly felt so big and empty to Nicole.
Clayton's things were kept the same as before, like a thorn in her life that she refused to pull out.
He did not show up, but traces of him were everywhere.
Nicole thought about what Malcolm said.
Clayton actually left her in the hospital alone when she was drunk.
Then, she thought about how Clayton accompanied that restaurant manager to the hospital back then.
There was an unexplained surge of anger in her chest.
Nicole looked at Clayton's cup that was on the table and felt that it was an eyesore.
She suddenly lost control of her emotions.
She had an impulse in her heart. Her eyes were as cold as ice as she picked up the cup and smashed it on the ground.
The cup shattered, just like her heart.
The next second, the doorbell rang.
Nicole was stunned for a moment before she panicked, thinking that Mrs. Zoe had returned with the kids.
However, she soon came to her senses.
It should not be them. Mrs. Zoe knew the password, so she would not ring the doorbell.
Maybe it was Julie or Kai.
Nicole calmed her emotions and walked slowly to open the door.
On the way to the door, she had already thought about the reasons for the shattered cup on the floor.
The moment she opened the door and saw the person standing there, a trace of shock and panic flashed in her black eyes.
Clayton noticed the subtle change in her expression.
He still looked as gentle as ever, but his face was a bit more resolute and cold at this time.
However, Nicole felt like she was mistaken.
Clayton was drunk. She could easily smell it.
His deep and dark eyes were bloodshot as he stared at her without blinking and with aggression.
It was as if he wanted to devour her.
All her mood swings were because of him, but the moment she met him, she suddenly became extremely calm.
She held the door handle tightly as she tried to ease her emotions.
Her voice was faint and calm as she asked, "Why are you here?"
Clayton took a deep look at her. His eyes seemed to be suppressing some surging emotions.
His dark eyes flickered slightly.
Without the slightest hesitation, he took a step forward and dropped his cane on the ground.
Before she could react, Clayton suddenly closed on her.
He grabbed her waist with one hand and pulled her close, then he pushed the door open with his other hand and walked in.
Nicole subconsciously leaned back. Clayton's eyes darkened when he noticed her resistance. He was displeased. His palm roamed around her back, and he pressed her against his body.
Nicole and Clayton's bodies reacted toward each other.
She was trembling, but she did not dare to push him hard because she was concerned about his legs.
However, she also felt uncomfortable with his sudden approach because he was unfamiliar to her.
Clayton held her waist, and his big hands felt hot and numb on her back.
Nicole's face changed slightly. She raised her eyes to meet his deep eyes that seemed bottomless and dark like the ocean.
Their breaths intertwined.
His peppermint scent was mixed with alcohol, and Nicole felt like she was getting intoxicated.
Nicole had never seen this side of Clayton. He was cold and indifferent.
He was irresistibly dominant, and he looked at her without blinking.
His gaze was very oppressive.
They were very close as the tips of their noses were touching each other.
Darkness flashed in the man's eyes.
Just as Nicole frowned and wanted to say something, Clayton's warm lips covered hers.
He was not as gentle as before. This time, he was aggressive and kissed her unscrupulously.
Nicole froze.
Clayton completely wrapped her in his arms and ignored her struggles.
This was out of character for him because he was usually considerate of her feelings. Instead, he pulled out his hand and clasped her neck tightly so that she could not dodge.
Nicole and Clayton staggered forward step by step until her back was against the wall. Clayton was domineering and aggressive as he savored this kiss.
Chapter 2317 Who Am I?
The long-lost sweetness seemed to instantly refresh Clayton’s memories about their countless moments of intimacy.
They found comfort and satisfaction in each other.
Clayton had always been infatuated with Nicole. Once he touched her, he could not extricate himself.
He could not hide his inner longing, and he had to face his own obscene thoughts.
Clayton had always restrained himself because he cared more about her feelings, but this time, he was agitated because he saw Nicole and Hamilton together at the club.
He could not calm down because he knew that if Nicole got through this painful time without him, someone else would replace him.
The Stantons had invited Hamilton home for dinner. Floyd allowed Hamilton, who had a good family background and good looks, to approach his daughter. He even asked Hamilton to pick up and drop off Chatty at school.
These were crossing the line.
Everyone did not expose Floyd’s thoughts, and Clayton did not dare to make a deeper guess about what it would mean.
That was because Clayton was afraid, panicking, and on the verge of a mental breakdown.
Why should he give up his own happiness?
He refused to.
Clayton's heart was aching as if a thorn was stuck in it. These thoughts irked him, and he subconsciously gasped.
Clayton separated from Nicole’s lips slightly and observed her.
Nicole tilted her head slightly and was a little short of breath.
Her vision was a little blurred, her cheeks were flushed, and her lips were bulging from the kiss.
Seeing that there was no disgust or resistance on her face, Clayton instantly felt relieved.
He lowered his head and softened his expression. He was a hundred times more gentle than before as his thin lips gently pressed against hers. This delicate kiss seemed to be his way of comforting her as he was guilty of losing control just now.
Clayton was so addicted to her that he did not want to just let her go.
However, he also knew that he could not force her.
Thus, when he wanted her, he gently caressed her thin waist and kissed her ear. He said in a low voice to coax her, "Nicole, baby... What do you want most right now?”
Clayton knew she wanted it too, but he wanted to hear her say it.
Nicole was no longer rational.
She was stunned by Clayton's sudden move.
She felt dizzy, and she did not know how to react.
A second ago, there was a huge rift between them, but at this moment, they were embracing each other so closely.
Was this too fast and too sudden?
Nicole had always felt they owed each other an honest conversation.
Even if they did not cry bitterly when they met again, they should at least tell each other what their difficulties were.
They should understand each other’s feelings during this period before they gradually resume their intimacy.
This series of actions did not seem like what Clayton would do.
However, that was what he did. He came over and skipped all the steps.
Should she push him away?
Nicole could not bear to do so.
Deep in her heart, she was looking forward to this intimacy. She missed everything about him, and she could feel that there was no estrangement between them.
They still loved each other the most.
However, her gaze suddenly fell on the floor in the distance.
The shattered glass reflected the cold light.
Nicole seemed to have regained a bit of reason. However, Clayton knew how to tease her so well that she could not remain calm. Clayton bit her earlobe and urged her.
'Tell me, who am I?"
"Clayton."
Nicole blurted out subconsciously. Her breath was slightly labored.
She forgot about Jeff Lieberman, his glass, and Kira.
The passionate kiss engulfed her again. He wanted to carve every part of her into his memory.
Nicole lost all her strength to resist. Her hands rested on his shoulders lightly.
Clayton undid her shirt buttons as his Adam’s apple bobbed. A darkness appeared in his eyes.
Nicole's flushed cheeks were charming, and Clayton could not stop.
"Baby, say you love me?"
His voice was deep, gruff, and strained.
This was his home, and she was his wife.
Clayton wanted to return openly.
Hamilton's appearance was just a coincidence. It was more because Clayton did not want to hide from Nicole anymore.
Even if Nicole looked down on him and hated him in the future, at least for now, she wanted him.
He thought that he should be there for her every time she wanted him.
They would discuss the future when it comes down to it. If she was tired of his crippled self one day, he would leave then.
At least, he should enjoy the time he regained by escaping death.
He deserved it!
Clayton could not appear in front of her and act like a stranger.
From the moment he met her, he was willing to sacrifice his life for her.
Nicole took a deep breath. Her eyes were red and watery, and she could not tell him the grievances she felt.
Clayton suddenly came back. Why should she say that she loved him first? Why did he not say he loved her?
Nicole tightly grasped his shoulders until her fingertips turned white. She choked up and hid her face in his chest, refusing to speak.
Clayton domineeringly kissed her cheek and tears as distress and guilt swept away all his reason.
He had a narrow escape from death, and he came back although everyone thought he was dead.
After such a long and arduous time alone, Clayton really wanted to make up for all the absences.
This kiss was just the tip of the iceberg of the desire in his heart.
His steps were unsteady, and he turned in one direction while he kissed her.
Before she knew it, Clayton had led her into the master bedroom.
When Nicole realized that she was in the bedroom, she suddenly thought of the bottles of medicine on the bedside table.
The blood drained from her face in an instant, and she was about to push him away to cover it up.
However, she accidentally kicked his leg.
Clayton grunted with pain. His complexion was paler than hers as he gasped.
He gently stroked the back of her head and coaxed her softly in a low voice, "Don't move. My leg hurts."
As soon as he opened his mouth, Nicole did not dare to move.
There was a trace of smugness in his eyes.
Clayton lowered his head, kissed her lips, and caressed her body.
He did not get the answer he wanted, but he did not give up.
"Baby, say you love me..."
He urged her, put her on the bed, and looked down at her. He interlocked his fingers with hers, and his eyes were dark and deep.
Clayton let go of her lips to give her a chance to breathe, but Nicole did not want to admit defeat.
She was competitive, so much so that she ignored the current intimate tension between them. Nicole looked at Clayton's messy shirt and his exposed collarbone in a daze.
Clayton seemed to expect her reaction. He knew that Nicole would not let him off easy.
Thus, he simply unbuttoned his shirt to show his broad shoulders and lean waist. His abdominal muscles were obvious, and he did not have a trace of fat on his body.
Clayton put Nicole's hand on his waist and kissed her shoulder. His gaze was relaxed and reckless.
"Didn’t you like my waist the most? Touch it..."
"Do you want it?” "Hmm?"
Chapter 2318 Hidden Strength
Clayton was driving Nicole crazy.
She burst into tears, sobbed softly, and finally conceded.
"Yes, I want you..."
The man's eyes darkened. Nicole could not hold back or calm down because he was the person she loved.
Clayton immediately wanted to fulfill his wish, but Nicole suddenly gritted her teeth and said, "I want your life!"
He was slightly shocked. Then, he let out a low chuckle and said in a hoarse voice, "Okay, I'm here to die..."
Everything that followed was unexpected.
The sky darkened.
Nicole fell asleep from exhaustion. She did not even have the strength to move her fingers.
She had always known that Clayton had strong stamina, but she never thought that he was so energetic. Was he even human?
Did he always hide his desire from her back then?
He had such a hidden strength.
Nicole soon fell asleep. She was drowsy as if she had taken some sleeping pills.
It was addictive.
Clayton lay beside her with his arms propped up. His face was relaxed.
He looked at her for a long time before he went to the bathroom to wash up.
Then, he wiped her down with a warm towel. Nicole slept soundly and did not move.
His gaze landed on the bottles of medicine on the bedside table, and his eyes darkened.
His face became tense again. Then, he got dressed and limped to the door to get his cane.
He felt an unbearable pain on his forehead, but compared to this moment, he felt that he should endure it.
After a few rounds of "workout", Clayton's energy was exhausted, but he was extremely sober.
The drunkenness disappeared.
Clayton picked up the cane that was on the ground and looked at everything familiar in the house. He finally felt that he was home.
He was just about to find his cup to get a drink, but it was neither on the bar nor the table.
Clayton glanced around and suddenly saw the broken glass on the floor.
That cup came in a pair. Nicole’s cup was still placed on the table, but his cup was already smashed to pieces.
Clayton froze slightly.
His chest was a little congested as unspeakable emotions surged. This caught him offguard.
Nicole broke the cup just before he arrived.
Nothing else was touched besides the shattered cup. This showed how angry and unreconciled she was!
Clayton seemed to be frozen in place. He sat there and looked at the shattered cup without moving a muscle.
He dared not think what would happen if he did not come today. Would they have no future together? 1
Nicole had been waiting for him to go to her.
However, his hesitation and cowardice hurt her repeatedly.
At that moment, Clayton suddenly thought of her psychiatrist’s words.
Malcolm asked him to pay attention to her condition when he was in the hospital.
Was being emotional and smashing things a symptom?
Even though Clayton felt that he should not overthink this, he felt like it was better to be on the safe side since Nicole's condition was unique.
Thus, he took out his phone and called Malcolm.
Malcolm picked it up. "Hello?"
"Hello, Dr. King, I’m Clayton Sloan."
His voice was a little dry.
Malcolm paused. "Mr. Sloan, what can I do for you?"
Clayton briefly told him what happened, but Malcolm did not have much of a reaction.
"Mr. Sloan, just make sure she doesn't hurt herself. Smashing a cup isn’t a cause for worry. Even normal people like to smash things from time to time. It’s an understandable reaction when one is angry, so you don't have to worry too much."
Clayton paused. "Can she stop taking her medication?"
He always felt that the medicine would ruin Nicole.
Malcolm’s tone finally became serious.
"No, it's not recommended to self-heal when it comes to depression because it doesn't work. That's because the drugs will regulate the patient's hormone levels. Even if you are the cause of her depression, she shouldn’t stop taking her medication until she's fully recovered. Mr. Sloan, you must urge her to take her medicine regularly. Come back to me in a month, and if her condition improves, I'll reduce the dosage or adjust the prescription for her. Depression must not be underestimated. Some patients can laugh with you this second and jump off a ten-story building the next. Don't think that she's happy when she smiles at you. She has more depressive episodes than happy ones."
After Clayton hung up the phone, he was still thinking about Malcolm’s words because the last few sentences shocked and scared him.
Thus, he instantly dismissed his thoughts of stopping her medication.
Nicole had more sad moments than happy ones.
She was obviously smiling, but she was not truly happy.
Clayton's eyebrows twitched slightly. His throat bobbed, and he stood up to get the broom and mop to sweep up the glass.
Then, he started the cleaning robot to clean the entire floor so as to prevent the glass shards from hurting Nicole and the children.
After he finished cleaning, he suddenly heard a beeping sound from the door.
Clayton looked back and saw Mrs. Zoe had returned with Chatty and Fischer.
The two children were exhausted from playing all day, but when they saw Clayton, they still shouted in surprise.
Clayton reached out and made a "hush" gesture. He pointed to the bedroom and said in a low voice, "Don’t talk loudly. Mommy's sleeping, so don't disturb her!"
Chatty and Fischer immediately nodded obediently and ran over one by one, throwing themselves into Clayton’s arms.
Mrs. Zoe had a smile on her face.
Seeing that Clayton was in his pajamas, Mrs. Zoe figured that Clayton had been home for some time.
Clayton’s leg was injured, so he could not carry the children like before.
Thus, he could only apologetically pat them on the head.
"Have you two eaten yet?”
Chatty shook her head. "No..."
Mrs. Zoe whispered from the side, 'The two of them ate an ice cream each!"
Clayton glanced at the two children sternly.
Chatty felt aggrieved and touched her belly. She hugged his neck coquettishly and forcefully changed the subject.
"Daddy, I miss you so much!"
Clayton's heart softened instantly. He hugged his precious daughter and looked at them guiltily.
"Daddy’s leg is injured, so I can't carry you two like before. Can you walk by yourself?"
Fischer immediately nodded.
"Don't worry, Daddy! Let me carry Chatty!"
Clayton frowned and looked at him meaningfully.
Chatty was caring. She touched Clayton’s face with distress, pouted, and said firmly, "I can carry Daddy when I grow up!"
Clayton instantly felt a warm current surging in his heart. His darling daughter was such an angel.
Chatty loosened her grip on his neck.
Clayton smiled and said, "Go take a shower and change your clothes, then come out for dinner."
Chatty nodded heavily.
Clayton looked at Fischer, who also nodded. However, instead of running back to the room, Fischer suddenly asked, "Daddy, did Mommy forgive you? Did she allow you to come home? Did you admit your mistake? You won't be kicked out again, will you?"
The man fell silent and looked at this little brat speechlessly.
Chapter 2319 Double Standard
Mrs. Zoe washed her hands and wanted to go to the kitchen to cook.
She was happy today because Clayton was back. This family could finally be the same as before.
The two children went to take a bath. Clayton did not worry about them because they could take care of themselves, so he voluntarily went to the kitchen to help.
Seeing that his legs were injured, Mrs. Zoe smiled and asked him to go out.
"Sir, I’ll make whatever you want to eat. You should rest outside.”
Clayton smiled. His face was relaxed, and his voice was deep and pleasant.
"It's okay. You can cook your meal and the children’s meal. I'll cook mine and Nicole’s."
Mrs. Zoe paused and immediately understood what he wanted to do.
"Okay. Mr. Sloan. When you weren't around, something just seemed missing at home. Even though everyone acted the same as before, it felt different, especially Madam. She seldom even talked. We all thought you were dead, and we could all tell that she was very sad. But she never cried in front of the children, and she never told them that you met with an accident. Looking at it now, I guess you two really have a special connection. It was all just a false alarm, and you survived a catastrophe. You definitely will have good luck from now on!" 1
Mrs. Zoe's words stunned Clayton. He felt like someone had punched him in the chest, and he had no choice but to accept it silently.
Everyone knew Nicole was having a hard time.
Only he was ignoring her pain.
How despicable!
After a long time, Clayton finally reacted.
"I hope so."
His voice was deep and hoarse.
Mrs. Zoe made a healthy and delicious meal for the children.
Clayton and Nicole’s meal was simple. It was spinach and tuna pasta, which was Nicole's favorite supper.
Nicole smelled the aroma of the food and woke up.
Although her whole body was sore and limp, she was starving.
She did not eat when she left the hospital in the morning or when she went to see Hamilton off at noon.
She had been starving all day!
When she opened her eyelids, the room was dark except for a wall lamp. She could also hear the deliberately lowered voices outside.
Nicole thought that she was dreaming.
What happened in the afternoon flooded into her mind, and it felt so unreal.
The soreness of her body reminded her that all of this was real.
Clayton came back and slept with her.
Nicole's face turned red. She sat up and found that her body was clean. Her clothes had also been changed.
She felt shy before she suddenly realized something. She rolled up her sleeves and saw the random pink scars on her arm. The blush on her face disappeared completely.
Nicole was afraid that Clayton noticed her scars.
Did he find out?
The nightgown she was wearing was a long-sleeved silk nightgown with wide sleeves on the arms, like a robe.
Nicole instantly felt embarrassed and flustered.
Thus, she climbed down from the bed and walked over with bare feet to open the door. When she saw the light in the living room, she was startled for a moment.
Chatty was playing games with Fischer in the living room.
Mrs. Zoe was not there. Nicole smelled the aroma of the food and saw the tall and lean figure of her husband in the kitchen.
All of this felt surreal.
Seeing him come out with a plate in one hand and a cane in the other, Nicole felt her chest tighten. She was distressed.
This was not a dream.
Clayton came and did not leave.
The distance and rift between them seemed to disappear in an instant.
It seemed like they had returned to the way their lives were before the earthquake.
He was always with her.
When Clayton came out of the kitchen, he also saw her. He was a little stunned, then he flashed a gentle and bright smile.
"You’re awake?"
Under Nicole’s gaze, Clayton put the food on the dining table and limped over to her.
"Let's eat. I just made this."
Clayton held her hand. His eyes were filled with affection that would never fade away.
Nicole dodged his gaze and followed him to the dining table.
When she saw the spinach and tuna pasta, memories of the past came flooding back.
Nicole did not like to eat at night, so he would always have to patiently coax her to eat more.
Even if she only took a bite, he would smile and praise her like she was a child.
On the other hand, Chatty would only get a simple "good job" from him when she finished her dinner.
What double standards!
Nicole sat there, motionless.
Clayton turned around and brought out his own plate from the kitchen. The portion was a bit bigger than hers.
Seeing that Nicole did not move, Clayton pursed his lips and asked, "You don’t want to eat?"
Nicole was starving, but she restrained herself.
In the afternoon, she was distracted by his charms, but now that she got what she wanted, she was logical again.
It was time to face reality.
Nicole raised her eyes and looked at him. Her voice was hoarse and seductive.
"I thought you would make French food.”
This was just a precursor to bringing in the French restaurant in their conversation.
Clayton raised his eyebrows and looked at her with a smile.
"If you want, I can make it for you next time. There aren't many ingredients at home."
He said this casually as if he would stay with her for a long time.
Nicole took a deep breath and looked at him.
"Don't you have something to tell me?”
Clayton's face froze slightly. He finally realized that Nicole was about to get angry.
At this moment, Chatty and Fischer ran over. They smiled and circled the two adults.
"Mommy, carry me..."
Nicole restrained her stern look and smiled at Chatty. Just as she was about to reach out to carry Chatty, she realized that her arms were weak, and she had no strength at all.
It was all that man’s fault!
Nicole gritted her teeth and did not know what to say.
Clayton let out a low laugh and beckoned to Chatty.
"Come here. Daddy will carry you. Mommy is tired."
Chatty ran over happily.
Clayton picked her up with ease and put her on his lap. Then he looked at Fischer and beckoned to him.
"Do you want to sit here too?"
Fischer pouted his lips and looked reluctant.
"I'm a big boy now! I can’t sit on a boy's lap. Daddy, your legs are injured, why don’t you let Chatty sit on my lap?”
As he spoke, Fischer was about to climb up to the seat next to Clayton. He patted his short legs and signaled Clayton to hand Chatty over to him.
Clayton's eyes turned cold for a moment. "You wish!"
Fischer pouted aggrievedly and climbed down from the chair.
'Then I'll sit on Mommy's lap!"
Fischer happily went over to Nicole.
When he walked past Clayton, Clayton pulled him back by the collar from behind and said with a cold tone, "Go back to your room and read Chatty a bedtime story in French. I’ll ask Chatty to tell me what story you read."
This was Clayton’s way of educating the children. One book could teach two children.
It could lull Chatty to sleep and teach Fischer a foreign language more effectively, killing two birds with one stone.
Fischer enjoyed being an older brother and immediately patted his chest to reassure Clayton.
"No problem!"
Chatty looked at the two adults in confusion.
"But I don’t want to sleep yet..."
Chapter 2320 Miss You Very Much
Clayton put Chatty on the ground and said, "You'll feel sleepy once you close your eyes. Go and listen to Fischer's bedtime story. I'll send you guys to school tomorrow."
Chatty's eyes lit up in excitement as soon as she heard that her father would send them to school.
Clayton had never sent them to school before.
Thus, Chatty was elated.
Chatty and Fischer kissed Nicole one after the other before they returned to the bedroom.
Nicole looked at the surreal scene in front of her cautiously as if she was afraid that this was just a fleeting illusion.
The pasta in front of Nicole was getting cold.
Clayton pushed the pasta forward, looked at Nicole, and said in an extremely gentle voice, "Do you want to have a few bites?"
Nicole's eyes were sore, but she did not want Clayton to see her fragility and longing.
What happened in the afternoon under the influence of alcohol was so sudden that Nicole felt like forgetting about everything and moving on.
However, thinking about it now, Nicole felt like they were a little too impulsive.
Nicole's mind was a mess. She lowered her head and ate two bites of pasta. She also had a few spoons of soup before she put down her cutlery.
Clayton ate slowly and gracefully without making a sound. He looked gentle and elegant. Surrounded by the warm lights, it seemed as if he had returned to his previous self at that moment.
He felt Nicole's gaze on him for a long time.
Clayton calmly put down his chopsticks, planning to pack them up.
Nicole's eyes flickered slightly. She stood up first and put away the dishes.
Clayton looked at her with dark eyes as he was deep in thought, but he quickly regained his expression.
When Nicole sat back down again, Clayton looked gentle again.
He flashed a soft, slightly apologetic smile.
Under the lights, Nicole's face looked a little pale and gloomy.
She looked dispirited.
Clayton paused and looked at her with deep eyes.
"Do you remember what happened in the afternoon?"
It was only 9:00 pm. How could she forget so quickly?
After fooling around with him all afternoon, Nicole's body still felt a little uncomfortable.
Nicole's face suddenly flushed. She pursed her red lips.
'Were you drunk?"
Clayton’s voice was a little hoarse. The corners of his mouth twitched as he said, "I drank, but not much."
Therefore, what he did was not impulsive or a drunken act.
Clayton just followed his heart and released the pent-up energy he had suppressed all along.
Nicole pursed her lips and could not help but frown at Clayton.
"So? Why did you come back all of a sudden? Don't you have another home now? Do you think my house is a hotel?"
Nicole might not have realized how jealous she sounded.
She also did not realize that her words were a little harsh.
However, she could not help it.
The first time she saw Clayton sitting in the car with Kira while she was thrown to the ground by their car, Nicole was devastated.
When she saw the two of them walking side by side in the hospital, how could she not wonder if their relationship was intimate?
It was not that Nicole did not trust Clayton.
It was just that during the time they were apart, some things might have happened.
Fortunately, Clayton did not lose his memory or forget about her. His condition also did not worsen.
He came back as Clayton.
This was the only sliver of light she saw in her despair.
Thus, at this moment, she had a lot of doubts and anger.
Clayton came back, but instead of going home to look for Nicole, he was with Kira and even pretended not to know Nicole.
He was avoiding Nicole.
"Hotel? When did I have another home? I only have one home."
Clayton looked at her oddly. His face was pale and confused.
Soon, Clayton came to his senses.
"I own the French restaurant, but I don't plan to operate it for long. It's just a temporary place to stay."
He knew that he was unfair to Nicole for disappearing without telling her this whole time.
However, when he came back to Medianía and stepped into her life again, he wanted to give her some time to adapt.
Nicole pursed her lips and snorted. The corners of her mouth twitched.
'Temporary? You should know my bottom line. I don't know what kind of relationship you have with that woman in your restaurant. You sent her to the hospital, and you were intimate with her in the car. You’re a scumbag, and you shouldn’t have come back. I don't need you anyway. Let's go through the divorce proceedings later. Then, we can pretend to be strangers in the future."
Nicole did not think about what she just said.
They already slept together, and it was too late to settle accounts with him.
However, if he did not explain things clearly to her, she would always feel like a thorn was stuck in her heart, and it would make her uncomfortable.
This awkward feeling spread from her heart little by little, and she felt as if someone was strangling her neck. She just wished that she could pour out her thoughts instantly.
Clayton was startled as he looked at Nicole. When he heard the word " divorce", his face turned glum.
However, Clayton knew that Nicole was very good at controlling her emotions except for when she was around the people she was close to.
They had lived together for so long, and Clayton could tell whether Nicole was being serious or emotional.
Clayton only felt awkward and depressed for a moment before he recovered his expression.
That was because he realized that Nicole was concerned about Kira.
Since Clayton returned to Medianía, he did not have any contact with women except for the waiters in the restaurant. Those waiters were his employees, so he kept a distance from them.
Only Kira overstepped her bounds. Clayton frowned slightly as he thought,' Car... Hospital...’
Clayton suddenly thought about going to the hospital with Kira that day. Perhaps Nicole had seen them together and misunderstood the situation.
He looked embarrassed. He had always kept a distance from women, so he did not have much experience in responding to such things.
At this time, Clayton had to clear his name.
Clayton was silent for two seconds before he raised his eyes to look at Nicole sincerely.
"I helped that woman when I was abroad for my treatment. One of her legs was broken. I saved her and gave her a prosthesis, but we don't have a relationship with each other. I didn’t cross the line. She only came back because she couldn't survive abroad. She was in the hospital that day because her prosthesis suddenly fell off. I'm familiar with this area, so I took her to the hospital. As for what you mentioned about the car... I don't know what you're talking about, and I don’t remember anything like that ever happening. But I can guarantee that the only relationship I have with her is an ordinary employer-and-employee relationship. I already dismissed her since Chatty got into the accident last time. I won't keep someone who has hurt our daughter around."
It did not matter who that person was.
Those words were sincere, and Clayton looked at Nicole without dodging her gaze. Finally, Nicole's expression gradually changed from anger to relief.
Nicole roughly pieced it together. If Kira had broken a leg, then Clayton, who was abroad at that time, was only helping Kira out of sympathy because he could relate to her condition.
Otherwise, Clayton would not be such a warm-hearted person.