Ch. 2351..2360

Chapter 2351 Visit

Mitchell did not even have to think about notifying Eric's family.

Quinn would only act anxious if she found out. If she came, she would cause trouble for Eric, so she might as well not come.

Chance was well-behaved, but he was too young, and he could not make any decisions for Eric. Eric also did not care about him.

Thus, Mitchell did not think about informing anyone.

After much deliberation, Mitchell decided to stay by himself.

He fell asleep on the sofa.

After a while, Mitchell forgot that Selena was also in the ward.

The next day, Eric woke up earlier than anyone.

Looking at the unfamiliar environment around him, Eric remembered what he saw when he was in the car last night, as well as his physical discomfort.

He was in the hospital.

Eric sat up, rubbed his temples, and sobered up. Just as he was about to call for someone, he saw that there was another hospital bed not far away from him. A familiar-looking woman was lying on the bed.

He froze for a moment. The next second, his face darkened.

Eric’s body started to exude a chill.

He rolled over and got out of bed with heavy eyes. After sleeping all night, his stomach felt much better. His hair hung over his forehead, which made him look lazy and unkempt.

As soon as he walked out, he saw that Mitchell was sleeping on the sofa outside. He frowned immediately, walked across the room, and sat down on the sofa.

Mitchell fell into a deep sleep.

However, Eric had a strong presence. He stood up and opened the curtains. When the light shone in, Mitchell instantly reacted.

His eyes snapped open.

"President?"

Eric responded with a deep voice. His eyes were dark as he glanced inside.

"What's going on?"

His voice was low and hoarse.

Mitchell paused because he had forgotten about Selena.

"Um... After I filled up the registration form for you last night, I happened to meet her abusive husband outside, waiting to find trouble with her. I was afraid that she would die if I left her there, so I had to place her in here..." 1

Eric’s eyes darkened a little, and he rubbed his temples.

He stood up and said, "Get the discharge procedures done. I want to leave right away."

"President, the doctor said that you can't be discharged from the hospital for the time being because you need to stay for observation for two days. In the future, you have to eat regularly and stay away from alcohol..."

Just as Mitchell was about to endlessly convey the doctor's instructions, Eric stopped him with a look.

How could he possibly stay away from alcohol?

Even if Eric was the CEO, he still had to socialize with others, especially with those bigwigs who were older than him and loved to put up a front. Thus, he had to drink with them.

Eric did not say much and went back to the office with his things.

He had more clothes to change into in the office than at home.

Thus, he had no intention of going home at all.

Mitchell sighed and could only follow.

Fortunately, Eric did not kick Selena out of his ward.

Nicole got up early in the morning and went to the office. After finishing her task at hand, she suddenly thought of Selena.

Selena was special.

Nicole always had a strange feeling about Selena. They looked somewhat similar, and Nicole could feel that they were curious about each other. It was natural and completely harmless.

Now that Selena was in the hospital, Nicole could not pretend not to know about it.

Julie and Nicole frequented the bar, so they would get acquainted with Selena in the future.

Nicole thought about it for a while and sent Julie a message, asking if she wanted to go to the hospital together.

Soon, Julie replied. [Sure.]

Nicole breathed a sigh of relief, told Clayton about it, and drove out.

Julie and Nicole met in the hospital lobby.

Julie was a little surprised. "Why do you want to come here to see Selena?"

"After all, I was also involved in the incident last night, so I can't pretend as if nothing happened. We can make a new friend if we visit her."

Nicole held a bouquet of flowers that she bought along the way.

Julie paused for a moment. "I didn't have time to tell you last night. Ms. Nelson is actually quite pitiful."

"How so?"

"She's Orville Nelson's only granddaughter, and they depended on each other. In fact, they should have a good relationship, but that old man sold her to a scumbag like Derek because of the family business. She has an unfortunate marriage and life. She went abroad for three years and came back again to face the same fate. The old man clearly knew that she was suffering, but he didn't care and refused to let her get a divorce. He threatened her by saying that he would die if she got a divorce. What else can she do if she’s being morally kidnapped?"

Julie sighed. "She probably bought that bar with the money she earned from working abroad. As soon as she returned to Mediania, Derek Norton targeted her. Derek was annoyed that she escaped three years ago and hated her. He also knew that she would not dare to get a divorce. That's why he beat her so recklessly.”

Selena had a tough life because she did not have her family's support. Instead, her closest relative even threatened her.

Nicole just felt sorry for Selena.

The two ladies asked a nurse about Selena's ward. The nurse looked at them warily and asked, "Are you two her friends?"

"Yes, we're her friends."

Nicole nodded.

The nurse told them a room number. "You can go there, but I hope you won't tell anyone else this room number, especially her husband."

Julie and Nicole looked at each other and nodded.

The person who sent Selena here had probably told the doctors and nurses about Selena's situation.

The moment the bodyguards at the door saw Nicole, they were surprised, but they still let Julie and Nicole inside without a word.

Selena woke up. Mitchell was soft-hearted. He asked Eric for permission to hire the caregiver who had taken care of Selena last time.

However, the caregiver was not there yet.

Selena heard the commotion and looked over. When she saw Nicole and Julie, her eyes lit up.

That pretty and flirtatious face looked surprised.

"You girls came?"

Selena was pale and looked very weak.

Nicole and Julie walked in, put the flowers aside, and said with a smile, "I hope you're not allergic to flowers."

"No. It's beautiful. Thank you."

"My name is Nicole Stanton, and this is Julie Nixon."

"I'm Selena Nelson."

This was the first time they introduced themselves.

"All this happened so suddenly last night, so I couldn't come to the hospital with you. I feel a little guilty forthat."

Nicole spoke sincerely.

Selena's eyelashes trembled, and she smiled with a pale face.

"I implicated you. I wanted to say hello to you, but I almost got you hurt."

Nicole and Julie were sitting on the side. The sunlight shone through the window and cast an orangey-red light on everything.

"You girls should go to my bar more often. I’ll give you a 50% discount!”

Selena smiled happily.

Nicole smiled and nodded. "Sure! Thank you, Ms. Nelson."

Julie looked at the medical chart on the side of the bed and could not help but sigh.

'Your injury is so serious."

Selena's smile subsided slightly, and her eyes dimmed.

"Well, I can’t help it. To be honest, this beating was for nothing. I wouldn’t be surprised if I died at his hands that day." 1

Nicole's face froze slightly. "Are you planning to go on like this?"

Chapter 2352 None of Them Are Good

Selena lowered her eyes and paused for a moment. It was rare that she wanted to open up to someone and reveal the secret she kept hidden in her heart.

"I loved my grandfather the most until I was eighteen, when he forced me to marry this man by threatening me with suicide. Hence, I had no choice but to agree. Derek Norton is useless. All he has is money. He has no intellect, no morals, and no feelings. I wanted a divorce, but my grandfather said that he would kill himself the day I divorce Derek. What else could I do if the person I loved most was forcing my hand?'

Selena's fate was unfortunate.

If her grandfather treated her badly, Selena could walk away without worries. She did not need to care about his life.

Selena would not have entertained this unreasonable request.

However, her grandfather treated her too well.

He coddled her like she was the apple of his eye.

Everyone knew that Selena was pampered by the Nelson family back then.

Selena’s parents died when she was young. When she was sick, her grandfather took care of her around the clock, and she almost had a cerebral hemorrhage.

She had a happy childhood.

However, her good life came to an end when the Nelson family faced problems.

Her grandfather was determined to use Selena to save the Nelson family.

If Selena did not marry Derek, her grandfather would die.

Selena ran away after less than three months of marriage.

"My bodyguard back then worked for me for a long time. He took pity on me and helped me to escape. Since then, he lost his job. From an

outsider's point of view, we eloped. That's why I was accused of cheating, and Derek wouldn't let me get away with it."

Selena said blankly.

Under the sunlight, they could see the clear blood vessels on her face.

She looked pale and weak.

Julie cursed angrily.

"Damn! All men are vile!"

Nicole's eyelids twitched. She wanted to refute what Julie said, but now was not the time. 1

Selena chuckled lightly. "Of course not! I'm just unlucky. Don't you two have a happy marriage?"

She looked at Nicole, smiled, and said, "Speaking of which, I saw your interview. Was that man your husband? He's different from the person who came to pick you up that day."

Nicole paused. "My therapist picked me up that day. My husband stayed with me afterward."

Selena smiled. Her eyes reflected some light.

It seemed as if Nicole’s happiness was contagious.

Julie did not know what they were talking about and only understood after Nicole explained it to her.

After a while, Nicole said in a calm tone, "Going on like this is not an option. Haven't you thought about what will happen if he beats you to death?'

Selena's face froze. She pursed her lips and said, "I thought about it. I can’t run anymore. My grandfather won't live for much longer, so I'll divorce Derek when my grandfather dies."

She only thought of this solution after a long time.

Selena hated her grandfather for ruining her life, but she did not want her grandfather to die because of her either.

Julie let out a low sigh.

"I can't believe such people exist..."

Nicole was silent.

She did not know what to say. She would also be in a dilemma if she were in Selena’s shoes.

The three of them chatted and got along well.

The sun shone through the windows, casting mottled shadows on the floor. The air outside was clean and fresh.

Just as Julie and Nicole stood up to leave, they heard hurried footsteps outside.

Tve already told you that he'll need to have a gastrectomy if he gets admitted to the hospital again. Why didn't you listen to my advice? Is money more important than Mr. Ferguson’s health?"

The doctor's words of dissatisfaction sounded, and a group of people came in.

Mitchell echoed from the side, "Yes, yes... I was careless. I didn't watch him well."

His forehead was sweating. He was momentarily stunned when he saw the two people in the ward.

"Ms. Stanton? Ms. Nixon?"

Nicole nodded.

The doctors carried someone with a stretcher and placed him on the hospital bed next to Selena. Eric’s face was pale, and his eyes were closed. There was sweat on his forehead.

Even though the ward was large, it felt crowded with so many people inside at once.

Nicole and Julie looked at each other and turned to say goodbye to Selena.

"It's getting late. I have to pick my daughter up from school. See you next time!"

Selena smiled and nodded.

"Okay. Take care!"

They nodded and left the ward.

Unexpectedly, Mitchell followed them out.

"Ms. Stanton."

Nicole paused and looked back at him.

'Yes?"

"Mr. Ferguson was admitted to the hospital yesterday because he had gastrospasm. Coincidentally, we had to hide Ms. Nelson from her husband, so we had no choice but to place her in Mr. Ferguson's ward. Ms. Nelson and Mr. Ferguson aren't close..."

As soon as Mitchell explained the situation, Nicole immediately understood what he meant.

Nicole’s gaze sank a little. She looked indifferent.

"Mitchell, I'm here to visit Ms. Nelson. This has nothing to do with Mr. Ferguson, so you don't need to tell me so much."

Of course, Mitchell knew that he did not need to explain the situation, but if Eric found out that Mitchell did not explain it, he would probably lose his job.

There was a moment of silence.

Mitchell nodded with a smile.

"Okay. I’ll see you off."

"No need. We’ll go by ourselves. You should go in."

Nicole kept her distance, nodded, and left with Julie.

Mitchell sighed, opened the door, and went into the ward.

The doctor started to examine Eric. Mitchell glanced at Selena, who was quietly watching all this, and pursed his lips.

"Do you know Ms. Stanton?"

Selena nodded. "She came to the bar when it first opened. She has a very good relationship with her husband."

Mitchell hesitated to speak.

The main reason was that he did not know Selena well, so if he asked more questions, Selena would suspect something.

Mitchell thought about it and shut up.

He just gave her a complicated look.

Mitchell wondered if Selena could see that she looked somewhat similar to Nicole.

The doctor pumped Eric's stomach and gave him painkillers.

Eric was asleep now, so the doctors left.

Mitchell was worried about leaving Eric alone in the same room with another woman because Eric might eat him alive if he did that when Eric woke up.

He hesitated whether he should get another ward for Eric.

Selena saw Mitchell’s hesitance and said in a weak voice, "Mr. Crawford, if you have something to do, you can go ahead. You've helped me so much, so I can take care of Mr. Ferguson for you. Not to mention, the caregiver will be back soon."

Mitchell was taken aback. He forgot that he hired the caregiver. 1

This would be much easier. 1

He looked relieved for a moment before he looked at Selena and said, ‘ Thank you, Ms. Nelson. Please call me as soon as possible when Mr.

Ferguson wakes up. This is really unexpected. I have to receive an important customer from abroad and pick him up from the airport tonight. So, I can't postpone it. Thanks."

Selena knew what was important and nodded.

Mitchell left.

The ward fell silent.

The smell of disinfectant was not as strong or pungent in the VIP ward.

The sweet fragrance of the fruit trees outside wafted in through the window and gradually entered the room. The soft light shone in, and the ambiance of the room was comfortable.

Selena glanced at Eric. Although he was rich, he was also pitiful. Such a rich person could also fall so sick.

Chapter 2353 Thank You

Selena lay there and did not feel much pain anymore. Maybe she was already used to it.

She looked like a normal person if no one touched her.

Her phone rang.

Selena thought it was her staff from the bar.

When she picked her phone up and looked at it, she saw a familiar number.

"Come home tonight."

It was an order from her grandfather.

Memories of the past flooded her mind.

Selena could not avoid it.

It had been three years since Selena left. She did not go back home after she returned because she hated her grandfather.

She desperately wanted to express her displeasure in her own way.

However, the Nelson family did not care.

It was as if everything she did was a joke.

Selena was just making a fuss, but she was still within their control.

As long as she did not get a divorce, she would not be able to escape from her grandfather's grasp no matter how much she struggled.

She closed her eyes, and tears streamed down uncontrollably.

Selena lay on the bed, pulled up the quilt, and covered her head.

She cried silently.

Selena never understood what she did wrong to make the grandfather, who loved her so much, so determined to marry her off to an abusive man.

He ruined her life.

She suppressed her sobs, but she still woke the person next to her.

However, she was not aware.

It was not until she was tired from crying and she lifted the quilt that she suddenly met a pair of dark and deep eyes. She trembled from shock.

The man frowned indifferently.

He looked at her eyes which were red from crying. His eyes were dark, and Selena did not know what he was thinking.

After a while, he narrowed his eyes and spoke in a low and hoarse voice.

"If you want him to go to jail, I can help you."

Being sick made Eric feel charitable.

This kind of effort was nothing to him.

However, he was never one to meddle in other people's business.

Why?

Perhaps it was because seeing that pitiful face that was somewhat similar to Nicole's made him think of the woman he had failed in the past.

Eric felt guilty and wanted to make amends.

Unfortunately, Nicole no longer needed him to.

However, Eric could still make it up to someone else.

This would make him feel better, right?

When Selena heard what he said, her eyes lit up for a moment, but they dimmed again.

Her voice was low and hoarse, and her tone was soft and weak.

'Thanks, but it's okay. I can solve it myself.”

If Derek went to jail, it would affect the Nelson family.

If the Nelson family was implicated, her grandfather might die from anger, and she would still be in the same dilemma.

Selena had thought about all these, but her grandfather's life always got between her plans. She respected and feared him at the same time.

'Thank you."

Selena added.

Eric raised his eyelids, and the corners of his lips curved indifferently.

He did not continue talking. His face was so indifferent, and he looked like he had no interest in persuading her.

Since she refused, he would not bother to reach out.

He only had some sympathy for her, but it was not worth much.

Three hours later, Mitchell came to pick Eric up and discharged him from the hospital.

Mitchell greeted Selena politely before he left.

Eric gave him a cold look. His stomach no longer hurts, and he began to scold Mitchell again.

'You're so familiar with her?” "No, I only got acquainted with her because I asked her to take care of you." 'Take care of me?"

Eric snorted coldly. His side profile was expressionless, and his jaw was sharp.

He spoke slowly, "She's bedridden and can't even move. Do you expect her to take care of me mentally?"

Mitchell was speechless.

After he got into the car, Mitchell sighed and said, "She's so pitiful. When I was outside just now, I heard her abusive husband asking around for her ward."

Eric massaged his forehead and remembered that she refused his help earlier, so he sneered.

"She asked for it."

Selena was pitiful for falling into such a hellhole, but she was also ridiculous for not wanting to climb out after falling in.

The corners of Mitchell's lips twitched as he felt that Eric was really coldblooded.

Mitchell did not dare to mention Nicole's visit in the afternoon so as not to sprinkle salt on his wound.

The next day at the Stanton Mansion.

The golden sunshine spread across the lawn.

Floyd got up early in the morning to watch the children tidy up and go to school.

Chatty had been living in the Stanton Mansion for several days.

She had fewer opportunities to play, and she had to attend extra classes with Levi at night, which was simply torture.

Chatty was sitting on a chair, swinging her short legs, as she looked at her third uncle leisurely and expectantly.

'When is Mommy coming to pick US up?"

Kai tore a piece of bread for himself, stuffed it in his mouth, and looked at her with a smile.

'Your daddy and mommy want some alone time. You two will just disturb their date when you guys go back."

Fischer ate a mouthful of oatmeal, then he quietly leaned over.

"Since they're dating, we can date too! Let’s catch some fish later!"

Kai clicked his tongue and looked at the two little things with a warning gaze.

'The little fish in the backyard pond went missing. Was it because you two keep catching them? No wonder Dad keeps losing his temper because he didn't catch enough fish recently. You guys are not allowed to catch any more fish!"

Fischer curled his lips and lowered his head to eat his oatmeal.

Chatty looked at Kai with watery eyes.

"Uncle K, Daddy and Mommy can still go on dates when we go back. I really miss Daddy and Mommy...”

Kai grinned and pinched Chatty's little face.

'They're busy trying to conceive a younger sibling for you. Haven't you always wanted an Ultraman sister?"

Chatty's eyes lit up. She became happy instantly, and sparks were flying in the air.

"Great! I won't go back then. They should do that as soon as possible! Can they give me a younger sibling tomorrow?" "Uh...”

Kai was stunned and did not know what to say for a while.

Floyd walked over from behind him and slapped his head hard.

"Don't be a bad influence on the kids!"

Kai patted his head and lowered his head to eat his oatmeal.

Floyd handed over a brand-new school bag with a big bow and said," Chatty, isn’t this new schoolbag that I bought for you pretty?"

Chatty stared at the new schoolbag without saying a word. She pouted her little mouth and had "not impressed" written all over her face.

Fischer grinned and said, it's pretty! I like it!"

Floyd looked at the uninterested Chatty and sighed in disappointment before he handed it to Fischer.

"Here you go.”

After Kai finished eating, he sent the kids to school. Levi had already left earlier with the driver.

Only these two children dilly-dallied to get into the car.

Haifa month passed.

Clayton had a business appointment at The Good Vibes Bar.

Before he went, he took Nicole with him.

Nicole had planned to go to the beauty parlor, but she thought that going to the bar was also a good option.

Clayton was talking to his business partner, and Nicole was not interested in listening, so she watched the singer downstairs from the steps of the second floor.

The singer was Selena.

Selena had been discharged from the hospital and was doing well.

Her voice was low and husky. It was electrifying and sexy. Even such a slow song sounded so unique coming from her. 1 No wonder her bar was always full.

Chapter 2354 Overheard a Secret

The moment Selena raised her head, she saw Nicole. Her bright and slender eyes lit up, and she finished the song.

The loud applause resounded from below the stage. Selena flashed a brilliant and sexy smile. She was flamboyant, vivid, and energetic.

She seemed like a completely different person from the complaining woman who was beaten up and unable to move in the hospital.

Nicole applauded.

After a while, Clayton came out of the private room and called her.

"Baby, do you want to come over and say hello?"

Nicole nodded and waved before she walked over.

Clayton’s customers had some interaction with Stanton Corporation, so there was nothing wrong with Nicole saying hello to them.

Selena finished singing and greeted her friends, but Nicole disappeared in a blink of an eye.

She went upstairs to search for Nicole and thought that Nicole had probably entered one of the rooms.

The waiter walked past, and Selena beckoned to him.

"Did you see which private room a beautiful and elegant woman entered just now?"

The waiter paused and nodded. "Go straight to the last room, Boss. Is she your friend?"

Selena nodded with a smile, then waved at him to get back to work.

The waiter frowned and wanted to ask when Selena befriended such an old woman.

However, Selena trotted away.

The door was not closed fully and was ajar.

Just as Selena was about to open the door and go in, she heard a strange voice inside.

"Mrs. Ferguson, you know how dangerous this task is. Putting aside Nicole Stanton’s identity, it’s impossible that her family won’t try to investigate this if anything happens to her. Once someone from the Stanton family finds out that I did it, I'll die. Besides, your son, Eric, is so deeply in love with Nicole. Although they're divorced, everyone knows that Eric can't forget about her. Do you think I have a death wish for finding trouble with Nicole?"

The middle-aged man’s voice was a bit lazy and sarcastic.

Selena froze.

Soon, a cold middle-aged woman's voice sounded.

"Don't worry. I'll give you enough money to flee Atlanta. I'll make sure your family is settled, so you won't be burdened. You’ll never earn so much money in your lifetime, and this is your last chance. That woman doesn’t know her place after remarrying, and Eric keeps disobeying me because of her. He doesn’t treat me as his biological mother!"

Quinn's voice was a little anxious.

The man let out a deep laugh with a bit of contempt.

'That’s easy. Just give birth to another one." "What did you say?" Quinn stopped talking abruptly.

The man chuckled in a low voice. He raised his eyes unscrupulously to look at the well-maintained rich housewife with a bit of playfulness in his smile.

He suddenly pulled Quinn onto his body. Quinn exclaimed. This was the first time she was in such proximity to a man since she separated from Charles Ferguson.

This discomfort made her tremble all over, and she felt embarrassed.

"Let go of me! What are you doing? I’m Charles Ferguson’s wife..."

The man smiled frivolously and touched Quinn's face.

Tve had my fair share of women, but I've never fooled around with Charles Ferguson’s wife. Since your son doesn't trust you anymore, it means you can’t even protect yourself, so how can you protect me if something goes wrong later? I don't believe you can do it, so shouldn't you try to bribe me?"

Quinn's face turned pale. She was furious, anxious, and ashamed.

She could no longer maintain her usual calm and grace.

The man squeezed her neck and wanted to kiss her, but Quinn dodged.

The man let go of her instantly, and she fell to the ground.

The man looked away ruthlessly.

“Mrs. Ferguson, since you're so reluctant, forget it. I don't want to make this kind of money because I treasure my life."

As he spoke, he raised his foot and was about to walk outside.

Selena, who was outside, stiffened and hid in the shadows in fear.

Not long after, Quinn suddenly gritted her teeth and went to hug the man.

This was her last chance.

Eric was so powerful that he deprived her of all her dignity and rights in the Ferguson family and trampled all over her.

She was a useless mother.

Quinn was unreconciled, and the man’s bewitching words moved her.

She could give birth to another child.

Right. If her son was disobedient, she could make another one.

She was proactive and determined.

Soon, ambiguous sounds came from the room.

Selena's pale face was still in shock as she took a step back and left quietly.

She had accidentally overheard so much information.

When Selena came back from abroad, she did not know that Nicole was Eric's ex-wife. They used to be married?

Seeing how affectionate Nicole and her husband Clayton were, Selena thought that it was smooth sailing for them to get to where they were today.

Eric Ferguson.

Nicole Stanton.

Mrs. Ferguson.

Selena walked out with a puzzled expression.

Coincidentally, someone came out from the private room in the front.

After Nicole and Clayton finished discussing work matters, they did not stay any longer since the other party was not into alcohol either.

They exchanged pleasantries and left.

Nicole looked back and saw Selena, so she smiled and waved at her.

"Ms. Nelson, what a coincidence! It's great to see you discharged from the hospital."

She tugged on Clayton's arm. 'This is Ms. Nelson that I mentioned to you earlier."

Clayton was handsome and gentle, but he was aloof and distant from other women.

When Nicole pulled him over like this, he showed a helpless smile. He looked at Selena with a smile and nodded.

"Hello, Ms. Nelson. My name is Clayton Sloan."

Selena's face was pale. She turned around to look at the two of them and smiled slightly.

"I'm Selena Nelson."

She lowered her eyes and looked a little uneasy because those words from earlier were still echoing in her mind.

Nicole’s friendly approach made Selena feel guilty for not telling her.

She bit her lower lip, stepped forward, and grabbed Nicole's hand.

"Ms. Stanton, someone is trying to hurt you, so you must be extra careful these few days."

Nicole was dumbfounded for a moment. Her smile gradually became stiff before it faded.

'What?"

That man did not look like he was joking.

If that man wanted to swindle Quinn’s money, or if he was really afraid of the Stanton family and did not dare to hurt Nicole, then he would not fool around with Quinn.

Selena was worried that they were serious.

Selena pursed her lips.

Eric rescued her a few times, so she could not tell anyone about such a scandal in the Ferguson family so bluntly. After all, Quinn was his biological mother.

However, she still had to warn Nicole.

Selena glanced at Nicole. The waiter called for Selena from a distance, so Selena hurried away with her head down.

Nicole was in doubt and stayed silent for a moment.

She looked at Clayton.

Clayton's face was dark and indistinct. Half of his face was hidden in the shadows, so Nicole could not see his expression. However, his side profile seemed sharper.

He looked at Nicole, who was in a daze, and reached out to hug her shoulders.

Clayton said with a deep voice, "Your friend is just making a fuss. She may have overheard someone gossiping about you behind your back, so she thought you were in danger. It takes a lot of planning to implement such a scheme. Most importantly, it takes courage. Who will dare to hurt you with me and your family protecting you? Don’t worry. From now on, I’ll stay by your side no matter what. I'll even follow you to the bathroom." 1

Chapter 2355 Clingy

Nicole gradually relaxed because of what Clayton said. She elbowed him.

'You're so annoying and clingy!"

Clayton smiled and raised his eyebrows. The colorful lights in the bar made him look frivolous and reckless.

"Do you want to get a dog? A Samoyed perhaps?" i

He smiled meaningfully.

Nicole immediately remembered the time she accidentally called him her cousin.

She blushed instantly, turned around, and covered his mouth.

"If you mention it again, I will really get a dog!"

Clayton lowered his head with a smile, pulled her closer, and looked at her red lips deeply.

"Get one then. Woof..."

Nicole was stunned for a moment.

He lightly caressed her cheek, and it felt like someone was tickling the tip of her heart with a feather. It was unbearably itchy.

There was a certain emotion in the man's eyes as he looked at her with a sly smile.

'You can treat me like a Samoyed and hug me every day..."

In fact, he was more like a wolf at night.

During the day, he looked like a well-dressed businessman.

The man's eyes were dark and burning with passion.

Initially, Nicole felt apprehensive because of what Selena told her, but he distracted her with his jokes. The two of them did not stay any longer and left the bar as Clayton held Nicole tightly.

The lights were dim, so no one noticed the blush on their faces.

Their necks and ears were flushed.

Although Selena was greeting some customers downstairs, she could not focus on what she was doing.

From time to time, she looked up at the private room at the end of the corridor.

Three hours later, the people inside started to come out one after the other.

Selena looked over apprehensively.

The man looked to be in his forties with a rugged face. He had a crewcut and an obvious scar on his face. He looked ferocious and did not look like an ordinary person.

However, he looked satisfied, refreshed, and a little tired.

A woman followed behind him. She looked to be in her forties and was dressed like an elegant rich housewife. However, her hair was a little messy, and she had an unusual blush on her face.

The woman was sexually satisfied and kept looking at the man from time to time with a dependent and restrained gaze.

She looked indescribably charming.

Selena seemed to have discovered some major secret and was so frightened that she immediately averted her eyes and went to talk to the bartender next to her.

She only breathed a sigh of relief after the two people left the bar.

Seeing the change in her attitude, the bartender chuckled lightly.

"Hey, Boss. This isn’t surprising. Many rich women come here to look for a boy toy. But I'm puzzled that the man looks so mediocre."

Selena paused. Her face changed slightly.

"How do you know?"

"I can tell at a glance. People like that are afraid that they’ll get busted if they go to a hotel, so some people come here for convenience..."

Selena’s eyes darkened. "Aren’t there surveillance cameras in our rooms?"

"It's harmless. We can just delete it. They choose to have

sex here. Should we keep on the lookout and knock on the door to stop them?"

Selena was speechless.

After thinking about it, she felt that it would be better to tell Eric about this matter.

This was his biological mother’s scandal, so if word spread, it might negatively affect the image of Ferguson Corporation.

Besides, Eric helped her twice, so she should remind him.

Selena sighed.

The bartender next to her reminded her.

"Boss, your phone rang several times. It may be something important. Do you want to answer the call?"

Selena took her phone and looked at it. Her face stiffened.

It was her grandfather's phone number.

After she ignored his message last time, he never contacted her again.

This was the first time in half a month.

Selena was silent for a moment. Then, she went upstairs with her phone.

She did not buy a house or have a home to go back to. She invested all her money into this bar, so she also lived in the bar.

Selena reserved a room for herself on the top floor of the bar.

It was simple but not shabby.

For her, anywhere that she could take shelter from the elements was good enough. When she was abroad, she had lived on the streets before.

Selena did not think too much. The phone kept ringing, not giving her a chance to refuse. i

She went upstairs, closed the door, and shut out the noise behind her.

She went to the balcony and picked up the call.

The two sides were silent.

No one spoke first.

Selena was being stubborn.

She did not want to show her grandfather any gratitude after he sold her off to an abusive man.

Orville Nelson could not stand the silence. His voice was aged and he coughed weakly.

"Did you see the message I sent you? Why didn't you come home when you came back to Mediania?"

Selena's eyes teared up.

She seemed to see her five-year-old self stumbling into her grandfather's arms.

Her grandfather hugged her happily and carried her on his shoulders.

Their close relationship seemed unreal.

However, this was just a frozen memory that existed in the past.

Selena did not understand how her grandfather could be so cruel to her when he loved her so much.

She listened to that old voice as her tears streamed down her face.

There was hatred and resentment.

She responded coldly and indifferently.

"I didn't see it. What do you want?"

Orville knew she was lying, but he did not expose it.

He coughed a few more times before he spoke breathlessly.

"Derek came to the house to look for you several times, saying that we hid you on purpose. Why didn't you go to him when you're back?"

Selena felt like a bucket of cold water was poured over her head.

Selena's face was pale and cold as she trembled all over.

It turned out that her grandfather did not miss her that much. He just did not want Derek to disturb them because of her.

Selena restrained her emotions. Her eyes became deep and indifferent.

"Should I go back and get beaten to death? He's a lunatic! He'll kill me if you give him a knife. Why should I go back?”

She could feel her teeth chattering with anger and resentment.

However, her tone was calm.

Orville coughed heavily and took a deep breath.

"I told you long ago to pay more attention to him. Why would he beat you and kill you? You fled abroad without saying a word, so how could he not resent you for it?"

Selena's tears streamed down her face in a daze.

She did not make a sound.

It turned out that a casual phrase from a relative she cared about could be like a sharp knife that stabbed her in the heart.

They nonchalantly accused her of being incompetent and overly sensitive. i

However, why did she have to tend to her wounds alone and swallow her grievances?

Orville realized that his words were harsh, but before he could say anything, Selena chuckled and spoke calmly without arguing.

"Well, you're right. It's my fault. Everything is my fault, okay? I don’t have time to listen to your lecture, so I'm hanging up now. Everyone is in a good mood, and I don't want my mood

to be affected by a phone call."

Chapter 2356 Exchanging Secrets

Selena took a deep breath.

She had expressed her dissatisfaction and resentment before.

She complained hysterically when the Nelson family sold her out for money and glory.

However, they only cared about their interests and said that it was for her own good. i

Heh...

If Derek was a good man, why did they not marry him themselves?

Just when she was about to hang up the phone impatiently, her grandfather coughed and said in an old and weak tone," Selena, do you hate me that much? Are you planning to never see me again until I die?"

He sounded humble as he sighed helplessly.

"I don’t have long to live, so come and see me for the last time. You can't just cut off the Nelson family after I die, can you?" i

A certain phrase touched her and made her tears fall uncontrollably.

Selena hated her grandfather, but she would still be sad if he died.

Fearing that her emotions would leak, Selena immediately hung up the phone. She crouched on the balcony and began to cry.

She was cowardly and did not dare to resist.

She had been pampered all her life and was not taught to be independent.

Thus, when her grandfather arranged for her to marry someone she did not love, she did not even have the ability and attitude to resist.

Fleeing abroad was the most outrageous thing she had ever done.

She had a doomed marriage. Derek was a womanizer, and she caught him cheating before. The two of them were completely at odds with each other, i

Selena called him shameless, and he called her a cheap b* tch.

Since then, Derek no longer hid his temper. He beat and scolded her.

Selena tried to ask for help.

She begged her grandfather, called the police, and hired a lawyer, but to no avail.

The Nelson family suppressed it, and her grandfather advised her to restrain her temper and just bear with it.

The day before Selena fled the country, Derek threw a vase on her head.

She felt like she was going to die.

Her whole life crumbled, and her world was falling apart.

She might die that night. i

At that time, the Nelson family might get compensated for her death. They might even persuade Derek to get another wife.

Selena almost gave up on herself.

However, her former bodyguard rushed over, rescued her, and helped her to leave the country.

Selena just found a chance to start over.

Her vision was blurry.

Those memories were so bleak that she did not even want to recall them.

Selena did not lose her mind and go back to the Nelson residence.

She struggled all night.

When it was almost dawn, Selena fell asleep for a while, i

Selena woke up and saw a message from Nicole.

[Thanks. I'll take care of myself. You should take care too.]

In her impression, Nicole had always been a good-tempered and gentle person.

However, from Mrs. Ferguson's description of Nicole last night, Selena admired Nicole even more.

Nicole was certainly braver than her for leaving the Ferguson family and finding her own love.

Everyone was responsible for fulfilling their own life.

Compared with Nicole, Selena's life was a mess.

She went to take a shower, got dressed, put on light makeup, and went out. i

It was sunny, but not hot.

The air was refreshing and cool.

It was almost early fall. The leaves of the tall trees by the side of the road began to change colors.

The pedestrians walked fast by the road.

Selena was going to the Nelson residence.

However, she suddenly thought of something and made a detour to Ferguson Corporation.

She did not have an appointment, so she could not get in touch with Eric. The receptionist asked her to wait downstairs.

After drinking three cups of free coffee, Selena still did not get to see Eric.

Selena was a little anxious and suddenly thought of Mitchell.

She called Mitchell, who picked up after two calls.

"Ms. Nelson? What's the matter?”

Mitchell's background was very noisy. It sounded as if he was very busy.

"Mr. Crawford, I’m in the lobby of Ferguson Corporation. I want to talk to Mr. Ferguson. I have something to tell him."

Mitchell walked a few steps until he reached a quiet place before he spoke.

"Ms. Nelson, Mr. Ferguson is very busy now. If you need help with anything, you can tell me first, and I'll pass it on."

Selena frowned slightly. She could not tell Mitchell about Mrs. Ferguson.

She looked at the people coming and going and lowered her voice.

"Nicole Stanton is Mr. Ferguson’s ex-wife, right? It's about her."

Mitchell was silent for a long time.

Just when Selena was about to add something, he let up and said, "Come up."

However, his tone was not as gentle as before.

When Selena mentioned Nicole, Mitchell thought that Selena wanted to use the relationship between Nicole and Eric to achieve her own goals.

Selena must have a motive.

Mitchell could not decide on this, so he could only pass it onto Eric.

He pushed open the door of the meeting room, walked to Eric's side, and whispered a few words.

Eric's indifferent eyes turned impatient.

"Bring her to the office and let her wait there."

Mitchell nodded.

Selena waited in that cold office for half an hour.

She stood up and stretched her back out of boredom. Then, she walked and looked around the office.

Unexpectedly, she inadvertently glanced at a photo on Eric's desk.

The photo looked a bit dated.

It seemed to be taken on the banks of the Seine River. Eric and Nicole stood there. One was smiling while the other sneered.

Nicole was the one who sneered.

However, Eric had a rare smile that came from his heart.

Selena seemed to have discovered some secret. She hurried back to the sofa and sat down while her heart was pounding.

For some reason, she felt a little scared.

The office door was pushed open.

Eric walked in with strides. He was tall and lean, and he glanced at Selena indifferently.

"Ms. Nelson, what do you need from me?”

Mitchell handed over the document in his hand. Eric signed it without looking at it and returned it to him.

Then, Mitchell walked out with the document.

Throughout the whole process, he did not even glance at Selena.

The office fell into silence.

Selena stood up and nodded with a serious look on her face.

"Mr. Ferguson, since you've helped me, I promise that everything I'm about to say is true."

Eric's face was gloomy and cold. He stared at her with dark eyes. His side profile was resolute and smooth, and his eyes were sharp as he scrutinized her.

Selena's voice was calm as she said, "Last night, at my bar... Your mother and a man entered a private room, and they were discussing how to deal with your ex-wife, Nicole Stanton."

She paused and noticed that Eric's expression had changed because of these few words.

'They dare?"

The man gritted his teeth.

Selena lowered her gaze. Sure enough, Eric could not forget about Nicole since he still had Nicole's photo and was still worried about her safety.

It did not seem like something Selena should know about.

Selena paused and continued.

"After the man rejected her, he made another offer, and..."

Under Eric's cold gaze, Selena lowered her head, and her face turned strangely red. i 'The two of them... Had sex and only left three hours later..."

Chapter 2357 Joke

At that moment, Selena could feel the temperature in the office dropping below freezing point.

The chill could freeze over everything in an instant.

Eric’s face was gloomy. His long eyelashes drooped down, and when he raised his gaze again, he had already covered up the turbulent emotions inside, i

Selena did not even dare to speak anymore.

Eric's tone was cold and stern. He raised his chin and revealed his sharp jawline.

"Why should I trust you?"

Selena raised her eyes and looked at him.

'There are surveillance cameras in every room. If you want to see it, I can have someone bring it to you, but I advise you against watching it. I'll delete it.”

She stood up, pursed her lips, and said in a soft voice, "I just want to thank you. I'm not taking this opportunity to blackmail you.”

"Did you tell Nicole?" Eric suddenly asked.

The first thing he cared about was his ex-wife.

Selena was a little touched.

"Ms. Stanton and her husband also went to the bar last

night. I reminded her to be careful, but I didn't say anything else."

Eric lowered his eyes. He felt like someone strangled his throat.

His face became extremely glum, livid, and cold as if he could kill someone.

Anger and pent-up emotions seemed to be tinged with rage and disappointment.

After all, his biological mother did this kind of thing and completely disregarded her family’s reputation and her son’s thoughts. No one would be able to accept it.

After a dead silence, Eric raised his dark eyes which were sharp and stern. His voice was hoarse and forbearing as he said, "I'll get someone to go over and destroy the footage. I hope you can cooperate."

"Certainly."

Selena had no objections.

After thinking about it, Selena did not want to stay any longer.

"I’ve said everything I need to. We're even now. I have other things to tend to. Goodbye."

She nodded and turned to leave.

When her hand touched the office door, Eric said indifferently, "Ms. Nelson, shall I give you a gift?"

Selena turned her head in surprise.

Eric stood there without any emotion as he calmly tugged at his collar, looking unruly.

He knew the weight of this secret.

Thus, she knew that they were not even after helping her twice.

Eric looked at her silently, but his words were cold.

"Don't feel sorry for your failed marriage. Do you know why Orville Nelson married you off to Derek Norton in exchange for resources from the Nelson family? That's because you're not his biological granddaughter. You're an illegitimate child because your mother cheated on your father. After your parents died in a car accident, no one knew this secret. Your biological father went to Orville Nelson and asked for money when you came of age. Only then did Orville Nelson find out about your background and take a paternity test."

Eric spoke slowly without the slightest emotion. He was stating a fact that had nothing to do with him.

However, Selena froze. She was stiff and cold, and her face was pale.

She trembled unconsciously as if she could not accept this fact.

Her palms were sweating, and she looked sideways at him as tears fell unconsciously.

"You..."

Eric looked at her. His dark eyes were still.

He was inexplicably aggressive.

"I wanted to help you as compensation for hitting you with my car, but you refused. It's not too late to tell you now."

He did not like people who pestered him because of benefits.

Since he accidentally bumped into Selena, he sent people to investigate this woman.

She was cowardly, useless, and sentimental.

If she put forward her conditions, he would help her, but she gave up.

Selena did not even know how to use the resources around her, so she was worthless.

Selena did not react for a long time. She stood there and let her tears fall.

Her body trembled slightly.

A numbing pain came from her heart and spread to her limbs.

Soon, she opened the door and walked out.

The office was dead silent.

A few minutes later, Mitchell pushed the door open and came in.

"Mr. Ferguson."

Eric was sitting on the sofa with his back bent and his head hanging low.

The veins on his neck were clearly visible, and his skin was lifeless and pale.

He seemed to be immersed in overwhelming loneliness.

Mitchell felt uneasy.

He did not know what Selena said to Eric to make the always indifferent Eric become like this.

After a long time, Eric raised his head slowly. His face was uncontrollably glum and cold. His pupils were deep and turbulent like the sea.

His dark eyebrows suppressed a strong hostility.

His voice was tough and gloomy as he parted his thin lips slightly.

"Go to Selena’s bar and destroy all the surveillance footage. Don't let anyone check the contents and destroy them in the most thorough way. Get someone to look for Nicole... Forget it, look for Clayton instead."

Mitchell listened solemnly, nodded, and did not dare to ask more questions.

He vaguely felt that it had something to do with Nicole, but it was not entirely about her either.

There seemed to be an even bigger secret behind this. 1

After he left, Eric bent his back again. He felt as if he was about to collapse.

He remembered the last quarrel he had with his mother.

He thought she understood.

After being Mrs. Ferguson for so many years, she had all the glory and wealth she wanted, but she still did not understand what her responsibility was. 1

This mother...

Eric did not even feel disappointed.

Eric pinched his sullen eyebrows, and his eyes were red as if he was suppressing something.

He felt that the corners of his eyes were slightly wet, so he slid his fingertips over as if nothing was wrong. i

In the end, he still looked like the cold and ruthless Eric that people feared.

Mitchell acted quickly.

After returning, he put a memory card on Eric's desktop.

Eric raised his eyes coldly.

Mitchell paused and explained, 'This is their backup card. I saw the others being destroyed with my own eyes. Ms. Nelson called and agreed. The people at the bar also cooperated. If you don't want to see it, I’ll destroy it."

Eric did not move. He looked gloomy, and his tone was cold and scary.

"Have you seen it?"

Mitchell pursed his lips and shook his head. "No."

He still did not know what was in the footage that Eric asked him to destroy.

Eric stared at him to check whether he was lying.

He was exuding a domineering vibe that seemed to be able to devour everything.

However, Mitchell had a clear conscience.

Even if Mitchell was not guilty, it did not mean that he was not afraid.

The reason Mitchell kept a backup was because of his professional habit to answer Eric if needed. That way, he would not be helpless when Eric asked for it. ’

Mitchell did not know that the footage inside could not be seen by others.

After a long time, Mitchell felt chills on his back from being stared at so intensely. When he was fidgeting, Eric finally let him go.

'You may leave.

'Yes, sir."

Chapter 2358 Lover's Prattle

The man's dark eyelashes seemed to be hiding turbulent emotions.

He looked at the card on the table and picked it up subconsciously.

Maybe Selena lied?

But what if it was true?

Eric plugged the memory card into the computer.

There were many videos in the folder.

He was looking for yesterday's date.

Eric saw Nicole and Clayton, as well as Quinn and that scarred-face man.

The next video happened to be the footage inside the private room.

Eric accidentally opened it.

He saw Quinn's distorted face as she accused Nicole and Eric in front of that scarred-face man. Everything she said was harsh.

Afterward, that man started to touch Quinn.

'That's easy. Just give birth to another one.'

When the man said that, Quinn's expression turned calm.

It seemed like a good idea to give birth to another one.

Hah...

Eric pulled out the card abruptly, picked up the ashtray on the table, and smashed the ashtray down on the memory card.

His expectation of his mother had been reduced to nothing since he was an adult.

He only respected her because she gave birth to him.

However, he would only reciprocate the amount of care and love she showed him, especially since he was a calculative businessman.

His mother was no exception.

At this time, his emotions completely overwhelmed him.

His eyes were red and cold. He looked disappointed and found this absurd.

The storm brewed in his eyes.

Give birth to another one?

Quinn wanted to have another child with a stranger and wanted that new child to take charge of the Ferguson family instead of Eric.

Eric had never felt so insulted in his life!

The little bit of love he had for his mother disappeared.

In the end, there was nothing but desolation and disgust for her.

Clayton watched as a stranger bowed his head and talked to him in the car.

The corners of his mouth twitched. No one could see any emotion on his face. He raised his eyes and asked gently," Mr. Ferguson asked you to come?"

The other party nodded.

Clayton smiled calmly and politely.

'Thank you. Please convey my thanks to Mr. Ferguson and tell him that I understand."

The man nodded and left. He mixed into the crowd and disappeared.

Clayton narrowed his eyes. His expression was somewhat deep and indifferent.

Eric did not go directly to Nicole, which impressed Clayton.

As Clayton was deep in thought, a woman in high heels ran out of the door.

Clayton frowned and immediately opened the door to get out of the car.

"Slow down. I told you not to run while wearing high heels.

You'll fall."

Nicole walked over with a smile and raised her eyebrows.

"Wouldn’t it be better to fall in?"

Clayton looked at her in confusion.

"Fall in where?"

Nicole passed by and smiled brightly.

"Fall into your heart, of course..."

Clayton was speechless.

The people passing by covered their ears and were afraid to listen any further. They left in a hurry.

The tips of Clayton's ears began to turn red slowly.

It seemed to burn his heart.

Clayton was still a little embarrassed. He grabbed her arm and got into the car, then said in a low voice, "Some things are better said behind closed doors. Do you want it again?"

He thought that Nicole's words were a hint.

Clayton was already reflecting on his poor performance lately. Did he not satisfy her?

He was ready to give her a good one tonight, so he had to get ready.

Nicole's expression changed subtly, and she blushed in an instant.

Her blushing face seemed to blend into the sunset.

As soon as she wanted to explain herself, Clayton stuffed her into the car. Then, he went around the front and got into the driver's seat.

He endured the burning passion in his heart and looked at her with deep eyes.

"Hold on. We'll be home soon."

Just as he was about to press the start engine button, Nicole suddenly grabbed his hand.

It was hot and sweaty.

"Wait a moment."

Nicole was flustered.

She felt that if she did not explain herself clearly, she would not be able to get out of it later.

Clayton looked at her seriously, sincerely, and with focus.

Nicole pursed her lips and explained dryly.

"Don’t get me wrong about what I said. It's just a tacky pickup line. It’s gained popularity in the office recently, and some people told me about it, so I just learned a few sentences."

The air in the car instantly turned cold.

Clayton's gaze also cooled down. His jawline was not as taut, and his voice was somewhat cold.

"Who said this to you? Who did you learn it from?"

This was what he gathered.

There were so many secret admirers and love rivals waiting to get their hands on his wife. How worrying!

Nicole blinked. Her crystal-clear eyes flickered, and she told him the truth.

"Logan's wife came to accompany him to work overtime and had a chat with me."

Clayton breathed a sigh of relief. His expression softened visibly.

"When did Logan get married? I didn’t know this..." 'They just got their marriage license and plan to have a wedding next year!"

Clayton smiled with his eyes.

"Remind me to give him a big gift. He's been working hard for you."

Nicole nodded. Clayton held her hand tightly and said with a smile, 'That pickup line isn't tacky at all. You can say it often in the future, but you can only say it to me!"

Nicole's face turned red for a moment. She had never seen him so straightforward.

She could feel the lingering heat in the air.

There was no rush now.

Clayton looked at her. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly.

'Then we don't have to rush home. Shall we go to the movie theater?"

Nicole's eyes flickered slightly.

"I thought you didn't like movie theaters? It’s crowded, and you don't like the ambiance. We have a movie theater at home, so we can go home and watch a movie."

Clayton casually took out a piece of tissue from the side. He carefully and meticulously wiped off the lipstick she had just put on. He chuckled in a low voice that made Nicole's chest reverberate.

"It's alright once in a while. But you just reminded me that the ambiance isn't great. It’s better if we watch a movie at home."

Nicole saw something different in his eyes.

He looked abstinent.

Nicole’s heart shrank. She pursed her lips and reminded him.

"You promised to pick Chatty and Fischer up today."

Although she was smitten with Clayton, she did not want him to be too smug, i

Thus, she had to reject him from time to time.

Clayton raised his eyebrows. The veins on the side of his neck bulged slightly.

"Dad loves them, so they can stay there a bit longer!"

Nicole was speechless.

Selena knew that Eric would not lie.

However, she could not believe it.

Selena never went to the Nelson Residence.

A week later on a cloudy day, the air was chilly as the temperature dropped all of a sudden.

Selena was resting in the bar. Derek did not show up for a few days in a row. This made Selena wonder if Derek had fallen in love with another social media influencer again and let her go temporarily.

However, the Nelson family still pestered her.

There was a loud noise downstairs.

"Get Selena to come out! Does she think that she's independent now?! Doesn't she know what her last name is?" 'The Nelson family raised her, yet she turned a blind eye to us and refused to acknowledge us?" "Dad is dying in the hospital, but she still doesn't want to go there and visit him! What is she waiting for?" "That heartless girl! Selena! Tell her to come out now! I'm her uncle!" 1

The waiter had no choice but to knock on Selena's door, i

Coincidentally, Selena heard the noise and was about to come out.

The waiter hesitated to speak.

"Boss..." i

Chapter 2359 Scheme

Selena nodded. "I see. You can get back to work."

Orville Nelson only had one son, who had passed away.

Selena's so-called "uncle" was just a godson Orville Nelson adopted from a relative. He had a blood relationship with the Nelson family, so Orville Nelson gave him everything without hesitation.

Selena was asked to marry Derek in exchange for the chance to save the Nelson family.

In fact, to put it bluntly, it was a chance for her "uncle".

She felt aggrieved, unreconciled, and angry before.

Selena was Orville's granddaughter, but she could not compare to his "godson".

She thought that her grandfather was so patriarchal to the point of confusion.

Selena longed for her grandfather to realize his mistake and apologize to her, so they could make up and forget about the past.

However, since she knew about her lineage, she knew that such a day would never come.

Selena was evidence of her biological mother's adultery. She was a shame to the entire Nelson family, so how could Orville Nelson hand over the Nelson family to Selena?

To Orville, Selena was worse than her "uncle".

Selena did not sleep well for several days in a row, so her complexion was dull.

She came down with a bleary look and an indifferent attitude. She went down a few flights of stairs and stood three steps away from the ground to look at her "uncle". The corner of her mouth twitched indifferently.

"Why are you looking for me?" "You’ve been back in Mediania for so long, yet you haven’t gone home to see your grandfather once. Do you still think of us as your family?"

As soon as her uncle went forward, he began to criticize her with a livid face.

Selena stood there. Her eyes flickered slightly, but she did not speak.

Her uncle thought she was guilty, so he scolded her relentlessly.

"Look at you now. You don't come back home, and you don't care that your husband is having an affair. His illegitimate child is about to be born, yet you still have the cheek to stand here! You're really something! If I were you, I'd feel so embarrassed that I wished I died abroad. How can you endure the humiliation and come back? You're just embarrassing the Nelson family. If Derek has an illegitimate child, will he still respect our family?"

Her uncle’s face was flushed from yelling. It was as if he had used all his strength to scold her.

Selena stood there with a calm expression and looked at him indifferently.

Her eyes were hollow, and she could not seem to hear anything coming out of his mouth.

Perhaps she heard everything, but she did not take it to heart. She did not feel heartbroken anymore.

The Nelson family could no longer hurt her.

Eric told her this fact that made everything she knew in the past void. She had also regained her courage.

The Nelson family raised her for eighteen years and sold her off in exchange for wealth and glory.

Selena owed them nothing.

There was no need to expect any love and care from them.

She was truly alone in this world.

Even though her existence was unseemly, she had human rights, and her life was equally precious.

She should not be used as a commodity or as their punching bag.

The waiter on the side could not bear it anymore and said," Are you here to make trouble? If you continue to swear like this, we'll call the police whether you’re our boss's relative or friend!"

Selena's uncle was taken aback for a moment and suddenly became furious.

Just as he was about to argue with the waiter, Selena calmly said, "Just get to the point. I'm not here to listen to your criticism."

Her uncle's face was red from anger.

He took a deep breath and calmed himself down, not forgetting the purpose of his visit.

"Dad is hospitalized, and he wants to see you one last time. He called you before, but you never went home, so he asked me to come to you in person."

Her uncle sounded distraught as if his biological father was about to die.

Selena's eyes were in a daze for a moment, and the corners of her lips curled into a cold arc.

"So, are you going or not? If you don’t want to go, I'll get someone to tie you up and bring you there!"

Her uncle put down harsh words. He absolutely did not believe that the meek Selena would dare to refuse.

The waiter next to Selena looked at the man warily.

Selena smiled faintly.

"I'll go. Tell me which hospital and ward number Grandpa is in. I'll go after I get dressed. If you want, you can wait for me."

Of course, her uncle did not want to wait for her.

His face was glum, and his voice was indifferent as he said," He's at CA Hospital. I'm not bothered to wait for you."

After he finished speaking, he turned and left.

Orville Nelson was on his last breath. He had not signed the will yet, so he had to go over and keep watch.

As soon as he left, the waiters turned to look at Selena.

They looked at her with concern and pity in their eyes.

The corners of Selena's mouth twitched, and her attitude was nonchalant.

"You guys can go back to work. Everything is fine. Don't worry about me." "Boss, your family members are really something. They treated you so badly and even came here to scold you. They didn't even stop to think about how they could get to where they are today without your sacrifice!"

Some of them were used to Derek making trouble at the bar, but Selena did not sue him.

Thus, they had a rough idea of Selena's private affairs.

They could not stand it anymore.

Everyone else nodded.

Selena smiled and raised her eyebrows indifferently. "It's okay. I’ll go there once and resolve everything."

After she finished speaking, she turned around and went upstairs.

She made up her mind and cleaned up well before she went to the hospital.

On the way to the hospital, she thought about how kind her grandfather was to her back then. That was only because he thought she was his biological granddaughter. Selena had already repaid his kindness by sacrificing her own happiness.

She did not owe the Nelson family anymore.

Selena did not know why the mother she had never met made such a mistake, but Selena did not resent her.

Orville Nelson did not let Selena's biological father take her away probably because he was afraid that he would raise her for nothing.

Thus, as soon as she turned 18, Orville could not wait to marry her off.

Selena smiled and shook her head.

Soon, she arrived at the hospital.

She parked the car and went upstairs.

Selena went to the ward where Orville Nelson was in.

This floor was quiet. A few people were standing at the door of the ward and discussing something in low voices.

"Why did the old man insist on waiting for Selena to sign the documents? Does he want to leave everything to Selena?" "That brat hasn't come home to see us after returning to Mediania. How could she fight with us for the inheritance?" "Right! The company is now in Big Brother's hands. All that's left is this one last step. If the old man gives all his property to Selena, we’ll contest it!"

Selena walked over step by step. Her face was calm without any emotion on her face.

The woman who spoke the most was slightly taken aback. She looked sideways at Selena, who was approaching them, and instantly changed her expression.

Selena had fair and tender skin, lustrous eyes, and striking facial features. She looked pure yet charming, just downright beautiful.

She was even more beautiful than her biological mother.

However, what was the point of being so beautiful? She was still sold off to an abusive man.

Selena was certainly a femme fatale. If only they could use this face to curry favor with high-ranking officials...

Selena's aunt went over with a friendly smile. "Selena, you're finally here! We've been waiting for you. I haven't seen you in three years, and I really miss you."

Chapter 2360 Will

Selena heard what her aunt said earlier.

Thus, she was a little surprised at how fast her aunt changed her tune.

She thought about it and could not help but admire her aunt's character.

Selena smiled. "I'm going to see grandpa." "Your grandfather is inside. He woke up a while just now, and he has been thinking about you all this time. You've been away for three years, yet you didn't update us about your well-being. You made us worry every day."

Seeing that her aunt was about to start chattering again, Selena smiled slightly and walked straight to the door of the ward.

Selena's attitude was not friendly.

Her aunt’s face darkened, and she snorted coldly.

"The old man is going to die soon, so who else will coddle her? Contact Derek immediately and ask him to take her away. In the meantime, we can talk to him about his investment in the next project."

The person next to her nodded in agreement.

Selena pushed the door open and went in. There were three other people in the ward.

She did not recognize two of them, and the other one was her uncle.

The ward was filled with the smell of medicine and disinfectant, which made the air stale and suffocating.

The three of them watched as Selena came in, and their expressions changed slightly.

Her uncle sat next to her grandfather, and he looked glum.

Standing there, Selena glanced at the person lying on the bed. He was old and wrinkled. His body was reduced to skin and bones. He looked like a shriveled leaf about to fall off a dead branch.

The machine next to him displayed his unsteady heartbeat as it beeped.

Selena felt a chill in the room.

She did not move and was deep in thought without showing any signs of sadness or joy on her face.

Her uncle wanted to scold her, but after some thought, he held back and said in a low voice, "You finally came? You little ingrate... Your grandpa loved you for nothing!"

Selena stood there indifferently. She did not step forward or refute him.

However, her eyes were dim, and there was a dead silence.

After a while, the sleeping person on the bed suddenly moved and breathed quickly.

Her uncle's face was filled with joy, and he quickly bent down to say, "Dad, are you awake? I’ll get the doctor right now!"

Just as he was about to get the doctor, the old man slowly opened his cloudy eyes.

The old man stretched out his trembling hand and pointed at Selena, who was standing there.

What he wanted was self-evident.

The other two people were shocked as they looked at Selena with gloomy expressions.

Her uncle reluctantly moved out of the way as Selena walked forward slowly. She sat upright and looked at this strange yet familiar old man with a calm expression.

The old man used to be kind to her, but he was extremely vicious.

He raised her and ruined her.

Therefore, she did not have much gratitude or hatred for him.

Her heart was extremely torn.

The old man stared at her for a few seconds.

Neither of them spoke.

Finally, the old man waved his hand to signal everyone else to leave the room.

The uncle's face was complicated and tangled. "Dad..."

The old man took a deep breath and waved him off.

The uncle gritted his teeth reluctantly and warned Selena.

Don’t be too hopeful. Whatever your grandfather says doesn't count because he's not of sound mind. We won't acknowledge it."

Selena frowned slightly. She still did not understand what these words meant.

Soon, she would understand.

Her uncle went out with the other two people and slammed the door shut.

The only sound left in the ward was the sound of the medical instruments beeping.

Selena looked at the old man lying on the bed with a complicated gaze.

His face was dull and sullen, and he looked like an old man who was on his deathbed.

The grandfather who often carried her on his shoulders seemed to have broken his spine all of a sudden.

She suddenly thought about the time when she heard her grandfather telling her that she was to marry Derek. Back then, she cried, made a fuss, and acted like a baby.

However, it did not work.

The old man was determined to marry her off. He would let her starve when she went on a hunger strike or let her go thirsty when she refused to drink. He would also lock her up when she wanted to escape.

He made sure that Selena went and got a marriage license with Derek before he let her go.

Selena would always remember her grandfather’s indifference and his change in attitude during that period of time.

The person on the bed blinked and took a deep breath.

"Selena, do you still hate me?"

His voice was old, weak, and lifeless.

Selena pursed her lips and looked calm.

"What do you think? How could I not hate you?"

The old man's eyes dimmed for a moment, and his breath became more labored.

He looked at her slowly, with complicated and cloudy eyes:

For some reason, this sentence made her heart swell rapidly like it was a thick sponge soaked in water. She felt uncomfortable and sad.

It made her feel a heart-wrenching pain, but she could not bring herself to cry out loud.

If Eric had not told her about her birth, she might be crying out of grievance at this moment, and she might even forgive her grandfather for everything he did to her.

Selena had already planned to be free of the Nelson family when her grandfather died.

The only thing that could hold her back was a blood relationship with him.

Without this blood relationship, Selena felt like a kite with a broken string that got stuck in a tree and fluttered with the wind.

She sat there with tears in her eyes, but she did not allow herself to cry.

After a long time, she spoke.

"We're even now," she said.

Orville Nelson was stunned and dazed for a moment. Then, he looked at her deeply.

He wondered if she knew something.

Perhaps her hatred would end with his departure.

He took a deep breath, took out a document from under the pillow beside him, and lowered his head.

His hands were trembling and covered with furrowed wrinkles.

It was a sign of his age.

Selena took it and opened the document bag.

It was a will.

Selena looked at the will and saw that he had transferred all the shares under his name to her. However, the final decision-making power in the company still belonged to Selena's uncle.

Her hands trembled slightly, and she could not describe what she was feeling.

It was a sour and bitter feeling.

His face became pale, wretched, and haggard.

Orville's voice was old and trembling.

"After my death, it's up to you whether you want to divorce Derek or not. The company can't operate without your uncle, so assist him well. From now on, you should keep in touch with the family more and fight back when you're bullied.

Cough cough cough..."

He seemed to be telling her his last words, giving her everything he had to make it up to her.

He seemed to be setting her free and returning to becoming her support again.

However, Selena knew better.

She was no longer her eighteen-year-old ignorant self.

The Nelson family was in debt, and they could not even land a project. What was the use of these shares?

Selena suddenly laughed, and her tears finally flowed out.

She really wanted to send him off peacefully, but she could not.

Selena put down the will in her hand and said in an extremely calm tone, "No one helped me when I was bullied even with you alive. What makes you think that they will care about me when you're gone, Grandpa?"

The old man's eyes flickered slightly, and he looked guilty.

"Selena..."