Ch. 251..260
Read Novel "Divorced Billionaire Heiress" chapter No.251
There was a moment of silence.
The reporters continued to ask questions, but they were much more moderate this time.
“In that case, could you give an explanation regarding Professor Meyer's video?“
If Stanton Corporation admitted to plagiarism, that means it was Professor Meyer who was lying.
Plagiarism was the most intolerable act in the academic world.
Nicole revealed a smile that was bright and confident.
She stood up and said with a firm and gentle voice, “ The achievement of the three-party cooperation project isn't because of Professor Meyer, but the secrets that were stolen by him. Now, let me introduce the central figure of our research team, who is also the youngest scientist that won the most prestigious Breakthrough Prize in the industry, Maverick.“
As soon as her words fell, the venue was instantly plunged into silence as the crowd froze.
From another door in the venue, a handsome young man walked out with a calm gait.
The genius scientist who could only be seen on TV or in magazines appeared right in front of them.
Maverick's temperament was not pedantic and dull like a traditional scientist. Instead, he had an air of flamboyant indifference.
Who amongst the reporters did not know who Maverick was?
Instantly, the venue resounded with thunderous applause!
Countless lights flashed repeatedly.
Everyone knew that this Great God did not like to give interviews, and it was already a pleasant surprise to have him say a few words.
However, how was he actually willing to come out and explain this minor matter?
With Maverick's appearance, all the rumors collapsed.
His status was approved on an international level. There was no need for further explanation.
Professor Meyer's insinuation was simply a self- directed farce!
What so—called expert? Compared to Maverick, Professor Meyer's status was not even worth mentioning.
Who would dare to lay their hands on what Maverick owned?
It seemed there would no longer be a place for Professor Meyer in the industry.
Maverick deliberately stood still for a few seconds to let the reporters take pictures of him.
Nicole then said in a gentle voice, “Come up and have a seat...“
Maverick obediently went around the side and smiled as his gaze met Nicole's. They looked like they understood each other very well.
The reporters' cameras did not let go of this moment.
(How sweet...]
(Is President Nicole a Mr. Perfect magnet?]
(I would die happy if the Great God looked at me like that!]
(President Nicole, marry me...]
Maverick sat down and smiled leisurely, then began to explain the matter.
However, no one noticed that Gerard and Eric's expressions became very complicated.
Gerard spoke quietly in a voice that only the two of them could hear, “She actually managed to invite the Great God over?! President Nicole really has good connections. I don't believe that they have no relationship...“
Eric's expression was gloomy and sullen. Maverick's appearance made him very unhappy. “What's it got to do with you anyway?“
Gerard could hear the displeasure in Eric's voice. He smiled and said, “No, but it has something to do with you. Your number of love rivals just increased again...“
Eric's face turned cold. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly heard a reporter start to gossip.
“President Nicole, what is your relationship with Maverick? Friends? Lovers?“
The atmosphere in the hall became silent. Everyone was waiting for the answer.
This question had gone beyond the scope, so Nicole could certainly stop and change the topic.
However, Nicole did not show any displeasure.
She smiled faintly and glanced at Maverick, then spoke without lowering her voice.
“Shall we announce it?“ Everyone perked up.
Maverick said, “If you want to.“ Everyone was at the edge of their seats.
It seemed like they were about to get a huge scoop! They could not miss it!
Eric's expression was tight and ugly as his hands instantly clenched into fists.
Nicole paused for several seconds, deliberately keeping the crowd in suspense.
She smiled meaningfully.
The atmosphere immediately became tense.
Under the spotlight, in front of the numerous reporters, she took Maverick's hand and intertwined their fingers.
Her voice was gentle with a hint of pride. “Then let me introduce you to Maverick Stanton. Yes, the same Stanton as Stanton Corporation, my father Floyd Stanton's son and my second brother, who also happens to be a very amazing scientist.”
Read Novel "Divorced Billionaire Heiress" chapter No.252
As soon as the words were spoken, the hall was plunged into pin-drop silence.
The next second, a thunderous commotion instantly erupted!
The barrage on the internet was even more intense. (Holy sh*t! What kind of reversal is this?]
(I thought I was going to be lovelorn! President Nicole, marry me! ]
(Aaaaaaaahhhh !!! Nicole has three godly brothers! Why don't I have any?! ]
(I thought that there wouldn't be a bigger secret after it was revealed that Kai was a Stanton. How did the Stantons churn out so many elites in the various industries?]
(The Great God Maverick was actually from a rich and influential family? No one knew from how low- key his background was!]
(He cou1d've just relied on his family, but he decided to make a mark on his own instead.]
(Our Fabian still has a chance! President Nicole, please remember to think of him...]
Inside the venue, everyone's voices covered the original purpose of the meeting, and the conference was extended for more than half an hour.
Gerard Lichman tugged on Eric's sleeve and refused to let go. “Did you hear that?“
Eric snapped back to his senses. Of course, he heard it.
Nicole's voice echoed in his head.
It was like a loop, playing over and over again without stopping.
Maverick was a Stanton. He was Nicole's brother.
Eric should have guessed it since Maverick seemed so familiar with Nicole...
On the surface, Eric looked calm and poised, but his emotions inside could not help but jump in excitement.
His anger almost rushed to his head earlier.
Gerard's tone sounded sarcastically regretful. “What a surprise, huh? They're actually siblings. It seems like President Nicole's type isn't the Great God Maverick...“
The corners of Eric's mouth curled slightly, emphasizing his angular jawline and giving him a reserved and noble aura.
“Nicole has always had high expectations...“ 'Otherwise, how would she have liked me in the first place...'
At those words, Gerard no longer wanted to talk to him. 'Is he just complimenting himself in a roundabout manner? Unfortunately for him, Nicole's tastes have since changed...'
After the press conference, Nicole and Maverick sent the people away politely.
The reporters gained a lot today. Not only did they see Eric's rare smile, but Maverick's appearance was also a pleasant surprise.
Gerard and Eric said goodbye at the door. Gerard's assistant urged him repeatedly, but he simply watched as Eric kept glancing at the time.
He did not look like he was in a hurry and was still quite leisurely.
His eyes swept over to Nicole, who was handling the remaining matters in the venue. Her clean-cut and refreshing dress was indeed eye-catching.
Gerard smiled faintly and let out a soft sigh. “ Unexpectedly, Nicole managed to solve such a tricky matter so easily. Although they figuratively broke their own arm, they managed to nail in Stanton Corporation's good reputation. It's a beautiful win! Nicole's the only crafty little fox who can come out unscathed from the ruthless business world.“
Eric's eyes sunk slightly as his expression seemed to become somewhat discontented.
His voice was low and husky. “She's clearly a little white rabbit.“
In his view, Nicole's methods were still too soft.
Although everything was handled properly, the top management in Jericho City had to take full responsibility, not just pay monetary compensation.
Gerard's mouth twitched as his eyes flashed.
He was slightly speechless.
Nicole walked over with a professional and polite smile. There were no extra emotions on her face.
She did not even glance at Eric and spoke directly to Gerard. “This matter will soon pass. I'm truly sorry for the trouble we caused you.“
Gerard raised his eyebrows, unconcerned. “It's fine as long as the matter is resolved. Good job, President Nicole. Today's news should be enough to bring Stanton Corporation's falling stock price back to the top. Congratulations...“
He was referring to the announcement of Maverick's identity.
Nicole smiled. “It's a win-win situation. Congratulations to you too, President Lichman.“
“It's getting late. I still have work to do, so see you soon.“
Gerard nodded slightly and glanced at Eric before turning to leave.
Eric looked at Nicole. Her gestures were graceful and elegant, and she looked at him with a polite but fake smile.
His heart sank slightly.
“Mr. Ferguson, I would also like to thank you for having Mr. Lichman inform me about what happened in Jericho City.“
Nicole was the first to speak.
Eric hesitated slightly. “How do you intend to thank me?"
Read Novel "Divorced Billionaire Heiress" chapter No.253
Nicole paused in surprise. 'Huh? Shouldn't his words have been, “You're welcome, I didn't do much“?
This freak Eric Ferguson really doesn't play by the rules...'
Nicole secretly rolled her eyes in her heart, but she maintained a polite smile on the surface. “I just did.“
Then, she turned and left.
Eric spoke up behind her. “Believe it or not, what happened that night with Chloe Snyder had nothing to do with me.“
His expression was tense and slightly unpleasant.
What kind of person was Eric Ferguson? Would he be fixated on such a trivial matter?
He even went through the effort to explain himself?
Eric repeatedly recalled the way Nicole looked at him that night.
Her eyes were full of distrust.
It was like a knife gouging out his heart.
For the first time, he experienced the helplessness of not being trusted.
She kicked him out of her world and no longer believed a word he said.
Nicole's back stiffened slightly.
She thought of what Logan investigated, so she completely forgot about this matter.
To her, it did not matter whether he was telling the truth or not.
Eric's attitude and explanation came out of nowhere. “Mr. Ferguson, it doesn't matter if you were involved or not. The matter has passed.“
Nicole smiled and left.
The plagiarism incident was over, and the so -called Professor Meyer was now detested and shouted at by everyone.
The person who stole the chip was Professor Meyer's young lover, who was an intern that had just joined J&L Corporation and a classmate of Lydia's relative.
Professor Meyer had been arrested by the police. The company in Jericho City started its bankruptcy proceedings.
Noah Stanton refused to give up easily and came to Stanton Tower multiple times, refusing to leave and making a big fuss to see Floyd.
“How dare you do this to me? I'm a Stanton! “
Nicole sat in her office eating dessert, but she was annoyed to the point where the dessert had lost its taste.
Logan looked at her expression and asked, “Should we get the security guards to escort him out?“
The other employees already had this idea for a long time.
However, since Noah was Nicole's uncle, they did not dare to stand out and propose it.
Nicole looked at some photos that the people in Jericho City sent to her computer, and her face sank. “Let him in.“
Logan was slightly confused, but he did not dare to object and immediately went out.
“I thought you'd be hiding and wouldn't dare to see me. Nicole, why are you so cold-blooded...“
Noah had stubble lining his jaw, which made him look unkempt.
It seemed like he had been quite worried these few days.
Nicole poured him a cup of tea and placed it on the table.
“Uncle, I have unfortunate news for you.“
Noah froze.
Nicole's voice was calm and without warmth. “As of ten minutes ago, the person in charge of the Jericho City Branch's finances found that all the funds in your books have gone missing, and all the real estate and stock under your name have been sold. You don't even have a fraction of money left to pay to your partners...“
Noah had not even sat down. He stiffened fiercely as he suddenly coughed.
His face turned bright red. “Y-You're lying!“
Nicole projected the photos on her computer directly on the wall so that he could see them clearly.
“While you were here kicking up a fuss, your lover and daughter took the money and ran away. They brought along her security guard husband and escaped far away. Uncle Noah, don't you have any wariness of outsiders?“
Noah was livid.
His bloodshot eyes were cloudy and gloomy as he stared furiously at the photos on the wall.
The two women wrapped him around their fingers with soft and gentle coaxes.
In the photo, the two women held a lanky middle - aged man. Their sneaky figures could not help but make people's imaginations go wild regarding their relationship.
Noah knew that man.
He already got someone to investigate the man after Nicole mentioned it at her birthday party.
That man was Jade's husband, as well as Lydia's father.
However, Noah was here kicking up a fuss like a fool instead!
Nicole saw his reaction and knew that the fire was just about hot enough. “Uncle Noah, my father said that he can help you to pay off the compensation you owe, but on the condition that you withdraw from all of Stanton Corporation's businesses, including...
Stanton Corporation's shares that you've secretly purchased.“
She said it unhurriedly, just enough to get the point across.
Read Novel "Divorced Billionaire Heiress" chapter No.254
Noah's body stiffened fiercely as his expression became ugly.
“Y-You knew about that?“
He thought that he had done it stealthily enough.
He especially picked small shareholders who joined Stanton Corporation afterward to acquire their shares, but he was unexpectedly still found out.
Nicole smiled.
“Stanton Corporation is my father's blood and soul, not something passed down from our predecessors. Logically speaking, you have no share of this pie. My father hasn't exposed you only out of his brotherly love for you, but if this goes on, you'll lose even that affection...“
Noah was completely at a loss for words. His eyes flashed with a trace of remorse and regret.
At that moment, he had lost the anger he had when he came here.
Now, he was like a frozen statue, absent-minded.
Nicole put the printed photos in Noah's hand. “Uncle Noah, you don't want our money to fall into the hands of those two women, right?“
Noah turned his head and left without saying a word.
Nicole snorted softly and lowered her head to send a message to Floyd. (You can come home now! ]
Logan still looked astonished. “President Nicole, aren't you going to catch Jade and Lydia?“
It was a huge sum of money. They took away almost all their family assets in Jericho City.
Nicole raised her brows.
“There's no need. Let Uncle Noah find them. That way, he'll get a sense of accomplishment if he does things personally...“
He would not know how much he hated them unless he caught them himself!
After this matter was solved, Grant could not help but praise her for a long time during the meeting.
Now, everyone in the company knew about this matter and how crisp and sharp Nicole's methods were. She was not like a novice in the workplace at all, much less a spoiled princess who did not know how to do anything. She was truly impressive and worthy of respect.
In Ferguson Corporation.
Eric just came out of the conference room when Mitchell followed him.
“President, the list of invitees for the World Business Conference is out. You're among the invited again. Do you need to arrange the itinerary in advance?“
The conference was a private gathering of famous entrepreneurs around the world but did not take into account a person's social status.
What was more important was the influence of the person in the world business community.
There were only a dozen institutes in the world. Many people had heard of it before, but few had ever seen it with their own eyes.
Eric paused when he took the black invitation with a luxurious gold embossing from Mitchell's hand.
“It's possible to invite a member to participate, right?“
Mitchell looked at him in shock.
It was possible to refer someone, such as rising stars in the business world, to the meeting every year.
However, very few people brought others to the conference. That was because the key to the stability of the circle lay in the balance of various values.
If someone came, someone else had to leave. “President... Who do you want to invite?“
'Keith? He did not have that qualification though...'
Eric frowned slightly and glanced at Mitchell with a sullen gaze. “Give the invitation to Nicole. It's up to her to decide whether to go or not.“
His voice was a little cold. He went straight into the office after speaking.
Mitchell guessed Eric's thoughts wrongly and felt like stomping his feet in frustration. 'How could I have thought of any other candidates but Ms. Stanton?! '
However, if Nicole appeared in such a high-level closed private business meeting, the Stantons would
become even more unstoppable in the future. In the office of Stanton Corporation.
Nicole looked at the invitation in front of her. The name of the invitee was not written, but she could feel the heavyweight of the invitation.
It was different from any meeting she had attended in the past.
She had heard about this legendary conference when she was learning entrepreneurship in Europe.
Ordinary people would not be able to join even if they bashed their heads in...
Logan looked at Nicole cautiously. He already felt something off when Mitchell left earlier.
“President, will you be going? I think what Mitchell means is that Mr. Ferguson will definitely go to this meeting..."
“Yes, of course I'll go."
Read Novel "Divorced Billionaire Heiress" chapter No.255
Logan was shocked. Usually, Nicole would actively avoid anywhere Eric Ferguson appeared, so why did she not plan to avoid this meeting as well?
Nicole held the invitation and raised her brows. She did not know why Eric was so kind to tell her about this opportunity.
However, she would not let go of this rare and great occasion.
“Book a flight for me...“ Nicole said to Logan.
Logan paused. “Mitchell said that Mr. Ferguson has already booked it. If you want to go, you can just get on the plane.“
Nicole was speechless. 'That pain in the *ss Eric Ferguson read my thoughts?! '
After a while, she took the invitation and went to Grant.
“Big Brother, that jerk Eric Ferguson gave me this invitation. I'm going to check it out.“
When Grant saw the invitation, he was first a little surprised. Then, he smiled calmly. “I originally wanted to take you there in a few years. You're still young and lack seniority, so people won't think too highly of you, but it's okay if you want to go and see what it's all about.“
Nicole looked at him with delight. “You're going too?“
Grant opened the drawer and took out a thick stack of invitations. They were all from founding members of the business conference in Riopolis. “I 've never gone before. I can't be bothered to deal with them. “
Nicole swallowed silently.
Sure enough, Grant's propensity to humblebrag without noticing never disappointed.
Two days later.
Nicole showed up quietly with a little tiger wearing an Italian cashmere shawl from Malo.
Tigger was wrapped up tightly in the shawl, but it poked its head out from time to time to see the excitement around it.
Nicole would not need to do this if not for the fear of causing a commotion. “Be a good boy and I'll let you out to play when we get to Riopolis...“
On the plane, there was no one in the business class seat next to her.
Nicole paused when she suddenly received an unknown text message.
(President Nicole, President Ferguson has an emergency, so his flight has been changed to 7:00 pm. Someone will be there to meet you when you reach Riopolis. —Mitchell.]
Nicole frowned and snorted coldly. 'Awesome! Otherwise, how torturous would it be to stay on the same flight...'
The little tiger in her arms had already attracted a lot of attention along the way, and Nicole explained many times that it was an AI robot.
Tigger even played along with her according to how they rehearsed. It obediently laid in Nicole's arms and played dead. Tigger was motionless and stiff, with half its tongue sticking out and its eyes rolled to the back of its head...
When the flight attendant left calmly, Nicole rubbed its head. “It's fine now, Tigger. You were pretending to be a cat just now.“
The plane lifted off smoothly. Nicole read some documents for a while and was just about to get some shuteye when she suddenly heard a loud explosion.
The entire plane began to shake violently.
Nicole was instantly startled awake, only to feel the plane undergo violent turbulence as if it was out of control!
The people around started screaming and crying for help. The instructions from the flight crew and sobs began to sound at the same time.
No one was in the mood to listen.
Nicole instantly hugged Tigger as her face turned pale. Outside the window, she could only see gray clouds accompanied by lightning and thunder. It was strange and terrifying!
If she had known that this would happen, she would not have come!
Tigger struggled out. Its pupils turned and the infrared rays swept in the direction of the cockpit.
In just a few seconds, the AI system finally exhibited its normal function.
Tigger's voice was serious. “Mama, the plane's engine is irreversibly damaged. Our altitude is now at
5,000 feet. Our coordinates are currently at 100°N, 80°E. The plane's braking system won't be able to land at the airport. There is a high probability of a crash.“
Nicole's face went white. “What should we do?“
Everyone's desperate cries rang in her ears. Nicole trembled as she clutched the armrest. Her gaze was miserably dull.
With all her countless experiences, Nicole never thought that she would one day die in this manner.
All her past experiences seemed to be small and worthless in comparison.
“Mama, put on the life jacket and oxygen mask. The plane will continue to lose control for one minute. Get ready to jump. Your chance of survival is 50%...“
“50%? Are you sh*tting me?! “
Nicole's face was pale as she followed Tigger's instructions step by step. Although her hands were trembling, she never stopped.
“Fifty seconds left... Forty seconds...“
“Boom—“
The whole world seemed to be at a standstill at that second.
Read Novel "Divorced Billionaire Heiress" chapter No.256
In Ferguson Corporation.
It was already close to dusk when Eric came out of the conference room.
The setting sun hung at an angle on the branches of the treetops outside the office, the same as countless ordinary evenings.
He still had forty minutes before his flight. He had not forgotten that Nicole was waiting for him in Riopolis.
Eric casually loosened his tie and was just about to ask Mitchell to bring all the signed documents when he saw the man suddenly running in from outside in a flurry.
His face was pale and panicked.
Mitchell had been an assistant to Eric for many years, but he had always been calm and dignified, and never lost his composure like this.
“P-President...“
Eric frowned. His expression sank slightly as he waited for Mitchell to continue.
“An hour ago, I got the news that Ms. Stanton's plane crashed. After searching and verification, it was confirmed that... There were no survivors...“
Mitchell's voice grew lower and lower, and his lips barely moved when he said the last four words.
Behind Eric was a huge window wall. At a glance, one could see the shadow of his tall and slender figure being pulled by the sunset.
At that moment, the temperature in the office was like an ice cellar, cold and gloomy.
Eric's face gradually stiffened and darkened, and a huge storm instantly brewed in his deep eyes.
“What did you say?“
His voice was hoarse and icy as his eyes grew bloodshot.
He must have misheard!
Mitchell did not dare to repeat his words. His eyes had reddened as well.
“It's true. Ms. Stanton's name was written on the list of casualties.
“When the Stanton family got the news, Chairman Floyd had just returned from Philmont and was hospitalized for excessive grief...“
A dead silence fell over the office after he finished his words. A dense chill and a deep sadness pervaded the surroundings and blanketed the area.
Eric stood there stiffly, his eyes staring straight at Mitchell.
He had never felt like this before. It was as if his heart was being stabbed by a blunt instrument and wrapped with barbed thorns, dripping with blood.
It was so painful that he could not speak.
He only felt numb as he trembled uncontrollably.
At that moment, his body shook like it was drenched in iced water. It was as if his soul had left his body. His face was pale as blood drained from his body.
The next second, he dragged his hand recklessly across the table and swept everything to the floor in grief and anger.
“I don't believe it! She can't be dead! How can she be dead?! “
He roared while gnashing his teeth. Nicole was someone who loved life!
She was positive. She was optimistic and cheerful. She was beautiful and generous. She always wrote her happiness and unhappiness on her face.
Even when Chloe got someone to kidnap her, she did not even frown.
For three years, she always looked at him with expectation and tenderness.
After the divorce, she lived so freely.
She who stood on a stage playing the violin, she who negotiated at the business table, she who smoked openly, she who was so disdainful of him...
It was as if every scene was deeply imprinted in his mind...
Before he knew it, she was already an intricate part of his world, embedded down to the marrow of his bones and unable to be stripped away!
He had not asked for her forgiveness yet...
He could not imagine how he would live without her in the future...
That handsome and perfect face collapsed with a dense sorrow, and he almost lost his voice.
When Mitchell saw Eric like that, he could no longer hold back and also shed tears.
News of the plane crash made headlines all over the media outlets, and Liberty Airlines finally came forward to explain the reason for the crash.
Due to improper operation of the aircraft's internal operating system, it did not respond in time when crossing a thunderstorm, hence causing the accident.
The plane did not have time to put out a distress signal before it crashed directly into the sea and was never heard from again.
The plane crashed into the deep sea, and the search and rescue aircraft did not find any signs of life while sweeping the surface of the sea.
No one called for help either.
For almost the whole afternoon, everyone lamented and grieved for this unfortunate accident.
It was hard to imagine how desperate the passengers of the flight must have felt when they crashed, without even having the chance to say goodbye...
When Nicole's name appeared on the official list of passengers, the accident immediately caused the heartache of millions of people.
Nicole was the lovable CEO of Stanton Corporation who dominated the trending topics for a long time, so it was hard for her death not to attract everyone's attention.
In this regard, it almost caused the network to be paralyzed.
On a rare occasion, the three Stanton brothers, Grant, Maverick, and Kai, took to the internet to voice the same thing.
They all posted the same comment. It was just four words.
(Waiting for good news.)
Read Novel "Divorced Billionaire Heiress" chapter No.257
The Stanton family sent more than a dozen private helicopters to search the waters where the accident occurred. They even hired dozens of foreign mercenaries to salvage the vicinity. They did not give up.
Soon, in the same stretch of sea, someone expanded the search scope, and nearly a hundred aircraft hovered overhead. It was a huge and astounding scale.
The number of people diving into the sea also increased by dozens of times, causing a multi- national sensation and alarm.
Eric did not hesitate to join the search and rescue effort, just for that one person.
He did not forget that it was him who gave her that invitation.
If not for him, this would not have happened to her. She would not have to be afraid. She would not have gotten into an accident or gone missing. She would not have died.
He dared not imagine what was in her mind the moment the plane crashed. Did she think of him?
Maybe she hated him even more...
How scared did that proud and fearless girl feel at that time?
He only wished that he was on the plane too!
However, even after several days, the search and rescue team's efforts remained fruitless.
The wreckage of the plane salvaged from the deep seabed was also incomplete.
Broken, fractured surfaces and charred structures. It was hard to imagine how tragic the end was the moment the plane blew up!
When he saw a section of the plane wreckage, Eric, who had forced himself to pull through, finally seemed to collapse.
He stood on the helicopter and looked down. The endless blue of the sea reflected strong and piercing light. From time to time, the whistling waves puffed and blew the salty spray of the sea on his face. The hidden currents under the surface of the sea were huge enough to devour everything.
At that moment, life suddenly seemed so small.
His body holding the door frame trembled slightly, and Mitchell immediately stepped forward behind him.
Mitchell had the same expression of sadness and grief.
Compared to Eric's indifference to Nicole for three years, Mitchell had more interaction with Nicole. He witnessed her despair, transformation, and growth. His heart ached for her experiences, but what he felt more was pride in her strength.
The moment Mitchell heard the bad news, he felt suffocated.
Seeing Eric follow the rescue team to the helicopter for search and rescue efforts for days on end, Mitchell could feel the increasing dreariness from Eric that was overwhelmingly sad.
Not only was Eric immersed in guilt and self-blame, but he had also lost all the vitality in him.
“President, it's been days. The company needs you to finalize some matters. Why don't you go back first? I'll inform you immediately of any news here.“
Mitchell did not dare to mention that a regular person would drown to death if stranded at sea for less than an hour. It had already been almost four days, yet nothing had been found.
There was a large possibility that Nicole was no longer in this world...
There were carnivorous fish everywhere in the ocean. Even if there was a corpse, it would not be found.
Eric stood at the door. His sculpture —like features were a mess now, and he had grown stubble along his chin.
His cold eyes were bleak and gray from defeat, but he did not want to give up.
What if... What if Nicole was waiting for him to save her?
“No, let my grandfather handle the company affairs. Expand the search scope. The exploration of the surrounding seas is just as important.“
Eric's voice was hoarse and magnetic, and his eyes were heavy.
Mitchell sighed and turned around to continue receiving the search signal.
Similarly, Kai also persevered.
Floyd was hospitalized and Grant needed to look after the company and their father, so Kai took the initiative to lead the search and rescue operation.
Kai's attitude towards Eric had clearly changed these days.
It changed from the disdain in the past, to resentment and anger when he found out why Nicole went on that plane, to the sorrow he felt now.
Grant was right. Eric was not at fault regarding this matter.
How could they blame Eric for everything?
These days, Eric looked like he might drop dead at any moment...
The online fever came and went quickly.
News of the plane crash had long since become a thing of the past, and Nicole became someone who could only be remembered on the internet.
Soon, new topics occupied the trending topics instead. No one believed that Nicole would survive...
Read Novel "Divorced Billionaire Heiress" chapter No.258
Nearly a thousand nautical miles away from the search area, in a deserted island besieged by large waves.
Dense green leaves covered the sky. Besides the jungle, there were only huge waves and a cold and salty sea breeze.
Nicole wandered around this hellhole for three days but had not found any trace of freshwater or food. She had not had a drop of water or eaten anything during this time.
Her lips were extremely dried and cracked.
Tigger's scarf became her shawl as it shrank in her coat pocket, dispirited.
Fortunately, Nicole reacted faster than others. Just before the plane exploded, she opened the emergency exit and jumped down with a parachute without hesitation.
One second in the air was a deviation of several hundred nautical miles. That was how Nicole survived.
In the aftermath, Nicole grieved for the other passengers who were not as fortunate as her.
However, it did not take long for Nicole to have doubts about whether she could even survive on this island.
Her phone had fallen into the sea, and all her communication tools were lost.
Perhaps it was because Tigger fell too hard during the landing, its internal intelligence system was out of order. Furthermore, there was no signal at sea, so Tigger could not make contact with the outside world.
Thus, Nicole could only passively wait for her family to rescue her.
There was nothing here, especially freshwater.
A human could not last more than seven days without water.
Nicole knew that she was almost at her limit.
She sat on a rock and felt like she would not be able to hold on for much longer. All she felt was despair as countless thoughts flashed in her mind.
'Why did no one come to save me?'
'For so many days, there's still no news or movement of rescue.'
'Did they really think that I was dead?'
'That damned Eric Ferguson! Why did he give me that stupid invitation and send me on the path of death?! '
'We must've been mortal enemies in our past lives! ' 'Now, I really have a million more reasons to hate this jerk! '
However, in her desperation, Nicole thought that if Eric could come to her rescue now, she could forgive everything that happened in the past.
Tigger poked its head out of her pocket.
Its two little paws clung to her clothes. The ditzy little tiger was not as clean and beautiful as before. The white fur on its head had turned gray, and its dirty appearance looked like it was abandoned in a dumpster.
“Mama, I can feel that you're not very happy...“
This AI tiger's self-repair ability was very strong. After they landed, Tigger could only speak intermittently. Now, it has already regained its fluency.
Nicole looked down at it with eyes full of hope.
“You can feel that? Then can you send a distress signal and lead us out of here?“
The little tiger shook its head clumsily, dispelling her hopes.
“No. There's no signal here, so I can't contact Molly Stewart.“
Nicole's heart clenched violently. At a loss, she looked at the distant waves that seemed to eat away at her heart layer by layer as they lapped on the shore periodically.
'Am I really going to die here?'
Nicole sniffled. Her eyes felt sore as tears welled up at the bottom of her eyes.
“I 'm so hungry... Will I actually die from starvation when I'm so rich?! “
She grumbled and complained, not caring whether Tigger could understand or not.
“I even bought an island... My island is so beautiful and cost me $2 billion, but I haven't had the chance to visit it yet..."
Tigger had a hard time digesting Nicole's complaint, but it was sensitive enough to catch certain keywords.
“My infrared scanner has been repaired. I can scan for edible non-toxic food. Mama, do you want to look for fruits or wild animals?"
Nicole frowned and could not help but raise her voice. “Wild animals?"
Tigger nodded in response. “Mhmm! When I was watching TV with Kai, we saw people who ate wild animals to survive in the wild..."
Nicole's mouth twitched. “Are you going to catch them then?"
Tigger shrunk back into her pocket in embarrassment. Every artificial tiger fur on its body expressed grave resistance.
“I'm just a little tiger..."
Read Novel "Divorced Billionaire Heiress" chapter No.259
With her last shred of courage in her despair, Nicole re-entered the jungle.
Fortunately, Nicole had changed into comfortable leather sneakers before boarding the plane.
Otherwise, she would really have to wait for her death.
The trees in the woods were several dozen meters high. They were not as lush and dense as a tropical rainforest, but the thickness of each one was the width of several people at least. The trees were a species that she had never seen before either.
She walked step by step in lethargy. She scraped her hands on the sharp tree branches, and the streaks of blood were very stark against her pale skin.
However, she was not in the mood to care about these minor injuries.
After all, she was going to die. “Tigger, do you see any fruit?“
Nicole's voice was hoarse and dry as she asked breathlessly.
Tigger shook its head, its answer as disappointing as always.
She stepped forward with great effort, feeling exhausted and dizzy. Her head felt like it was spinning.
Suddenly, she tripped over something. Her body subconsciously fell forward, throwing her onto the muddy ground.
The pain woke her up for a moment.
Tigger anxiously crawled out of her pocket and circled her.
Suddenly, as if sensing something, it looked behind Nicole and slipped back into her coat pocket.
“Mama, there's people...“
Nicole wanted to open her eyes, but she no longer had control over her body. She seemed to hear the sound of heavy footsteps landing around her.
Someone was speaking gibberish...
'What language is this?' Nicole grew up familiar with seventeen languages, but she did not understand this one.
There were people on this island?
It was a miracle! She had been looking for so long but never noticed this at all!
However, Nicole's imagined rescue did not seem quite right.
'Why are they only pulling my limbs and carrying me as if they're about to dismember me?'
The path was so bumpy that she felt her joints were about to dislocate!
A picture Nicole saw before could not help but emerge in her mind at this moment. A picture of a roasted pig being carried into the kitchen...
'OMG, am I not miserable enough?! '
Nicole swore that if these were people sent by Eric Ferguson, she would be sure to “thank“ him properly!
If it was someone from the Stanton family, she would tell Grant that the people he sent were too unprofessional, rough, and impatient...
If it was a rescue worker from a third party, then she had no choice but to bear with it...
They did not reach their destination even after a long, long time. The bumpy journey completely plunged her consciousness into complete darkness.
A thousand nautical miles away.
Two helicopters met. Mitchell used all his efforts to invite Kai over. The rescue operation would only be faster and more efficient if the two parties discussed and cooperated.
Eric's mental state was already close to madness and paranoia.
If this goes on, Mitchell was afraid that Eric would collapse.
Kai took a bottle of vodka over. When Eric looked up, his eyes were completely bloodshot. It was clear at a glance that Eric had gone several days and nights without sleep.
Eric frowned but did not react much when he saw Kai come over.
It seemed like his only purpose for the rest of his life was to save Nicole.
Kai sat down next to a box. Without delay, he opened the bottle with his teeth and spit the cap out into the sea.
They had never hated the sea as much as they did this moment!
However, there was nothing they could do.
Kai tilted his head and poured a few mouthfuls of vodka into his mouth. His bloodshot eyes glared mockingly at Eric.
“Do you need to be like this? Who are you trying to act for?“
Eric's jaw tightened as his lips pursed into a straight line.
His eyes swept past Kai indifferently and looked towards the huge waves rolling over the sea.
The silence was depressing.
He did not have to explain, and he could not explain either.
In the Stanton family's eyes, he was an unpardonable jerk who had hurt Nicole.
He had even personally sent Nicole to her death. Eric was unable to forgive himself, much less Kai.
Kai snorted coldly. His eyes when he glanced at Eric became abruptly cold and calm.
He was also suppressing huge emotional fluctuations.
“My father said that you've done enough. You don't owe us anything and you don't have to pay us back with your life. Eric Ferguson, go back. I 'll find my sister by myself."
The air around them was accompanied by a chilly wind. The temperature plummeted.
Eric's dark eyes shot over at Kai. His face was cold and his voice hoarse.
“I'm not doing this for the Stantons. I'm doing this for Nicole! "
For a speck of chance!
As long as her body was not found, that meant there was still hope.
'How could I leave her behind?' Eric thought. Kai paused slightly when he heard those words.
Each and every one of those words stabbed at his heart.
“Then why did you treat her like sh*t before? No one in my family dares to say anything remotely harsh to her, but you threw her back to us like she was a bag of trash."
In an instant, Eric's face lost all traces of blood.
Read Novel "Divorced Billionaire Heiress" chapter No.260
Eric's thin lips parted, but he did not know what to say.
Kai tilted his head back and took a large swig of alcohol again. He spoke without care.
“When Nicole was studying in Europe, my father hired eight nannies to take care of her, but she secretly dismissed them. Grant wanted to make thirty trips per month just to cook for her, and Maverick sent her all the bonuses he got from his research. As for me, I only shot films set in Europe at that time... Hah! Even then, we thought that it was the furthest away from us she'd ever been. But then... She got married to you. For three years, she didn't contact us and completely cut off all her social circles. Eric Ferguson, she valued you more than her family, but what did you do?“
Kai's voice staggered as his tears fell uncontrollably. He casually wiped the droplets away and tilted his head to chug the bottle dry.
Mitchell and the pilot sat in the front, not daring to move in this situation.
The silence in the air was filled with despair.
Eric could not hear the sound of his heart shattering, but he could feel someone viciously gouging out his heart, crushing and grinding it, then dumping it far away from his body.
Kai looked at Eric's bloodless face. His chest felt unrestrained under the influence of alcohol.
They all said that they could not blame Eric, that Eric did not cause the accident, and he did not control the plane.
However, Kai still could not help but think that if it were not for Eric, Nicole would not have been on that plane in the first place!
Then, he would still have a little sister, and there would still be someone who would squander his money. She could buy a yacht, a mansion, an island... She would still be alive!
Kai stood up. The cold wind caused his clothes to flutter, and his hair was messed up.
He stood up unconcerned.
With a casual toss, the bottle flew in the air and disappeared into the sea.
“Eric Ferguson, go back. Whether it's guilt or something else, it's already too late. Go back and live your normal life.“
Eric's brows furrowed in despair. His voice was hoarse and depressed.
“I'm not leaving. If she's still alive...“
“Hah...“ Kai laughed coldly. His tears still streamed uncontrollably down his cheeks. His eyes were cold as he said word by word.
“You don't know her at all, Eric Ferguson... Nicole can't swim.“
So, there was no 'if'.
The boundless sea had already swallowed her up.
The silence in the air gave off a cold and despairing vibe.
Kai's final words were like the last straw that broke Eric's back.
His expression turned ugly and white as paper.
Eric clenched his fists so tight that his arms trembled and bulged with veins.
If a person who could not swim fell into the sea, would this ending be surprising?
No.
He did not know her. He knew nothing about her. He did not even know that she could not swim!
What a joke!
'It's a joke to think that this is my show of love to her.
The roar of the helicopter suddenly amplified several times, ringing in his ears.
'No, maybe Kai's just lying to me!'
Eric suddenly took a few steps forward and wanted to ask a question.
Suddenly, his body shook and staggered. His hand holding the cabin door loosened, and his body leaned forward.
With half his body out of the helicopter and staring at the deep, dark sea, Eric saw Nicole smiling at him...
'Yeah, this should be the way. I shou1d've been on that plane with her anyway...'
Everyone was shocked. “President—"
“Watch out—"
The cold wind scraped his face, which stung. The salty spray of the waves overlapped with surges and billows.
Kai grabbed Eric's arm with one hand and yanked him back hard, then closed the door with his left hand.
The dark sea was shut out of the cabin door.
“Eric Ferguson, what the hell is wrong with you? Will my sister come back if you do this? She's already gone! Who are you acting like this for?"