Ch. 521..530

Read Novel "The Divorced Billionaire Heiress" chapter No.521

The phone was silent for two seconds. Eric's voice was cold.

“Fall out? What are you talking about?”

Nicole looked at Quinn with deep eyes. The older woman was already panicking.

“Mrs. Ferguson brought your fiancée over and humiliated me and Mr. Sloan. Are they doing this under your orders or Old Master Ferguson's orders?”

They could feel Eric's chill through the phone. “Where are you?”

Nicole did not answer and hung up the phone. Her objective was not to call him over.

It was for the Ferguson family to put a leash on Quinn.

Nicole was no longer Eric' s wife, so there was no need for her to accommodate Quinn's whims!

Quinn did not expect Nicole to call Eric so blatantly. Truth be told, Quinn was a little afraid of her son.

Ingrid was still missing, but she almost forgot this lesson.

Ivy felt Quinn' s body start to tremble and hurriedly went over to support her.

“Aunty, why don't we sit at the table over there?”

Quinn was about to say something, but when she looked into Nicole's eyes, her throat seemed to be blocked with a mass of cotton, making her unable t o make a sound.

The surroundings finally quieted down.

Nicole continued to eat as if nothing happened, and Clayton looked at her with deep eyes, pursing his lips.

“Ms. Stanton, you...”

Was she not angry at all?

Nicole smiled.“ I'm used to it. I'm just sorry that you and Lil Michael got involved. I don't bother wasting my thoughts on people I don't care about.”

Lil Michael was one step faster than Clayton and pulled Nicole's hand. He held it in front of him and looked at her with clear eyes.

“Pretty Lady, my heart aches for you. I' ll protect you. When I grow up and get my inheritance, I'll take you away from here, so you never have to see these nasty people again!”

Clayton 's expression darkened as he looked at Lil Michael in exasperation. He wanted to get angry, but he was helpless as well.

'Why is Michael only thinking about inheritance?! This boy needs to be disciplined! '

Clayton endured it and looked at Nicole solemnly. He was heartbroken.

“I'm not angry. I just feel bad for you.”

Nicole had to endure so much injustice only because she liked Eric.

How ridiculous was that...?

Clayton 's voice was low and serious, and his eyes were filled with sympathy.

Nicole's heart stumbled involuntarily.

The next second, she lowered her head and smiled. Her phone rang again.

Nicole glanced at it but did not answer it. She declined the call.

After finishing the meal, Lil Michael refused to go with Clayton, but Clayton had an important

meeting, so he had to leave early.

Nicole called Yvette and asked her out to unwind.

Yvette thought that “unwinding” meant going to a bar to drink, sing, dance, and flirt with male models.

Thus, Yvette dressed up and looked particularly sexy and beautiful.

However, when Nicole came to pick her up, there was a little boy in the car.

Lil Michael waved at her familiarly.

“Hi, Madam!”

'Hmph!' Yvette sucked in a breath and was just about to get out of the car, but Nicole did not give her the chance and started to drive.

“Let's go, Ms. Quimbey...”

Nicole drove the car to a private amusement park. Lil Michael ran with joy the moment he went in.

This playground was not open to the public and only received a few regular customers a day.

Nicole knew the owner, so everything went smoothly.

Each child had two personal maids to look after them and was responsible for their safety and other requests.

Nicole and Yvette were also able to relax a little. The two of them sat in the lounge area with a cup of coffee each.

Yvette saw her in seemingly low spirits and suddenly thought of something.

“Have you heard about Eric Ferguson's engagement?”

Nicole nodded.

“ So, it's true? I thought that he wouldn't agree... ”

“In families like ours, marriage isn't something that's decided by one person. Personal opinions don't matter.”

Nicole looked up. She was beautiful and dazzling. Her phone rang again.

She looked at the number. It was an unknown number.

Nicole hesitated for a moment before answering it.

“Ms. Stanton, I'm Ivy Harrison. Can you please plead for Mrs. Ferguson...?”

Read Novel "The Divorced Billionaire Heiress" chapter No.522

Before Ivy could finish her sentence, Nicole hung u p the phone.

She even blocked the number.

A few days later, the company's team-building day arrived.

The location was in an airsoft field in the suburbs. Twelve people went, three of whom were senior executives from other companies that Stanton Corporation had a relatively good relationship with.

However, Nicole never expected Eric to appear here.

He looked at Nicole and seemed to want to say something, but he was blocked by Grant, who did not give them a chance to be alone.

As expected of her big brother!

Nicole was very interested in the game. The clothes were all military-style uniforms, and the weapons were harmless guns and ammunition.

She changed faster than the others in the locker room and was blocked by a tall and dark shadow when she came out.

Everyone wore a mask, so no one knew who the other people were. Thus, there was no need to show mercy.

However, Nicole still recognized the person in front of her.

Eric Ferguson.

She glared at him and said nothing.

He was in military uniform. His tall figure, chilly aura, and hawk-like eyes were filled with a majestic coldness.

It was like that autumn five years ago when he suddenly appeared in her life on the streets of Europe.

Her mind was shaken for a moment.

Nicole pursed her lips. “Move!”

Eric looked down at her with waves surging in his eyes.

That phone call made him uneasy.

He knew that Quinn would not say anything nice.

However, when he heard that she was having a nice and intimate meal with Clayton and his son, his heart could not help but clench.

It hurt a lot.

Eric pursed his lips. His voice was low and raspy. “I'm sorry that you had to hear those nasty words.”

He clearly promised her that he would not let anyone from the Ferguson family speak ill of her again.

However, Quinn still broke the rules.

He spoke to Old Master Ferguson and sent her to a sanatorium abroad, unheeding of her screaming.

Old Master Ferguson also agreed. Even if the Stantons and Fergusons were not connected by marriage, there was absolutely no reason to be enemies with the Stantons.

Nicole said, “You didn't say anything. What are you apologizing for?”

“Do you want to hear her apologize instead?” Nicole said, “I don't even want to see her!”

Eric let out a low chuckle. He suddenly found her angry appearance very cute.

“Nicole, I want to hug you.”

He had wanted to for a long time.

"No."

Before she spoke, a large hand fell on her back and pressed her to his chest, letting her hear his steady heartbeat.

Nicole was so angry that she kicked him. He did not dodge and got hit right where his wound was.

He grunted and almost fell backward.

Nicole was startled and reached out to pull him. Then, her head collided with his chest hard.

A deep laugh rumbled from his chest.

Only then did Nicole realize that she had been fooled.

Eric reached out and straightened her helmet. He took a step back before she could do anything.

“I'll let you win later.” He spoke with certainty.

Nicole was so angry that she wanted to kick him to death!

“Big talk!”

Did he think she could not win by herself? Where did he get his bullsh*t confidence from?

Argh. How infuriating!

However, she was wearing a mask, helmet, and sunglasses, so she could not intimidate this damned man with her expression and eyes!

Grant urged her from outside, so Nicole quickly went out.

He held two drawing sticks. They were both red.

“Everyone has already been divided into groups. There are only two left, so you're in the same team.”

Nicole took the stick indifferently.

Eric was very polite and stepped forward to take the stick.

“Thank you, Big Brother.”

'F*ck!' Grant froze and almost fell in shock!

Everyone looked at them strangely. The words “big brother”  seem to be able to separate one's soul from their body.

Nicole said, “Can we start?”

“Start!”

Nicole raised the gun in her hand and shot the back of the person in front of her without hesitation.

"Bang— " Eric was dead!

"Hey, you’re teammates! "

Another member of the red team reminded her.

Read Novel "The Divorced Billionaire Heiress" chapter No.523

One second after the game started, Eric was already eliminated.

No one would expect this even in their dreams.

Eric turned around and looked at Nicole, aggrieved. Although he was eliminated, he was very calm and helplessly raised his hands in surrender.

Nicole put her gun away and breathed a sigh before snorting coldly.

“I don't want an incompetent teammate! ”

Then, she went past him and ran to a nearby trench to ambush the other team, swiftly getting into a killer mindset.

Everyone was speechless for a moment, but they also got into the game.

They could not do anything about it. Eric and Nicole were enemies.

They all thought that perhaps Eric calling Grant“ Big Brother” had provoked Nicole.

That was why she kicked Eric out of the game decisively.

Eric stood to the side as a referee, standing on higher ground so he could take in the whole situation.

He could see that Nicole was methodical and disciplined, and her body was flexible. Her movements and routes were almost on the professional level.

Some others who were slightly fatter and unable to run were swiftly eliminated.

Some were fit and had flexibility and skills, but compared to Nicole, there were only a few that were on her level.

Soon, there were only three members left on the blue team and two members on the red team.

Everyone's levels were similar.

They wore the same clothes, so it was difficult to identify who was who. The two members of the red team were struggling to hold on.

However, the thinner of the two was extremely fast. The person ran to the other player and said a few words before they split up.

One of them quietly ran behind the other one to avoid alarming the enemy. She did not use her gun, and she closed the distance with her nimble body.

She covered the person's mouth and made a chokehold action.

However, that person lost his balance and suddenly fell to the ground.

“Ouch, my waist...”

According to the voice, it sounded like a senior executive of Shaw Company.

The blue team lost another member, and at the same time, the other member in the red team shot someone else on the blue team.

However, that red team member was also shot by the blue team.

There was only one person left on both teams.

The people who left the field all stood together and sighed. Eric glanced around and saw that Nicole was not around.

In other words, the final member of the red team was Nicole.

A hint of admiration appeared in the man's eyes. The woman he had his eye on was really amazing! “Wait, is the blue team member President Grant?” Someone spoke up.

Sure enough, only Nicole and Grant had not come back!

The two siblings became rivals? This was going to be fun.

Everyone's spirits lifted, and some even took out binoculars.

However, before anyone could look for them seriously, someone fired a shot.

Oh, it was over.

The blue team member showed signs of being shot. Everyone shouted joyfully.

Nicole dashed out with glee, giving a bear hug to the blue team member, Grant.

She knew that Grant would let her win!

Victory for the first round went to the red team!

Eric looked deeply at the excited Nicole. This was the first time he had seen her so happy.

He suddenly felt discomfort in his heart because he seemed to have missed a lot of her happiness and sadness.

The tip of his tongue clicked against his teeth as his heart soured.

After a short break, round two began.

Fortunately, Nicole got the blue stick while Eric got the red one.

They were opponents.

Eric's blood was surging with excitement. His eyes were full of arrogance.

It had been a long time since he held a gun. This feeling was buried in his bones. The memory of smoke and gunfire that was buried deep in his heart seemed to surge violently.

Eric was already familiar with the terrain and planned to get to the best sniping spot.

However, after taking just two steps, a shot was fired. There was a dull pain in his body.

'No way... I'm dead again?!'

“You're opponents in this game...” Someone pointed out.

He was not an incompetent teammate anymore!

Nicole raised her brows. “Yeah, I killed the opponent!”

That was what she was supposed to do, right?

Everyone fell silent. They were speechless.

Read Novel "The Divorced Billionaire Heiress" chapter No.524

Eric, who returned before he could take two steps, was actually a little angry!

Both times, he was eliminated because of Nicole.

No one would believe it if she said that she did not do it on purpose.

Eric's gaze was sad and restrained as he looked at Nicole. The two of them confronted each other, and the surrounding people did not dare to watch the show and immediately ran.

Nicole also wanted to follow, but Eric blocked her path.

“Are you doing this on purpose?”

He looked at her with a sullen gaze. His eyes reflected the sunlight. They were deep and dark, surging like a gathering storm.

“Can't afford to lose?”

Nicole snorted lightly and deliberately provoked him with some disdain.

She won against him twice. Her victory was already assured.

She did not need him to say that he would “let her win”.

Eric let out a low chuckle. “I can.” He underestimated her!

Eric had never been defeated, but when it came to Nicole, he lost completely.

Nicole raised her head to look at Eric. Her gaze was indifferent, and her tone was nonchalant. “You came here for nothing today. Don't get sunburned and go have a rest!”

Eric's breathing grew heavier in anger. How infuriating!

Nicole was just about to leave when Eric wrapped one hand around her waist and whispered, “Don't b e too complacent. There's one more round left.”

He had to win!

If he lost three games in a row, he would not be able to hold his head up in front of Nicole in the future.

It was a matter of dignity!

Nicole sneered and fiercely yanked his hand away before running into the trench.

Eric raised his eyebrows. His hand loosened as he looked at her back with a smile.

Those eyes were bewitching and romantic, filled with a faint desire to conquer.

In the second round, Nicole was careless and was shot by someone on the red team when she did not pay attention!

Grant was the winner.

Nicole was equally happy for him and went to get water and a towel for him.

“Big Brother, you're awesome!”

Grant smiled and said nothing when he saw Eric's bitter and envious look.

To the side, an executive could not help but say, " President Grant and you are opponents! We're on the same team but we don't get water service...”

Everyone laughed.

Nicole rolled her eyes at them.

“What can I say? I have double standards.” The third round.

Eric and Nicole were still opponents.

Everyone's eyes when they looked at Eric carried a tacit sympathy.

They knew that Eric's purpose in attending the event today was because of Nicole.

Otherwise, why would he be in a team-building event when he was usually so busy that no one could get an appointment scheduled with him?

At least they played in the first two games. However, Eric did not even have the chance to play.

The moment it started, Nicole still subconsciously searched for Eric's figure.

She would finish him first!

However, he was gone the moment she turned around.

'Huh, he's a quick learner...'

Nicole took a few steps forward before she felt a gun barrel pressing against her waist.

It was cold and trembling.

Nicole paused. Eric had been hiding in a trench on the side.

“I'll let you go once, Nicole. If I catch you three times, you have to agree to one of my requests. How about that?”

The man's tone carried an unparalleled arrogance. It was the wildness and confidence in his bones. Nicole glanced at him coldly.

“If you fail?”

“Then I'll agree to one of your requests.” Nicole said, “Deal.”

She would make him disappear from her world completely.

Eric put the barrel of his gun away. Nicole swiftly ran to her team's trench. The feeling of wind blowing on her face made her blood surge.

Her competitiveness was aroused. She did not believe that he would be able to catch her three times.

What a braggart!

Eric's blue team seemed to have a proper plan and picked off their opponents one by one.

Nicole's heart raced as she listened to the gunshots i n her ears. The blue team's fighting ability

suddenly seemed to increase...

Read Novel "The Divorced Billionaire Heiress" chapter No.525

Grant were both on the blue team, so the red team was at a disadvantage.

However, Nicole 's only target was Eric Ferguson. The wind was picking up.

The sound of the wind was everywhere in her ears, mixed with the sounds of walking and running, making it difficult to distinguish between the sounds.

Nicole quietly nestled in a corner and secretly took out two blue team members from behind.

However, her red team also lost four members.

After a fierce battle, Nicole was the only one left on the red team.

Eric and Grant were left on the blue team.

Nicole thought about it. In order to divert attention, she simply took off the red label on her uniform and threw it away.

A blue team member was looking for her at the entrance to the woods ahead, but she did not know if it was Eric or Grant.

She slowly and silently approached.

Just as she was about to attack the person's back, there was a sudden chill on her waist as a coldness enveloped her back.

Eric's lips curled, grabbing her from behind with one hand and hugging her tightly in his arms.

He had just wanted to prevent her from resisting. Nicole's expression was dark as she struggled.

How dare he take advantage of her?

“Don't move, or you'll be seen.” He lowered his voice.

“Let go,”    Nicole said.

“This is the second time, Nicole. You have to be careful.”

His voice was low and raspy, and his breath that brushed against her had a dangerous and aggressive tone.

His victory was in sight.

In the past, he was always willing to compromise and humble himself.

However, this time, he had to win for that request.

Nicole felt like her blood was flowing backward. The moment he released her, she raised her weapon behind her, but in just a few seconds, he disappeared without a trace.

Nicole took a deep breath and immediately hid in the shadows.

The eliminated teammates who had been shot had a clear look at the scene.

“What's going on? Are they flirting?”

“Eric actually caught Nicole and let her go. Is it because he has feelings for her?”

“I think that President Ferguson is humiliating President Nicole!”

They were worrying whether the blue team could win or not.

Eric might simply kill himself to please Nicole.

The group of spectators was furious when they saw the scene with Eric and Nicole!

Nicole could not keep hiding. She had to attack, but the sound of the wind was disturbing her mind.

She crawled into the woods.

A few seconds later, steady footsteps approached behind her. Nicole was extremely vigilant. The surrounding weeds could cover her, and she slipped through the trees, keeping her figure hidden.

She held her weapon tightly in her hand.

The footsteps behind her followed her closely. It was like there was a string taut in her head, and she could not relax at any moment.

Even her breathing had become cautious. She hid behind a thick tree trunk and stopped pushing forward. There was an open waterway ahead, and she was not good with water.

Thus, she had to counterattack.

She gently picked up her gun. The moment she carefully identified the footsteps approaching, she turned her head and fired in a single, fluid movement without hesitation.

“Bang—”

The sound pierced through the forest. The wind rustled.

The next second, there was a sound from someone far away. A tall and slender figure lunged at her at the same time.

He blocked the shot for her. “Brother?”

Nicole subconsciously went to help him, but Grant waved his hand and got up.

He rubbed his back which was hit. Then, he smiled as if nothing happened. “I'm fine.”

Eric came over from the distance with a frown.

They were clearly teammates, but Grant blocked that shot for Nicole. What was that supposed to mean?

Grant took off his tag without any change in expression.

He looked at Eric and said, “Oh, I'm a traitor.” Eric and Nicole were speechless.

Grant gave them a faint glance. “You guys carry on.

I'm eliminated.” Then, he picked up his stuff and left.

Read Novel "The Divorced Billionaire Heiress" chapter No.526

Nicole and Eric, the only ones who remained, were about 1s feet apart. As soon as their eyes met, the two simultaneously raised the weapon in their hands.

“Bang bang—” Two gunshots.

It was just the sound.

The wind howled.

No one was hit.

Nicole ducked and rolled behind the thick tree trunk,  gasping for breath.

Eric quickly rolled into the grass.

He was faster. Before Nicole could take a breath, he took advantage of the situation, and the  moment his gun appeared behind her, hers also came up against his abdomen.

The admiration flowing from Eric's eyes was undisguised.

He was a pro,  but she was more skilled. Neither gave in to the other.

Nicole looked at him. “Who won?”

She let her guard down and tried to negotiate the outcome.

Eric's lips curled in a smile. Taking advantage of the split-second she was distracted, he suddenly pushed aside the gun that was pressed against his abdomen with one hand. With a twist of the wrist, he used the barrel of her gun to hold her against the trunk of the tree, his long legs pinning hers so that she could not move.

Nicole was stunned. Did he just make a sneak attack on her?

She was very strong, but her physical strength was not enough against Eric.

The situation was immediately apparent in an instant.

His breath was extremely close, and the wildness and ferocity in his eyes had not yet faded. Nicole froze in place.

However, his eyes were filled with delight and smugness.

He leaned into her ear, looking at her fair skin with his dark eyes as he said in a magnetic and raspy voice, “Nicole, this is the third time. I won.”

Nicole wanted to cuss at him. He was despicable and shameless! He took advantage of the opportunity to launch a sneak attack!

However, she suddenly remembered that for the first two games, she also won against him using sneak attacks.

They were even.

'F*ck!' Nicole looked into his eyes and was stunned for a moment.

There was no look of calculation belonging to a businessman. His clear eyes were filled with exhilaration and wildness.

The next second, the man's lips suddenly came closer.

He wanted to kiss her!

Nicole had nowhere to run and could only bend her knees, but his long legs pinned her mercilessly, so there was no chance for her to dodge.

She turned her head, so his cool lips touched her cheek. He was already over the moon.

Nicole spoke coldly, “Get away from me.” Eric smiled like a rogue, not angry at all.

He took a step back. Regaining her freedom, Nicole glared at him fiercely and turned to walk away.

'Goddammit, that son of a b*tch Eric Ferguson! He really reached a new low!'

Eric picked up her things for her and followed her with a smug smile.

“I won, Nicole. You have to agree to one of my requests.”

Nicole paused and looked at him. “What is it?”

She lost.

Just consider it being unlucky!

“Shall we remarry?” He said gleefully. “Get lost.”

That was a pipe dream.

“Then, give me a kiss?” He asked again tentatively. “Get lost.” She gnashed her teeth.

If he dared to make another unreasonable request, she would not be able to hold back anymore.

Eric paused for a few seconds and said with serious eyes, “You have to give me a chance.”

Her eyes flickered slightly as she remained silent. “ I've always been chasing you, Nicole. Even now.”

Every moment since he regretted divorcing her, he had been pursuing her.

Nicole had a calm attitude and said to him in a serious tone, “Eric Ferguson, what you feel for me is just a temporary sense of novelty. You're just upset that I suddenly gave up on you after liking you for so long. You don' t want me to stop liking you without your consent. You don't like me. You're just bitter!”

Eric looked at her with deep and dark eyes. He did not speak for a long time.

The strength seemed to dissipate from his body, and his heart shook.

His regrets, his affection, his humility. In her eyes, they were all just because he was bitter?

“Nicole, I know how to differentiate between being bitter and  being in love.”

He gave her a decrepit smile.

Eric suddenly felt an overwhelming emptiness in his heart. It was as if someone had taken the love that was as heavy as a mountain in his heart and casually brushed it away like it was just a feather.

Read Novel "The Divorced Billionaire Heiress" chapter No.527

Eric had strong self-control over anything that could be addictive.

However, his feelings for Nicole seemed to grow stronger by the day. It seemed like he would never be able to break that addiction.

Perhaps, in those five years, Nicole had already quietly taken root in his heart, but he never realized it until it grew into a huge, towering tree.

It was no longer possible for him to ignore it.

Nicole frowned. Just as she was about to say something, a few executives on the other side shouted at them.

“Come back quickly! Which one of you won?”

“ It must be President Nicole. She won two out of three games.”

“According to President Ferguson's temper, he definitely won't win the third round. How can he be so desperately trying to chase a woman?”

“That's right. Congratulations to President Nicole for her victory!”

She did not want to say anything more. Nicole and Eric went back one after the other.

“Congratulations on your victory, President Nicole!”

Nicole looked at them. “President Ferguson won the third round.”

Everyone looked at Eric weirdly.

Why did President Ferguson not follow the typical routine when pursuing a woman?

Eric did not care about their gazes. The bottom line was that he won.

Grant took a towel to wipe Nicole's sweat and looked at Eric with a meaningful smile.

“President Ferguson, you really went all out in the final round...”

Eric drank a few gulps of water and nodded frankly.

“Big Brother, if I want to win Nicole over, I'll have to work hard.”

In everyone's eyes, President Ferguson did not have enough EQ at this critical moment!

He should have let Nicole win and happily walk away. Why did he insist on winning the final round?

Afterward, everyone had a meal together, but  Nicole left early on the pretext that she had work to do.

Everyone looked at Eric's excited face and was extremely puzzled. However, they did not dare to ask, so they just dispersed in confusion.

Nicole felt exhausted, so all she wanted to do was g o back and get some sleep.

Eric's request remained unanswered, but Nicole did not care. She would not agree if it was too much.

Just after she left the company, she received a call from Gerard Lichman.

In Ferguson Corporation.

Eric took a shower and changed his clothes. He came out in an obviously good mood.

Mitchell saw this and quickly told him about recent thorny issues. As expected, Eric did not get angry but very patiently instructed the subordinates on how to solve it.

There was a knock on the door, and the secretary came in.

“President, Old Master Ferguson asked someone to send you something.”

Eric raised his brows. What was his grandfather up to this time?

“Come in.”

The secretary moved out of the way. Behind her was a well-dressed woman. She stood there timidly and gently with a bit of expectation.

It was Ivy.

“Mr. Ferguson, Old Master Ferguson  said that you're busy with work and asked me to bring you some soup from home.”

Ivy spoke in a deliberately gentle voice. It was the only way to suppress the tension she felt inside.

Eric paused and his eyes instantly cooled. “Haven't you left?”

His voice was cold and detached.

In the beginning, Quinn kept Ivy in the villa. Now that Quinn was gone, should Ivy not have left as well?

Ivy paled and the smile on her face wavered.

She pursed her lips and put on an ingratiating smile.

“The Old Master asked me to stay a few more days. I won't disturb anyone.”

The chill in Eric's eyes deepened slightly as he remained silent.

Mitchell quickly took the soup from Ivy's hands and poured it for Eric. “Thank you, Ms. Harrison.”

Eric obviously did not want to continue talking to her. Mitchell stood to the side,  not knowing whether he should open his mouth to send her off.

However, Ivy suddenly stepped forward. She bit her lip and summoned up the courage to speak.

“Mr. Ferguson, I know that I'm not as excellent as Ms. Stanton, but  I can work hard to be who you want me to be. Old Master Ferguson said that I can learn a lot by your side. I'm willing to be your secretary...”

Read Novel "The Divorced Billionaire Heiress" chapter No.528

A trace of disdain and indifference flashed in Eric' s eyes. Ivy did not miss the trace of emotion in his face and instantly felt like her heart was stabbed.

She felt a painful convulsion.

Eric raised his head and looked at her.

“The reason why you were dismissed from Stanton Corporation should be clear. Ferguson Corporation won't accept an employee who can't even pass the internship period. Also, with all due respect, don't compare yourself to Nicole. You're from completely different worlds.”

The difference was as stark as heaven and earth. What was there to compare?

His words were too straightforward, not caring whether Ivy's self-esteem would be hurt or not. Her face swiftly paled.

Even Mitchell felt some pity for her.

Unexpectedly, not only did Ivy not leave, but she also stood there and looked pitifully at Eric, her fists clenched tightly.

“But Old Master Ferguson said that Ms. Stanton is too strong-minded. You sent your sister and mother away because of her. She'll only cause trouble for the Ferguson family if she's with you.

You... Do you really not consider the consequences at all?”

Mitchell stood to the side, trembling. Cold sweat dripped down his face.

Eric's good mood was completely destroyed by Ivy. Even Mitchell was overwhelmed by the  heavy gloom in Eric's eyes.

Ivy acted on her own initiative and gave him an analysis of the stakes. She did not believe that a businessman like Eric who looked at benefits would remain unshaken.

Old Master Ferguson hinted that she should show up more often in front of Eric to cultivate their feelings. That meant that she was more suitable for the position of Eric's wife than Nicole.

The atmosphere in the office was quiet for a few seconds as a chill rose.

Eric's eyes measured her morosely. He raised his hand to touch his brow ridge, the action slightly wicked and bewitching.

Suddenly, Ivy became a little uneasy.

He gave a light snort, his eyes full of coldness. “Ms. Harrison, are you meddling in the Ferguson family's business because the Harrison family has too few things to do?”

Ivy's eyes trembled slightly. She looked up in a panic and was just about to explain herself, but Eric did not give her the chance.

His next words sent her straight into hell.

“Many women want to be Mrs. Ferguson, but I won't look for them in the trash, understand?”

Those words were too obvious. He was equating her to trash.

No matter how thick- skinned Ivy was, she could not remain indifferent.

Her pale face was drained of blood as tears poured out. The courage that the Harrison family gave her instantly disappeared without a trace.

She seemed to realize that Eric might know the truth about her. He might know that she was an illegitimate daughter.

Those packaged identities and conversations were taboo when it came to real nobles.

She pretended to be a high-society lady for so long, but Eric could tell at a glance that she was a fake.

How could she even dream about being Mrs. Ferguson?

The countless taunts in her head stabbed her like needles. She bit her lower lip, unable to hold it any longer, and was just about to turn and leave…

Suddenly, Mitchell’s voice cried out in surprise.

“Ms. Stanton, Mr. Lichman?”

Nicole and Gerard realized that they came at the wrong time and were just about to leave, but they were a step too late.

They more or less heard the words earlier. It had to do with Nicole.

Eric’s face changed. He swiftly got up and walked over with a smile.

“I’m really lucky to be able to see you twice today!”

Without a doubt, those words were said to Nicole.

Gerard turned his face on the side. He  just felt like an invisible person.

Nicole frowned and took a step back, keeping a distance from him.

“Mr. Lichman said there’s urgent business. We need a meeting.”

Eric's face calmed down and he turned to Mitchell.“ Prepare the conference room.”

“Understood.” Mitchell put down the things in his hand and was just about to leave the office when he suddenly remembered that there  was  another  person present. He turned around and said, “Ms. Harrison, Mr. Ferguson will be going to a meeting. You...”

Read Novel "The Divorced Billionaire Heiress" chapter No.529

Ivy saw the cold and indifferent Nicole and felt her heart turn sour. She quietly pinched her skirt and gritted her teeth in forbearance.

Eric's eyes only had warmth when she arrived.

However, Ivy did not want to admit defeat and leave so wretchedly like this.

At least, there was still hope for her as long as Eric and Nicole were not married.

Even if she was an illegitimate daughter and a fake, as long as she was acknowledged by the Harrison family, she was the Harrison family's Second Young Lady.

Ivy took a deep breath and looked at Mitchell pitifully. “Can I borrow Mr. Ferguson's room to wash my face?”

She would stay a little longer until Nicole left. If Eric saw her inside his office, he would not be able to remain indifferent.

Mitchell stood there in embarrassment. “I'm afraid not. No one is allowed to use President Ferguson's private space. Why don't you go to the washroom outside, Ms. Harrison?”

Ivy froze. She did not expect to be rejected.

Her face turned from white to red and extremely glum. She could only smile perfunctorily and agree with Mitchell before hurriedly leaving.

In the meeting room.

Gerard could not help but tease Eric who was following him. “Mr. Ferguson, you're really popular with the ladies, but your words are too harsh. Who would be able to stand you?”

Eric glanced at Nicole, but she was indifferent. He sighed in relief.

“If you feel bad for her, then bring her home.” He retorted at Gerard.

Gerard touched his nose. “I have a wife...”

Nicole tapped on the table. “Let's get to business. I have an appointment later.”

Gerard raised his eyebrows. “The AI car chip we developed was sent to Europe, but an accident happened when the European Autopilot Research Institute conducted its third test.”

The air froze for a moment.

Eric's eyes narrowed slightly, and Nicole also

looked intently at Gerard.

This project was a derivative of the three companies ' first cooperation. After opening the door for AI in the medical field, the follow-up research had attracted worldwide attention.

Failure was tantamount to a blow to the head.

Gerard passed a Cash drive to Mitchell, who projected the data onto the big screen as quickly as possible.

It was the whole video of the test. From the excitement at the beginning to the applause and cheers towards the end, everything went very smoothly.

However...

The next second, the car seemed to go out of control after a perfect right-angle turn and crashed straight into the wall of an abandoned factory.

Smoke covered the shouts of panic. After the car collided with the wall, the hood of the car became deformed. The wall toppled and collapsed, and the debris smashed onto the roof of the car with the researcher inside.

The video stopped.

The frame in the final moment was truly shocking.

Nicole's pupils shrank slightly as she subconsciously turned to Gerard.

Someone died?!

Gerard sighed and said with a grave face, “The researcher was taken to the hospital and is out of danger, but the risk of this experiment has caused discontent among the public in Europe. They're demanding that our entry qualifications be banned. It's very unfavorable to us.”

Eric was silent, his face cold and deep. “What was the reason?”

Nicole also wanted to know.

Gerard said, “The test car is completely controlled by the AI chip, and it doesn't have a manual operation function that other cars have. Therefore, the possibility of improper human interference is ruled out. The problem lies in the chip, but the chip has been left to the European forensics authority for investigation, so I'm afraid it won't be easy for us to get it back...”

Nicole looked at Eric, who pursed his lips. “I'll solve this problem. If it's a problem with the chip, we might have suffered a setback when it comes to unmanned driving.

Read Novel "The Divorced Billionaire Heiress" chapter No.530

The public was both happy and afraid of artificial intelligence. It facilitated and made life convenient, but it also brought with it risks.

It was not as emotional as the human mind, and it did not have eyes to see and ears to listen with.

Its reason, analysis, data, coordination, and optimization constituted an intelligent yet unfeeling smart chip. It was a deadly danger if it went out of control.

This was also the reason why autopilot vehicles never dominated the market after it was introduced.

Humans trusted themselves more.

Once trust was lost, even a 1 in 10,000 chance of danger would cause great resentment among the people.

Gerard's tone was heavy. “We're not the first in this field, but our technology is the most refined thus far. We've been optimizing the system, and our AI is more sensitive, quicker, and better than others. However, we have to prepare for the worst. Do we stop it now or wait for the results?”

It was clear that go% of this accident was due to a problem with the chip.

The public' s resentment would cause the stock to plummet,  and the turmoil in the stock market would cause trouble to other aspects of their companies.

Nicole paused and said faintly, " I suggest that we wait for the results. Autopilot vehicles are a must for the future world. Even if we fail repeatedly, we shouldn't lose our right to be involved in the future world. Someone will succeed eventually, so why not us?”

Gerard and Eric could not help but look at this woman.

Just now, their minds were weighing the pros and cons. There was no doubt that stopping it now was the best way to go.

However, it was such a shame to give up so easily.

On the contrary, Nicole did not even hesitate. She had more vision and she was more open- minded. Her words made the two people here instantly feel their blood pumping. There was no room for rebuttal.

This loss was nothing to them. They would suffer more losses if they lost this opportunity.

Gerard's eyes when he looked at Nicole were clearly more solemn. He had more admiration for her than before. He nodded and agreed with her words.

“ I think that since there'll eventually be someone who succeeds, there's no reason why it can't be us.”

Eric's eyes were fixed on Nicole's body. His surprise was unconcealed, and he willingly admired the woman who was better than him. It was because she was Nicole Stanton.

His lips curled up, and his eyes faintly filled with excitement and approval. “Then there's  nothing else to say. I'll contact the people in Europe and investigate the cause of the chip accident. Mr. Lichman, to be on the safe side, get two experts to go there together.”

Gerard nodded.

Nicole propped her chin up on her hand, thinking.“ Then I'll investigate the process of the chip being sent to Europe. I'll find out what happened before and after the test, and who came into contact with the chip, both here and in Europe...”

What if it was not the chip, but because someone had tampered with it?

After all, this was the third trial. The first two trials went very smoothly.

Eric took a deep breath, sat up straight, and turned to Nicole after looking at his watch.

“It's getting late. Why don't we have dinner together?”

Nicole packed her things up. “I have an appointment. Goodbye.”

Then, she disappeared before waiting for anyone to react.

Gerard coughed and kindly dispelled the awkward atmosphere.

“Sure. I want to eat steak.”

Eric's smile sank a little as his eyes lowered for a few seconds. “I'm busy. Get Mitchell to eat with you.”

Gerard was speechless.

Eric was not treating him like a person.

Mitchell looked at Eric with a troubled expression. ' I also have an appointment tonight!'

Gerard could not help but laugh. “Mr. Ferguson, your remark about not looking for women in the trash is really thought-provoking. Unfortunately, women not in the trash don't want to accompany you to dinner.”

Gerard secretly rebuffed Eric. 'Nicole isn't the same as Ivy. She doesn't care about you!'

Eric's face stiffened. His gaze was heavy as he glanced at Gerard expressionlessly.

“ If you're in such a mood to eat, you should worry about  the follow-up on the public opinion and stock market instead.”

Gerard's smile faltered.

The mood to mock Eric was instantly gone.