Ch. 1431..1440
Chapter 1431 Something To Discuss
Jonathan was seated in front of her computer, search online for something while cutting him off, "They're barely a year old, what could they possibly know?"
After hearing this, all Elliot could do was to close the door again.
"Sigh, I just couldn't stand their ingratiating behavior."
After he finished speaking, he moved to stand beside Jonathan, joining him in watching the screen.
On it was the surveillance footage from somewhere in the world.
Over the course of that year, due to the lack of any leads on their mother, Jonathan had no choice but to scour surveillance footage from various locations. Whenever the two children had spare time, they would watch the roadside cameras, hoping to catch a glimpse of their mother. "Did you find anything?"
"No..." Jonathan felt a bit disheartened, then switched to another region.
The two kids were stationed in front of the screen, scrutinizing everything.
Outside, Queenie was having a good time playing with her two grandchildren.
Seeing her daughter being neglected, Cassandra also carried her daughter down.
"Mom, it's been a while since you last saw Dahlia."
Due to what happened with Cecilia, Queenie was not particular fond of Cassandra anymore.
However, she didn't want to show favoritism, so she took Dahlia in her arms.
"Dahlia," Queenie called out, "I also bought you a gift."
Dahlia was only a few months old, so apart from some clothes, it wasn't really feasible to buy her anything else.
Cassandra looked at her daughter's clothes, then at the gifts Queenie had given to Cecilia's four children. Surprisingly, there was even a private jet among them.
She couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy in her heart.
"Mom, you've always favored girls since we were kids, why are you being biased. You gifted Jon and Eli private jets, but all you gave Dahlia was a few pieces of clothing?" Queenie slightly furrowed her brows. "That's because Dahlia is still young. When she grows up, I'll also give her a plane."
She felt that Cassandra was someone who would never be satisfied. After all, she had already handed over some of the Jamieson family's companies to her. Surprisingly, Cassandra was even jealous over such trivial matters.
"You must keep your word," she insisted.
Queenie nodded, shifting the topic. "Where's Nicholas?"
The mention of Nicholas caused a noticeable change in Cassandra's expression. "He's on a business trip," she said.
"Another business trip?" Queenie
sighed, "It's the holiday season. Why
the come home to spen è with you and Dahlia
Upon hearing her son being discussed, Elena immediately interjected, "Once Nicholas
I'll definitely have a net
inteinitely have a word v
With Elena's words, Queenie found it difficult to say further.
"}
At that moment, in a residential area abroad, Cecilia sat by the dining table, patiently waiting for Nicholas. Finally, the doorbell rang and she immediately got up to answer it.
"Nicholas."
When she opened the door, she saw Nicholas standing at the entrance.
It was raining outside, and he was completely drenched from head to toe.
"Why didn't you use an umbrella? I'll grab a towel for you..." Cecilia was about to turn around to fetch a towel.
Nicholas didn't reply. Instead, he lifted his hand, pulled her into his embrace and said, "It's okay. Let me hold you for a bit."
Suddenly embraced by him, Cecilia felt a strange sense of discomfort.
However, considering how he had been bustling about for her sake, it didn't feel right to reject him.
Nicholas held her for quite some time before he slowly let go. "I'm sorry, did I startle you? It just felt like
it's been ages since we last met, so 1.
Cecilia forced a smile.
CUMS
"It's okay. Go change into a clean set of clothes first, then we'll have something to eat."
Nicholas readily agreed, "Alright."
Cecilia returned to the dining table, waiting for Nicholas. She was somewhat anxious about the matter she needed to discuss with him.
Finally, after Nicholas changed into a fresh set of home clothes and descended the stairs, he sat across from Cecilia.
Unable to contain herself, Cecilia blurted out, "Nicholas, there's something I need to discuss with you."
Chapter 1432 I Was Too Hasty
"What's the matter?" Nicholas asked.
After taking a sip of water, Cecilia finally said, "I want to go out and find a job."
Throughout the year, she had been living off Nicholas's money and still needed it for her treatments. Now that her health had greatly improved, she felt strong enough to venture out and make a living.
She didn't want to rely on Nicholas for everything, burdening him with the pressure.
She had assumed that Nicholas would agree without hesitation. However, after a brief silence, he asked, "Why the sudden desire to work? Is there something you want to buy or need? Just tell me, and I'll take care of it for you." ""It's not that."
Immediately, Cecilia shook her head. "The money you gave me is more than enough. I just want to rely on myself and not bother you with everything."
"How can you call it a bother? I would never consider you a nuisance." With that, Nicholas put an end to the conversation. "Alright, let's eat. We can talk about work next time."
Surprised that he had turned her down, Cecilia didn't force the issue and buried her head in her food.
After they had finished their dinner, Cecilia spent her time lounging on the sofa, engrossed in a book. These days, her life consisted of nothing more than household chores, reading, and watching television. It was utterly mundane. Nicholas, unbeknownst to her, had arrived behind her at some point. He said, "Ceci."
"Hmm?"
Cecilia looked up at him.
Nicholas met her clear eyes, his throat subtly shifting.
He reached out, his large palm gently landing on the side of Cecilia's face.
Cecilia was taken aback. "What's wrong?"
Nicholas remained silent, his fingers gently tracing the contours of Cecilia's face. Then, he leaned in toward Cecilia, his entire body curving forward.
Watching Nicholas' face come closer, Cecilia couldn't help but feel nervous, and her heartbeat quickened even more.
In a fluster, she quickly averted her gaze, not daring to look at Nicholas.
As Nicholas' lips were about to meet hers, Cecilia inexplicably turned her head away.
The kiss from Nicholas landed on the side of her face.
He froze for a moment, then his large hand found its way to her chin, compelling her to look straight at him.
"Ceci..." he softly murmured her name, his voice resonating with a magnetic charm.
Cecilia didn't dare to meet his gaze. "I, I'm a bit tired. I'm going upstairs to rest."
She swiftly avoided Nicholas' hand, heading toward the room upstairs.
Once back in her room and lying in bed, Cecilia felt the turmoil in her heart rage non-stop.
They were both adults, so she obviously knew that Nicholas had intended to kiss her just now.
She was clearly fond of Nicholas, yet when he drew near, her body instinctively wanted to pull away. Cecilia lifted her hand to touch her burning cheek. "You fool."
I have been fond of Nicholas since
my childhood, so how could it be that this age, I'm suddenly afraid
swim content belongs to
Moreover, Nicholas was her boyfriend, so a kiss was perfectly normal. Cecilia pulled the blanket over her head, trying to calm herself down.
At that moment, a knock echoed from the door.
"Ceci, open the door," came the voice of Nicholas.
Cecilia felt a bit flustered, but she nonetheless pushed back the covers and rose from the bed. She made her way to the door and opened it.
The moment she opened the door,
Nicholas swiftly drew her into hist
embrace, bending down to kiss her once again.
As Cecilia became breathless, she found herself reaching out to stop him. "What's wrong?"
Nicholas hadn't expected her to reject him, his eyes filled with confusion.
Cecilia lowered her head, her voice trembling slightly. "I... I'm a bit nervous."
Upon hearing the words, Nicholas broke into a faint smile as he gently embraced her. "Sorry, I was too hasty," he apologized.
Chapter 1433 The Nightmare
Cecilia was so close to him that she could feel his warm breath, and she instinctively took a step back.
“I going to bed now.”
“Alright.”
Nicholas gradually loosened his grip.
Upon returning to her bedroom, Cecilia lay down once again to sleep.
When Nicholas left, he closed the door behind him.
Lying in bed, Cecilia could heard the sound of running water from the neighboring bathroom, and sleep eluded her no matter what.
“What on earth is going on with me?” she mumbled to herself.
For reasons unknown, she always felt a certain resistance toward Nicholas.
Ever since waking up a year ago, Cecilia felt as though she had forgotten many things. The only memories that seemed to remain were those related to Nicholas.
The latter mentioned that she had been in a car accident before, which had resulted in some memory loss. She spent the past year abroad, primarily to receive treatment.
In the wee hours of the morning, Cecilia finally fell asleep.
Not long after she fell asleep, she experienced a nightmare. In her dream, a man bearing an uncanny resemblance to Nicholas appeared, but he had a terrible temper.
Cecilia had walked over and asked him, “Who are you?”
With eyes rimmed red, the man looked at her. “Have you forgotten who I am?”
There was only confusion in Cecilia's eyes.
Suddenly, the man embraced her. “Do you have any idea how long I've been searching for you?” he said.
After he finished speaking, he was about to forcefully do something to her.
Struggling, Cecilia demanded, “Let go of me, let go!”
She was jolted awake from the nightmare, her body drenched in a cold sweat.
“Why did I have such a dream?”
Cecilia took a deep breath, slowly calming herself down.
Once she had calmed down, she didn't dare to sleep anymore. She turned on the light and began scrolling through her phone aimlessly. During that time, she had looked at quite a number of job advertisements.
Cecilia was proficient in foreign languages, although she couldn't recall the jobs she had undertaken. When she saw job advertisements for secretarial and clerical work, as well as for foreign language translation, she couldn't help but feel intrigued.
At that moment, the door was pushed open from the outside, and Nicholas briskly walked in.
"What's wrong, Ceci?"
Cecilia was first startled by the intrusion, but upon seeing that it was Nicholas, she quickly put away her phone.
"It's nothing. I just had a nightmare."
"What nightmare?" Nicholas sat beside her, patiently asking.
Cecilia didn't hold back anything, sharing with Nicholas everything that happened in her dreams, and the people she encountered.
She failed to notice the gradually darkening of Nicholas' expression. Instead, she asked him, "Isn't it strange? Why would I dream about someone who looks just like you?"
Nicholas reached out to tuck the loose fringes behind her ear, then slowly began to speak.
"Perhaps it's a recurrence of your illness," he suggested, concern lacing my voice. "Once dawn breaks, I'll call the doctor to come and examine you." After hearing this, Cecilia dismissed the idea of seeing a doctor. "No need. Didn't I just see a doctor last month? I don't want to see the doctor again." She underwent psychiatric evaluations monthly, but now, for some reason, she was feeling a sense of resistance. "Listen, only by seeing the doctor can your illness be cured."
"But I don't feel there's anything wrong with me mentally now," said Cecilia. Then, recalling the job advertisements she had seen online, she pleaded, "Nicholas, I really want to go out and work. Can I please look for a job?"
Cecilia sighed. "You're always going back to our home country for work, leaving me here all alone with no one to talk to. It's no surprise that I'm having psychological problems, right?"
Nicholas saw the determination in her eyes, realizing that if he continued to stop her, it would only arouse her suspicion.
"Alright." Nicholas changed the subject. "But we still need to see the doctor later, otherwise my mind won't be at ease."
"Fine." Once Cecilia received his approval, her eyes lit up with delight.
Chapter 1434 The Job Interview
Once dawn broke, the doctor arrived to examine Cecilia. He then prescribed her medication, insisting she take it regularly and in the correct dosage.
Cecilia agreed, “Alright, thank you, doctor.”
After the doctor left, Nicholas went out to see him off.
Sitting in the car, he couldn't help but ask, “It's been a year already, why is she still dreaming about the past?”
“It's quite normal,” the doctor reassured. “No hypnotic method can guarantee complete erasure of past memories.” He continued, “But rest assured, given some more time, she'll reach a level of stability where she won't need monthly treatments in the future.”
“That's a relief.” Nicholas sighed, his worries finally put to rest.
“However, you must bear in mind,” the doctor cautioned, “avoid exposing her to familiar faces and events from her past. It could trigger her memory and undermine the effectiveness of the hypnosis.”
Nicholas nodded. “Understood.”
After seeing the doctor out, Nicholas returned to the room, watching intently as Cecilia consumed all the medicine.
After taking the medicine, Cecilia felt extremely drowsy, but she still managed to show him the job she had chosen.
Nicholas glanced over and saw that it was a local company, with no need for business trips or anything of the sort, so he didn't inquire further.
He wanted to spend more time with Cecilia, but the calls kept coming in one after another.
He picked up the phone, impatiently asking, “What's up?”
“Nicholas, it's St. Patrick's Day, why haven't you returned home yet? It's just me and Dahlia at home. Don't you want to spend some time with Dahlia?”
As Nicholas listened to the coquettish voice of Cassandra, yet his heart didn't soften one bit. “Cassandra, you know, my position at Orion Corporation isn't secure yet. It's not like I don't want to spend more time with Dahlia.”
Cassandra remained relentless.
"What kind of business is so important that it requires you to personally go abroad? When will you be able to return?"
Nicholas watched Cecilia as she slept soundly. "In a couple of days."
"No, you have to be back by tomorrow at the latest," Cassandra demanded. "My mom came over yesterday and she's worried about you not showing enough concern for me and our child."
Nicholas's brows tightly furrowed.
"Understood, I'll be back tomorrow."
"Great, you're the best," she said.
Nicholas promptly ended the call.
Without leveraging the power of the Jamieson family, he had no idea when he would be able to gain complete control over Orion Corporation.
After Cecilia woke up, Nicholas told her that he would be leaving the next day, asking her to take good care of herself at home.
"If there's anything you need, just give me a call. And about the job, don't worry if you can't find one," Nicholas gently said. Cecilia nodded. "Alright, don't worry. I'll be fine."
"Okay."
The reason why Nicholas was giving in to Cassandra's demands was also because he feared arousing her suspicions.
At that moment, Cecilia hadn't fully accepted him yet. If Nathaniel and his men discovered her and helped her regain her memory, then all his efforts would have been in vain.
The following day, Nicholas boarded a plane, with Cecilia seeing him off at the airport.
When she was on her way back, she received a notification for a job interview for a translator's role.
Hurray! Cecilia couldn't contain her excitement. After confirming an afternoon interview with the other party, she couldn't wait to go over.
This was an international trading company, where the boss needed more than just a translator. She was to handle administrative tasks a secretary was usually responsible for.
The hiring manager looked at Cecilia's bewildered expression and asked with a touch of concern, "Have you ever done this type of work before?" Cecilia didn't want to lie, so she shook her head. "No, but I can learn."
After hearing this, the manager couldn't help but ask, "What kind of work did you do before?"
This question left Cecilia stumped.
What kind of work have I done before? Why can't I remember?
Chapter 1435 Never Had A Job
The room fell into a deathly silence.
For some inexplicable reason, Cecilia's head started to ache.
Bearing her discomfort, she hesitated before admitting, “I've never gotten a job before.”
Upon hearing this, the manager was somewhat incredulous.
“Are you a full-time housewife?”
In the county, being a full-time housewife was also considered a job.
Cecilia found herself thinking about her unmarried status. Shaking her head, she said, “No, I just never had a job.”
The manager was even more dumbfounded. It would have made more sense if Cecilia was married, had kids, and then stopped working.
Could it be that she has been unemployed all these years since graduation? If it's not due to laziness, there must be some issue with her mindset.
The manager replied in a somewhat awkward tone, “You're very honest, but this job requires work experience. I'm truly sorry.”
When she heard the answer, a trace of disappointment flickered in Cecilia's eyes. However, she maintained her composure and simply shook her head.
“It's alright.”
Holding her resume tightly, Cecilia got up and started to head out.
In truth, she didn't quite understand herself. How is it that after graduation, I never got a job?
Nicholas said she was unwell, which was why she wasn't working. However, she felt that there was nothing wrong with her health.
Upon stepping outside, he saw a diverse group of interviewees. These individuals were well-educated, experienced, and some were even younger than her.
Cecilia wasn't ready to give up just yet. After going home, she planned to find a different job.
As she passed by a dance studio, she suddenly halted.
Inside, everyone was from the same country as she was.
Inside, a dance teacher, Nadia, was pointing at the lead female dancer and saying, "What's going on with you? You've been learning for almost half a month now, why are you still making mistakes? Do you realize that in half a month, you'll be performing for our overseas guests? How are you going to do that at this rate?"
The lead dancer wore a face of displeasure.
"We're here for work, not for dancing. I don't even have a background in dance, so to be able to dance like this is already quite an accomplishment. If you think I'm not up to par, feel free to replace me."
Nadia was left speechless by the criticism.
There were plenty of beauties in this company, but each one of them was proud and arrogant. Despite their incompetence, they were unwilling to learn and improve.
"I refuse to believe that I can't find someone who knows how to dance."
As she spoke, she noticed Cecilia standing at the entrance.
Although Cecilia had given birth before, she had maintained an excellent figure. Moreover, she had learned to dance during her school days. Throughout that year, when she had nothing to do, she continued to dance.
Moreover, she could compose music. Be it in dance or feeling the rhythm, she had no equal.
Given her experience, Nadia could tell that Cecilia had prior training in dance with a single glance.
She found herself stepping out subconsciously.
Just as Cecilia was about to leave, she called out, "Miss, do you know how to dance?"
Upon hearing her words, Cecilia halted in her steps and turned to look at her. "A little, I guess."
"Come, come here," the teacher beckoned, mistakenly assuming that Cecilia was an employee of the company.
After Cecilia approached, the teacher scrutinized her closely.
Not only does she possess a great figure, but she also has an exceptionally beautiful face. It was just unfortunate that there is a scar on her right cheek. However, if she were to apply heavy makeup, the scare could be concealed.
"Shall we try this? I'll dance, and you follow along," suggested the teacher.
Observing from the side, the lead dancer noticed the teacher bringing in a new staff member. She scoffed, "Do they really think just about anyone can just waltz in and dance? I've been working hard for half a month and I'm still not done learning the routine."
The backup dancers behind her were also whispering amongst themselves.
"Yeah, we're not exactly born dancers, yet they insist we learn to dance to please those foreign customers. It's really annoying."
"If it weren't for the cash prize that comes with winning the dance competition, I wouldn't have bothered coming."
The dance teacher paid no mind to them. Instead, she performed a routine on the spot for Cecilia.
Chapter 1436 Cecelia Dances
"Can you manage it? All you need to do is get by," Nadia said to Cecilia.
Cecilia nodded. "Alright."
Then, she moved toward the open area.
There, the dancing employees turned their gaze toward her, waiting for her to make a fool of herself.
The dance the teacher just performed was undeniably the most challenging part. They figured Cecília would be barely able to execute the moves and end up in a comedic spectacle.
However, they were quickly taken aback.
Not only did Cecilia perfectly replicate the movements demonstrated by Nadia, but she also executed them with remarkable precision. Despite her lack of familiarity with the routine, she surprisingly outperformed the teacher. "How did she manage to do that?" someone asked in disbelief.
The lead dancer couldn't believe it either. Despite practicing for half a month, she hadn't managed to master it.
"Since when did our company hire someone who could dance so well? Why has she been all this while?" another person muttered.
The dance teacher felt as if she had unearthed a rare gem.
"Miss, which department are you from? I'll inform your department manager that you'll be learning dance with us for a while. Once the performance is over, you'll receive a bonus."
.
Cecilia felt a bit embarrassed. "I'm not an employee of this company. I'm actually here for an interview today."
The dance teacher was momentarily stunned.
"Ah, so did you pass the interview?"
Cecilia shook her head.
The dance teacher, with a regretful expression, said, "How could they not accept you? You're such a good dancer and you're beautiful, you'd be perfect for the sales department."
Cecilia was well aware of her own strengths, but the lack of work experience was her undoing.
The dance instructor gestured for Cecilia to take a seat. Wait here for me, I'll be right back."
Cecilia was somewhat puzzled, but she agreed nonetheless.
"Alright."
Y
After Nadia had left, the people around began to gossip, "I thought she was from our company, turns out she's not."
Chapter 1436 Cecelia Dances
"He didn't even pass the interview, yet she had the audacity to show off here."
"Exactly! There's nothing more annoying than people who love to show off."
The lead dancer was talking behind Cecilia's back with the other women.
Upon hearing this, Cecilia decided not to take it lying down. She retorted, "If one wants to show off, one still needs to have the skills to do so. Those without any ability can't do it even if they wanted to." "What are you implying? Are you suggesting we're incompetent?" The lead dancer was upset. "I happen to be the boss' secretary, you know."
Cecilia responded with a nonchalant "okay."
Faced with her response, the lead dancer was livid.
At that moment, Nadia came over and pulled Cecilia aside.
"Miss, I've spoken with the manager. He acknowledged that your resume is impressive, but unfortunately, you lack experience. If it's acceptable to you, you could start as an intern. What do you think? The dance teacher was the manager's significant other, and what she cherished most was being in the company of like-minded individuals.
Cecilia hadn't expected that she would be able to change her fortunes. She nodded repeatedly, saying, "Alright."
After all, she was truly desperate for a job.
"Well then, come over tomorrow to complete your onboarding process. Then, you'll work in the morning and spend the afternoon rehearsing dances with everyone else." "Got it." Cecilia nodded in agreement.
The employees who were just gossiping about Cecilia were dumbfounded. They were filled with jealousy, yet they didn't dare to comment.
Once Cecilia was gone, the lead dancer stepped forward.
"Miss, let's call it a day for the practice," she said.
Upon hearing her words, Nadia looked at her coldly and didn't hold back anymore.
"You can stop practicing here, but the rest of the staff must continue training."
"What do you mean?"
"Isn't it obvious? I've already found a new lead dancer," Nadia said, without mincing her words.
Chapter 1436 Cecelia Dances
"Can you manage it? All you need to do is get by," Nadia said to Cecilia.
Cecilia nodded. "Alright."
Then, she moved toward the open area.
There, the dancing employees turned their gaze toward her, waiting for her to make a fool of herself.
The dance the teacher just performed was undeniably the most challenging part. They figured Cecília would be barely able to execute the moves and end up in a comedic spectacle.
However, they were quickly taken aback.
Not only did Cecilia perfectly replicate the movements demonstrated by Nadia, but she also executed them with remarkable precision. Despite her lack of familiarity with the routine, she surprisingly outperformed the teacher. "How did she manage to do that?" someone asked in disbelief.
The lead dancer couldn't believe it either. Despite practicing for half a month, she hadn't managed to master it.
"Since when did our company hire someone who could dance so well? Why has she been all this while?" another person muttered.
The dance teacher felt as if she had unearthed a rare gem.
"Miss, which department are you from? I'll inform your department manager that you'll be learning dance with us for a while. Once the performance is over, you'll receive a bonus."
.
Cecilia felt a bit embarrassed. "I'm not an employee of this company. I'm actually here for an interview today."
The dance teacher was momentarily stunned.
"Ah, so did you pass the interview?"
Cecilia shook her head.
The dance teacher, with a regretful expression, said, "How could they not accept you? You're such a good dancer and you're beautiful, you'd be perfect for the sales department."
Cecilia was well aware of her own strengths, but the lack of work experience was her undoing.
The dance instructor gestured for Cecilia to take a seat. Wait here for me, I'll be right back."
Cecilia was somewhat puzzled, but she agreed nonetheless.
"Alright."
Y
After Nadia had left, the people around began to gossip, "I thought she was from our company, turns out she's not."
Chapter 1436 Cecelia Dances
"He didn't even pass the interview, yet she had the audacity to show off here."
"Exactly! There's nothing more annoying than people who love to show off."
The lead dancer was talking behind Cecilia's back with the other women.
Upon hearing this, Cecilia decided not to take it lying down. She retorted, "If one wants to show off, one still needs to have the skills to do so. Those without any ability can't do it even if they wanted to." "What are you implying? Are you suggesting we're incompetent?" The lead dancer was upset. "I happen to be the boss' secretary, you know."
Cecilia responded with a nonchalant "okay."
Faced with her response, the lead dancer was livid.
At that moment, Nadia came over and pulled Cecilia aside.
"Miss, I've spoken with the manager. He acknowledged that your resume is impressive, but unfortunately, you lack experience. If it's acceptable to you, you could start as an intern. What do you think? The dance teacher was the manager's significant other, and what she cherished most was being in the company of like-minded individuals.
Cecilia hadn't expected that she would be able to change her fortunes. She nodded repeatedly, saying, "Alright."
After all, she was truly desperate for a job.
"Well then, come over tomorrow to complete your onboarding process. Then, you'll work in the morning and spend the afternoon rehearsing dances with everyone else." "Got it." Cecilia nodded in agreement.
The employees who were just gossiping about Cecilia were dumbfounded. They were filled with jealousy, yet they didn't dare to comment.
Once Cecilia was gone, the lead dancer stepped forward.
"Miss, let's call it a day for the practice," she said.
Upon hearing her words, Nadia looked at her coldly and didn't hold back anymore.
"You can stop practicing here, but the rest of the staff must continue training."
"What do you mean?"
"Isn't it obvious? I've already found a new lead dancer," Nadia said, without mincing her words.
Chapter 1437 The New Lead Dancer
"You mean the woman who just arrived? She's new here She's not even familiar with the entire dance routine yet," the lead dancer said in indignance.
It wasn't easy for her to secure the role as lead dancer. All she needed to do then was complete the performance and her achievements would be significant. But now, her position had been stolen by a
newcomer.
"Didn't you see it yourself earlier? She managed to pull off effortlessly the moves that you couldn't."
Nadia's eyes were filled with disdain. "Lysanna, didn't you tell me to get a replacement? Now that I'm doing it, why are you upset?"
The expression of the lead dancer, Lysanna Zabel, alternated between anger and embarrassment.
At this point in time, it would be humiliating for her to take back her words.
She gritted her teeth. "Fine, I quit. Do you think I enjoy this? But don't you worry, I'll definitely tell the boss about your attempt to pull some strings with the manager." Despite hearing the threat, Nadia was unfazed.
"Whatever, go ahead and tell him."
Faced with Nadia's defiance, Lysanna could only clench her fists in frustration before storming off.
Nadia called out to her again, "Hold on, leave your dance costume behind."
Lysanna had no choice but to comply, cursing Cecilia under her breath while doing so.
Upon returning home, Cecilia couldn't help but sneeze.
She texted Nicholas: Have you arrived home? I just wanted to tell you that I aced my interview today, but it's just an internship position.
Meanwhile, Nicholas had just returned to the country, and was compelled by Cassandra to look after their child.
He could only carry her to the side.
Cassandra watched the father and daughter, then returned to her room. She noticed that Nicholas' phone screen had lit up.
Curiosity piqued, she wandered over and found herself looking at a text message sent by Cecilia.
Nicholas didn't leave a caller ID for Cecilia, but her woman's intuition told Cassandra that the message was sent from a woman.
She picked up her phone, curious to see who could be so shameless.
However, she didn't have Nicholas' phone password, so she couldn't unlock his phone at all.
Moreover, the text message vanished quickly before she could take a closer look.
Chapter 1437 The New Lead Dancer
In a fit of frustration, Cassandra blurted out, "Who the bell is it!"
No wonder he has always been going abroad. It turns out it isn't for work, but to meet other women.
""F*ck! F*ck!"
Cassandra was cursing under her breath, all the while plotting to have someone tail Nicholas the next time he went abroad. She was determined to find out who that woman was. Nicholas was not at all fond of Dahlia. The only reason he allowed Cassandra to have a child was because of his own ulterior motives.
After entrusting Dahlia to the nanny, he returned to his room upstairs.
Upon seeing him enter, Cassandra immediately concealed the emotions on her face.
"Nicholas, why aren't you spending more time playing with Dahlia?"
Nicholas didn't respond. His gaze shifted to the cellphone on the table, instantly noticing that someone had moved it.
His expression remained unchanged. "I still have something to do later."
After he finished speaking, he walked over and picked up his phone.
Cassandra couldn't help but look in his direction. Unfortunately, she didn't see anything.
Realizing what had happened, Nicholas grabbed his phone and was about to leave when Cassandra embraced him from behind. "Nicholas, can you please not leave? I want you to stay with me. I feel so lonely when I'm home alone."
As she spoke, her hands were already unfastening Nicholas' buttons.
Nicholas watched the pair of hands at his waist and slowly peeled them off.
"Listen, stop messing around."
After he finished speaking, he quickly walked away.
Once outside, he immediately unlocked his phone to read the text from Cecilia.
Chapter 1438 Cassandra Vents Her Frustration
Cassandra watched as Nicholas resolutely walked away, her eyes instantly reddening.
She couldn't help but chase after him but saw Jocelyn waiting for him.
As a woman, she was not oblivious to the fact that Jocelyn harbored feelings for her husband. A raging fire of jealousy ignited within her. Overwhelmed by the intense emotion, she stormed over and, right in front of Nicholas, she slapped Jocelyn across the face. "Today is the second day of the New Year. What is so important that you can't handle yourself and need Nicholas to step in personally?"
Jocelyn's face throbbed with a fiery pain, yet she couldn't quite comprehend what was happening.
Only then did Nicholas notice what had transpired. He quickly stepped forward, grabbing hold of Cassandra.
"What are you doing?"
When Nicholas questioned Cassandra, she instantly assumed an innocent demeanor.
"Nicholas, I'm just heartbroken. You leaving me and Dahlia behind on such an important day..."
Nicholas gripped her wrist tightly. "So, is that your justification for striking someone innocent?"
His gaze was icy cold, his usual patience nowhere to be found.
Cassandra was startled by his intense gaze. She felt a shiver down her spine, while her wrist throbbed with pain. "Nicholas, you're hurting me," she said.
Nicholas, however, did not let her go. Instead, he said, "Apologize to Jocelyn."
Cassandra's pupils contracted.
"You want me to apologize to a subordinate?"
"She isn't just a subordinate of mine, but also a friend. Apologize!" Nicholas firmly repeated.
With that, Cassandra reluctantly addressed Jocelyn saying, "I'm sorry, Ms. Wright."
Jocelyn bore the sting on her cheek, not wanting to put Nicholas in a tough spot,
"It's okay."
"Satisfied now?" Cassandra looked at Nicholas once again.
Only then did Nicholas relax his tight grip.
Immediately, Cassandra massaged her own wrist. Nicholas has gone too far by squeezing my hand until its red.
She truly hadn't expected that Nicholas would actually lay a hand on her over an assistant.
Nicholas didn't pay her any mind. Instead, he looked apologetically at Jocelyn. "Let's go back to the office."
Chapter 1438 Cassandra Vents Her Frustration
Jocelyn nodded. "Alright."
Once they got into the car, the vehicle drove off.
Nicholas said to Jocelyn, "I brought you back to the country but failed to protect you. You've suffered as a result."
Jocelyn shook her head wryly.
"It's alright. It's no big deal."
To her, the slap was nothing in comparison to Nicholas standing up for her and treating her as a friend.
Nicholas, however, felt increasingly guilty.
"If she ever lays a hand on you again in the future, you don't have to hold back, understand?"
"Alright." Jocelyn forced a smile.
She was truly perplexed. She couldn't understand why Nicholas insisted on being with Cassandra when he clearly didn't care for the latter. Moreover, they even had a daughter together. Also, where on earth has Cecilia gone? Is she really dead? Why doesn't Mr. Nicholas seem worried at all, despite her not being found for over a year?
Jocelyn couldn't make sense of all that, so she simply decided not to dwell on it any longer.
Nicholas was sitting in the back seat, replying to Cecilia's text message: Congratulations.
After sending the message, he added: If you're not happy at your job, don't hesitate to quit. Never let yourself be mistreated.
Upon seeing his message, Cecilia responded: Alright, I got it.
She felt that Nicholas still treated her like a child. I'm all grown up now, how could I ever let myself be bullied?
Cecilia asked again: When will you be back?
When Nicholas responded to her message, a smile was playing at the corners of his mouth, making him look particularly handsome. Nicholas: It might be a while this time. I'm not sure, but I'll try to get back as soon as possible.
Cecilia: Alright, I'll be waiting for you.
The corners of Nicholas' mouth widened further.
Chapter 1439 Confronting Jocelyn
Seeing how happy Nicholas looked, Jocelyn couldn't help but want to see who he was chatting with.
Nicholas wasn't wary of her, so Jocelyn merely caught a glimpse 20
of him chatting with another woman.
However, she immediately averted her gaze, not daring to look again.
Jocelyn found the sight hard to believe. In her mind, Nicholas had always been a truly good person. Why is he cheating?
She knew for certain that the person chatting with Nicholas was not Cassandra.
Who exactly is she?
Jocelyn had always believed that Nicholas was loyal man when it came to love and his heart had been captured by Cecilia. She never imagined that he would now be intimately conversing with another woman.
She felt a pang of disappointment in her heart, hung her head low, and said nothing.
That evening, when Jocelyn was heading home after work, she was blocked by a car.
The car window rolled down, revealing Cassandra's proud face.
In reflex, Jocelyn took a step back.
Observing her demeanor, Cassandra couldn't help but chuckle. "Ms. Wright, you have nothing to worry about. I won't harm you. Right now, I mainly want to ask you about something." "What is it?" Jocelyn asked, her face expressionless.
"Let's talk in the car," said Cassandra.
Jocelyn, however, remained rooted to the spot, refusing to get in. "If there's something you want to discuss," she insisted, "let's talk about it right here."
She was well aware that Cassandra was no saint. Now that Nicholas had forced her to apologize, she was certain that the latter wouldn't let her off the hook easily. However, Jocelyn guessed wrong.
Cassandra noticed her reluctance to get in the car and knew the latter was being wary of herself. Consequently, she took the initiative to step out of the vehicle. "Let's find a place to talk. Don't worry, I'm not one to hold grudges. I won't seek revenge on you," Cassandra reassured her, patting her shoulder.
From Cassandra's reaction, Jocelyn was certain she wasn't there to cause her trouble. Thus, she followed Cassandra to a quiet restaurant nearby and took a seat. Cassandra had even gone out of her way to ask the waiter to bring over the menu, handing it to Jocelyn. "Take a look and see what you'd like. It's on me," she offered. Jocelyn had no idea what Cassandra was up to. She didn't order anything and got straight to the point.
14:30 Wed,
Chapter 1439 Confronting Jocelyn
"Ms. Evans, perhaps you should first tell me what you really want to talk about," she said.
In response, Cassandra decided not to beat around the bush. "Has Nicholas been seeing another woman?" she asked.
Jocelyn's expression stiffened.
After observing her expression, Cassandra more or less had her answer.
"Tell me, who is that woman?" Cassandra gently placed her hand on Jocelyn's face. "As long as you tell me, I promise you'll be rewarded."
Instinctively, Jocelyn stepped back, evading her grasp.
"I'm sorry. I truly don't know anything about this."
"You don't know?" Cassandra's suspended hand fell limply to her side. She pulled out a card from her bag and presented it to Jocelyn. "There's half a million in here. If you tell me who that woman is, it's yours. Of course, this is just an advance. Once I find out who she is, you'll get another half a million."
Cassandra knew that Jocelyn's monthly salary was no more than twenty thousand.
The latter would have to work for several years to earn a million, so she believed that no one could resist the windfall.
Regrettably, Jocelyn wasn't the person Cassandra had assumed her to be, as she didn't take the card.
"I genuinely have no idea if Mr. Nicholas is seeing someone else, and I certainly don't know who this woman you're talking about is.".
Even if she had known, she wouldn't have shared it with Cassandra.
Cassandra's grip on the card tightened subconsciously. "Are you sure about this, Ms. Wright? Have you really decided not to tell me?"
Chapter 1440 The Steadfast Jocelyn
Jocelyn maintained her stance. "I truly don't know who it is."
"Fine." Cassandra abruptly stood up, her face brimming with arrogance. "Let me warn you, if 1 find out that you know something, you're as good as dead."
After leaving the threat, Cassandra quickly walked
away
Jocelyn remained seated, hesitating for a long while. Eventually, she decided to tell Nicholas about Cassandra seeking her out.
Upon seeing the text message sent by Jocelyn, Nicholas couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Cassandra almost found out. Thankfully Jocelyn doesn't know who it is.
Nicholas: Jocelyn, thank you. If something like this happens again, let me know right away.
Jocelyn stared at the message from Nicholas, feeling inexplicably uneasy.
From the looks of it, Mr. Nicholas is seeing someone else.
She couldn't help but sigh, standing up and walking out.
Outside, the snow had started to fall without her realizing it.
Jocelyn stepped into the heavy snow, her silhouette emanating a sense of loneliness.
A few days ago, she received a phone call from her mother, urging her to come home for a blind date.
"You're not getting any younger; your career is mediocre; and yet you're still unwilling to get married? What's the reason behind all this? Don't tell me you're not into men? You must come home and find someone to marry. Otherwise, how can I face your late father? If you don't agree to my proposal, I might as well kill myself now rather than watch you end up alone in your old age."
Jocelyn pondered over the words her mother had spoken, and once again dialed Nicholas' number.
""Mr. Nicholas."
"What's the matter?"
"My mom asked me to come home for a while, so I'd like to take leave," said Jocelyn.
Without a moment's hesitation, Nicholas agreed, "Alright."
Before hanging up, he couldn't help but ask, "Did something happen at home?"
After a moment of hesitation, Jocelyn didn't tell the truth.
"It's nothing. It's just that my mom misses me and wants me to come home for the holidays."
Ever since Jocelyn started taking care of Nicholas, she seldom went home.
She hadn't gone home for the New Year celebrations that year too.
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Chapter 1440 The Steadfast Jocelyn
Upon hearing these words, Nicholas couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. "Alright," he responded, "Safe travels. Spend more time with your mother." "Okay."
Jocelyn gave a nod before ending the call.
Soon, she noticed a million transferred into her account.
The accompanying inessage from Nicholas read: This money is for you, transferred from my personal account. Go back to your hometown and celebrate the New Year with your family. If you need anything, just let me know. Jocelyn was fixated on the screen, unable to tear her gaze away for a long time.
Nicholas had always been generous toward her. Perhaps it was because of this that her feelings for him had grown so deep.
Thank you. Jocelyn responded before turning her attention away from the screen.
She hailed a cab, her gaze transfixed on the swirling snowflakes outside. She couldn't help but wonder who exactly was Nicholas seeing.
She must be a very beautiful and gentle person.
Meanwhile, Cecilia had woken up early and headed to the office.
She went to the top floor as advised by the human resources.
"Ms. Zabel, this new intern will be reporting to you," the HR manager called over a woman.
Upon seeing her, Cecilia immediately recognized her as the lead dancer from the day before.
The HR manager told Cecilia, "This is Ms. Lysanna Zabel. From now on, you'll be learning the ropes from her."
With that, Cecilia nodded. "Alright."
Lysanna scrutinized Cecilia from head to toe. As soon as the HR manager left, she
declared with an air of superiority, "Your name is Cecilia, right? If you're working under me, you'll need to rely on your skills. I won't tolerate anyone who knows nothing and only relies on connections."