Ch. 1511..1520

Chapter 1511 So Evil

Once the nanny left, exhaustion was evident all over Queenie's face. "How could she be so evil?"

Queenie truly regretted adopting Cassandra.

Caliste couldn't believe it. "I can't believe Ms. Evans' desire for revenge is so strong that she'd use her own daughter."

She knew that Cassandra must have done so to influence Queenie to dislike Cecilia.

"What should I do now?" Queenie muttered to herself as if she was asking Caliste, but it also seemed like she was questioning herself.

Caliste thought it inappropriate to offer advice on Queenie's personal affairs and, thus, remained silent.

After a prolonged silence, Queenie made her way to Cassandra's room.

Cassandra had gone to bed quite early.

Queenie couldn't believe that Cassandra could sleep so soundly when the latter's child was injured and was running a fever.

Unable to hold back any longer, Queenie woke her up.

Cassandra opened her eyes, a hint of irritation in her voice. "Mom, what are you doing in my room at this hour? Shouldn't you be resting?" Queenie was in a foul mood. "I have something I'd like to discuss with you!"

Cassandra reluctantly got up. "Can't this wait until tomorrow?"

"It's about Dahlia and Cecilia," Queenie said coldly.

Cassandra suddenly became much more awake. "Mom, are you planning to warn Cecilia?"

Queenie looked at her excited expression, growing even more infuriated. "I came to warn you."

Cassandra was taken aback. "What do you mean?"

Queenie relayed everything that the nanny had said.

Cassandra was reeling. "Mom, don't believe her nonsense. I am Dahlia's biological mother. How could I possibly harm Dahlia?"

"At first, I thought the same, assuming you had misunderstood Ceci, which is why I allowed the police to take her away to calm you down. However, you disappoint me greatly!" Queenie sighed deeply "I'm warning you, if you ever hurt Ceci again, I'll cut ties with you, from then on, you will no longer be my daughter, and I won't show you any mercy."

Cassandra wanted to defend herself, but she suddenly felt weak.

Then, Queenie left, preparing to apologize to Cecilia first thing the next morning.

Cassandra was in her room, utterly unable to sleep.

"Cecilia, you despicable person!" she began to curse, having no idea how to deal with Cecilia.

Out of fear of disturbing Cecilia's rest, Queenie decided to visit the former the next morning.

When Cecilia was about to have breakfast, she heard Queenie had arrived.

Charlotte regarded Queenie with a hint of wariness. "Mdm. Queenie, do you have some business here?"

Guilt was etched all over Queenie's face. "Listen, about what happened last night, I've thoroughly

investigated everything. The injuries on Dahlia have nothing to do with yout."

Cecilia wasn't surprised and replied in an icy tone, "As long as everything's been clarified, that's good."

Seeing her attitude, Queenie couldn't help but feel saddened. "I'm sorry. Last night, I was just trying to placate Cassandra. It wasn't that I didn't trust you."

Charlotte was at a loss, not understanding what had unfolded. Listening to Queenie's words, she felt puzzled.

Cecilia was, as always, serene. “You

don't need to apologize. I understand the circumstances back then. Anyone would have thought that was the one who harmed the child. So, I don't blame you"

Her nonchalant demeanor and indifferent attitude only served to deepen Queenie's distress. Queenie would rather Cecilia scolded her instead

 

Chapter 1512 A Stranger

"Ceci, can you please not talk to your mother like this? You can curse at me, you can be angry, but please, can you not be so indifferent?" Queenie was at her wit's end, tears welling up in her eyes. Upon seeing her like that, Cecilia didn't quite know what to say.

"I don't see any reason to be upset," Cecilia truthfully stated.

She was different from her past self.

Back then, she hadn't lost her memories, so when she discovered that Queenie was her biological mother, she was deeply hurt by the cold treatment she received.

However, she wasn't sad at all at that moment because the person in front of her was just a stranger to her.

Queenie felt as if her throat had been sliced by a knife.

"It's all my fault..." Queenie was completely at a loss on how to make amends to Cecilia.

She lowered her gaze, her back slightly hunched as she walked away.

After that, Charlotte, in confusion, asked Cecilia, "Boss, what's going on? What's this about harming a child?"

Cecilia briefly informed Charlotte about the events that had transpired yesterday.

Upon hearing the full story, Charlotte was instantly filled with indignation. "How could Cassandra falsely accuse you? It seems to me that she deliberately harmed her own child." With just a single sentence, she revealed the truth.

Cecilia had difficulty believing it. "That can't be. After all, it's her own daughter."

"Who knows what this woman is capable of?" Charlotte finished, then comforted Cecilia. "Boss, if anything like this happens again, you must tell me. I'll protect you."

Cecilia chuckled. "All right."

Charlotte still felt uneasy, so she spoke more with Cecilia, telling the latter what to do.

It had been a while since Cecilia had returned. She had been everywhere, though her memory wasn't recovering as quickly as she'd hoped. That day, she decided to accompany Charlotte to work at the company. During the midday break, when everyone was resting, Cecilia made up an excuse to go out.

She hitched a ride all the way to the hospital.

Previously, it was Nathaniel who always took her to see the doctor. To be honest, she had some reservations and felt she couldn't fully trust Nathaniel.

The doctor conducted some tests on Cecilia, which were pretty much in line with what Zachary had initially mentioned.

Cecilia handed over the medicine

that Nicholas had given him

throughout the year to the doctor for

examination. He inquired about what kind of medication they were

After examining the components of the medication, the doctor repeated the same thing Nathaniel had told her, which was that they weren't used for restoring memories.

"Fortunately, the dosage you took wasn't excessive. Too much could potentially lead to mental illness," the doctor stated.

Cecilia couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. "Thank you. Is there any treatment?"

The doctor prescribed some medication for Cecilia and then advised her to relax more in the future and to refrain from taking random medication.

After obtaining the prescription, Cecilia felt even more complicated on his way back home.

After arriving at the office, Charlotte noticed Cecilia still hadn't returned. She thought something might have happened to Cecilia and was incredibly worried. Upon seeing that Cecilia had finally returned, Charlotte relaxed. "Boss, where did you go? Everything okay?"

Cecilia shook her head. "I'm fine. Is there a problem?"

"I thought you lost your way since

you're gone for an hour or two, or worse, got kidnapped again." Charlotte's eyes were still red from the worry she had experienced earlier.

en

Immediately, Cecilia reassured, "Don't worry, I was just going for a stroll downstairs. The doctor advised me to get more exercise these days."

Charlotte nodded. "Wherever you go in the future, make sure you bring me along. If you think I talk too much, you can always have Sven accompany you." Cecilia assured, "All right, don't worry."

Seeing Charlotte worried about her, Cecilia felt guilty, but also a sense of gratitude for having such a good friend.

Chapter 1513 Confrontation With Stella

After Cecilia returned, aside from Cassandra, Stella was also restless.

Stella had finally managed to make her way back into the entertainment industry. When she thought about what she did in the past, she became fearful of Cecilia restoring her memories. She would often sneak a peek at what Cecilia was doing after returning.

That day, after she had finished filming, her car was parked outside the entrance of Ceci Corporation.

Stella sat in the car, waiting patiently for Cecilia to finish work.

Finally, she saw Cecilia emerging from the company. Unable to wait any longer, Stella exited the car and headed toward Cecilia.

The woman, donning high heels, sunglasses, and a face mask, stood out strikingly.

Cecilia had also noticed her, but before she could recognize who it was, the latter had already arrived in front of her.

Stella blocked Cecilia's path. "Cecilia, you're back."

Her familiar voice stirred an inexplicable wave of disgust in Cecilia.

Although she couldn't recall Stella's wrongdoing, she instinctively disliked her voice.

Charlotte immediately shielded Cecilia, asking, "Who are you?"

Only then did Stella remove her sunglasses and mask, revealing a face full of hyaluronic acid injections.

Time had taken its toll on her. She was no longer as beautiful as she was in her youth. To stay relevant in the entertainment industry, she had to rely heavily on various beauty treatments. Upon seeing Stella, Charlotte furrowed her brows. "Stella, what brings you here? Are you planning to harm our boss again?"

A trace of coldness flickered in Stella's eyes. B*tch!

Still, she maintained a smile as she spoke to Cecilia. "I heard you were back in town and not busy, so I specifically came to check on you."

Upon hearing the words, Cecilia responded rather aloofly, "Well, thanks then."

She was so polite yet distant.

Stella immediately relaxed because it seemed that Cecilia hadn't remembered anything just yet. "Ceci, if you ever need anything in the future, remember to come tome. Don't hesitate."

"Our boss doesn't need you. Get lost!" Charlotte couldn't wait to shoo the person away.

Stella had come over to probe whether Cecilia had recovered her memory or not. Seeing that Cecilia hadn't, she didn't persist any further and simply watched the duo leave.

After Cecilia had boarded the car, Charlotte warned, "Boss, you really shouldn't get involved with this person. She's no good."

"Why would you say that?" Cecilia couldn't help but ask.

She could only recall what she knew of Stella during her childhood. The rest was rather fuzzy to her.

Charlotte couldn't quite put it into words because she wasn't fully aware of what exactly had transpired between Cecilia and Stella. However, she still said, "Just ignore her. You never liked her in the first place. She's certainly no good."

After hearing it, Cecilia didn't ask any further, simply saying, "All right."

When Cecilia returned home,

Nathaniel hadn't gotten back yete and the household chef was preparing the meal. Thus, Cecilia headed upstairs to revisit the songs she had written in the past

She played the familiar and beautiful melody, allowing her to relax significantly.

She was so engrossed that she didn't notice when Nathaniel quietly entered the room.

Nathaniel couldn't bring himself to interrupt her. After finishing her performance, he finally said, "Ceci, it's time for dinner."

When Cecilia came back to her senses, she turned around to look at him. "All right. When did you get back?"

"Just a moment ago." Nathaniel was

intently watching her, initially

wanting to ask what she had been

doing at the hospital alone that

afternoon, but he was afraidat might upset her.

After all, when Cecilia wasn't suffering from amnesia, she particularly detested being followed by others.

Unaware of his emotional distress, Cecilia accompanied him downstairs for a meal.

Before she could eat, her phone rang, interrupting the silence.

 

Chapter 1514 Call From Eric

Cecilia picked up to see an unfamiliar number.

After a moment of hesitation, she decided to answer the call. "Hello, who's this?"

"It's me, Eric," a voice brimming with youthful energy rang out from the other end of the phone.

Cecilia asked in confusion, "Is there something you need?"

"I guess you've truly forgotten who I am now that you have amnesia." Eric sighed. "Did you forget? You still owe me a meal. Besides, I'm now an artist signed under your company. Aren't you going to take care of me at all?" His words were laced with a hint of flirtation.

It was the first time Cecilia had encountered a man acting like that, and for a moment, she was somewhat at a loss about what to say. "Um, would it be possible to owe you for now?"

"No way... You've owed me that for a year now, and you still want to continue owing..." Eric was relentless.

Nathaniel could subtly sense who the caller was.

He took the phone from Cecilia's hand and, sure enough, he heard the voice of Eric.

"Ms. Cecille, are you worried about Nathaniel discovering our secret? Relax, I promise I won't breathe a word to him!" said Eric.

Our secret? Nathaniel's expression instantly darkened.

"Eric, if you bother my wife again, don't blame me for not being polite!" After he finished speaking, he hung up the phone for Cecilia.

It wasn't until Cecilia snapped back to her senses that she said, "Nathaniel, how could you do this?"

She was somewhat upset. Snatching the phone from someone else's hand and even hanging up the call for them was incredibly rude. Upon seeing that Cecilia was somewhat upset, Nathaniel couldn't help but explain, "Ceci, Eric is not a good person. No actors are." After hearing that, Cecilia looked up at him. "Is this the reason you snatched my phone and hung up my call?"

Nathaniel was taken aback by her gaze. For reasons he couldn't comprehend, he found himself instinctively fearing Cecilia.

hempecked?

Cecilia gently reclaimed her phone from his hand. "I don't like this. Mr. Rainsworth, I'd appreciate it if you could show a bit more respect in the future." Nathaniel felt a surge of jealousy threatening to spill out from his heart. Her words made him feel quite awful.

Cecilia walked ahead of him toward the restaurant.

Inside the dining room, everyone was waiting for the two of them to arrive.

"Ceci, come and eat," Lucille called out.

"All right." Cecilia flashed a smile and took a seat next to Lucille.

Nathaniel

also came over,

instinctively wanting to sit next to Cecilia However, Cecilia blocked the spot with her hand, speaking to Elliot. "Eli, would you like to come and sit next to me?"

Naturally, Elliot was more than willing, eagerly agreeing, "Of course, Mommy."

He arrived with a spring in his step. Disregarding Nathaniel's sour expression, he took a seat next to Cecilia.

Nathaniel had no choice but to switch to a different spot.

At first, no one had noticed the

tension between Nathaniel and Cecilia. It wasn't until they saw Nathaniel trying to strike up a

conversation with Cecilia, whool

repeatedly ignored him, that they realized something was off.

Elliot lowered his voice and asked Nathaniel, "Daddy, did you upset Mommy again?"

Nathaniel couldn't help but feel frustrated. "Why is it always me upsetting her? Can't it be her upsetting me for once?"

He was also feeling terrible at the moment. It was clear that Eric was trying to steal his love away, but with Cecilia's amnesia, she simply didn't care about his feelings.

"Sc*mbag daddy, you ought to be more magnanimous, you know?" Elliot said, acting all grown-up as he patted Nathaniel's shoulder.

Nathaniel understood the need for magnanimity, yet he found it unbearable to witness Cecilia laughing and chatting with other men.

 

Chapter 1515 Have Self Respect

During mealtime, Cecilia consistently ignored Nathaniel.

61%

 

Unable to contain himself any longer, Nathaniel decided to take the initiative and strike up a conversation with her.

After dinner, when he saw Cecilia going for a walk to al digestion, he followed her.

Understanding the situation, Lucille and the others tactfully stepped aside.

Cecilia paused, casting an annoyed glance at Nathaniel Ignoring him, she continued walking ahead on her

own.

"Ceci, don't be upset anymore," said Nathaniel.

Cecilia remained silent.

"I was too agitated earlier," Nathaniel confessed solemnly.

Initially, Cecilia didn't think it was a big deal. However, upon reflecting on how effortlessly Nathaniel handled things, she couldn't help but wonder about the dynamics of their marriage.

"Did you often act this way when we were married before?" She finally spoke up.

Nathaniel paused for a moment before hurriedly clarifying, "Of course not."

He wouldn't dare to provoke Cecilia's anger.

"Then why did you snatch my phone away so easily earlier?" Cecilia didn't believe it.

Nathaniel was momentarily taken aback, still struggling to find the right words, when Cecilia spoke again. "I think I need some time alone right now. Let's not continue this conversation for the moment." "Ceci..." Nathaniel was about to grasp Cecilia's wrist when the latter dodged with caution.

"Mr. Rainsworth, please have some self-respect," spat Cecilia.

Nathaniel was immediately frozen in place.

Not far off, the bystanders, including Madeline and Charlotte, watched the scene unfold curiously. "What's going on? Are they arguing?"

"Goodness, even dogs would avoid a couple's quarrel. Let's call it an early night, shall we?"

"I feel the same way."

They were engaged in a back-and-forth conversation.

Cecilia didn't know about the conversation. She had lost any interest in continuing the walk, so she left Nathaniel behind and headed to the living room to rese

Nathaniel trudged forward with stiff steps, approaching the trio of onlookers. "What are you gawking at? Have you all finished your work?"

Chapter 1515 Have Self Respect

67%

 

The three workers instantly wore sour expressions, silently praying in their hearts for Cecilia to regain her

memory.

That evening, there was something off about the atmosphere at home.

Cecilia avoided speaking with Nathaniel. Every time he attempted to strike up a conversation, she would sidestep him.

When it was time to sleep, Cecilia had already retired to the guest room.

Elliot inevitably became consumed with worry after he watched all of that unfold.

He was in his nursery room, calling Jonathan. "Jon, what do we do now? Mommy and Daddy are at odds with each other again."

"Doesn't Mommy have amnesia right now? How come there are sudden conflicts? Is it because Nathaniel hasn't treated her well?" Jonathan felt an overwhelming urge to confront Nathaniel, to question why he had upset his mother. Elliot shook his head. "I don't think so. It's probably just sc*mbag daddy doing something typical of a straight man again."

Only then did Jonathan feel somewhat relieved. "Don't worry about Nathaniel. Focus on Mommy. Make sure she doesn't get hurt again, understand?"

Elliot nodded repeatedly. "I understand, don't worry."

After speaking, he expressed his confusion, "Jon, when exactly will you be coming back?"

Jonathan promised to return after George died as the latter was one foot in the coffin already.

However, George was still very much alive at the time. It led Elliot to believe that George was merely pretending to be ill.

"I'm not sure either." Jonathan shook his head.

He had been living there for a while, and George had grown accustomed to his presence.

"All right then," said Elliot.

"If there's nothing else, you should get some sleep now Don't stay up late," Jonathan added. Elliot nodded, "All right."

He ended the call, then closed his eyes to sleep.

 

Chapter 1516 Visiting University.

57%

 

Jonathan longed to return swiftly to Cecilia's side. However, George's health condition fluctuated constantly, causing him great worry. Zachary and Vivian were unreliable. The two were still bickering frequently, leaving Jonathan wondering when it would ever end.

It was uncertain whether the two of them would ultimately get married.

Jonathan was filled with all sorts of worries, so much so he couldn't sleep well at night.

Meanwhile, at the Smith residence, Cecilia quickly fell asleep that night. Sleeping there didn't scare her as much as it did in Sparaville.

Nathaniel couldn't fall asleep, no matter how hard he tried. He kept getting up, wanting to seek out Cecilia, yet he was afraid he might disturb her rest. Thus, he had no choice but to return to his room. Having spent the entire night without sleep, Nathaniel's eyes still bore a hint of fatigue the next morning. It was clear that he hadn't rested well.

He rushed to find Cecilia at the earliest opportunity, only to be informed by Charlotte, "The boss has gone

out."

"When did she leave, and where?" Nathaniel urgently asked.

Charlotte shook her head. "I'm not sure, but don't worry. Sven is with her. There won't be any issues."

At that time, Nathaniel wasn't just concerned about her. He also wanted to find her and have a chat to see if her anger had subsided.

Sitting in the car, Cecilia had long forgotten the previous night's unpleasantness and was enjoying the view outside the window.

Sven was an excellent companion. Throughout their time together, apart from when she asked him questions, he hardly initiated a conversation with her. Cecilia felt she could easily disregard him.

At last, the two of them arrived at the entrance of a university.

It was the university where Cecilia once studied. As she looked around at the surroundings that felt both familiar and foreign, she stepped out of the car.

"I clearly remember attending university here, but I've forgotten so many memories."

After muttering to herself, Cecilia turned to Sven and said, "Lwant to explore ahead on my own. Can you wait for me here?"

Sven nodded. "All right."

Following that, Cecilia walked alone under the tree-lined path.

Along the way, there were groups of students everywhere.

Chapter 1516 Visiting University

 

Cecilia watched them, brimming with youth, and couldn't help but feel envious and frustrated. She just couldn't remember what had happened during her own youthful days. As she continued her journey, a familiar figure emerged in the distance.

The man, cloaked in a black coat, stood conspicuously amidst the vast expanse of pristine white snow.

He was quite tall and remarkably thin, his face strikingly handsome.

It was Nicholás!

Only now did Cecilia realize he and Nathaniel were truly worlds apart.

Even though the two individuals looked identical, there were distinct differences in their demeanor and physique. Nicholas was notably much thinner.

It seemed as though Nicholas had chanced upon her, yet it also seemed as if he had been deliberately waiting there. Upon seeing Cecilia approach, he took deliberate steps toward her. When Cecilia thought back to her visit to the hospital yesterday and the conclusions the doctor came to, she felt rather displeased with him.

"Ceci," Nicholas walked up to her and called out softly.

A chill flashed in Cecilia's eyes. "What are you doing here?"

Upon seeing her indifference, Nicholas felt a chill in his heart.

"I just came by, not expecting to run into you," he responded.

"That's too much of a coincidence," Cecilia said, clearly not believing his words.

Nicholas lowered his gaze, even though it was truly a coincidence.

He had never visited the university and had only heard about it from Cecilia.

When he happened to pass by the place that day, he thought he'd come over for a look. He didn't expect to run into Cecilia, and he thought it must have been fate.

"It's okay if you don't believe me," Nicholas said, his voice filled with disappointment.

 

Chapter 1517 You Changed First

Cecilia clenched her fist tightly, "You're nothing but a compulsive liar. How do you expect me to trust you? The medicine you gave me could have led to a mental disorder. Do you realize that?"

She truly hadn't anticipated that Nicholas, who had been so kind to her since childhood, could actually hurt her so deeply.

A flicker of pain crossed the depths of Nicholas' eyes. "This was my only option!"

He couldn't think of any other way to make Cecilia stay by his side for good, so he had to resort to that

measure.

Cecilia sneered, "What do you mean by that, huh? You're truly selfish and wicked. I never imagined you would change into the person you are now."

Change? That word caused Nicholas' tightly wound nerves to snap. He raised his hand, gripping Cecilia's arm, his eyes slightly reddened, "Ceci, how can you say that I've changed? What gives you the right to say that?" He tightly gripped Cecilia's arm.

With a pained expression, Cecilia furrowed her brows. "Let me go."

Nicholas didn't loosen his grip. On the contrary, he held onto her arm even more tightly.

"It was you who changed first. You told me you liked me, that you wanted to marry me when we grew up! However, you couldn't even tell the difference between Nathaniel and me. That's one thing, but how could you marry him and then gradually fall in love with him?" Nicholas' throat tightened. "You were supposed to always like me. It's you who changed. You shouldn't have changed your heart."

Upon hearing his words, Cecilia was somewhat taken aback. "What nonsense are you babbling about?"

Nicholas swiftly pulled her into his embrace, holding her tightly. "Whether I'm talking nonsense or not, your heart knows very well. I took care of you for over a year, but the moment Nathaniel appeared, you went back to him. Why are you so fickle when it comes to love?" He held her so tightly that it felt as though he might crush her ribs.

"Nicholas, let go of me!" Cecilia shouted, having trouble breathing.

I

Nicholas still refused to release her. "I only gave you a small dose of the medicine. The doctor said the dosage is light. It won't harm your body."

"Let go of me!" Cecilia's face flushed a deep red.

Nicholas continued, "Even if some harm was done, that was something you owed me. Why couldn't I ask you to repay it? We should have been husband and wife. You should be with me. I'm reclaiming what's mine! What's wrong with that?" He only kept talking about himself.

Cecilia felt as though she was merely an object. However, at that moment, Cecilia had no memories of the past, unable to defend herself against many past occurrences. She could do nothing but let Nicholas speak.

Chapter 1512 You Changed First

"If that's the case, then all I can say is I'm sorry..." said Cecilia.

 

Nicholas, however, wasn't interested in hearing any apologies. "Ceci, come back with me, please? I promise I won't make you take any more medicine or do any hypnosis. As long as you come back with me, I can let bygones be bygones." Cecilia felt that he was particularly terrifying at that moment.

She shook her head vehemently. "No, I won't go with you. Let me go!"

Her breathing had become even more labored.

Nicholas, however, was unaware. Seeing her reluctance to leave with him, he couldn't help but hold her even tighter. "If you don't leave with me, I'll die with you."

His words strack Cecilia like a bolt of lightning.

Cecilia felt her head spinning slightly, and all she could see before her was blank void.

"Let... Let go..." She was already breathless and weak.

Just when Cecilia thought she might die that day, a voice interrupted the scene. "Mr. Nicholas!"

It was Jocelyn.

 

Chapter 1518 Do Not Want To See You Again

When Jocelyn was heading to the company with Nicholas, they passed by the university. Nicholas expressed his desire to get out of the car and take a look

Thus, she waited outside. Not seeing any sign of Nicholas' return for quite a while, she grew somewhat anxious and decided to go looking for him.

It just so happened that she witnessed the scene unfolding before her at that very moment.

Jocelyn clearly noticed that something was seriously wrong with Cecilia, and she couldn't help but speak up. "Mr. Nicholas, you must let go of Ms. Smith. She seems to be on the verge of collapsing." Jocelyn's voice pulled Nicholas back to reality.

He immediately released Cecilia, noticing she was paling and clearly struggling for breath.

"Ceci!" Nicholas' face was filled with anxiety.

Cecilia was panting heavily, leaving her no room to respond to him.

Jocelyn stepped forward, lending a hand to Cecilia. "Ms Smith, please relax slowly."

Cecilia nodded.

After a long while, she finally managed to regain her composure.

A flicker of guilt passed through Nicholas' eyes. He raised his hand, about to touch Cecilia. "Are you okay?"

Immediately, Cecilia took several steps back, evading him. "I almost lost my life just now."

She was still terrified, fearing that if Nicholas were to strike again, she would surely meet her end.

Nicholas' raised hand froze mid-air.

Jocelyn apologized on his behalf. "Ms. Smith, I'm sorry. Mr. Nicholas definitely didn't do it on purpose."

She knew better than anyone just how profound Nicholas' obsession with Cecilia was.

Reflecting on what Nicholas said earlier, Cecilia found it impossible to believe what Jocelyn said.

Bearing her discomfort, she took one step at a time, making her way outside. "Nicholas, I don't want to see you anymore."

As Nicholas watched Cecilia walk away, his mind kept repeating those last words of hers.

Jocelyn could feel the pain radiating from Nicholas, prompting her to say, "Mr. Nicholas, let's go."

It took a while for Nicholas to regain his composure. With a raspy voice, he responded, "All right."

The two of them walked out together and got into the car.

Jocelyn wanted to comfort Nicholas, but she didn't know how to go about it.

Chapter 1518 Do Not Want To See You Again

win her over.

 

Jocelyn lowered her gaze, feeling it was about time she found someone she could rely on until old age.

It was at that moment that Jocelyn's cell phone ringtone shattered the silence.

She picked up her phone and saw it was a call from the nan she was set up with for a blind date.

Jocelyn decided not to answer, thinking that she needed to stay by Nicholas' side for the moment.

At that moment, Nicholas looked at her, his expression returning to its usual gentleness as if nothing had happened earlier. "Why didn't you answer your phone?

Originally, Jocelyn wanted to say it as a prank call. However, when she had taken out her phone earlier, she noticed there was a name on it and decided to be direct "It's a private call." "It's not like we're at work right now. It's okay to answer your phone if it rings," Nicholas said considerately.

Jocelyn wanted to say something else, but the phone rang again.

Under the silent gaze of Nicholas, Jocelyn answered the phone. "Is there something you need?"

Jocelyn approached her blind dates with the same consistent work ethic she applied to everything else.

Many of her previous blind dates had been scared off because of that, but the new one hadn't yet.

The person on the other end of the phone chuckled, saying, "If I can only call you when there's something important, I'll have to think about my answer."

Quickly, he continued, "I happen to be in Tudela right now. How about we grab a meal together?"

Jocelyn had initially thought that he wasn't interested in her, but to her surprise, he actually took the initiative to ask her out.

She didn't refuse. "All right."

"When will you be available? Can you make it at eight tonight?"

"Sure," Jocelyn responded simply.

"All right, I'll send you the options of the places I've booked in a bit. You can choose one." After that, he hung up.

 

Chapter 1519 Jocelyn Meets Yannick

Nicholas sat off to the side, unable to fully catch the conversation on the other end of the line between Jocelyn and the other person, but he had a vague sense that it was "Jocelyn, are you in a relationship?" he asked, his voice inged with surprise.

The unexpected question took Jocelyn off guard, and she paused before responding, "I'm not sure if it counts yet. We're still in the stage of getting to know each other." Nicholas nodded. "That's great. When your relationship is confirmed, bring him to meet me. I can help you evaluate him."

Jocelyn hadn't expected such a casual remark, so free of any jealousy. It only confirmed what she'd been suspecting: Nicholas didn't have feelings for her at all. Jocelyn forced a bitter smile, a stark contrast to her usual demeanor, as she rejected Nicholas.

"Mr. Nicholas, there's no need," she replied.

"Why?" Nicholas asked, taken aback.

Jocelyn herself couldn't quite pinpoint why she felt this way, but an inexplicable anger simmered beneath

the surface. Unable to hold it in, she blurted, "This is my personal business."

Nicholas was left speechless.

Jocelyn continued, her tone firm, "Mr. Nicholas, you've never involved me in your personal matters, have you? I hope you can extend me the same respect." For the first time, Jocelyn had rejected Nicholas.

man.

Nicholas watched her, still in a daze, a hint of disbelief in his expression. Jocelyn noticed his gaze but paid it no mind, instead casually turning to look out the window. Outside, the snow had begun to fall again.

"When will this snow stop?" she murmured to herself.

Nicholas, shifting the subject, replied, "Yes, the snow is particularly heavy this year."

Silence fell between them. Later, when Jocelyn had finished her work for the day and Nicholas arrived at the office, he discovered that she had already left her desk much earlier.

For reasons he couldn't quite explain, he became curious about where she had gone.

The blizzard outside continued to intensify, and after a long moment of hesitation, Nicholas stood up and left the office. He instructed the driver to start the car.

At a Clusian restaurant, Jocelyn entered the private room and immediately spotted the man who had been waiting there for some time. He was dressed in simple, unremarkable attire, but his features were well-proportioned-the kind of appearance that would appeal to older people.

As soon as he saw Jocelyn, the man waved and, with a gentlemanly gesture, pulled out a chair for her. "Please, have a seat."

Chapter 1519 Jocelyn Meets Yannick

857%"

 

Although Jocelyn was Nicholas's assistant, outside of work-related events, she had no idea how to interact with unfamiliar men.

"Hello, Mr. Hayes," she said, her voice tinged with awkwardness, as though she were merely attending to a task.

Yannick chuckled softly. "Hello."

The conversation only seemed to heighten Jocelyn's discomfort, making her feel more awkward by the

moment.

It appeared Yannick had noticed her unease. To ease the tension, he extended the menu toward her. "You must be hungry, coming at this hour," he said. "I wasn't sure what you'd like, so I haven't ordered yet. Take a look at the menu."

Jocelyn nodded. "All right."

After a brief pause, she added, "Last time, you treated me. This time, it's my turn."

Yannick smiled, his eyes lighting up with delight. "All right."

He had met Jocelyn previously during a matchmaking session back in their hometown. At first, he hadn't thought much of her. However, after learning that she was connected to Nicholas, he was intrigued and decided to ask her out again. This time, as he observed her, he couldn't help but notice that she seemed a bit unconfortable, which took him by surprise.

Is she really Nicholas' personal assistant?

Jocelyn quickly placed her order and then handed the menu to Yannick. "Take a look. What would you like to eat?"

"Nothing in particular," he replied.

With that, Yannick motioned for the waiter to bring the dishes Jocelyn had selected, followed by the restaurant's signature dish.

The two of them sat by the window, engaged in their meal, unaware of the sleek black luxury car parked nearby. Inside, someone watched them intently.

 

Chapter 1520 Nicholas Stalks Jocelynnoveldrama

Nicholas sat in the car, his eyes fixed on Jocelyn as she shared a meal and conversation with a man he didn't recognize.

After having someone take a photograph, Nicholas proceded to investigate Yannick's identity. It wasn't long before the investigator called. "Sir, this Yannick is the eldest son of the Hayes family, and also a close friend of Calvin."

Yannick Hayes?

Nicholas furrowed his brow. I was wondering why he looks familiar. Turns out he's indeed connected to someone I know.

Given his knowledge of Jocelyn's humble background, he was surprised that she would have any connection to the prestigious Hayes family.

Nicholas' eyes narrowed slightly. For a moment, he was tempted to ask Jocelyn if she knew about Yannick's identity.

Nicholas sat in the car for a long time, waiting. It wasn't until the two finished their meal and were about to Heave that he instructed the driver to pull away.

Jocelyn had intended to pay the bill, but Yannick had already taken care of it. She felt a bit embarrassed. "How much is it? I'll transfer it to you?"

Although Jocelyn could afford the meal on her assistant's salary, the cost was equivalent to her entire monthly wage. Yannick hadn't expected her to be so considerate. "No need," he replied with a smile. "You can treat me next time we eat. Now you owe me two meals."

Jocelyn, not one to overthink things and having never been in a relationship, simply nodded. "All right. Next time, make sure you let me treat you."

"Mmhm." Yannick regarded her serious demeanor, a little taken aback by her straightforwardness.

After watching Jocelyn until her car disappeared from view, Yannick called for his own private vehicle.

At his age, it was time to consider marriage, and his grandmother had recommended Jocelyn as a suitable match, praising her virtues and her lack of materialistic tendencies.

He had dressed plainly that day, merely to observe Jocelyn's reaction. She had passed the test effortlessly.

Yannick picked up his phone, unable to resist sharing his thoughts with Calvin.

"Calvin, do you know who the woman I was set up with is?"

Calvin, in the middle of his work and too busy to guess answered straightforwardly, "Who?"

"Nicholas's assistant, Jocelyn," Yannick replied.

Calvin was momentarily speechless. "If you're serious about getting married, then stop playing games. You're not planning to marry her, are you?"

14:38 Tue,

Chapter 1520 Nicholas Stalks Jocelyn

 

After all, the disparity between their social statuses was vast. Even if they were attracted to each other, the elders of the Hayes family would never approve of such a match. Moreover, Calvin knew Yannick well. As a man notorious for his playboy lifestyle, Yannick could never settle down with an ordinary woman. His interest in Jocelyn was likely driven by curiosity-especially since she was Nicholas' assistant. "Calvin, are you actually starting to lecture me now?" Yannick said, recalling all that Calvin had done for Cecilia.

Calvin, understanding the underlying implication, responded, "Right now, I only see Cecilia as a very important friend." Yannick couldn't hide his astonishment. "You've

finally come to your senses."

He had always thought that Calvin was stubborn, especially for insisting on pursuing a woman who was already married.

Calvin glanced outside, observing Cecilia as Eric persistently tried to convince her to have lunch with him. Calvin furrowed his brow before finally speaking, "There are some things-and people-you just can't force." "Now that's more like it," Yannick responded, sensing the shift in tone.

Calvin, no longer interested in continuing the conversation, hung up the phone. He stood up and walked outside.

The day was drawing to a close, and Cecilia had little to do, so she spent the evening working overtime at the office with Madeline and the others, keeping them company.

Eric set aside his work, frequently approaching Shia to chat. Thankfully, Nathaniel was at Imminence Corporation, unaware of his actions.

"Ms. Cecille, could you take a look at this sheet music for me? Is there anything I need to improve?" Eric asked, trying to strike up a conversation. "You can review it later. We could go over it during dinner-my treat." Just then, Calvin stepped forward. "Let me take a look for you," he said, interrupting the exchange.