Ch. 1571..1580

Chapter 1571 Protect His Loved Ones

Only by becoming stronger and stronger could one protect their loved ones.

Nathaniel understood this deeply. After dropping Cecilia and the others off at the company, he headed alone to Imminence Corporation. Recently, his team had uncovered plans by Robert to stir up trouble, leaving Nathaniel uneasy.

Without hesitation, he crushed the new company Robert and his ragtag group had formed.

Though Robert had yet to take any overt action, his silence was unsettling.

When Nathaniel arrived at the office that day, he was greeted by an unexpected sight-Niel, leaning on his cane, waiting in Nathaniel's office. Hearing footsteps behind him, Niel turned around, his sharp eyes locking onto Nathaniel. "Nathaniel, you're here."

Nathaniel walked in directly. "Grandpa."

Niel nodded and then took a seat.

He looked up at his stern-faced grandson without a hint of affection.

"Nathaniel, your company is even grander than Orion Corporation."

"Grandpa, you flatter me," Nathaniel replied politely before cutting to the chase. "What brings you here today?"

Niel didn't mince words. "Lately, your uncle and cousin have both come to me, saying you've pushed them so hard they can't even afford to eat."

Nathaniel knew he wouldn't show up without a reason. As expected, he was here on behalf of Robert and Adrian.

Nathaniel couldn't tell if his grandfather was genuinely unaware or pretending to be.

Was he oblivious to the chaos his eldest son's family had caused?

"When has the Rainsworth family ever been so poor they couldn't afford to eat? Why haven't they told me? If they're truly struggling, they can come to me. I'd be happy to lend them some money," Nathaniel said with a fake smile. Seeing his attitude, Niel got straight to the point.

"Let's settle this. Give your uncle and cousin positions at Imminence Corporation. If not here, then at one of the branch offices. It's better than them sitting idle, isn't it?"

So that was the real purpose behind his visit.

Nathaniel knew all too well that bringing Robert and Adrian into the company would only lead to trouble. They wouldn't work sincerely but would instead create endless problems. "That won't do. My company doesn't employ useless people," Nathaniel replied flatly, rejecting the request outright.

Niel hadn't expected Nathaniel to

refuse him so bluntly, and his expression darkened with anger. "Nathaniel, don't forget where you came from. If not for being born into the Rainsworth family, how could you have achieved what you have today?"

Nathaniel's gaze grew colder.

"Grandpa, Imminence Corporation was built from the ground up by me. As for Orion Corporation, I

reacquired it after it was

mismanaged. If you continue to net

favor Uncle Robert's family, don't

blame me for cutting ties with you entirely." , to

Over the years, Robert's family had used every trick in the book to undermine Nathaniel, especially during his and Nicholas' youth.

The damage done to Nicholas' health was largely their doing.

"Fine, fine! Consider me without a grandson then," Niel spat before storming out in anger.

As soon as Niel left, Nathaniel instructed his team to keep an eye on him.

Sure enough, after leaving, Niel quickly contacted Robert and Adrian.

What annoyed Nathaniel even more was seeing Nicholas among them.

"Nicholas truly knows how to make things difficult," Nathaniel muttered.

"Mr. Nicholas is enabling the villains. Has he forgotten who caused his health problems in the first place?" Mason sighed.

Nathaniel glanced at him. "Your

wedding is coming up. Focus on your family and take a break from work. I've arranged for a bonus from the finance department. It should

cover your wedding expenses."

It was the first time Mason had seen his boss show such a human side.

"Mr. Rainsworth, you're the best."

"Get out."

"Yes, yes."

 

Chapter 1572 Going Back To Work

Nathaniel was engrossed in work at the company, completely forgetting about Cecilia's situation on her end.

What he didn't know was that, since Cecilia arrived at the company, Eric had been dropping by her office during every break, showering her with concern. "Lunchtime!" Eric beamed, carrying an assortment of delicious food.

Cecilia looked a bit surprised. "We're eating here?"

She had assumed they would go out to eat.

"There are too many people outside, and it's easy to get crowded. Eating here is better. Quiet and less chaotic," Eric explained.

Outside, Madeline and the others had initially planned to invite Cecilia to join them for lunch, but seeing the situation, they knew it was impossible.

Charlotte couldn't help but comment, "Well, if Mr. Rainsworth finds out about this, he'll get jealous and upset again."

Madeline chuckled. "It's unavoidable. If I were a man, I'd be worried too. Eric is just too much competition."

After all, he was a famous singer who was not only incredibly popular but also handsome and younger than Nathaniel. Meanwhile, Nathaniel sneezed at his distant office.

Charlotte nodded in agreement.

Just then, someone approached her. "Want to grab lunch together?"

It was Sven.

Ever since Cecilia had spoken to him, Sven had been actively inviting Charlotte to meals, movies, and strolls.

Charlotte looped her arm through Madeline's. "Sure, let's go, Maddie!"

Madeline, however, wasn't about to become a third wheel.

"Nope, not going. I don't feel like eating out today. I ordered delivery instead."

"When did you order that? You didn't even ask me!" Charlotte exclaimed, feigning outrage like the oblivious fool she was.

Madeline didn't bother to enlighten her. "Sorry, I forgot."

"It's fine, but next time, remember!" Charlotte replied magnanimously.

Madeline fled back to her office. She planned on leaving for lunch herself after they were gone.

Charlotte and Sven soon left.

However, just as Madeline was about to leave, Calvin knocked on her office door.

"Haven't had lunch yet?"

Madeline felt a bit awkward but replied, "Not yet."

"Want to grab a bite together?" Calvin offered.

"Huh?" Madeline was surprised but quickly agreed. "Sure."

She couldn't exactly refuse her boss.

Initially, Madeline thought Calvin meant

take her out for lunch, but

he led her to Cecilia's office.

Inside, the table was laden with a feast.

Some of it was brought by Eric, while the rest was ordered by Calvin.

"Maddie, you haven't eaten either. Come join us," Cecilia called out warmly.

Madeline glanced around, noticing Eric's uneasy expression.

Only then did she realize Calvin had ulterior motives.

Still, sabotaging someone else's plans like this didn't feel quite right.

"Mr. Reese, you seem quite free today?" Eric asked, his sharp gaze landing on Calvin.

He had finally gotten a chance to be alone with Cecilia, only to have it ruined.

Calvin smiled casually. "Likewise."

bet

Sensing the tense atmosphere, Cecilia quickly spoke up. "Why don't you all eat? The food's getting cold."

"Sure." Calvin walked straight over.

Not wanting to back down, Eric also hurried to sit beside Cecilia.

Calvin, however, approached Cecilia directly. "Ceci, let's switch seats." "Sure," Cecilia agreed without hesitation, moving to sit with Madeline. The four of them quickly began to eat, each harboring their own thoughts.

Under Calvin and Madeline's watchful eyes, Eric refrained from openly flirting with Cecilia. Instead,

he subtly placed food onto her plate.

"Eric, I think you should use a serving spoon when helping others with food," Calvin remarked pointedly.

 

Chapter 1573 Excellent Health

Eric's hand holding his fork froze for a moment. Clearly, he had forgotten about the serving spoon.

Seeing the situation, Cecilia stepped in to diffuse the awkwardness. "It's fine, it's fine. We're all friends here."

"Friends or not, you still need to be careful. Ceci, your health hasn't been great to begin with. What if our famous singer here has some contagious disease?" Calvin teased with thinly veiled sarcasm. Eric immediately bristled. "Mr. Reese, don't make things up. I get a full physical every year. I'm perfectly healthy."

"Oh," Calvin responded flatly.

Eric's irritation grew, and he added, "Ceci, I'm serious. There's absolutely nothing wrong with my health."

No man could tolerate being mocked about their health like that.

Madeline nearly burst out laughing, and even Cecilia had to stifle a smile as she nodded repeatedly.

"Mm-hmm, I can tell," she said.

Still, Cecilia couldn't help but feel puzzled. What does Eric's health have to do with me? Why is he so eager to reassure me?

Even with her memory loss, Cecilia could still grasp the nuances of relationships between men and women.

She felt that Eric's care and attention toward her were a bit excessive.

"Eric, I don't think we should eat together next time. I've already made plans with Maddie and the others to have lunch together in the future," Cecilia said, trying to subtly set boundaries.

Eric was momentarily stunned but quickly recovered, putting on a thick skin. "That's fine! We can all eat together. The more, the merrier."

Not wanting to be left out, Calvin chimed in, "Count me in, too."

At this point, it truly was a lively group.

Seeing the situation, Cecilia had no choice but to let it go.

After they finally finished eating, everyone started tidying up.

"Ceci, I'm heading back to my office for a nap," Madeline said, eager to escape the tense atmosphere.

Cecilia nodded. "Okay."

Madeline quickly made her exit, leaving Eric lingering behind.

Calvin noticed Eric still sitting there and gave him a nudge on the shoulder. "Eric, shouldn't you rest? You can't expect Ceci to stay awake just because you are. As long as you're here, she won't feel

comfortable taking antent

Eric glared at him before glancing at Cecilia, who was starting to look a bit drowsy.

Feeling slightly guilty, he stood up. "Ceci, I'll come by later this afternoon when I have time."

Cecilia, not one to easily refuse others, simply smiled without responding.

Eric and Calvin left one after the other.

Once they were in the empty hallway outside, Eric dropped his pretense.

"Mr. Reese, I've realized something. You're awfully nosy."

Calvin was quick to fire back. "I just can't stand people taking advantage of others. Ceci may have lost her memory, but that doesn't give you the right to disregard morals

"Ceci is divorced and single. How am I being immoral?" Eric retorted without hesitation. "Are you jealous of my courage to love openly? You're too cowardly to confront Nathaniel head on, so you assume every man is as spineless as you?" He didn't hold back.

Calvin didn't seem angered by them. Instead, he appeared curious.

"Eric, do you know why I like Cecilia?"

Eric was puzzled.

Calvin continued, "Because when I was young, she was a light in my life. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't be alive today, let alone standing where I am now." After saying this, Calvin looked directly at Eric. "And you? What is it about Ceci that attracts you?"

Now that he was no longer hung up over her, Calvin could see things more objectively. Cecilia had a child and a husband.

While her looks were indeed captivating, they didn't seem enough to make a famous singer like Eric utterly devoted, completely unconcerned about her past. Seeing Calvin's sincerity, Eric began to talk about his own past.

"I used to be a bar singer."

Chapter 1574 The Past

"I still remember the first time I met Cecilia."

Recalling his youthful and innocent days, Eric couldn't help but smile. "Back then, she told me I had talent and treated me like a little brother, teaching me all sorts of things. Later, she even wrote songs for me and accompanied me to countless companies. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't have become a famous singer." Eric's voice carried a trace of nostalgia, a longing for the past.

He didn't know when exactly he fell for Cecilia. At first, he thought it was gratitude, but over time, he realized there weren't many women who could earn his genuine respect like she did.

"I feel like Ceci represents my youth," he said.

Hearing this, Calvin nodded in understanding.

"Have you ever considered that your feelings for Cecilia might not actually be love? Perhaps it's just pure admiration?"

Eric turned to glare at him, his usual arrogance returning. "Don't lecture me. I've lived long enough to know the difference between love, friendship, and admiration."

With that, he stormed off, clearly annoyed.

Watching Eric leave like a petulant child, Calvin couldn't suppress a small laugh.

"It seems I was overthinking it."

Eric didn't seem like a bad person, just too young and immature.

He thought everything could go the way he wanted and that with a little effort, Cecilia would end up with him.

Regrettably, he was mistaken.

Calvin understood all too well that over the years, the person Cecilia truly cared for wasn't him, nor was it Eric.

Cecilia was a stubborn person. When she decided to love someone or pursue something, she rarely changed her mind.

Back in his office, Calvin buried himself in work.

Meanwhile, Madeline, unable to sleep, glanced up and saw him working diligently. Her eyes reflected admiration.

"Mr. Reese really never rests. Is this the difference between a boss and an employee?" she murmured, sighing quietly before picking up her phone.

She began contacting an attorney she'd found online to consult about her divorce.

The attorney was efficient and quickly drafted a divorce agreement.

After reviewing it multiple times to ensure there were no issues, Madeline sent the document to Darren.

This time, if Darren still refused to cooperate, she would have no choice but to take legal action.

On the other end, Darren had been drinking alone all night. His head throbbed, and his mind felt like it was going to explode.

When he heard the notification from his phone, he groaned but reached for it despite the pain.

Opening the message, he found the divorce agreement from Madeline.

His dark eyes narrowed, and he immediately sobered up.

Darren read the agreement carefully. It stated that they would divorce, Madeline would have custody of their child, and she wouldn't ask for anything else. After a long delay, she finally answered.

"Did you see the agreement? If

there's no issue, just sign it. If you refuse, 'll file for divorce in court," Madeline said firmly, her tone unwavering."

"Are you joking?" Darren's voice was hoarse, his head pounding and his stomach churning. "Let me make this clear. I will never divorce you, and will never hand Amy over to yott."

With that, he ended the call.

For the past year, Darren had believed that if he gave Madelinez time, she would tire of the hardships outside and eventually return to him. He never expected this woman to push things so far.

Standing abruptly, Darren walked outside and ordered his driver to take him to the Smith residence.

 

Chapter 1575 Amelia Is Missing

Madeline stared at the disconnected phone, feeling frustrated.

She had to work soon and didn't want to waste time arguing with Darren.

When she got off work, she discovered that Amelia was missing.

In a panic, she asked, "Where's Amy? Weren't you with her the whole time?"

Madeline grabbed the nanny's hand, her voice trembling.

The nanny looked equally guilty. "I don't know. Mr. Faust said he wanted to spend time alone with Amy. I didn't expect them to disappear in the blink of an eye." "Mr. Faust?"

Darren?

Madeline's racing heart settled slightly. If Darren had taken Amelia, her safety wasn't a concern.

Even so, she couldn't help but scold the nanny. "How could you hand my child over to him? Did you even ask for my permission?"

The nanny explained, "I'm sorry. I forgot. Over the past year, Mr. Faust often came by and spent time with Amy privately. He's her father, and I thought no father would ever hurt their own child." True, Darren would never harm Amelia. In fact, he had never raised his voice at her or said a harsh word to her.

"He wouldn't hurt Amy, but he's taken her from me," Madeline said anxiously.

She immediately grabbed her phone to call Darren.

However, when she dialed, the only response was the cold, automated voice of the customer service agent: "Sorry, the number you have dialed is temporarily unavailable. Please try again later." Madeline tried several more times, but the result was the same. She couldn't reach him.

"He's blocked me," Madeline said, tears welling up in her eyes.

Cecilia stepped in to comfort her. "Don't panic. Use my phone and try calling him."

"Okay."

Madeline took Cecilia's phone and dialed Darren's number. This time, the call went through, and the familiar ringing sound filled her ears.

Sure enough, Darren had blocked her.

Finally, the call connected.

"Hello." Darren's familiar voice came through.

Madeline spoke urgently, "Darren, give Amy back to me."

Hearing her voice, Darren let out a coldnoveldrama

c followed by a faint "Are you panicking noel

you

scared?"

"Darren, are you insane?" Madeline snapped, no longer caring about keeping up appearances.

Darren clenched his phone tightly. "Good. It seems you're still not afraid."

With that, he hung up and immediately blocked Cecilia's number as well.

When Madeline tried calling again, the call wouldn't go through. "D*mn it! D*mn it!"

Tears filled Madeline's eyes, threatening to spill over. "What do I do now?"

Unsure of how to comfort her, Cecilia asked, "What happened? Why did Darren suddenly take Amy away?"

Madeline explained how she had sent Darren the divorce agreement earlier that afternoon.

"I figured it's better to get the pain over with rather than prolong agony. We're going to

anyway," she said. Content het

Cecilia

before

for a moment

"I see. But for et

now, don't worry. Let's wait until

calms down."

Madeline nodded. "Okay."

he

That evening, Madeline barely touched her dinner. When Nathaniel returned, she approached him hesitantly.

"Mr. Rainsworth, could you help me with something?"

Nathaniel looked up at her. "If it's about you and Darren, I'm sorry. I can't help."

Disappointment flashed across Madeline's face.

"Okay then."

After she left, Nathaniel called Cecilia over.

Cecilia was a bit confused when Nathaniel told her calmly, "Ceci, let's stay out of Madeline and Darren's business."

 

Chapter 1576 Stay Out Of Our Matter

Cecilia knew it wasn't wise to meddle in other people's affairs, but seeing how distressed Madeline was, she couldn't bring herself to stand by.

Nathaniel was aware of her difficulty in refusing others. he said, "Cecilia, think about it. Amy isn't just Madeline's daughter; she's also Darren's. He took his child. It's not for us outsiders to comment on." "Yes, I understand," Cecilia replied. She wasn't unreasonable.

"Don't worry. I know Darren. He's not a bad person and would never harm Amy. As for Madeline, he's always liked her. He's probably trying to keep her from leaving this time." "Okay." Cecilia nodded.

When she returned to the living room, Madeline walked over quickly.

"Ceci, how did it go?"

Cecilia shook her head apologetically.

Madeline had hoped Cecilia could help by persuading Nathaniel to find Darren, but seeing no other way, she resolved, "I'll go talk to Darren myself."

She turned to leave, but Cecilia stopped her. "You're both angry right now. Wait for a while before going."

Hearing this, Madeline paused as a thought struck her. She calmed down. "Okay."

If she rushed over now and Darren locked her up again, what would she do?

She realized she'd been too impulsive earlier.

"Take a break for now," Cecilia reassured her.

Charlotte joined in to persuade her as well. "Yes, exactly. Think of it as Amy spending a couple of days with her father."

Though Madeline sat down again under their combined efforts, her mind was elsewhere.

She was consumed with worry that she might never see her daughter again. She clung to her phone, desperately hoping Darren would call.

At the Faust residence, Darren looked at his rosy-cheeked daughter, feeling a swirl of emotions.

"Daddy," Amelia said sweetly, holding out a snack toward him. "Daddy, eat this."

"Okay."

Darren didn't hesitate to eat the snack Amelia had already bitten into, making her clap her hands in delight.

Amelia played for quite some time. Perhaps she noticed it was dark outside, and Madeline hadn't come to pick her up. She also didn't see the other ladies. Grabbing Darren's hand, she tugged him toward the door.

"Daddy, find, Mommy..."

Amelia uttered simple words. "And Eli."

She was referring to Elliot.

Darren had thought his daughter was happy being with him, but it hadn't even been long before she wanted to leave.

He picked her up in his arms. "Amy, we're not going there today. From now on, we'll stay in our own home, okay?"

Too young to understand his words, Amelia grew restless when Darren didn't take her back. She started crying loudly.

"Mommy, I want Mommy! I want madam! I want Eli!" she repeated over and over.

Seeing his daughter cry, Darren panicked. He tried offering her toys, but r playing with them briefly,

she began crying again, wanting to go back.

Nothing seemed to calm her down. Darren called the nanny for help, but even she couldn't console Amy.

"Mr. Faust, perhaps you should ask Mrs. Faust to come back. She might feel unfamiliar with the environment," the nanny suggested. Darren frowned. "Unfamiliar? I'm here, aren't I?"

Though he said this, his eyes were full of worry, fearing his daughter might cry herself sick.

The nanny didn't argue further. She pretended to coax Amelia by saying they'd go back, which finally calmed her down a little.

At that moment, Darren received a call from Nathaniel.

"Nathaniel, told you not to meddle

in my and Madeline's affairs," Darren

said with a hint of annoyano Darren

assuming Nathaniel was taking Madeline's side.

 

Chapter 1577 Calm Down

Earlier this afternoon, Darren had already told Nathaniel about his situation.

Nathaniel spoke slowly. "I'm not that free."

"So what is this about?"

"Robert and the others have been unusually quiet lately. Make sure to keep a close watch on them."

The calm before the storm was always the most unsettling.

Darren immediately straightened up. "Okay, got it."

Before hanging up, Nathaniel couldn't help but ask, "What's going on between you and Madeline? Are you really getting a divorce?"

"Impossible. I won't divorce her. We already have a child together, and we're not kids anymore," Darren said firmly.

"Good. Then talk things through with her properly. The longer you drag this out, the worse it gets."

Nathaniel spoke from experience.

Darren fell silent for a moment before replying, "I'm still a bit angry. She actually wants to sue me. Let me calm down first."

After their conversation, Nathaniel relayed everything to Cecilia.

Hearing this, Cecilia realized it was best not to interfere.

Neither Darren nor Madeline had done anything fundamentally wrong.

Taking a side outright wouldn't be fair.

"Ah, relationships are so hard to make sense of."

Nathaniel gazed deeply at her. Almost involuntarily, he asked, "Then what do you think about us?"

Cecilia froze, looking up at him, completely at a loss for words.

"What's wrong with us?" she finally asked.

Nathaniel's expression stiffened for a moment but quickly returned to normal. "Nothing."

He had hoped for some kind of different response from her, but it seemed like waiting for her to regain her memories was still the best option. That way, he wouldn't hurt himself any further. "The day after tomorrow is Mason's wedding. You're going to help out tomorrow, right?" Nathaniel changed the subject.

Cecilia's face lit up with anticipation,

and she nodded enthusiastically

Lucy asked me and Charlotte

her bridesmaids."

Madeline had originally been among them, but given her current troubles, Lucille decided not to ask her again. "That's nice," Nathaniel remarked.

Cecilia looked at him and suggested, "Why don't you be a groomsman? If you did, Mason would be thrilled."

Nathaniel raised an eyebrow slightly.

"He wouldn't," he replied.

"Why not?" Cecilia asked, puzzled.

""He's afraid I'll outshine him."

Cecilia was speechless.

She thought Nathaniel was joking and didn't press further.

Little did she know, Mason really was worried about being upstaged by his boss.. He even explained it to Nathaniel directly. "Mr. Rainsworth, I won't ask you to be my groomsman task for my wedding. If you're standing next to me, my big moment will be completely overshadowed."

Nathaniel, of course, didn't mind such things.

That evening, Cecilia went to bed early. She had to accompany Lucille tomorrow to get their makeup done and rehearse for the ceremony.

Weddings these days were such a hassle. Even the bride and groom had to rehearse in advance.

Cecilia had always thought weddings were more impromptu. She didn't realize how meticulously planned they were.

When Nathaniel saw the lights in Cecilia's room go out, he stood alone on the balcony, lighting a cigarette.

By now, he deeply understood the pain Cecilia had once endured, loving someone who didn't love her back.

He took several sharp inhales, which led to a violent bout of coughing.

"Ceci, when will you remember me?"

Nathaniel hated himself for not protecting Cecilia better. Now, he was the one suffering.

Mason's wedding was a grand affair.

For one, Mason had met a lot of

people over the years while working with Neel. For another, many saw the event as an opportunity to connect with Nathaniel.

 

Chapter 1578 The Wedding

Even Cassandra had heard about Mason's wedding, and she scoffed, "It's just an assistant getting married. What's the big deal?"

She was playing on her phone when a child's loud crying erupted nearby. The nanny was unable to calm the child down no matter what she tried.

The noise irritated Cassandra, and she snapped, "What are you even doing? You can't even handle a child? Take her outside. She's driving me crazy."

The nanny had never seen a mother like this. Instead of comforting her crying child, Cassandra wanted the child taken away so she wouldn't be disturbed. It seemed not all parents in the world loved their children equally.

Passing by, Queenie saw the inconsolable child and took her into her arms.

"What's going on?"

"I don't know. This child just cries all the time," the many replied.

"Kids cry, but not without a reason," Queenie said with a slight frown. "Could there be something wrong with her health? Call a doctor to check." Hearing the commotion outside, Cassandra immediately came out. "Mom, don't worry. It's normal for kids to cry. Maybe she's just hungry." She then turned to the nanny, giving instructions.

"Don't make a fuss over something so trivial. You'll upset Mom. Take her downstairs and feed her more."

"Yes," the nanny said, sighing as she carried the child away.

Observing Cassandra's attitude, couldn't help but advise, "Cassandra, Dahlia is your biological daughter. You really should care for her more." Cassandra was indifferent. "How am I not caring for her? Mom, you're overthinking it. Kids are like this. They'll grow out of it."

She truly didn't care about Dahlia's well-being. Her mind was entirely focused on the will Queenie had drawn up.

Queenie wanted to say more, but Cassandra grabbed her hand.

"Mom, even though Dahlia isn't your biological granddaughter, please don't play favorites. When Dahlia was born, Nicholas didn't care about her. You must treat her a little better. And even though I'm not married now, I'll definitely give you more grandchildren in the future." Cassandra feared Queenie would leave all the inheritance to Cecilia.

Queenie saw through her thoughts and patted her shoulder. "Don't worry. Pll treat both you and Ceci equally, no matter how many children you each have."

Hearing this, Cassandra felt slightly reassured.

"Thanks, Mom. You're the best."

She hugged Queenie's arm and said, "By the way, Mom, how's your health lately?"

"It's just some old ailments. I don't ask for much. I'm happy as long as I can live a few more years to be with you and Cecilia," Queenie reptied.

BUMS

Cassandra nodded, but a trace of coldness flashed in her eyes.

"Something's wrong, Cassandra! Dahlia's in trouble!"

At that moment, the nanny came rushing over in a panic.

"What's wrong?" Cassandra asked, still nonchalant. "What could possibly happen to a child? Why are you making such a fuss?"

The nanny took a deep breath. "The child was gasping earlier, and now she's passed out."

"What?"

Cassandra finally showed some

concern

"Why are you still standing here? Bring her over and take her to

the hospital immediately!et

"Yes, yes."

They rushed to the hospital.

On the way, Cassandra took the opportunity to call Nicholas.

Over on his end, Nicholas saw her name flash on his phone. Thinking of his recent plans, he reluctantly answered.

"What's the matter?"

 

Chapter 1579 Not My Daughter

"Something has happened to Dahlia. She's passed out. When are you free?" Cassandra sobbed.

Nicholas' expression turned icy when he heard those words. "She's not my daughter, why should it concern me?"

Upon hearing these words, Cassandra felt as if she had been stabbed in the heart.

"But you asked me to keep her." She had thought that having a daughter would make Nicholas treat her better.

Little did she expect her daughter to turn out to be a tool for Nicholas' revenge upon her.

The reason was simple-she had drugged him back then.

"Instead of rambling on, you might as well take the child to see the doctor now," Nicholas said, hanging up the phone.

Meanwhile, Jocelyn was still standing by his side.

Although Jocelyn had no idea what Cassandra had said, Nicholas' reply had left her feeling disheartened.

""Mr. Nicholas, is Dahlia unwell?"

She's such a well-behaved child. It's a pity she isn't given the attention she deserves.

Nicholas nodded. "Mmm-hmm."

"Is she okay? Should we go check on her?" Jocelyn asked, trailing behind Nicholas. She had seen Dahlia a few times and found the latter to be adorable and beautiful. "Jocelyn, she's not my biological daughter, so you don't need to concern yourself with her in the future," Nicholas responded with utmost calmness.

Upon hearing his words, Jocelyn was completely taken aback.

However, she didn't show any reaction outwardly, simply nodding in acknowledgment. "Okay."

"By the way, has Yannick reached out to you recently?" Nicholas asked again.

Jocelyn shook her head. "No."

She didn't tell the truth. In reality, Yannick had sought her out a few times, but she had consistently turned him away.

"If he dares to bother you or mistreat you again, you must tell me," said Nicholas, finally feeling at ease.

Jocelyn nodded. "Yes."

"Alright, you can leave now."

"Okay."

Jocelyn stepped outside, and just at

that moment she saw another message from Yannick: Jocelyn, when I first sought you out, it was indeed because of Nicholas. But now, promise that's not the case. Is there really no chance for us to go out again?

Upon seeing the message, Jocelyn remained silent for a long time before eventually deleting it without replying.

She was well aware of the kind of soulmate she was looking for.

She didn't yearn for a man from a prestigious background; all she desired was one of good character. After marriage, she was content to live a simple life.

At that moment, Yannick was by

Calvin's side Seeing that Jocelyn was not responding to him, he

rubbed his temples in frustration et

"Calvin, why is it so hard to appease a woman when she's angry? he asked.

Seeing that Yannick truly had feelings for Jocelyn, Calvin couldn't help but remind him, "If you truly have feelings for her, then be more sincere in the future." "But she never gave me that chance," Yannick retorted in frustration.

In this regard, Calvin couldn't provide him with any further advice.

He lit a cigarette. "We're not getting any younger. If you have someone you like, seize the opportunity. Don't end up like me, letting her slip out of your hands."

Seeing his exceptionally gloomy

demeanor, Yannick couldn't help but

ask, "How has Cecilia been doing recently heard her mental state isn't great. Seems like it has

something to do with Nicholas."

"She's fine." Calvin didn't like talking about Cecilia, something Yannick had also realized.

He stood up. "If there's nothing else, I'll go find Jocelyn."

Regardless, he was determined to confront her and get some answers.

Throughout his life, he had never been treated with such indifference by a woman before.

A light drizzle started to fall outside. When Jocelyn stepped out to grab a bite, she bumped into Cecilia, Lucille, and a few others who were out shopping.

"Ms. Wright, it's been a while," Charlotte greeted her first.

 

Chapter 1580 Dogged Pursuit

Jocelyn revealed a polite smile. "Long time no see, what brings you here?"

"We were just shopping," Charlotte replied.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, they parted ways.

Lucille couldn't help but ask, "Is she Nicholas' assistant?" "Yes." Charlotte nodded.

"Her demeanor is quite impressive," Lucille remarked.

Jocelyn might not have been a stunning beauty that turned heads, but she possessed a unique professional demeanor, a quality that set her apart from others in the workplace.

The ladies were just about to head off to another location when they heard a commotion coming from behind them.

When they turned around to look, they saw Jocelyn being stopped by Yannick.

Jocelyn wanted to leave, but Yannick wouldn't allow her to go.

"Jocelyn, please give me a chance, will you?" Yannick disregarded the stares from the people around him as he stood in front of Jocelyn.

The latter's brows furrowed tightly. "I'm sorry, but there's really nothing for us to talk about."

She was a person who didn't like to drag things out. Once she had determined that someone wasn't a potential partner, she naturally wouldn't involve herself with them more than necessary. Thus, Jocelyn was determined to leave.

However, Yannick refused to give in, grabbing her abruptly. "Wait, don't go."

"Let go of me!" Jocelyn instantly lost her patience.

Not far off, Charlotte and her companions caught sight of this scene and were somewhat taken aback.

"What on earth is going on?" Charlotte rolled up her sleeves. "She has clearly asked him to let go, yet he refuses to?"

In a fit of anger, Charlotte spoke up and then turned her gaze toward Cecilia, seeking permission to intervene.

Cecilia gave a nod.

With no more reservations, Charlotte made her way toward the two individuals.

The crowd of onlookers had grown even larger.

Worried that Charlotte might not be able to handle the situation, Cecilia came forward with Lucille, intending to lend a hand. "What are you doing? Didn't you hear her when she told you to let go?" Charlotte arrived in front of the two, speaking loudly.

Yannick looked at Charlotte, finding her somewhat familiar. "Who are you?" he asked.

"I'm a friend of Ms. Wright's." Charlotte glared at him coldly. "If you don't let go, I'll have to get physical."

Get physical?

When Cecilia came over and heard the warning, she couldn't help but be taken aback.

When she agreed for Charlotte to come over, she didn't expect the latter to start a fight.

Immediately, Cecilia grabbed

Charlotte, turning to Yannick. "Moet

Reese, kindly keep your hands to yourself, or we will be forced to call the police."

Lucille swiftly picked up her phone, intending to call the police.

Upon seeing Cecilia, Yannick was reminded of who Charlotte was.

He simply had choice but to comply.

After that, he gazed deeply at Jocelyn.

"Jocelyn, I really shouldn't have deceived you before. On the account of Grandma, can you reconsider adding me back to your contacts?"

In front of the crowd, Jocelyn maintained her usual cold demeanor. "That's not necessary."

"What do you mean it's not necessary?"

Yannick wanted to reach out again, to ask her what else she wanted from him, but Charlotte once again stood in his way. "Speak properly; don't be handsy. Do you know what kind of man girls despise the most? It's the likes of you."

"Do you know who I am?" Yannick asked.

Charlotte was stunned.

She then gave Yannick another look, finding him somewhat familiar.

It was understandable that Charlotte didn't know Yannick well, as the latter seldom appeared by Calvin's side.

As for Cecilia, she hadn't had the opportunity to inform Charlotte of Yannick's identity.

Seeing her reaction, Yannick couldn't help but faugh. "I'm Yannick, a good friend of Mr. Reese. You really have a knack for forgetting important people, don't you?"

A friend of Calvin?

Charlotte lost the bravado she had just a moment ago.

"Even if you're a friend of Mr. Reese's, you can't really behave like this, can you?"