Ch. 1671..1680
Chapter 1671 Blood Transfusion
Queenie couldn't believe what she was hearing and was just about to tell the doctor she would sign the consent form herself.
At that moment, Nicholas showed up.
"What happened to Dahlia?"
When Cassandra heard Nicholas' voice, her expression changed instantly, and tears began to stream
down her face. "Nicholas, the doctor said Dahlia has a rare blood disease and needs a transfusion, but even with that, there's no guarantee she'll survive..."
A flicker of sympathy crossed Nicholas' eyes.
"Then go ahead with the transfusion."
Cassandra immediately signed the consent form.
Despite Cassandra's sudden change of attitude, Queenie didn't find it odd.
She knew it was because of Nicholas. Cassandra still had feelings for him.
That night, everyone stayed at the hospital.
In the early hours of the morning, Jocelyn arrived with a team of specialized doctors.
She hadn't expected such a young child to suffer so much.
"Mr. Nicholas, is Dahlia going to be okay?" Jocelyn asked anxiously.
Hearing her voice, Nicholas couldn't help but recall how Yannick and Jocelyn were together last night.
"I'm not sure. She's still in surgery."
Jocelyn looked towards the direction of the operating room, her heart tightening at the thought of the little girl.
On the side, Cassandra noticed Jocelyn's worried expression and found it insincere.
"Ms. Wright, Dahlia is my daughter. Why are you so concerned?" she asked sharply. Jocelyn was momentarily at a loss for words.
Nicholas turned his head and shot Cassandra a cold glare. "You know Dahlia is your daughter, yet I've seen no sign of concern from you."
He had initially hoped to use the child's situation to make Cassandra experience the pain of a child being in danger.
Now he realized that Cassandra didn't care at all. She was completely heartless, even toward her own daughter.
Cassandra couldn't say a word in response.
The commotion didn't go unnoticed and soon reached the Sinclair family.
When Zachary heard that Nicholas and Cassandra's daughter was undergoing surgery at the hospital, he passed the news on to Nathaniel.
"I heard their daughter has a rare blood disorder. Not sure if it's
hereditary or a genetic mutation
BUMS
Zachary remarked sympathetically.
Nathaniel was aware that Dahlia wasn't Nicholas' biological daughter. "Regardless, do what you can to help the child recover," he instructed. "Of course, saving lives is our duty," Zachary replied.
As he chatted, Vivian walked over. "Who are you on the phone with?"
Since the last incident, Vivian found herself paying more attention to Zachary for some reason.
After finishing his call with Nathaniel, Zachary replied, "I was talking to Nathaniel."
"Oh, about what?" Vivian couldn't resist asking.
After blurting out the question, she immediately regretted it. What if Zachary thought I was being nosy and refused to answer?
However, Zachary replied honestly.
When Vivian learned about Dahlia's condition, she sighed, "Such a young child... it's heartbreaking."
"Yeah, I don't know if she'll pull through."
As they continued talking, George suddenly appeared behind them.
"What child? Vivian, are you pregnant?" George's eyes lit up.
The mention of pregnancy caught
Vivian
guard. For a moment, she
frozę before recalling that her period hadn't come this month.
Could it have happened in just one try?
Vivian quickly denied it. "No, Grandpa, don't overthink it."
She immediately got up and returned to her room, hastily calling Cecilia.
"Ceci, are you free today? Can you come with me to the hospital?"
Chapter 1672 I Might Be Pregnant
Cecilia heard the urgency in Vivian's voice and thought something serious had happened. She put down her work immediately and said, "Okay."
Over an hour later, they arrived at a small clinic.
Cecilia glanced at the shabby exterior, then at Vivian, who seemed unusually sneaky. She couldn't help but ask, "Vivian, what exactly are you doing here?"
Vivian put a finger to her lips and shushed her.
"Lower your voice."
She put on a mask and handed one to Cecilia.
Cecilia put it on.
"Ceci, I think I might be pregnant. I came to get checked."
"Huh?"
Cecilia had thought it was something serious. Why didn't she buy a pregnancy test stick to check first?
Noticing her doubt, Vivian explained, "Pregnancy tests aren't always accurate. It's better to confirm with an ultrasound at the hospital.
"But why here?" Cecilia glanced around, clearly worried about the clinic's hygiene.
Vivian had no other choice. Nearly every hospital in Tudela was owned by the Sinclair family.
She didn't want to risk being recognized by them. It would be too difficult to explain the situation to Zachary or George.
"Don't worry. Let's go."
Even though she said that, when Vivian learned that the examination required a vaginal ultrasound, she panicked and bolted out of the clinic.
"Let's find another place."
After running around in circles, they finally settled on a larger hospital.
There, Vivian underwent a urine test and an abdominal ultrasound. When she saw the report stating she was two weeks pregnant, her mind went blank.
"Two weeks?"
The doctor explained to her, "It's based on your last menstrual cycle."
Vivian felt a wave of anxiety wash over her.
Standing by her side, Cecilia took her hand and said, "This is good news. Call Zachary and tell him."
Vivian shook her head. "No, I can't."
She wasn't ready for this at all. How could she just tell Zachary?
Besides, Zachary might not even want a child with her.
"Why not?" Cecilia didn't understand.
"Zachary and don't have any
feelings for each other. Having this child would just bring them into a life of suffering," Vivian said, pinching the palm of her hand as she turned to the doctor. "Doctor, can I terminate this pregnancy?"
"Whynoveldrama
you want to terminate a
perfectly healthy pregnancy?" The doctor seemed puzzled. "Was this
an unplanned
pregnancy?"
She couldn't help but lecture, "People nowadays are so irresponsible. You don't want kids but want to have fun."
"You don't understand anything! What do you mean I just want to have fun?" Vivian snapped, her temper flaring.
That one time had been an accident. George had spiked the soup with something.
She had even taken the morning-after pill, but it hadn't worked.
She was ready to argue with the doctor when Cecilia quickly pulled her away.
In the corridor outside, Vivian
slumped onto a chair, running fingers through her hair in
swnovel met
frustration. “What should I do now?"
She was aware that this was a life at stake, but she wasn't ready.
"Ceci, back then, when you found out you were having two children, how did you decide to keep them?"
After asking, she smacked her forehead. "Ugh, I forgot. You lost your memory and don't remember." Seeing her in such distress, Cecilia sat next to her and took hold of her hand.
"Even though I don't remember, when I look at Jon and Eli now, I feel no regret-only gratitude that I have them."
Vivian listened, her emotions becoming even more conflicted.
She was about to say something else when she noticed a familiar face approaching them.
She wanted to hide, but there was nowhere to go.
Chapter 1673 Are You III
"Cecilia, Ms. Kennedy." Queenie and Cassandra had arrived.
Queenie quickly walked toward them. "Ceci, why are you at the hospital? Are you sick?"
Her eyes were filled with concern.
Cecilia was about to answer when Vivian suddenly faked a severe cough. "Cough, cough, cough, I just caught a cold. Ceci came with me to see a doctor."
As soon as she finished speaking, the doctor who had attended to her earlier came out.
"Ms. Kennedy, you forgot your pregnancy report."
Vivian froze on the spot.
She hadn't expected her lie to be exposed so quickly.
Seeing her expression, Cecilia got up and took the report from the doctor.
Vivian forced a smile and said, "I just thought I'd also get a pregnancy check-up while I was here." Queenie immediately offered her congratulations.
"Congratulations!"
"Thank you," Vivian replied, but there was no joy in her voice.
Beside her, Cassandra's eyes flashed with jealousy. Vivian was pregnant, and it was with the Sinclair family's heir.
This would solidify Vivian's position within the Sinclair family.
Cassandra couldn't help but feel bitter. No matter her own status, looks, or position, she had still ended up being dumped.
Not far away, Nicholas and Jocelyn walked over, holding a stack of medical reports.
Nicholas' eyes briefly swept over Cecilia before landing on the report in her hands. His expression shifted slightly.
Pregnancy report? Is she pregnant again?
Nicholas's gaze toward Cecilia became laced with intrigue.
Noticing his arrival, Cassandra immediately asked, "Nicholas, how is Dahlia?" "She just came out of surgery. We'll have to wait and see," Nicholas replied.
Hearing this, Cassandra threw
herself into his arms in front of everyone and cried, "What if something happens to Dahlia don't think I could go on living!"
Nicholas restrained himself from pushing her away. "Don't worry, she will be fine."
IMS
"Yes, but I'm still so scared. Thank you're here," Cassandra
goodally putting on a
display for Ceciliaet
y for Cecilia. Contentongs
Cecilia watched the scene unfold, unfazed.
Instead, she asked, "What happened to Dahlia?"
She remembered the beautiful little girl and wondered what could have gone wrong with someone so young.
Queenie explained, "She has a rare blood disorder, and her condition isn't looking good."
"How tragic," Vivian said with sympathy.
Cecilia hadn't expected this either.
Queenie turned back to Cassandra and said, "Cassandra, you and Nicholas should go check on her." Dahlia had just come out of surgery, and it was uncertain if she would survive.
Cassandra reluctantly let go of Nicholas and followed him to the ICU.
Queenie then turned to Cecilia. "Ceci, how have you been recently?"
"Good," Cecilia replied with a nod. She felt a bit uncomfortable with Queenie's concern.
Queenie wanted to say more but worried it might come across as meddling, so she held back.
"I'll go check on Dahlia," she said finally.
"Let's go visit her together, Ceci,"
Vivian suggested. She wished to visit the poor child and silently hoped for her recovery.
Cecilia nodded in agreement.
WY
They all went to see Dahlia, but since she was in the ICU, they could only see her through the glass. The little girl was beautiful, lying quietly with her brows occasionally furrowing in discomfort.
When Cassandra saw Cecilia and Vivian following them, she leaned against Nicholas again, quietly sobbing.
"I have it tough. I was born an orphan, and now my child has been diagnosed with a severe illness."
Chapter 1674 The Surgery Was A Success
69%
Nicholas was unusually gentle today. He didn't push Cassandra away and instead comforted her. It was hard to tell whether he was doing it for Cecilia's benefit or Jocelyn's.
Jocelyn stood silently beside Cecilia, watching the scene unfold without saying a word.
At that moment, the doctor came out and addressed everyone present. "The surgery went well, but whether the child can survive depends on the next few days. We need to monitor for any signs of rejection."
"Thank you, doctor."
After sending the doctor off, everyone remained uneasy.
Cecilia and Vivian stayed for a while longer before deciding to leave.
On the way back, Vivian was consumed with conflicting emotions.
She had initially wanted to terminate the pregnancy, but after seeing Dahlia in the ICU, she started to waver.
Every child deserves a chance to live. I can't be too selfish, but what if Zachary doesn't want the child?
"Ceci, can you keep my pregnancy a secret for now? Don't tell Zachary."
Cecilia didn't understand why she didn't want Zachary to know, but she nodded and agreed.
"Okay."
After dropping Vivian off, Cecilia returned to the office.
The moment she walked in, she saw Eric and the others waiting in her office.
"Ceci, you rushed out earlier. Is everything okay?"
Cecilia assured them, "It's nothing. Vivian needed me, so I went to check on her."
"That's good to hear," everyone said, relieved.
Eric lingered in the office even after the others had left, showing no intention of leaving.
"Ceci, did you see the news previously?"
News?
Cecilia recalled the gossip Miranda had shown her-rumors that Eric liked men.
Feeling a bit awkward, she nodded.
Eric quickly tried to clarify. "Ceci, let me tell you, I'm a perfectly normal man. I absolutely don't like men." Cecilia couldn't help but smile. "Yes, I understand."
Seeing her smile, Eric felt that she didn't truly believe him.
"How can I prove it to you?"
13:01 Sat, 22 Feb
69%1
Chapter 1674 The Surgery Was A Success
"There's no need to prove anything. I believe you," Cecilia replied, not realizing how serious the situation was for him.
Seeing her indifferent attitude, Eric became even more convinced that she didn't believe him. "Ceci, actually there's someone I like."
"That's great," Cecilia said, completely unaware of who he was referring to.
Eric clenched his fists as if gathering his courage, and then said, "Actually, that person is " Before he could finish, there was a knock at the door.
Annoyed, Eric glanced at the doorway.
Charlotte quietly opened the door and peeked in. "Are you two still talking?"
Feeling uncomfortable being alone with Eric, Cecilia immediately said, "We're done."
"Perfect," Charlotte said as she walked in. "Boss, please take a look at these files."
Eric stood aside, realizing this wasn't the time to continue the conversation. He decided to bring it up again later.
Not long after he returned to his office, Eric received a phone call from his parents who gave him a lecture.
"Eric, do you really have some sort of psychological problem?"
"Son, if you really like men, you need to go to the hospital and get treatment. Don't delay," Ines pleaded earnestly. "If it can't be cured, we'll accept it, but don't stay single forever."
Eric was on the verge of tears. "I've told you already. It's just rumors."
"Then hurry up and find someone to marry," his parents urged, seamlessly transitioning to nagging him. about marriage.
Eric had no choice but to concede. "I know, I have plans. Don't worry about it."
He ended the call.
Alan and Ines stared at the disconnected call, silently forming their own plans.
Chapter 1675 Who Is She"I'll go to his company tomorrow to find out who that woman really is," Alan said, slamming the table. Ines supported the idea. "Yes, you should visit him. Don't let him go astray."
She was also worried that Eric might really like men.
Come to think of it, even if Eric were with a married woman who already had kids, it would still be better than being with a man.
The next morning, when Cecilia arrived at work, she found the company in an unusual buzz of activity. Madeline had arrived earlier than her.
"Maddie, what's going on?"
"Eric's dad is here. He said he wants to find the person Eric likes."
"What?" Cecilia was stunned.
She suddenly remembered Eric telling her yesterday that he had someone he liked.
"Do you know who Eric likes?" Cecilia asked.
Madeline shook her head. "How would I know? There are so many pretty influencers and even celebrities around, but Eric doesn't seem interested in any of them. His standards are really high."
"Isn't there anyone close to him?" Cecilia wondered.
She thought Alan must be worried about his son's future.
After all, as a renowned neurosurgeon, coming to the company to make a scene surely required a lot of courage.
Madeline thought about it. At the company, Eric didn't interact much with others except...
Her expression changed. "Don't tell me Eric likes Mr. Reese."
Maybe Eric liked Calvin without realizing it, which was why they were always arguing. "What?"
Cecilia was completely shocked.
She thought back carefully. Eric did seem to enjoy bickering with Calvin.
Typically, when someone had a crush on someone, they often like to tease and argue with their crush. "Could it really be true?" Cecilia gasped.
"What could really be true?" Calvin suddenly appeared behind them, startling the two. They immediately fell silent.
69%
13:02 Sat, 22 Feb
Chapter 1675 Who Is She
Madeline pretended to be busy. "Mr. Reese, I'll get back to work."
Calvin watched them. It felt like they were hiding something, but he didn't press further.
He headed to his office, but on the way, he saw an older man with graying hair stopping employees in the hallway, asking, "Who is Calvin Reese?"
Alan couldn't find Eric, so he started asking around if anyone at the company was particularly close to Eric, whether I was a man or a woman.
Someone brought up Calvin's name.
After all, the two were often seen together in private.
Outsiders only noticed them being together and didn't realize that they were actually arguing in private all
the time. Some even assumed there was something more going on between them.
"Mr. Reese is here," an employee said, pointing at Calvin.
Wearing reading glasses, Alan carefully examined Calvin.
He had to admit, this man was indeed incredibly handsome. In fact, the man was even better-looking than a movie star.
Confused by the scrutiny, Calvin walked over. "May I help you?"
Alan snapped out of his thoughts. "What's going on between you and Eric?"
No wonder Eric signed a lifelong contract when he used to reject signing with other companies.
"What do you mean?"
"Don't pretend. I've already heard about it," Alan said, lowering his head in embarrassment. "I know the mindset of modern people is different from us older generations, but you can't keep this from me. Eric's not getting any younger, and no matter the reason, we're prepared to accept it."
Chapter 1676 Baseless Rumors
Alan tried to speak as tactfully as possible, hoping Calvin would understand his meaning.
Calvin was utterly confused. "Mr. Palmer, are you misunderstanding something? Why would Eric and I hide anything from you?"
He didn't even consider Eric a friend, let alone someone with whom he'd conspire to deceive Eric's father.
Alan sighed repeatedly, unable to hold back his frustration any longer. He glared at Calvin and lowered his voice.
"At this point, do you really need me to spell it out?"
Employees around them started glancing over curiously.
Calvin had a clear conscience. "You might as well make it clear, Mr. Palmer. I don't want to be falsely accused of anything."
Though he said this confidently, he quickly regretted it.
"Are you and Eric in a relationship?"
Alan's words caused the entire area to fall silent. Calvin's eyes widened in shock, disbelief written all over his face.
"What are you talking about?"
"Stop hiding it. Eric's mother and I are old now, and we've seen everything. If you two are truly in love, just Het us know. Don't keep us waiting in the dark," Alan said earnestly.
Calvin felt his head pounding.
He didn't care if people thought he liked married women, but being accused of liking men was another matter entirely.
How could he possibly like a man, especially someone who had once been his love rival?
"You've misunderstood. Eric and I are just colleagues-nothing more," Calvin said, raising his voice so everyone could hear. He wanted to ensure there were no misunderstandings.
This was the first time Calvin had ever bothered to explain something so thoroughly to his coworkers. Nearby, Charlotte was holding a stack of documents, watching the scene unfold. She was so caught up in the drama that the files in her hands nearly slipped.
"Oh dear, is this even possible?" she muttered, taking several deep breaths to calm herself.
As the crowd around them grew, Calvin decided he needed to take control of the situation. He grabbed Alan by the arm. "Let's talk in my office."
"So you're admitting it? Feeling ashamed, huh?" Alan said, following Calvin while continuing to question him.
Calvin couldn't be bothered to respond. Instead, he pulled out his phone to call Eric, but the call didn't go 1/2
13:02 Sat, 22 Feb M.
Chapter 1676 Baseless Rumors
Eric's phone was off because he was at a filming location for a shoot.
☐☐☐☐ 69%
Calvin then called Madeline. "Get in touch with Eric's assistant immediately and tell him to return to the office."
If Eric didn't come back soon, Calvin felt like there'd be no way to clear his name, no matter how hard he tried.
Once they reached the office, Calvin asked Alan to take a seat.
"Mr. Palmer, where did you even hear that Eric and I are in a relationship? Let me be clear: it's all baseless rumors. Nothing has ever happened between us. We're not even friends."
Alan saw the seriousness on Calvin's face and began to waver.
"But I asked around, and everyone said our Eric likes to meet with you privately."
Calvin finally understood the source of the misunderstanding. He couldn't very well tell Alan that Eric's private meetings with him were all because of Cecilia.
"That's a misunderstanding. I assure you that I like women. As for Eric, I don't think he likes men either," Calvin said firmly.
Hearing this, Alan didn't know whether to feel relieved or disappointed.
He and Ines had been hoping Eric would settle down and start a family, but now even the possibility of him liking men was ruled out, leaving them back at square one.
As Alan sat in anxious silence, Eric finally rushed back from the filming location.
"Dad, what are you doing here?" Eric asked, clearly worried.
Still not entirely convinced, Alan asked him directly, "Tell me the truth. Do you like this Calvin?"
Chapter 1677 Pretending To Be His Girlfriend
I like Calvin? A sense of absurdity washed over Eric. "Dad, are you joking? I'm as straight as they come. How could I possibly like him?"
Upon seeing Calvin's face, he was immediately repulsed, let alone the thought of liking him.
Eric would rather be dead if he had to spend every day with Calvin.
After hearing that, Calvin silently picked up his water glass and took a sip. "Mr. Palmer, you heard everything, didn't you? You misunderstood."
The weight that had been burdening Alan's heart finally lifted.
However, after a moment's thought, he stepped in front of Eric again. "So, who do you actually like? Or are you saying you don't have anyone you're fond of? If that's the case, why not give that girl your uncle introduced a chance?"
Once again, Eric was being urged to get married. This time, it was even happening at home.
Eric was truly distressed, unsure of what to do next.
Right then, Charlotte came over to gossip. Immediately, Eric pointed at her and said, "Dad, she's the one I'm in love with."
Charlotte was leaning against the door when she was suddenly confessed to, leaving her momentarily stunned. "Huh?" Eric likes me? What kind of joke is this? I'm already Sven's woman. How can I possibly accept him? Although he's quite handsome, I can't be fickle, can I?
"Mr. Palmer..." Charlotte was about to explain when suddenly, Eric swiftly walked over, flashing her a meaningful look.
His intention was clear. Eric was hoping that Charlotte could help him appease Alan.
Upon seeing his pleading look, Charlotte found it difficult to expose him. So, she courteously responded to Alan, "Hello, Mr. Palmer.
Alan sized up Charlotte. She's a charming young lady, indeed a girl.
His eyes were almost brimming with tears as he asked, "Miss, what's your name?"
"My name is Charlotte Talbot," replied Charlotte.
Elders of Alan's generation had a particular fondness for those who looked as adorable and well-behaved as Charlotte.
"Excellent. Why don't you come over
to our place for dinner after work today? I'll have my wife cook. What do you fancy? I'll ask her to prepare your favorite dish," Alan said, his gaze fixed on Charlotte. This girl seems quite nice, far better than those female celebrities in the entertainment industry.
"Huh? That's not "
"Lottie, just agree to it. If you don't go, my parents will definitely be worried." Eric gave her another pleading look.
Charlotte felt like she was the unluckiest person alive. If she had known, she wouldn't have let her curiosity get the better of her.
"Fine."
Charlotte had initially planned to go back and have a barbecue with Sven that day, but it seemed like their plan would have to wait until tomorrow.
"I'll head back first to get things ready while waiting for you to come over," Alan said, leaving cheerfully.
As he walked, he didn't forget to call his wife, sharing the good news with her.
Once he was out of sight, Charlotte immediately turned to Eric. "Mr. Palmer, what are you trying to do? I have a boyfriend now, you know."
"When did you get a boyfriend?" Eric asked, puzzled.
"Not too long ago. You really need to make things clear with your parents. I can't be part of your act." Charlotte believed it was wrong to deceive the
elderly.
A sense of awkwardness washed over Eric. "I honestly didn't know you had a boyfriend. Here's what we can do. Help me out just this once, please. Once we're done with dinner, I'll figure out a way to tell my parents that we've broken up."
Calvin sat to the side, quietly observing the spectacle unfolding between the two individuals.
He cleared his throat softly. "Have you guys finished your discussion? If not, please take it outside. I still have work to do."
"How petty." Eric glared at him before dragging Charlotte away.
After Charlotte left, Eric made a promise. As long as she lent a hand, he would take care of all her lunches for the next year.
"Really?" Charlotte's eyes sparkled. "Can I eat anything I want?"
"Of course."
Chapter 1678 Meeting His Parents
In the end, Charlotte was ultimately swayed.
She returned to her desk and informed Sven that she was busy that night, suggesting they should have the barbecue tomorrow instead.
At that moment, Sven was sitting in the car, somewhat puzzled by the message he received from Charlotte.
What came up? It seemed that Sven wasn't the type to pry too much. Despite his curiosity, he didn't ask further. He responded with a text: Okay.
That evening, Charlotte followed Eric back to his home.
Sven was watching from not far away. His subordinate, who was tagging along, couldn't help but ask, "Boss, isn't Ms. Talbot going back with you today?"
"She's occupied," Sven replied.
One of the subordinates exclaimed, "D*mn! She got into a luxury car."
Sven looked over, only to see a sports car speeding away.
At first, his subordinates were intimidated by Sven, but as time passed, they realized he was the type of
person who was stern on the outside but warm-hearted on the inside. They were no longer as fearful. One of them couldn't help but ask, "Boss, how come Ms. Talbot is suddenly riding in a luxury car?"
For Sven, a sports car worth tens of millions was nothing significant. However, when his subordinates asked about it, he still felt a touch of discomfort in his heart.
"I don't know." After giving an honest response, he settled into his own car.
The car he was driving now was quite understated, worth only two to three hundred thousand. It was the kind that wouldn't attract a second glance on the road.
As Cecilia's bodyguard, he did not need to drive a particularly fancy car, as it would draw too much attention.
Watching Sven get into the car, a few of his subordinates couldn't help but feel a sense of doubt creeping into their hearts.
"Could it be that Ms. Talbot and Boss quarreled?"
"That sports car looked really pricey. Could it be that Ms. Talbot has fallen for someone else? Boss is so incredible. How could she possibly..."
"What's the use of being impressive? In today's society, money is the most useful thing."
"You have a point. People nowadays are too realistic."
As they were engaged in their discussion, Sven was sitting in the car, overhearing their conversation.
He couldn't help but grip the steering wheel tightly, waiting for Cecilia and the others to get off work before following them back to the Smith residence.
Cecilia was unaware that Charlotte and Eric had left together. Upon arriving at the Smith residence, he noticed Charlotte's absence from Sven's car, which left him somewhat puzzled. "Sven, where's Lottie?"
OUMS
"She said she has something to do tonight and will be back later," Sven responded, seemingly calm. Only, the force with which he closed the car door was significantly stronger than usual.
"Oh, okay." Cecilia hadn't noticed that something was off about his expression.
Meanwhile, at Eric's residence, Eric's parents were overjoyed and took an immediate liking to Charlotte upon meeting her, showering her with all sorts of affection and concern.
Charlotte felt somewhat overwhelmed, but Eric quickly stepped in. "Mom, Dad, it's Lottie's first day here. Let's not interrogate her too much. If you scare her off, don't blame me."
Upon hearing that, Eric's parents quickly held their tongues, daring not to utter another word.
This was the first time their son had brought home a girlfriend. They couldn't just mess it up like that.
When the meal was served, both elders eagerly filled Charlotte's plate with food.
Charlotte was someone with a huge appetite, and she could eat a lot, even more than Eric.
"Mr. and Mrs. Palmer, the meal you made is truly delicious." As she ate, she simultaneously showered praises.
For someone who loved to cook, naturally, Alan and his wife found joy when others complimented their delicious meals.
Eric's mother, Ines, grew increasingly fond of Charlotte. "In that case, eat plenty. Feel free to come over and dine at our place every day. I'll cook for you."
"Thank you, Mrs. Palmer." Charlotte expressed her gratitude.
Alan and Ines noticed that the
atmosphere in the house shifted upon Charlotte's arrival, becoming lively and warm. They
enthusiastically served her food and picked out the best dishes for her.
When it was time to leave, they even gave Charlotte a generous monetary gift.
Chapter 1679 A Misunderstanding
Sitting in the car, Charlotte rubbed her round belly, let out a satisfied burp, and then sighed. "Mr. Palmer, you're really lucky. Your parent's cooking is so delicious."
"You're such a foodie, you find everything tasty."
Growing up, Eric was accustomed to eating exotic and luxurious foods, thus he didn't find much interest in the meals his parents prepared.
Charlotte complained, "How ungrateful."
She handed the generous monetary gift back to Eric. "Here, this is yours."
After all, she was just pretending to be his girlfriend. Besides, Eric had already promised to treat her to
lunch for a year, so it was only right that she return the red envelope to him.
Eric, however, didn't think much of it. "You keep it. Consider it your remuneration."
"You can just treat me to meals. I can't possibly accept this generous monetary gift," said Charlotte.
"Do you think I look like someone who lacks money?" Eric asked her.
A twitch played at the corner of Charlotte's mouth. Indeed, for the wealthy, this monetary gift means nothing.
"Well then, I won't stand on ceremony with you. I'll accept it, thank you."
She didn't open the monetary gift to check, but she knew for certain that there was a substantial amount
of money inside. This is even more profitable than going to work.
"Sure. No need for formalities. After all, we're friends." Eric drove Charlotte all the way to the Smith residence.
The sky outside the Smith residence had already darkened.
After getting out of the car, Charlotte waved Eric goodbye.
She didn't notice someone standing quietly in the shadows, his gaze fixed on her.
As soon as Charlotte stepped out of the car, she began to walk and simultaneously opened the monetary gift.
Sure enough, there was a significant amount of money inside. Charlotte figured no wonder it was so thick. Suddenly, something rolled out. When she bent down to pick it up, to her surprise, it was an enormous diamond ring.
"Oh my goodness! It's so dazzling." Charlotte hadn't anticipated that Eric's parents would actually place a diamond ring inside.
Charlotte reckoned a diamond ring of this size would, at the very least, cost hundreds of thousands.
I can accept this monetary gift, but I definitely can't accept this diamond ring. Charlotte had made up her mind to return the diamond ring to Eric first thing in the morning.
en
However, before that, she wanted to try it on and see how it looked.
When Sven was walking toward her, he noticed a beautiful diamond ring adorning her ring finger, which
she was admiring under the light. "How pretty."
Women have always had a hard time resisting these pieces of jewelry.
Just as Charlotte was about to take it down, she noticed Sven standing not too far away. She couldn't help but laugh as she waved at Sven. "Sven!"
Sven's expression remained composed. He didn't respond. Instead, he turned and walked toward the house.
Unaware of anything amiss, Charlotte simply followed him as they moved forward.
"Have you eaten?" Charlotte asked.
"Yes," Sven responded coldly.
Charlotte initiated another topic, inquiring, "What did you eat?"
"Food," Sven replied tersely.
It was then that Charlotte noticed something odd about him that day.
She wondered if Sven had
encountered some problems at work, which might explain his reticence that day. Consequently, she didn't press him for more conversation.
Meanwhile ever since Cecilia returned home, she instantly retreated to his room to sleep as soon as it hit nine in the evening, fearing that Nathaniel might come looking for her.
Every time she caught sight of Nathaniel, she couldn't help but evade him.
The next day, early in the morning, before Cecilia even woke up, there was a knock on her door.
She opened the door, only to find Charlotte standing before her, eyes puffy and swollen like a panda's. "Lottie, is something wrong?" Cecilia rubbed her eyes.
Charlotte wrapped her arms around Cecilia, her voice choked with emotion as she said, "Boss, Sven wants to break up with me."
Chapter 1680 Break Up With Her
In an instant, Cecilia was fully awake. "Why?"
Charlotte shook her head. "I don't know either."
After returning home last night, Charlotte was about to go to bed when Sven unexpectedly knocked on her door.
She had thought that there was finally going to be some progress between them, but to her surprise, Sven had said they needed to break up.
She was still in a state of confusion at that time.
Everything seemed fine during the day, so why did he suggest to break up that night?
"Did you ask him the reason?"
"He said he felt we weren't a good match." Charlotte's eyes welled up with tears. "When we first got together, why didn't he say we weren't a good fit? Now that he's suddenly claiming we're not suitable, do you think he's having an affair?"
"That's unlikely." Cecilia felt that Sven wasn't the type to have an affair.
"What exactly happened? How could he lose interest in me so soon?" Charlotte let go of Cecilia. "Is it because I'm not attractive enough? Is he already bored of me?"
Charlotte had genuinely fallen for Sven. Now, with the sudden breakup, she was caught off guard. Her mind was filled with all sorts of chaotic thoughts.
"I think there must have been some misunderstanding in all this. Don't worry. I'll ask Sven about it," Cecilia uttered.
"Okay, okay." Charlotte nodded repeatedly. She quickly added, "When you ask him, remember don't mention that I'm the one who wanted to know. Just casually ask what he thinks of me now, got it?" Although she had been dumped, Charlotte still wanted to maintain her dignity. She didn't want Sven to think that she couldn't live without him.
"Okay. I got it."
Cecilia had asked Charlotte to head to the office first, promising to join her a bit later.
After Charlotte had left, Cecilia went to freshen up.
Without Cecilia realizing it, Nathaniel had approached the door. "Ceci, why have you been avoiding me lately?"
Cecilia nearly swallowed her mouthwash by accident.
She coughed repeatedly, then feigned ignorance. "Have I? When have I ever avoided you?"
Seeing her denial, Nathaniel walked up to her. "Have you really not been avoiding me on purpose?" Suddenly, the bathroom felt cramped. Taking a deep breath, Cecilia said, "O-Of course not."
She stuttered when she spoke.
When Nathaniel leaned toward her once more, Cecilia immediately put down her water glass and toothbrush.
"Um, I'm done washing up. Take your time." Having said that, she quickly ran outside.
Seeing her act this way, it was clear to Nathaniel that she was avoiding him, yet she refused to admit it. Cecilia didn't even dare to have breakfast and hurriedly left the house.
Sven, who was responsible for her safety, had already been waiting outside.
Cecilia rode in Sven's car that day. "Let's go."
"All right."
On the way to the office, Cecilia couldn't help but ask, "Sven, how have things been going between you and Lottie lately?"
Sven's expression subtly shifted as he responded truthfully, "We've already broken up."
"Broken up? Why?" Cecilia feigned surprise.
"We're not a good fit," Sven replied with apparent calmness.
Cecilia was initially reluctant to meddle in other people's affairs of the heart, but Charlotte had pleaded with her, So, swallowing her
discomfort, she asked, "What'san&
issue? Did Lottie do something wrong?"
Sven wasn't one to engage in idle gossip, especially not about someone he was in a relationship with. "That's not it. It's simply that we weren't a good fit."
Judging by his appearance, this
matter is far from being that simple. Cecilia nitially wanted to continue questioning but felt it wasn't right, so she caught herself.
Inside the company, Charlotte found it impossible to work. After learning that Cecilia hadn't managed to find out the reason, she was completely deflated.
"My relationship ended just like that, without a reason." She toyed with the ring in her hand before passing it over to Eric.