Ian hinted that if the problem took place in San Joto, the only person capable of such a move would likely be Jared."It's gotta be him," Lawrence scoffed, his tone icy.Despite the uncertainty of the situation, the list of people in San Joto with both the ability and the motive to strike against him was short, and Jared's name was at the top."Could it be that Jared has discovered something?" Ian pondered, worrying they might have exposed their plan.Lawrence, deep in thought, suggested, "Or maybe we've been under surveillance without knowing it."He considered that Jared's precise capture of his men indicated prior knowledge, regretting his own oversight while he was busy with his plans."What do we do now?" Ian asked, realizing that if Jared had caught on to their plans, their next moves might be compromised. Plus, with their team missing, their strategy was in shambles. Bringing in new people was risky, especially with Jared possibly watching, and time was not on their side.
Lawrence had made sure to keep tabs on those close to Jared and Nicole, so it seemed unlikely that such significant actions could have happened without his knowledge. He suspected there had been a lapse in the information relayed by his people or an oversight on their part.Picking up on this, Ian said, "I'll get right on it."After a moment, he cautiously asked, "And what about the company?""I'll have someone handle it," Lawrence said, his focus on finding any overlooked details."Got it," Ian said, then quickly left the room.As evening approached and people started to head home, Nicole and Jared picked up Nolan and Lana, heading home."Mommy, when are Uncle Stanley and Tia coming back?" Lana asked, looking up at Nicole.Nicole gently tapped Lana's forehead, smiling. "They've only been gone for a week, honey. Already missing them?""Yes," Lana nodded earnestly.Nolan glanced at Lana and teased, "You just want the presents they'll bring."Lana pouted. "No, I really miss Unc
When they arrived, Gloria called everyone for dinner. The house was filled with a cozy, family vibe.Daniel got right to the point and asked Nicole and Jared, "Did you two cause that change in the stock market?"Jared answered calmly, "I was behind it," keeping his eyes steady.Daniel paused, then asked more, "But what exactly went on?"Jared said, "It was just settling some old business," not giving a full answer but suggesting it was about more than it seemed.Daniel looked puzzled, trying to connect this to the times Lawrence had helped Nicole but now wondering why things seemed different."Dad, it's just work-related issues. Don't worry, competition in business is normal," Nicole interjected, offering a simplified explanation to avoid burdening Daniel with the details."Let the kids handle their business. With Nicole, Sean, and Steve there, they've got it under control," Gloria gently advised Daniel, suggesting they avoid discussing work at home to let the children relax."
"Oh, I'll check it out." Lulu agreed and turned to leave.After a while, Lulu returned with a complex expression, saying, "Sean said everything is normal. Could there be a problem somewhere?"Nicole's eyes narrowed slightly. 'There's nothing unusual?'"Ms. Riddle." Patricia entered and, seeing the concerned expressions on Nicole and Lulu, couldn't help but speak cautiously, "What happened?""Oh, it's just that everything seems normal with the company recently, but Nolan mentioned..." Lulu frowned, "We were wondering if there might be a problem somewhere?"Patricia's gaze darkened at Lulu's words. She turned to Nicole, "Ms. Riddle, could it be Lawrence?"Although she had no evidence and it was merely a guess, now, anything related to Nicole made her think of Lawrence first."What do you mean?" Lulu was a bit confused. How could Riddle Corporation's matters be related to Lawrence?"Check it out." Nicole instructed Patricia with a slight frown."Yes." Patricia acknowledged and le
Lulu, grasping Nicole's intent, whispered, "In that case, should we start making some preparations in advance?"Nicole shook her head. "Not yet, let's just watch and wait for now."After saying this, Nicole turned to Patricia and instructed, "Just keep a close eye on this matter discreetly.""Yes," Patricia responded earnestly. "I'll report back to you the moment there's any development."This way, they could stay informed of any situation and be ready to respond at a moment's notice."Good," Nicole nodded."Then we'll step out for now," Lulu sighed.After Lulu and Patricia left, Nicole leaned back in her chair, her expression darkened.She had never anticipated that Lawrence would make a move from this angle. If it hadn't been for Nolan, Riddle Corporation might have truly faced a crisis this time.****Meanwhile, Ian knocked on the door of Lawrence's office."Mr. Royce, I've found something." Ian's expression was somewhat grim as he reported, "Doretta is Zane's operative."
"Don't worry about the stock price," Lawrence said quietly, his voice full of hidden meaning. "Keep going with the plan like we talked about.""But if we do that, our company might go bankrupt," Ian said. He was feeling really confused and asked himself, 'Is this all really worth it? Even if we pull it off, without the company, we can't keep our foothold here in San Joto. Does that mean we have to leave?'"Just do it," Lawrence told Ian, shooting him a cold glance.Ian replied, "Yes, sir." He felt a chill and didn't dare to say more.After Ian left, Lawrence had a sharp look in his eyes. He thought to himself, 'If things really go south, I'm ready to leave everything in San Joto behind..****As the day turned into evening after a busy day, Nicole, Patricia, and Lulu were leaving work, chatting as they walked.Suddenly, someone called out, "Patricia," making them all turn around.Seeing Ellar, Patricia asked in surprise, "What brings you here?"Nicole knew about Patricia and E
Nicole walked over to where Jared had parked his car. Jared smiled affectionately and opened the door for her, saying, "Hop in."Once inside, Nicole sank into the seat with a deep sigh. "Finally, a moment to relax.""You look worn out," Jared noted, concerned."I'm okay," she said, leaning against Jared. It wasn't the work that was tiring, but rather the stress from dealing with Lawrence that had been weighing on her. Now, in the quiet of the car, she felt a sense of relief.Jared smiled gently, "Soon, you'll get to relax for real."He knew exactly what she was going through. They just had to handle the situation with Lawrence, and then all this stress would be behind them.Nicole nodded as she smiled back, feeling a bit more at ease.****Ellar took Patricia to a cozy restaurant. The calm music and charming decor made them feel comfortable right away."Let's sit over here," Ellar suggested, guiding Patricia to a window table.Once they ordered, Ellar turned to Patricia, "You
A moment later, Nicole said firmly, "Patricia, Lawrence must have another trick up his sleeve. Keep an eye on him."Patricia knew what Nicole meant. If Lawrence was putting all his effort into attacking Riddle Corporation, he might have another plan. Following Lawrence's moves could be risky for Nicole, but it could also be a chance to outmaneuver him.Patricia paused, unsure, thinking, 'Is it worth the risk to Nicole for this chance?'Nicole saw Patricia's worry and tried to ease it, "We know what he's planning; it'll be okay. If we pass this up, we might not get another chance.""But..." Patricia was still hesitant.Nicole gave her a reassuring smile. "No 'buts.' You'll be right there with me, won't you?"With Patricia by her side, they had the upper hand since they knew Lawrence's plans and he didn't know theirs. This made their position stronger.Patricia nodded, feeling a bit more convinced. "Got it.""Then be careful," Lulu added, unable to hide her concern despite Nicole