Chapter 7 Their Shared History Had Reached Its Definitive Conclusion

Phillip had always prided himself on his shrewd judgment of people, yet he never imagined the Reed family could prove so deviously calculating-daring to stretch out the promise of the substantial amount of money for the marital union across multiple payments rather than settling it upfront.

Phillip pressed his lips together. He and his family did not possess the audacity to demand full payment. In the immediate circumstances, his sole viable strategy was to make Nicole collect each payment from the Reeds. Ultimately, a burial ceremony was merely a somber ritual; it paled in importance when weighed against the staggering value of fifty million dollars. Comforted by this rationale, he swiftly consented to the condition Nicole had imposed.

Seated nearby, Erika and Martha felt utterly intimidated by Phillip's commanding authority, rendering them incapable of expressing their simmering resentment and completely robbing them of any desire to eat.

As Nicole departed the premises, she noticed Jerald arriving in his vehicle to collect Erika. The window descended smoothly, exposing Jerald's familiar features-precisely as she had preserved them in her fondest recollections. A faint ripple disturbed the emotional numbness that had enveloped her heart.

Deliberately seeking to provoke discomfort in Nicole, Erika flung herself into Jerald's embrace and planted an affectionate kiss on him.

It had been quite some time since Jerald last laid eyes on Nicole. Their previous meeting in a hotel had marked her disappearance from his world.

Jerald frequently suffered from gastric discomfort, and Nicole used to quietly prepare nourishing, easy-to-digest dishes for him without fanfare. Even amid her demanding job and the responsibilities of tending to her ailing mother, she would consistently carve out moments to approach him, charming those in his circle simply for the chance to be near him.

Many of his close companions had repeatedly insisted that Nicole far surpassed Erika in quality.

Nevertheless, Jerald viewed himself as a person of unwavering moral conviction-he was profoundly devoted to Erika and strongly resented Nicole's relentless advances, especially since she knew perfectly well that he was already committed to another woman.

Curiously, however, in the period following Nicole's absence, Jerald experienced an inexplicable sense of unease and imbalance.

Jerald made no effort to reject Erika's kiss, yet his eyes unconsciously shifted toward Nicole. Her subdued and solitary posture stirred an unexpected ache within him. But what was the source of this pain?

Heavy clouds hung low in the sky, signaling an imminent downpour. With mock solicitude, Erika proposed, "Jerald, Nicole is heading out as well. Why not offer her a lift?"

Under ordinary conditions, Jerald would have declined immediately.

Yet, Erika misjudged the depth of Jerald's inherent compassion; mindful of the impending rain, he invited Nicole to join them in the vehicle.

The moment Nicole entered, Erika's expression darkened noticeably. Nicole, conscious of her fuller figure, found it challenging to settle into the rear seat, causing the car to rock several times.

Erika couldn't resist a cutting jab. "Jerald, perhaps you ought to have chosen a more spacious vehicle. See how much trouble Nicole is having."

Nicole remained silent in the back, gazing steadfastly through the window. She had once cherished Jerald deeply, and her personal insecurities had long filled her with self-consciousness. Perhaps this painful chapter was ultimately beneficial; only through profound emotional wounds could she genuinely release the past and move forward.

When the car reached the shopping center, Nicole exited without uttering a single word. She sensed Jerald's lingering stare upon her departing figure, yet her heart no longer responded. If he had found contentment in his current life, then restoring his old memories was pointless. He was soon to wed the woman he adored, while she had already become another's spouse. Their shared history had reached its definitive conclusion.

...

Nicole proceeded to purchase a specialized mobile phone tailored for individuals with visual impairments. Although certain features required some adjustment, she reasoned that Connor, at just twenty-six years old and exceptionally sharp-minded, would adapt to them with relative ease.

As a precaution, she programmed her own contact details into the device as an emergency option. She also selected a variety of fresh produce and ingredients.

Upon her return to the grand residence, Nicole went straight to locate Connor. To her profound alarm, the moment she pushed open the room door, she stared directly into the barrel of a firearm aimed at her. Terror gripped her completely.

Connor, seated calmly in his wheelchair, gradually lowered the weapon, idly spinning it with graceful precision around his elegant forefinger.

Nicole instantly identified it as the personal protection tool she kept hidden, her breath hitching sharply. "How on earth did you..."

She had intended to lie and fumble for an explanation, but it was clear her little trick had been uncovered. Biting her lower lip anxiously, she opted for honesty. "It's nothing more than a novelty pistol that emits sparks. I carried it purely for personal safety."

Connor replied with a piercing observation, "You brought it with you when you arrived, yet conveniently left it behind upon departing. Just who, precisely, were you intending to protect yourself from?"