“Were you using me just now?”
Levant spoke in an indifferent tone, pulling Nicole’s thoughts back to the present. She shot him an apologetic look and said to him piously, “I’m sorry.”
“…”
Levant’s thin, delicate lips curled up into a mocking sneer. Nicole, I don’t blame you. I feel happy even though you took advantage of me.
The car sped all the way to Levant Winery.
Avril was just about to head out when she saw Levant and Nicole coming back in a car, with Evan nowhere to be seen. A look of surprise found its way to her face.
“Why did the two of you come back together?”
“Why can’t we?” Levant retorted.
Stunned, Avril replied, “Of course you can! I just wasn’t expecting it.”
They went up to a private room, with Avril’s curious gaze fixated at their backs. Evan’s fiancée is dining with her suitor, Levant. I wonder if Evan knows about this.
As Levant’s sister, she knew that Levant and Nicole relationship would never lead anywhere, which was why she sincerely hoped that the two would not get too close and comfortable with each other. Therefore, after some consideration, she phoned for Evan.
The call was answered quickly.
“Mr. Seet, did you know that your wife is dining with Levant…”
“…right now?” Evan hung up her call before she could finish her sentence.
She stared blankly at her phone screen, wondering what in the world was going on.
By the time she got to the Seet Residence, she was still pondering over Evan’s intention of hanging up on her. Perhaps he didn’t believe me?
She brought up that matter in front of Sophia later. When Sophia learned that Nicole was at Levant Winery, she decided to meet her.
“Sophia, if you want to meet her, you should let her come to you. You are the elder here, so you shouldn’t have to seek her out!”
“That won’t do. We can’t have her showing up at the Seet Residence,” Sophia said with concern.
“Why?” Avril asked.
Sophia did not provide an answer, opting instead to dismiss her with a sentence. “You’ll know someday.” She then sought help from Avril and Murphy.
Murphy readily agreed after hearing her request.
“Sophia, don’t you worry. I’ll call Levant.”
“Right, I only need half an hour. Have Levant occupied elsewhere for that period.”
Sophia showed up at the Levant Winery according to plan. Levant had received an emergency call out of the blue and thus had to excuse himself. Sophia seized that opportunity to slip inside and greet Nicole.
“Nicole, how are you doing?”
How am I doing?
Nicole knew what she was referring to. Sophia was talking about her “madness”.
“Sophia, I’m well aware of my condition. Whatever it is that you have to say, just put it out there. I’m all ears.”
That statement stunned Sophia. “Why, Nicole, you’re a bright child. In that case, I won’t beat around the bush…”
Sophia told her her piece of mind, leaving Nicole in a daze, having rendered speechless, long after she had finished her speech.
“Nicole, I know you would probably be against this arrangement. In fact, you might even resent me. B-But I can’t afford to care about all these. Parents will never stop worrying about their children, after all. I just don’t want my son’s life to be in danger. “
“…”
Nicole’s eyes watered and she lifted her head up to look at the older woman. “Sophia, I don’t blame you. I just… I just can’t bear to leave him… and our children.”
“I know. I understand that. I’ll take good care of them. If you really miss them, I will send you videos. We can still keep in touch, but Evan… Whenever I think of him being in danger, I just can’t eat or sleep well. D-Do you understand how I feel?”
Nicole wiped her tears away. “Don’t worry, I won’t let him know where I am.”
Sophia had not expected Nicole to be so cooperative. She held the younger woman’s hand tightly as she grieved.
Nicole, I’m sorry. I really wanted you to live happily with Evan. I had really hoped that the two of you would eventually get married, but I really can’t stand by and watch my son live in constant peril. I’m a selfish mother! I can understand if you blame me or resent me for everything that I have done to you. I’ll make sure that you’ll be well taken care of. I won’t let you be treated badly in any aspect of your life.
