Rift in the perfect picture

Chapter 0381

The study y was quiet, with only the sound of pages being turned breaking the silence.

Holding me in his arms, Nicholas rested his head gently on my shoulder and didn’t disturb me. “This is the second time you’ve helped me.”

I was overjoyed Initially, I thought he had acted ahead of me to gain leverage over me, but I didn’t expect him to hand Jones Corporation back to me so unreservedly.

In contrast, the precautions I had Douglas take now seemed rather underhanded.

“Where do you plan to focus your work moving forward?” Nicholas asked.

I paused, turning to look at him. My shadow obscured most of his face, but one of his eyes gleamed in the light.

“If you want to learn how to manage the company, I can arrange for someone to teach you,” he said calmly.

Grabbing a pen from the holder, I uncapped it and prepared to sign the document.

“I don’t want to learn. I have Douglas, and I trust him to handle everything.”

“He’s still an outsider. It’s best to keep the power in your own hands. Otherwise, he might hold more. significant power than you.”

“It’s fine. He was already there when my mother was alive. Jones Corporation wouldn’t be where it is today without him.”

“Even so, I still think you should shift your focus to the company. I’m a businessman, and you could help me when I grow old.”

“When you grow old?” I chuckled.

This sounded far too distant and too good to be true. Such a perfect future wasn’t in the cards for Nicholas and me.

Even though Daniel hadn’t left Frances and Claudia any inheritance, I knew Nicholas would take care of them. Once Daniel was gone, my days would only get harder. I wasn’t confident that I could stay with him until old age.

Nicholas didn’t understand that what I wanted wasn’t power. I just wanted the ability to protect myself in difficult times. That was the case for me and Yasmine too.

I have court cases scheduled after the New Year,” I said.

“I don’t want you to be so worn out. As my wife, you shouldn’t have to work so hard.”

I shook my head, knowing I wasn’t really his wife. I was just someone he kept around to bear him children.

Lowering my gaze, I signed the contract. However, Nicholas pressed down on my hand. “Aren’t you going to review the contract more carefully?”

I smiled. “If you’re giving me this contract, what’s there to worry about? You wouldn’t need to hand Jones Corporation over to me in the first place if you have ill intentions.”

Chapter 0381

+25 BONUS

No matter what, I still trusted his character. He wouldn’t try to trick me, especially since I was practically broke to him.

Nicholas smiled, but his gaze darkened as I lowered my head to sign the contract. The look in his eyes was so intense that it resembled thick, heavy ink that would never disperse.

“You carry on. I’ll go call Douglas,” I said, eager to share the good news with him.

Just as I got up, Nicholas grabbed my wrist. Leaning back in his leather chair, he stared at me in silence. Realization dawned on me, so I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

“Guard what’s yours well,” he said, letting go of my wrist.

Waving the contract in my hand, I smiled and darted out of the study, feeling happier than I had in a long

time.

Left alone in the study, Nicholas stared at the closed door and muttered, “I’ve given you Jones Corporation back, so why can’t you just stay in Radiant City and be my wife?”

Had I been just a little slower, I might have heard him say it. But there were no “ifs“.