Rift in the perfect picture

Chapter 6402

Wichst date without biking antire demor was vacant and dazed. Even his voice

111. New Year’s Eve today

y heart was illi racing from the nightmare I nodded lightly meeting his qaza

Thinking he wanted to rush back home, I followed his ad and said. “Have you finished up everything here i feel much better now. We can head back whenever you’re ready

Nicholas had been crouching in front of me. After I finished speaking, it was like all the energy had

I

drained out of him

His body collapsed onto the floor, limp like a deflated balloon. He wrapped his arms around his legs, burying his face in his knees.

“My dad is dead”

His words hit me like a sledgehammer, stopping my breath as my heart seized

Twas stunned. “Wasn’t he doing better just before the holidays…”

Nicholas allowed himself a single second of vulnerability before pushing himself up, although it took him two attempts to stand. His large frame swayed slightly in front of me

“Claudia said the doctors called it a final rally before death”

His emotionless expression weighed on me like a shadow. “My dad waited for us to come back, but he didn’t get to see me before the end”

He sat down slowly on the edge of the bed, gently caressing my cheek. “If it weren’t for Pete, we wouldn’t have come here, right?”

His voice grew colder. His eyes filled with a hatred so intense, it seemed like he wished Pete were already dead

I i trembled all over. Nicholas pulled me into his arms, patting my shoulder in an attempt to comfort me.” Just hanging there. We have to return tomorrow.”

By the time we arrived back at the manor, it was already New Year’s night. After more than ten exhausting hours of travel, I was even weaker.

Nicholas carried me to the bed and told me to keep sleeping. He left the room without looking back.

The entire Hawk Manor was draped in black cloth. Everyone moved silently like restless spirits. I could only see the maids busying themselves, not a single sound to be heard.

In the week that followed, Nicholas held a funeral for Daniel. Meanwhile, I kept in constant contact with Douglas, trying every possible way to help Pete.

I didn’t know if the bitterness in Nicholas’s heart would be taken out on Pete, so I had to prepare for the worst. But nothing turned out the way I expected

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+25 BONUS

After the funeral, Nicholas became eerily calm, as if a great burden had been lifted. There were no moves against Pete at all. Even Douglas found it strange.

“Are you sure your information is accurate? If this keeps going, the stability of Jones Corporation will be

at risk.

“Several projects have already stalled, and many of our partners are unhappy, but they’re too afraid to speak out because of you and the Hawks.”

I understood the underlying tension and even anticipated the day when things might explode, leading to retaliation from other companies. Still, no matter how much I resented Pete, I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.

Nicholas remained extremely busy, so much so that I barely saw him, and he rarely came home. But I didn’t dare ask him about it.

The tension between us was palpable. Plus, Claudia would often drop hints about Pete’s worsening situation. I was too afraid to provoke a man who had just lost his father and whose emotions were so unstable.

Thankfully, Nicholas didn’t take any drastic actions. Jones Corporation could still hold on for a while. I fold Douglas we should wait and see how things play out.

Suddenly, Nicholas came home. The relief I had started to feel quickly vanished when he asked to meet me in the study. My heart tightened again….

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