“Why don’t you stay??” Nicole said.

“Huhh?” Victor asked with an eyebrow raised.

“I already had my breakfast and this will be too much for me. Why don’t you help me finish this food and then go back?” Nicole asked in a sheepish manner, though internally she had wanted to sound strong and bold.

“Sure no problem.” Victor replied before taking slow steps towards the table and ultimately settling down on the chair that was facing Nicole.

Both of them ate little in an awkward silence, making both of them uncomfortable with each passing minute.

“So how are your parents doing now?” Finally Victor decided to break the silence.

“They are doing good.” Nicole said while nodding her head.

“Are they still pressuring you about marriage?” Victor asked another question, a question which was most probably the reason for all the misunderstanding created between them.

“Not at the moment. But I know that they won’t wait for more. Even Grandpa would do the same. He is waiting because I lied about some random non existing man.

In a few days, I’ll be going to tell him that I do not love that man anymore or maybe we broke up. I guess he will give me a month or two to recover.

That much would be enough to come up with something else.” Nicole said while shrugging.

“If you don’t mind, can I ask you something?” Victor asked while picking a cookie.-.

“Sure, why not?” Nicole said.

“Why are you avoiding marriage? I mean I don’t want to interfere in your private life, but is there some reason for not getting married?” Victor asked.

“Hmmm. To be honest, I haven’t thought about marriage that seriously.

Secondly, I am not avoiding marriage, but I just haven’t found someone with whom I am ready to spend my remaining life.

I know this may sound silly, but I truly want to fall head over heels for someone, be crazy in love and then get married while promising for forever. I want a story like Brother and Kizy.” Nicole said while giving a childish smile.

“But there marriage was a deal. No love. No feelings.” Victor said or more like presented his doubt.

“You won’t beleive but brother must have liked Kizy since their childhood. And troubling her must have been a way to get her attention or maybe he simply didn’t knew how to express his feelings.

In fact if not for me, they both would still be denying their hearts and going against each other even now.” Nicole said while remembering the acts she had to put on with Markus for making the low EQ couple realise their love for each other.

“What if that man of your dreams is someone you would meet through blind dates? You are ignoring the most simplest way to find the right person.” Victor commented.

Nicole shook her head while sipping the hot coffee down her throat.

“Naah, it’s not like that. The ones I meet on blind dates are those rich useless kids who have been trained to grow into a sophisticated businessman to handle the business that was passed onto them by their fathers and grandfathers.

They are simply too formal, too gentlemanly for me. I mean there is nothing wrong in being a gentleman, in fact I definitely like this quality, but they make it way too awkward.

I just don’t like that atmosphere. Plus all of them view me as the daughter of the Evans family and not just Nicole. They see me for my family and wealth and the amount of connections they will get after marrying me, instead of just thinking about marrying me as an individual.” Nicole said, blabbering on and on.

“Okay okay. Slow down and take a deep breath.” Victor said, even controlling a small smile that was about to break on his face.

“Hehe.. sorry for the unnecessary details.” Nicole said while scratching her head.

Though this wasn’t her usual self. She was or more appropriately has been always a bold woman to begin with.

But today of all days, her body suddenly decided to betray her, especially by embarrassing herself like a kid in front of Victor, and she couldn’t curse herself any less.

“No that’s okay. But you were eating and talking so much while eating will once again choke you up. I was just trying to ask you to be careful.” Victor said.

“Umm yeah. So that’s how it is. So no more blind dates and wasting time. Instead I will prefer spending time to learn new things.” Nicole replied.

“New things. Interesting. Like?” Victor asked, trying to be more casual with Nicole as he could see how uncomfortable he was making her.

“To be honest, I love teaching. In fact I was a teacher an year ago at-” Nicole was still speaking when she saw Victor’s expression go from amusement to a darkened one within seconds.

She immediately realised that Victor’s previous job was teaching. Plus Anna was a teacher as well. So her revelation must have made him remember his own black past.

“Hey. You alright?” Nicole asked in a low voice, regreting for opening her dumb mouth.

“Yeah. No problem. You can continue.” Victor said, shaking his thoughts away while trying to normalise his minds within seconds.

Though he had been stunned momentarily, it was only a fleeting moment, nothing more. He had already decided to move on while keeping Anna as his forever sweetest memory as well as toughest lesson.

“Are you sure?” Nicole still tried to confirm.

“Yes of course. Now continue with what you were saying.” Victor said, brushing off remaining parts of the emotions that had him in control for a second.

“Okay. So I plan to continue with my job but dad wants me to-” Nicole was still speaking when she suddenly stopped.

“I am sorry. Actually I know about your past.” Nicole said while mustering her courage.

She had decided to pretend that she didn’t know anything and keep going on with her speech. But her conscience could never let her stay that way. She felt that hiding the fact that she knew about Victor’s past was no less than a lie. Hence she confessed the truth.

“I know that.” Victor said while a sad smile appeared on his face.

“You know? How? Did Rose tell you?” Nicole blurted out.

“Hmm. So it was First sister.” Victor said while nodding his head.

“Wait wait wait a minute. You didn’t know about this, right? And I gave myself out?” Nicole said while embarrassing herself for the Nth time today.

“Not it’s not like that. I had an inkling that you must know something about my past for your behaviour to take a sudden three sixty degree turn.

Plus you had been so furious while leaving my bedroom that day and then you were feeling sorry and avoiding me since the very next day. Hence I knew that you were already aware of my past. Just that I never expected First sister to intervene. But I must have known that my second sister wouldn’t disclose any information without asking me.” Victor said.

“Hey, it’s not like that. Don’t misunderstand Rose. She did this so that I don’t have any disbelief or wrong perceptions about you which might affect our work in the long run.” Nicole said, trying to justify Rose’s act.

“Cool down. I am not going to scold First sister. It’s good that she told you because I would have never been able to tell anyone about it again. She did the right thing.

Just that I don’t want you to avoid me or give me that sympathetic look or view me with those sorry eyes. I have already moved on.” Victor said in a calm voice.

“Uhh. Sorry if I made you feel that way.” Nicole said while lowering her head.

“Hey, don’t do that. I already said that you don’t have to feel sorry.” Victor said.

Nicole looked up, trying to smile genuinely while nodding her head.

“Since I have done my job of finishing cookies, I will get going now.” Victor said while getting up.

Nicole just nodded her head while Victor left for Kizy’s office, intending to clear up some work for her.

*6 PM, MARKUS’s HOUSE*

Kizy was behaving the most normal she had been since Markus left. She ate properly, having a healthy meal with her teammates. She even went to the Evans mansion and spent a few hours with grandpa and grandma, making them feel relieved.

She came back home and took a nap before getting up and taking a stroll in their garden. In short, she was doing every normal thing she had stopped doing for the past one month.

Right now, she was standing in front of Jason’s door, knocking on it.

“Come in.” She heard Jason speak from inside.

She walked in to find Jason sitting by his bedside.

“I will be going out for dinner.” Kizy informed him.

“With whom?” Jason asked carefully.

——————

Another 1.5k!! Don’t forget to comment and vote with powerstones and golden tickets. Also thank you so much for the gifts @Ranjita_Gireesh and @Taina_Rios. Have a great day everyone!!

– Kizy