Nicole and Samuel had been running for a long time until they saw that no one was chasing after them.
Samuel burst into uncontrollable laughter at the sight of Nicole's guilty face.
Ignoring the gazes upon them, they laughed brightly and freely.
Nicole felt she had never been so free and willful, like a bird that broke out of the cage.
However, she felt good.
"Mom will think you lead me astray, won't she?"
Nicole asked with a smile.
Samuel wrapped her shoulders with his arm and said, "Follow the man you marry. Don't you know what
kind of person I am? You should have gotten used to my way long time ago."
"Nonsense!"
Nicole gave him a stare and asked with a smile, "Where are we going next?"
"To the seaside!"
They hailed a taxi and went straight to the seaside.
They chased after each other like children, romping around the beach. Samuel pounced on Nicole and
they fell to the sands. They started to hug and kiss each other passionately.
The sunshine was bright, and the sea water was warm. Their intensified passion drew the envious
attention of the people around.
It was almost noon, and Nicole got hungry.
Samuel took her to a nearby seafood diner and had a simple meal. Although the dishes were ordinary,
it was the best birthday meal Nicole had ever had.
"Do you think they will worry about us now that we've run away like this?"
"We are not children. Besides, I am with you. What are you afraid of?"
After lunch, Samuel took Nicole out to sea.
The sea wind caressed Nicole's face. Looking at the boundless sea, she suddenly felt that happiness
was so simple.
Letting the yacht float on the sea, Samuel lay on the deck with Nicole and basked in the sun.
"When we grow old, I go fishing on the deck, and you read books next to me. What a pleasure it would
be."
"Why do you want me to read? Can't I go fishing?"
Nicole felt the future that Samuel imagined was wonderful.
Samuel said with a smile, "Shouldn't girls be artistic? Reading books suits you well. How about
drawing?"
Shen Mange did not refute, and she got interested when he mentioned drawing.
"Do you have any paintbrushes on board?"
"Yes!"
Samuel knew what she liked, and he had prepared everything for her.
Noticing that he was well prepared, Nicole shook her head and said, "Did you arranged this long time
ago?"
"Of course. I've spent several days preparing the trip today. Let's turn off our phones and have a good
day. Don't worry about the children. They will be looked after. Enjoy ourselves today. Do whatever you
like."
"At sea?"
"At sea!"
The sun shone on Samuel's face, giving him a layer of golden light. Nicole felt that he was like Apollo,
whom she adored and admired.
"Don't move. Lie on the deck and model for me. It's been a long, long time since I last drew a person."
Nicole was inspired and wanted to paint this scene.
Samuel agreed. He took off his top, revealing the attractive muscles in the sunlight.
Collecting herself, Nicole took out the drawing board, spread out the drawing paper, and began to draw
attentively.
The sea wind whipped her long hair, but she didn't care.
In Nicole's eyes, Samuel and the sea made the most beautiful scenery, but in Samuel's eyes, Nicole
was the most beautiful scenery.
He was tender, and Nicole was amorous. The yacht drifted at the sea with their buoyance and
happiness.
After Nicole finished drawing, she found that Samuel had fallen asleep.
He was drowsy on the deck in the warm sun.
She smiled and got up. She took out a thin blanket and gently put it on Samuel.
This kind of carefree life was wonderful.
This kind of undisturbed life was great.
It would be nice if they could continue like this.
Nicole lay down beside Samuel and drifted off.
In fact, Samuel did not sleep soundly. When Nicole lay down, he woke up, but he kept silent.
He spread out the thin blanket and wrapped himself and Nicole up. After that, he smilingly held Nicole
and fell asleep again.
Good times were always short.
When they opened their eyes, it was dark.
Nicole felt cold.
Samuel put on his clothes and wrapped Nicole with the blanket. "Are we going back tonight? Or shall
we stay at sea for the night?"
Looking at the vast sea, Nicole felt a little scared.
"Let's go back."
"I'll listen to you!"
Samuel smiled and started the yacht.
A short time afterwards, they went back to the Seapolis City.
Instead of going home, they checked in at a hotel.
Nicole felt today was filled with surprises like a real wedding day.
They had a good dinner. Samuel took good care of her, and he bought her a bunch of flowers on the
way back to their room.
She had received flowers before, but she found it wonderful receiving flowers at her age on this day.
They had a romantic birthday celebration.
When she woke up the next morning, Nicole felt she was like Cinderella. She involuntarily looked
around and found that Samuel was sleeping next to her, which made her feel secured.
"What's the matter? Why do you wake up so early? Go back to sleep."
Sensing that Nicole was looking at him, Samuel reached out and pulled her into his arms again.
Nicole said with a smile, "It's not early. It's well past eight. Time to get up."
"We don't go to work, nor do we have meetings today. Why do you get up so early? Go back to sleep."
Samuel seemed exhausted, so Nicole didn't dare to move. She let him hug her and fell back to sleep.
They were woken by hunger. It was midday when they opened their eyes.
They smiled at each other, feeling that they were indulging themselves.
"Are you hungry? Shall we go out to eat?"
"Yeah!"
They got up and washed up before they went downstairs.
Nicole turned on her phone, and messages flooded out, almost freezing her phone.
"Stop checking your phone. Let's eat first!"
Samuel snatched her phone away and pushed the dishes in front of her.
Nicole enjoyed being cosseted and she smiled. "I'm afraid that I'm like Cinderella, who woke up to find
everything was only a dream."
"Silly girl, it's real that you married me. It's not a dream. Everyone in the Seapolis City knew about it
yesterday. You are my wife, and you can't escape even if you regret."
"Why do I suddenly feel that you have plotted all this? Tell me, are you plotting against me?"
Nicole joked with Samuel.
Samuel hastily extended his hand. "No, no, I did not. I love you sincerely and deeply."
"You have a glib tongue. Where did you learn this?"
As she spoke, Nicole smiled, obviously in a good mood.
After the lunch, Nicole didn't bother to check at her phone, and she walked back home with Samuel,
hand in hand.
They were not in a hurry. They ate too much at lunch, so they chose to walk to help the digestion.
Nicole felt the people around her were all friendly.
As they walked along like campus lovers, Nicole had that swelling and warm feeling again.
"Remember? When I first saw you in college, I imagined that one day we could walk hand in hand on
campus. Unfortunately, the girl next to you back then was Riley."
Nicole thought of the past.
Samuel paused, and then said, "I entered the relationship with Riley out of habit, and I didn't have
special feelings for her. She said that she wanted to be my girlfriend, and I didn't say anything, which
she took as my acquiescence. Afterwards, rumor spread on campus that we were lovers, and I didn't
bother to explain. We got along like that. By the way, it’s been some time since Riley died."
"That's right. Everything is different now."
Actually, Nicole didn't want to mention Riley, but somehow she blurted out like that.
Riley was no longer an unspeakable secret to them.
They chatted along the way.
At the gate of the house, Nicole spotted a familiar car.
She frowned slightly, and Samuel was displeased as well.
"I think we should move to the house that Mom gave us. Too many people come here uninvited."
Although Nicole did not say anything, she was obviously sullen.
The car belonged to the Don family, but she didn't know who was inside.
Mrs. Don was the last person she wanted to set eyes on.
Just as they were about to reach the gate, the car door suddenly opened. Out came Audrey.
Nicole a little surprised, but there was nothing to be surprised about.
Nicole only paused for a moment before she spoke indifferently.
"What's the matter, Minister Shaw?"
The way Nicole addressed her upset Audrey.
"Nicole, it was your birthday yesterday. I called you many times, but your phone was off, so I came
here."
Audrey looked haggard.
Nicole paused, for she didn't expect that Audrey would remember her birthday. She felt pity at the sight
of her.
"You've been waiting here since yesterday?"
"Yes."
Audrey nodded.
Her eyes were bloodshot from a sleepless night.
Cold as she was, Nicole didn't say any hurting words.
She recalled that Audrey talked about her child when they were in the United States. Every year on her
child's birthday, Audrey would prepare gifts and pray for the unlucky child.
Now that Audrey had waited for her through the night, Nicole's heart suddenly softened.
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