"No!"
Nicole suddenly woke up and was drenched in water. She was wet all over and felt freezing.
When she opened her eyes, she understood what had happened. The wounds on her back and arm
hurt like hell with the cold water.
Nicole looked sullen.
"Why did you do this?"
"Why? I just wanted to wake you up. The sun is so bright. Who gave you the right to sleep in the day?
Do you really think you are here to enjoy yourself?"
Laurel said coldly. Her malicious look would make one nauseated.
It occurred to Nicole that Petty was gone.
Laurel picked up her slightly startled look.
Laurel smiled proudly, "Who are you looking for? Petty? Think about it. She grew up in this house, and
Samuel nurtured her with my consent. Now that she is against me, how do you think I will treat her?"
Nicole's heart skipped a beat.
"What did you do to her?"
She slept well because of Petty. But to her surprise, Laurel wouldn't even let Petty off.
It looked like Laurel intended to alienate her.
Everyone who had worked for her was replaced. Nicole knew she had been put in a disadvantageous
position while sleeping.
Laurel was quick!
Nicole forced herself to calm down.
She wasn't in the mood to deal with Laurel because of the pain. She got out of bed to find clothes to
change, but Laurel stopped her.
"Stop. Did I say you could change your clothes?"
"Are you crazy? Do you think we are still in the feudal society?"
Nicole truly believed there was something wrong with Laurel's head.
Laurel only had Samuel now. Wasn't she afraid Samuel would leave her when he found out what she
had put Nicole through?
Laurel flushed slightly.
"You cursed me?"
"If calling you crazy counts, then I guess I did."
Nicole didn't want to waste another second with her and jumped out of bed to find clothes, but Laurel
said, "Good for you! An ignorant chick like you dares to step on my toes. You think you can disrespect
me because you have Samuel on your side? Do you know why Lucas hasn't returned? He should have
been home long ago."
"What are you talking about?"
Nicole grew agitated.
Yes!
Their men had gone to pick up Lucas, so he should have returned by now.
Unless....
She stared at Laurel.
"What did you do to him?"
"Don't worry. Lucas is a Green and the future of the family. I wouldn't hurt him. But I can't have him
around you, because you will teach him nothing good. From today onwards, Lucas is only my
grandson. Without my permission, you won't be able to see him again."
"Laurel, you have stepped out of line!"
Nicole had assumed Laurel was just being a jerk to her because of the housekeeper. She might let it go
after blowing some steam. After all, she had to rely on Samuel, but Samuel was obviously on Nicole's
side. Anyone with half a brain would know now it was a bad time to piss Nicole off. So, was Laurel
having it out with her?
Laurel smiled, "What? This is too much? Mark has killed my son. It's kind enough for me to allow you to
remain married to Samuel."
"At the end of the day, you are still mad at me for Vincent's death, aren't you?"
"Mad at you? You think too highly of yourself. I said I didn't like you. I never do. I will keep alienating
you from Samuel. I will make sure your husband and son both hate you. Now I have hidden Lucas. You
will never see him again no matter how much you want to."
Nicole was enraged.
"Old lady, you're pushing your luck here."
"So what? What can you do to me?"
Nicole couldn't take it anymore.
She quickly stepped forward and grabbed Laurel's neck, fiercely asking, "Where is Lucas?"
Laurel was not afraid at all. On the contrary, she smiled complacently when she saw how anxious and
furious Nicole was.
"Are you agitated? Are you mad? Choke me all you want. If you kill me, how will you explain to
Samuel? No matter what, I'm his mother. Nicole, let me tell you. If you want to see your son, you must
please me. Now scram. Clean up the house and mop the floor. Maybe I'll tell you where Lucas is and
let you see him if I am in a good mood."
Laurel was simply humiliating Nicole.
Nicole was the wife of the man in the family. She came from the wealthy Bush family. Before she got
married, her parents had never asked her to do this.
There were so many servants in the Green's, but Laurel wanted her to do chores. Apparently, she
intended to mortify Nicole!
Nicole was so angry that she trembled all over. She even wanted to throw Laurel out of the window, but
Lucas was in Laurel's hands.
Laurel was heartless!
Nicole had no idea what she would do to Lucas knowing how ruthless she could be, so she hesitated.
But Laurel wanted her to falter.
"What? You don't love your son as much as you think? Shouldn't a mother do anything for her son?
Why are you still hesitating? Nicole, not only are you useless, but you are selfish?"
"Shut up!"
Nicole wished she could tear this mouth of hers.
Laurel continued with a smile, "Right, I forgot to tell you. The surveillance was turned off. Don't think
Samuel would know. I sent Petty to the police station for stealing. If you don't want her to rot in prison,
you'd better not provoke me."
"You're so despicable! To be honest, I wish I could kill you."
"Is that so?"
Laurel shook off Nicole and said coldly, "Mark killed my son. If he doesn't die, you'll find your life a living
hell here. You'd better not think of asking for Samuel's help. Samuel has been busy recently and can't
take care of you. He thinks his men can protect you. How ridiculous! I trained those people for him.
They were mine from the beginning. Nicole, I don't have any weaknesses, but you have too many of
them. I heard you had a bestie called Olivia, right? "
"What do you want to do?"
"If you don't want anything to happen to her, you'd better do as I say. Mark's death will be avenged. If I
can't touch Mark, you will make do, because you are his niece. I'm not afraid you would ask the Dons
for help. If the Dons rescue you, I will make a better case while persuading Samuel to see you guys as
our enemies. When that happens, the Greens will be the only powerful family in Seapolis City. Right,
there's also the Louises. I heard Tim was working hard to make his family stronger recently. However, if
I were to put a little pressure on the Louises, will Tim succeed?"
Nicole clenched her hands when Laurel gave her speech.
She was right. Nicole had too many soft spots. She couldn't afford to get her friends into trouble for her.
Nicole was so furious that her chest hurt a little.
She had thought Laurel was sensible, but now, it seemed she was just a crone who was overwhelmed
by hatred.
"I'll be back with a change of clothes."
Nicole gritted her teeth and said.
Laurel sneered, "Did I say you can change clothes? Get to work in this! We don't take in freeloaders!"
After saying that, Laurel said to the servants beside her, "No one is allowed to help her. If any of you do
and I find out, I will make it impossible for you and your family to live in this City. I believe all of you
know I can pull that off!"
The servants shivered.
Nicole trembled slightly. She didn't know whether it was because of anger or the cold.
Although it wasn't chilly early in autumn, she had been hit with a basin of cold water, and the air
conditioning was off. What was worse, she was injured. So, the tremor was inevitable.
She knew Laurel had done it on purpose!
But could she not do what Laurel asked?
Nicole gritted her teeth and walked out of the bedroom step by step.
Laurel had her servants bring Nicole a rag and bucket, saying coldly, "If you don't know how to do it,
consult the servants. They will teach you."
With that, Laurel sat on the sofa in the living room and had a pot of tea brewed as well as a plate of
dessert placed beside her. She ate them while watching Nicole work.
Nicole's white teeth almost cracked under the pressure she was putting on them.
It was her own fault that she had been enjoying life instead of working hard to improve herself. Now
she was bullied again and couldn't protect her friends and family.
Night Elf Empire was hers, but it was given to her by Laurel. No one would listen to her even if she
bothered to ask them for help.
Nicole swore she must be better!
Grinding her teeth, she glanced at Laurel. Then she took a deep breath and started cleaning.
Laurel watched Nicole shuffling around the living room looking tired and miserable, and her face
creased into a smile.
"You Dons should do our bidding, so that you can cleanse your sins. Mrs. Don thinks you can be safe
here if she gives me everything she has. Does she assume we are in need of money? However, if I can
make you broke, I will be happy. Right, I forgot to tell you. Mrs. Don even said she could pay Vincent's
death with her life. She only begged me not to treat you harshly. Tell me. Is she cutting her wrist or
jumping off a building?"
Nicole was petrified.
She knew Mrs. Don regretted what she had done to her and wanted to make amends. Mrs. Don
wanted her to be her granddaughter again, but she refused. However, Nicole was shocked to know she
would trade her life for her safety in the Green's.
"What are you talking about?"
Nicole's eyes turned a little red.
No!
This was not true!
Mrs. Don was so afraid of death. How could she sacrifice her life for her? Besides, Jason wouldn't
allow it, right?
Nicole refused to believe Laurel's words, but Laurel smiled coldly, "Your ears are fine. You heard me.
You think Jason would stop her? Well, he doesn't know her decision. She and I made the deal in
private. Her life for your safety in my house. I think Jason should be on his way to find Mark now."
"You are inhuman!"
Nicole's eyes brimmed with tears.
No!
This couldn't happen!
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