"But..."
Lucas wanted to say something, but Nicole stopped him.
"No 'but'. I know you're capable. I also know that you want to share the burden with me and your
daddy. But Lucas, you are still young. You have your own business and your own life. I and Samuel will
handle our own matters. We will ask for your help if we need to, but we won't rely on you if we can
solve it ourselves. We're fine. We just hope you are safe, healthy, and happy. And that will be the best
you could do for me and Samuel."
Lucas was silent for a while and then nodded.
"OK, I will take good care of myself as well as Joseph and Zoe."
"Good boy!"
Nicole stroked Lucas’ forehead and felt that it was good to have a son.
"Alright. How is the food in the military base these days? Do you like it?"
"Yes. It's not as good as Grandpa Mark's cooking, but it tastes not bad. Everything tastes good when
I'm hungry."
Although Lucas said with a smile, Nicole felt painful.
"I'll cook stew ribs in lotus root for you. It's your favorite."
"No need, Mommy, you're pregnant. The kitchen is full of the smoke of cooking oil. Just let Samuel and
Grandpa Mark cook it."
What Lucas said immediately amused Nicole. She felt that Lucas' tone was the same as that of
Samuel.
"I'm just pregnant, not paralyzed. You and your daddy shouldn't treat me as a breakable."
"We should and must protect you well! You are my dearest mommy!"
Lucas' sugared words delighted Nicole.
When Samuel came to the kitchen, he saw that Mark was still busy with cooking, so he quickly rolled
up his sleeves to help.
"Oh, you finally come out. I thought you were not coming out before I finish cooking."
Mark said cynically.
Samuel did not mind what Mark said. He whispered, "I have someone in mind for you. She is a doctor
in the hospital. She is beautiful and easy-going. If you are interested, I will arrange a blind date for you
tomorrow."
"Wait, what do you mean? Do you need my help again?"
Mark hurriedly stopped Samuel.
He was almost fooled by Samuel's sugar bullet.
Samuel looked at Mark and said indifferently, "It's no big deal. I just hope that you can bring Zoe and
Joseph with you when you take Lucas away."
"Holy shit. Isn't this a big deal? Samuel, do you think the military base is my place? Do you think I can
let anyone go in there?"
Mark directly refused.
"If they are in danger outside, and Nicole and I cannot protect them, will you refuse me? I know that the
military base has recently held a closed summer training camp. I know that the camp is full, but you
should have a way to put the two of them in, right? They don't need to stay long. Just about a month."
"Is a month not long? The summer camp only lasts for more than a month."
"Then just let them stay there until the summer camp is over. I'll pay you."
Mark was angry as Samuel took it for granted. However, he asked, "What trouble did you get into?"
"It's not that I'm causing trouble. Someone is deliberately stirring up trouble."
Samuel told Mark about the jade pendants.
Mark frowned.
"Who knows about the jade pendants?"
"My father, Laurel, Zama, and my younger brother. Just these people. Even Nicole doesn't know that,
let alone Riley."
Mark's brows furrowed even deeper.
"They all passed away and you're the only one alive. So the other party is a trusted aide of these four
people, or he heard something from somewhere. Perhaps this jade pendant is just used as bait to trap
you. Stay calm no matter what you do lately. I don't want anything to agitate Nicole during her
pregnancy."
Samuel nodded.
"Don't worry, I will take good care of Nicole."
"I hope so. If anything happens to Nicole, no matter how much she loves you, I will bring her back to
the Don's. Rather than let her stay with a man who can't protect her, it's better to let her stay at home
so that I and Jason can protect her."
"You won't have this chance."
As soon as Samuel finished speaking, he put down the things in his hand.
"What are you doing?"
Mark was a little dumbfounded.
Samuel smiled, "Leave you alone here, Uncle Mark."
"What a joke! This is your house!"
"It's fine. You can treat it as your house. Go ahead."
After that, Samuel turned around and walked out of the kitchen.
Mark really wanted to stop cooking. But when he thought of Nicole and the children, he held back his
anger!
When Samuel left the kitchen and returned to the living room, he saw Nicole leaning against the sofa
and watching TV wearily. In fact, Nicole didn't know what she was watching because her eyes were
empty and not focusing.
"What's wrong? What are you thinking?"
Samuel hugged Nicole, and Nicole regained her senses.
"Nothing. I was just going over all the facts. You said that those who knew about the jade pendants
were dead. Why would one of them appear? I was wondering if someone was actually still alive."
What Nicole said shocked Samuel.
"Alive? Who do you mean?"
"I don't know. I think that someone faked his own death and he is controlling all of this in the dark. I
vaguely feel that these things seem to be related, but I can't find out how. It's just a hunch. I don't know
how to explain it. Do you understand it?"
Nicole was anxious to speak her mind, but she couldn't explain it well.
Samuel said, "I know what you mean. You mean there is someone pushing all of this behind us, right?"
"Yes, that's exactly what I feel. But after thinking about it carefully, I can't say how they are related. So
it's strange. I..."
"OK, I know what you mean. Actually, I also think so. Don't worry, if there really is someone, sooner or
later, he will be exposed. We don't need to be anxious. The most important thing for you is to take good
care of yourself. Just let everything else takes its course."
Samuel gently stroked Nicole's arm and comforted her.
Nicole leaned in Samuel's arms a comfortable position and whispered, "I'm a little tired these days.
Please bear with me."
"Don't be silly. You and the children have never been my burden. Just leave all this to me. Don't worry
about it, okay?"
"OK. What did Mark say?"
"Don't worry, Mark will arrange it."
Samuel smiled and poured a cup of warm water for Nicole.
Nicole yawned and could barely keep her eyes open.
Samuel couldn't bear to see her so exhausted.
"Nicole, why don't we give up this baby?"
"Why?"
Nicole rubbed her eyes, feeling a little sleepy.
Samuel said softly, "It's so hard for you. We already have a son and a daughter. You're not in good
health now, so why don't we..."
"No, I want it!"
Nicole held her belly as if Samuel was snatching the child from her.
Actually, Samuel was also in a dilemma. At first, he was surprised as well as excited when he found out
that she was pregnant. He thought that he could make up for what he owed the children and Nicole and
be a father again. However, seeing how hard Nicole was, he was shaken.
Was it really good to let Nicole take such a risk for his wishes?
Nicole clearly saw through Samuel. She held Samuel's hand and smiled, "Don't worry. Women
sometimes bear hardship with joy. We women will feel great about ourselves in pregnancy. I want to be
a mother again and want to have another child with you. Don't worry, I'm fine. A woman will be tough
when she becomes a mother."
"You are tough mentally but not physically. It wrenches me that you are so tired. It's my fault. I thought
that you wouldn't get pregnant in your condition, so I didn't take contraceptive precaution. It's all my
fault that you have to take on this kind of burden now."
The more Samuel said, the more distressed he felt.
Nicole was afraid that he would suddenly make any decision. She hurriedly said, "Alright, let's end this
topic. We are meant to have the child. It's a gift from the heaven. Don't think nonsense. I'll go to bed
now. Take the children to eat something. Wake me up before they leave. I have to see them off."
"OK."
As Samuel spoke, he helped Nicole go upstairs.
After Nicole went to bed, Mark finished cooking.
Samuel beckoned the children to wash their hands for the meal.
Mark did not see Nicole. He asked in confusion, "Where is Nicole?"
"She's sleeping. She is tired. When she wakes up, I'll make her something to eat. Now she's in her
early stages of pregnancy and has a bad appetite. She likes to eat something light. I'll go to the
supermarket to buy some fresh millet to cook porridge for her."
Mark nodded in satisfaction.
The children didn't see Nicole when they got to the table. They asked, "Daddy, where's Mommy?"
"Your mommy is a little tired. She's resting. Can you guys be good babies and eat?"
"OK!"
They listened and ate quietly.
After Mark and Samuel sat down, Samuel said, "I was going to have a drink with you, but I can't today.
You have to take the children out of here later. I'll treat you to a drink another day."
Mark was immediately depressed.
"You want me to take them away today? Samuel, you're forcing a donkey to dance, aren't you?"
"I have no choice. It's regent. Uncle Mark, please bear with me."
Samuel said with a smile.
Mark wanted to beat Samuel. Why Samuel was so shameless?
But before Mark could do something, there was a knock on the door.
Samuel frowned.
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