"Who needs sleeping pills? Do you? What's wrong? You can't fall asleep?"
Joseph asked a series of questions.
Lucas touched his head irritably and said, "I can't sleep although I'm very tired. Once I close my eyes, I
will think of Lexie's body. I just can't fall asleep."
He sat beside Joseph and said in a sad voice, "You don't know that Lexie's father is still in the hospital,
and her mother cries hard. Previously I never knew what the responsibility was? I used to think that I
wanted to be as famous as Daddy in the military compound. But now I know that being a soldier is a
sacred profession. Whether you are a famous or an ordinary soldier, everyone is the same in face of
protecting the country. We can't reduce casualties. In the meanwhile, we still can't face death. Lexie
seemed to be chatting and laughing with us just a few days ago. But now she's actually gone.
Everyone is bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the New Year with joy in the sound of
firecrackers. But what about our soldiers? We are defending our country. Some are standing guard in
the frontier, some are performing peacekeeping missions abroad, and some are fighting on the
frontline. I don't know why I come back. I'm very tired. I just want to sleep. I really want to have a good
sleep."
Hearing it, Joseph suddenly felt distressed.
He had no idea of the life in military and didn't understand their friendship. But he knew Lucas'
sadness.
Joseph gently held Lucas' hand and whispered, "After New Year, we are all one year older."
"Yeah, one year older."
Lucas smiled.
Joseph gave Lucas a small bottle.
"This is a perfume good for sleeping. I just made it. I'll put it on your bed with a few flowers. The entire
room will be filled with the fragrance. Then you will have a good sleep. You are too young. And the
ingredients of sleeping pills are not good for your health."
Lucas took the bottle and nodded.
"Joseph, don't tell it to Daddy and Mommy. I don't want to worry them."
"Alright, but you have to promise me to take care of yourself. If you cannot keep it, I'll tell them. I don't
know what they'll do then."
With Joseph's threat, Lucas had no choice but to follow what he said.
"Let's go. It's almost twelve o'clock."
Lucas put the perfume into his pocket and went downstairs.
Joseph also tidied himself up and came down.
Since it was New Year's Eve, everyone gathered at the living room table and said auspicious words
happily to Mr. Shaw.
Sitting by the side, Nicole and Samuel watched the children come down and said with a smile, "Tim
and Evelyn, at this time next year, we hope you can have your own baby."
Evelyn's face was a little red.
"Let nature take its course."
Tim held Evelyn's hand tightly.
At twelve o'clock, the bell rang outside.
Everyone said Happy New Year to Edwin.
Edwin smiled.
"Happy New Year to everyone! Come here. I'll give you some lucky money."
Mr. Shaw took out the red envelopes with money in it and handed them out to both adults and children.
He had prepared these in advance
Nicole and Samuel also got one.
Nicole felt happy and excited to receive her first red envelope from an elder after she got married.
"Darling, look, grandfather gave me lucky money."
Nicole smiled.
Samuel took out another red envelope from his pocket and gave it to Nicole along with what Mr. Shaw
had given her.
"As your husband, I will also give you some lucky money."
"Thank you, honey."
Nicole was so happy.
Seeing it, Lucas and Joseph hurriedly came over to extend their New Year greetings and naturally got
Samuel's red envelopes.
"Go greet Uncle and Aunt."
Samuel pointed at Tim and his wife.
The two kids ran to them happily.
"Happy New Year!"
"Thank you!"
Tim was delighted and he gave them some lucky money.
So did Evelyn.
They thought that the two kids would leave after getting the lucky money. But Lucas continued, "I want
to send best wishes to you on behalf of Zoe."
"Alright."
Tim and Evelyn gave him more lucky money.
After that, Lucas smiled and said, "We didn't attend your wedding ceremony yesterday. Now I wish you
a harmonious union forever."
Tim paused for moment.
And Evelyn immediately smiled.
"Alright, here you go. I will give you a red packet. Thank you for your best wishes."
In a short while, Lucas and Joseph received quite a few red envelopes from Tim and Evelyn.
After that, Lucas and Joseph moved to pay New Year calls to the others.
Nicole smiled when she saw that the two children were as naughty and happy as their peers.
After the New Year's Eve dinner, everyone went back to their rooms to sleep.
Flying back from Samcole Island, Nicole and Samuel were more tired.
After they fell asleep, it was especially quiet at night.
When they woke up early the next morning, the Don family came over to pay a New Year visit to Mr.
Shaw.
After Jason and Mark greeted Mr. Shaw, Nicole and her children also woke up.
Of course, the two kids got another wave of red envelopes, and then they went out happily.
Mark and Jason also smiled when they saw their happy expressions.
"You two are old enough to get married. Hurry up and take it seriously."
Hearing Mr. Shaw's words, Mark and Jason nodded. However, love will happen when it happens.
Mark had not spoken a few words before he received a phone call. Then, he stood up and said, "Mr.
Shaw, I have some military affairs to deal with. I have to leave now."
"Alright."
Of course, Mr. Shaw knew the importance of the military affairs.
Seeing him get up, Samuel hurriedly said, "I'll send Uncle Mark off."
With that, the two walked out.
At the door, Samuel whispered, "Is Xander okay?"
"No. The evidence is against him. I heard that Nicole was investigating something in Night Elf Empire.
Be careful and don't get into trouble."
Mark's low voice could only be heard by Samuel.
"It is bound to be an eventful year. You have not retired and all the procedures are stopped in my hand.
I hope to finish them for you but it is not allowed by the higher authority. Samuel, you'd better not do
anything during this period. Although what I said is a bit cold, I still want to tell you that Emory is getting
into big trouble. I know that you have a good relationship with him, but sometimes people need to
protect themselves first. Once you get involved in the case, there will be no hope for him."
Mark's words meant something, and hearing it, Samuel looked bad.
"What will happen to Xander? Dismissed?"
"Not sure. If all the evidence proves to be true, there is a high possibility that he will be expelled from
the army."
A trace of distress flashed through Mark's eyes.
Emory had been in the military compound all his life and had made great contributions. But the case
erased all of his credit.
"What exactly is the case?"
Samuel was a little anxious.
He knew Emory's love for the military compound better than anyone else.
"Don't ask me. You know that even if you ask, I won't tell you. Sometimes, in our position, you should
know what can be asked and what cannot. I'll go. Take good care of Nicole."
After that, Mark got into the car and left.
Samuel looked at his departing back and suddenly felt very sad.
Samuel didn't come back and thus Nicole found an excuse to come out.
She saw Samuel smoking a cigarette at the door with sadness.
"Why did you smoke again?"
Nicole directly put out the cigarette in Samuel's hand.
Samuel was slightly stunned, and then he saw Nicole.
"Why did you come out?"
"Seeing that you haven't returned, I come out and take a look? Does Uncle Mark leave?"
"Yes."
Samuel smiled faintly, but his eyes were filled with worry.
"Is Xander's case very difficult to handle?"
She also knew it.
Samuel nodded.
"The main reason is that we don't know what happened to Xander at all. We just know he gets detained
and interrogated. I heard from Uncle Mark that he was likely to be expelled from the army. He told me
not get involved in the case. But he is my bro."
Nicole understood how Samuel felt.
"Take our children to pay a New Year visit to the Cawker family."
Nicole's words paused Samuel for a moment.
"Aren't you afraid of being suspected?"
"What am I afraid of? My husband is a good man and I don't commit any crimes. Plus, the whole city
knows my relationship with the Cawker family. Now, if a New Year visit can arouse suspicion, then just
suspect me. I don't care."
Nicole's words warmed Samuel's heart.
"Go back and tell grandfather that we will bring the child over there."
"Alright."
Nicole nodded and the two walked into the room.
After talking to Mr. Shaw for a while, Nicole and Samuel took Lucas and Joseph to the Cawker's.
Along the way, Samuel was very cautious. Seeing that, Nicole just wanted to laugh.
"Are you paranoid about being killed? You are so cautious to drive the car."
Samuel whispered, "Do you still remember that someone told us Major would attack you on New Year's
Eve. Today is the first day of the New Year. He actually didn't do anything!"
"He did take actions. Joseph was missing and Cara was shot. Weren't these actions taken by him?
However, it was a bit strange that he didn't hurt me."
Nicole frowned.
She suddenly remembered Sally.
Could Sally's sudden return be related to Major?
Major hated Nicole and wished she could die. He had tried to harm her for several times. Thus he
would naturally not cancel the assassination mission unless something happened and stopped him and
thus he had to give up.
What could it be?
Does it have anything to do with Sally?
Why did Sally suddenly come to the Seapolis City alone?
A series of questions appeared in Nicole's mind, but she could not find the right answer.
"Where did Sally go after she returned yesterday? Did Ernesto report it to you?"
Nicole's question changed Samuel's expression slightly.
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