As soon as Kerr showed up, Kim strode forward and handed him a stack of documents along with a
key.
"Mr. Gu, this is the house's certificate of ownership and its key. As you requested, it's under Miss Ning's
name."
Kerr nodded, taking the key.
"Also, there isn't any news about Miss He so far. She had been at the Gu family's old house to visit
Mrs. Gu but was gently denied. According to Cherry, it seems that Mr. and Mrs. Gu had had an
argument."
Kim carefully eased his tone in the last part.
"Why?"
Kerr raised his eyebrows in surprise. For so many years, his parents insisted on portraying the role of
the perfect and harmonious family in which husband and wife loved each other to the end. However,
out of the public eye, it was all an illusion.
Between them, there was no warmth. They could very well be strangers inside their house. Therefore
how could two people who barely ever talked, argue?
"Cherry wasn't sure, but it seemed to be about you and Miss Ning. She wanted you to know that your
mother will support your choice. If necessary, she will use all the power she has in hands to help you."
Cherry was Freya's right-hand woman, who had been keeping her company for many years. So, she
could be trusted.
"I see. You can go back now."
Kim looked at Kerr and slightly nodded before finally leaving.
Kerr took his phone and searched for his mother's number. But then he hesitated to press the button.
As he stared at the screen, he soon gave up on making the call.
He was too used to his mother's indifference to everything.
So for the moment, it was hard for him to believe what Kim just told him. With his head full, Kerr sat on
the steps of the villa and picked up a cigarette from his pocket to light it. When he brought it to his
mouth, he exhaled deeply.
The light smoke not only blurred his sight but also covered his bright eyes from any outside view.
A while later, Nicole's phone suddenly rang from her pocked, waking her up.
Fumbling for the device, she looked at the number on the screen and quickly realized it was Baron.
Curious, she picked it up.
"Happy birthday, Nicole."
Baron stood in front of the windows in his bedroom, looking thoughtfully at the bright moonlight outside.
On the table next to him, there was the necklace and ring that he had got for her. Perhaps, he would
never have the chance to give her the latter.
The necklace, however, he would still give it to her as a gift. He hoped the jewelry could make it up for
all the times he wouldn't be able to spend with her in the future.
"Thank you, Baron. But it's late. Shouldn't you be resting now?"
Nicole was caught a little off guard by his words, but couldn't help feeling heartbroken afterward.
If possible, she wished that she could forget about this day and everything she didn't want to face
altogether. Yet, no matter how much she tried to escape, reality kept running right back to her.
"I'm not tired yet. Why? Did I wake you up?"
Since Nicole had decided to be with Kerr, she and Baron seemed to slowly become estranged.
However, despite the consequences for him, Baron knew only Kerr could make her truly happy.
Knowing her so well, he had noticed how this smart and strong girl would only show vulnerability
around Kerr. Unfortunately, he hadn't been lucky enough to captivate a girl such as Nicole.
"No. Thank you for remembering my birthday. But now go to bed, you still have to go to work
tomorrow,"
Nicole simply said.
"Okay, have a good rest. And good night."
Baron sensed the distance in Nicole's voice, so he didn't push her to talk more. Maybe Kerr had a
surprise for her as well, and this wasn't a good time to be calling.
He shouldn't have disturbed Nicole's happiness.
"Good night."
After she hung up, Nicole checked the calendar on the phone. It was indeed her birthday. It'd been
seven years since she last celebrated it. The memory of what happened on that day still lingered in her
mind.
No matter how hard she tried, she would never forget it.
Nicole leaned back in the passenger seat, closing her eyes briefly as she forced herself to calm down.
The moment she opened them again, she turned to the driver's seat but didn't find Kerr.
Looking around, she spotted a few sparks in the dim light not far from the car. Opening the door, she
headed towards them.
"Kerr?"
As soon as Kerr heard Nicole, he put out the cigarette and threw it on the ground. Next, he stood up
and turned on the lights from the front door of the villa.
The sudden light made her eyes uncomfortable at first, so she instinctively raised a hand to her face.
"You're awake?"
He walked to her and held her free hand, masking his feelings behind his soft eyes.
Nicole averted her gaze to the cigarette butts on the stairs after him. Confused, she looked up at Kerr,
but his face didn't reveal anything except for his fondness of her.
"What's wrong with you?"
She could sense something was bothering him. Although she knew Kerr smoked, he never did it in
front of her.
"Nothing. I was just waiting for you to wake up to show you your gift.
Let's go inside."
As Kerr stepped aside to lead her up the stairs, Nicole finally took a look at where they were and
noticed the familiar place.
Standing before the front door of the villa she had grown up, Nicole's eyes started to water.
Immediately, she let go of Kerr's hand and reached out to push the door open. On her first step in, the
lights in the hall switched on.
When she walked into the same living room that she used to play hide and seek with her father as a
kid, she realized nothing was changed. Memories began to rush in so lively that for a tiny moment, she
had forgotten there was no one there anymore.
"Happy birthday, my dear."
Kerr stood behind Nicole, affectionately looking at her, but failing to notice the tears rolling down her
cheeks.
Standing before the front door of the villa she had grown up, Nicole's eyes started to water.
Immediately, she let go of Kerr's hand and reached out to push the door open. On her first step in, the
lights in the hall switched on.
When she walked into the same living room that she used to play hide and seek with her father as a
kid, she realized nothing was changed. Memories began to rush in so lively that for a tiny moment, she
had forgotten there was no one there anymore.
"Happy birthday, my dear."
Kerr stood behind Nicole, affectionately looking at her, but failing to notice the tears rolling down her
cheeks.
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