"For example, birth, death, accidents... Most of the time, we have no say in any of these. All we can do
is accept it," Kerr said.
Those were things that people usually had no control over, so it was useless to worry excessively about
them.
"I know. What about you? Why did you smoke? What were you thinking when I fell asleep?"
Now that Nicole had calmed down, she recalled Kerr's strange behavior from before.
She had never seen him looking so frustrated. Considering who he was and his status, it seemed
impossible for him to get embarrassed or upset.
"Nothing. But I haven't forgotten what you promised me in the office today,"
Kerr reminded her, taking the opportunity to change the subject.
He didn't want to talk about his family affairs and get her worried when there was nothing she could do
about them.
To his delight, the plan worked. Nicole blushed immediately and turned to look out of the window,
pretending she didn't hear him. Still, his words caused her heart to skip a beat.
With Kerr, it seemed she was no longer afraid of the pain she endured in the past.
To her surprise, instead of bringing her back to the hospital, he had driven her back to the Ning family
villa again.
"I know these walls are witnesses of a whole life you've had in here. Although I haven't been a part of
it, I can take you back to the past while you share a little of it with me," Kerr said with a smile.
Holding Kerr's hand, Nicole walked back into the villa. Only this time, it didn't break her heart to be
there. Instead, she smiled.
"Okay, I'll tell you what happened."
Nicole led Kerr to the second floor and pushed her bedroom door open. Looking at the familiar space,
she felt as if she had returned seven years in the past.
It was weird not to find the house filled with her family members and laughter anymore. But now in this
place, only her and Kerr.
Yet she was grateful for the man beside her. He made her less lonely.
Picking up an album from the bookcase, Nicole sat in front of her old dresser and spread it out. When
she saw the first picture, she pointed at the girl in a pink dress and turned her head, smiling at Kerr.
"This is what I looked like when I was a child. Very cute, right?"
Kerr leaned down behind Nicole and put his hands around her on the dresser. He took a look at the girl
in the photo, who was about five or six years old.
The warm smile on the girl's face made Kerr dizzy for a moment. Nicole had a much happier childhood
than he did. It could be seen that she had been spoiled while growing up.
"How old were you then?"
He looked down into her eyes.
"Five."
Nicole flipped through the photo album, amazed at how well preserved it was after seven years. Once
the Ning Group went bankrupt, the villa was sealed and certain things, they never had the chance to
retrieve.
She used to think that those belongings had been thrown away by the new owner of the villa. So she
was grateful to see them intact now.
"Why are there only pictures of you by the age of five or younger?"
Kerr found it strange that no photos of Nicole had been taken after she was five years old.
"Because I didn't like to have my picture taken after that anymore."
Nicole closed the album, putting it back where she found it. She remembered that when she was five
years old, her mother had passed away, and there was no one else to register her growth this way.
Then Nicole turned around and looked at the things that could still be found in the bookcase. Every
piece of souvenir there held a different memory. She told Kerr all about it with a faint smile on her lips.
"This is my old room. I lived here for eighteen years. Many goods from my childhood haven't been
saved. Otherwise, there would be much more to show you."
The villa had been renovated once, and a lot of things couldn't be preserved.
"You can keep our shared memories in the future."
Kerr looked at her gently, reaching out to hold her in his arms.
He never thought there was so much to remember in life. A single person could bestow all those
ordinary and seemly insignificant moments a whole different meaning.
If he had a choice, he hoped that Nicole would make new memories with him every day from that
moment on.
"Okay."
She put her arms around his neck and agreed with a smile.
"Now it's time for you to keep your promise."
Smiling back at her, Kerr lifted her in his arms and carried her through the bedroom.
After that, the whole night was filled with sweet love. It wasn't until dawn that Kerr carefully had Nicole
tucked under the blanket before getting out of the bed.
Jared was already waiting downstairs when he saw Kerr coming down wearing a night robe.
Immediately, he handed his boss a change of clothes.
"Mr. Gu, I've got the notice. The new project will be officially starting tomorrow. Will Director Ning be in
charge of it?"
Even though the result was expected, everyone had been anxious about the bidding.
"No news yet from the old house?"
So far, Kerr hadn't got any news about what Jack had done to Nicole, which was atypical.
"No, it seems that Mr. and Mrs. Gu are at an impasse,"
Jared answered.
"Wait for me outside."
Kerr turned his back and went upstairs. As soon as he reached the bedroom, he noticed Nicole shifting
as she slowly opened her eyes.
"Why don't you go back to sleep some more?"
Walking over her, Kerr raised his hand and stroke her cheek. She still looked a little tired.
"You didn't sleep, did you? Should we go to the company? The result of the bidding has come out. We
are going to start with the new project."
Sitting up, she watched him carefully. Since Kerr didn't accept her resignation letter, and they decided
to be together, she didn't want to let him down.
"It doesn't matter. You can sleep a little longer and go to work tomorrow. As usual, the Gu Group will
hold a celebration party tonight, and you'll have to attend it."
Tonight it would be all about Nicole. Kerr couldn't wait for everyone to see how perfect she was. His
chest ached with joy every time he remembered she had chosen to be by his side forever.
"Well, I'll go to the hospital to see Jay first. He should be able to leave today. Then I want to bring him
here."
For her, this was where she belonged.
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