"If you take these shares, you wouldn't have to worry about dealing with any threats from Moore. The
Gu Group will perform smoothly without him and you won't be troubled anymore," Freya added.
She wanted the old Kerr back, the one before he met Nicole. If he accepted the shares, Nicole would
be out of the picture as per their agreement. But she wasn't sure if she could trust Nicole to stay true to
her word.
Kerr raised his eyes to meet his mother's gaze. Freya looked back at him, her expression as puzzled
and ridden with worry as ever. It saddened him to bring out these emotions in her but he did what he
had to do. Declining these shares was the only solution as he saw it.
"Can you please not look so worried?" he implored. "I'm doing the right thing and this is what I want for
myself! I know how to manage the group and no one will take my place as the CEO until I decide to
step down.
All I'm asking is for you to not get involved in my personal affairs. Whom I choose to be with is my
decision and I have chosen Nicole. This decision is final.
From now on, all I want to do is take care of her and Jay."
He expressed this to Freya with such finality that there seemed to be nothing with which she could
counter him. His choice was crystal clear to her.
His choice of Nicole had been certain before, and her support and determination to be by his side
through his coma, solidified his faith in her.
He believed sincerely that nothing he could ever do for her would even compare to the care and love
she showed for him. Now, however, he finally had an opportunity to reciprocate her feelings and
nothing would change his mind. He would stand by her as resolutely as she had stood by him.
He wouldn't let her down.
Freya took a few deep, long breaths. She could not form the words fit to express her shock and
confusion. According to her, Kerr was giving up a lot more than he was settling for and this didn't seem
to faze him one bit.
Any other person in their right mind would lunge at the opportunity of holding those shares. His
indifference disturbed her.
"Kerr, are you hearing yourself? Are you sure you understand the implications of what you're saying?
You don't seem to realize the value of these shares. You wouldn't be saying any of this if you did."
There was so much exasperation in her words and yet, she was unable to fully express what she felt.
Kerr never required much of her attention growing up. He had always been able to take care of himself,
he was smart enough for that. It was in his blood to become the next head of the Gu Group and he
would do it well. Or at least, that was what she had believed up until now.
It was at this moment that she realized that everything she thought she knew about her son was wrong.
All of a sudden he seemed like a complete stranger to her and this left her at a loss for words.
Freya's words seemed to have no effect on him as he stared back at her, expressionless.
"I have said what I had to say and there's nothing you can do to change my mind. So, unless you would
like to discuss another matter with me, I would like to leave. I have a lot of work to catch up on that I
missed during my business trip."
Kerr stood up to make his way up the stairs but was met with Nicole, at the foot of the staircase. He
stopped in his tracks and wondered how much of the conversation she had heard.
"I think you should at least consider what your mother is saying. She says it only out of love and
concern."
There seemed to be no worry, but only love in her words as she moved towards him. Her smile was
small, but meaningful as she had overheard the entire conversation between mother and son.
Everything she went through during his coma seemed but a hiccup in her life now. If anything, she felt
glad for having been there for him.
Kerr's love for her and their children was certain and she always knew that he would give up anything
for their sake.
Kerr was taken aback by her response, hurt even.
"Am I supposed to replace you and Jay with shares now? Is that what you think you're worth to me?
You don't think I would choose a happy future with you and our children instead of something so
material? I have heard enough from my mother, I will not hear it from you too. I'm putting my foot down.
I have control of the Gu Group and I believe in my capabilities to run it well, regardless of the shares. I
would like for you to have faith in me too instead of second guessing my decisions."
He was determined to get his point across but he also knew deep inside that he would never do
anything to hurt Nicole and certainly wouldn't do anything that would push her to leave him.
Nicole was aware of this emotion within him. She squeezed his hand gently to let him know she
understood. She intertwined her arm with his and put her head on his shoulder.
"Kerr, I would never leave you. I wouldn't even if I was forced to.
I know you're resolute in your decision, but I would never break my promise. I have faith in you and
your judgments. I will have your back no matter what.
I'm ready to scale the highest mountains with you, or fall into the deepest of trenches. Win or lose, Kerr,
I'll be there."
She hoped her words would soothe him, relieve the pressure weighing him down. All she wanted was
to be with him for the rest of her life.
She needed him to know that together they would stay safe and happy. That was all they needed.
All the fame, money and status in the world could not trump the love they shared. Those things had
only the power to corrupt.
Nicole's words made him melt a little as the stress he felt started to wash away. He looked deep into
her eyes, held her face and kissed her forehead gently.
"I'm going to hold you to that. You can't back out now."
While the couple was lost momentarily in their little paradise, Freya looked on in anger and disgust.
She had never much liked Nicole but now she was appalled at her disobedience. She was going to
have a hard time making Nicole toe the line.
She cleared her throat to get their attention. "Miss Ning, I thought we had reached an agreement. It
was decided the moment Kerr was born that he would take over the family business. It is his duty and
there is no one else to be trusted with this."
Freya made no attempt to mask the contempt in her voice. Why Kerr was so smitten by her she never
fully understood. But she was not going to let her stand in the way of what he deserved.
The glint of anger in his mother's eyes was very apparent and Kerr stood in between them to protect
Nicole from getting hurt. He faced her once again resolutely.
"My decision is final and I think you should be heading back now. I will arrange for a car to take you
home. I really do appreciate your concern and the offer of the shares, but I am content."
He hoped that this was enough to end the discussion. If words could kill, Freya had the ability to do it
and Nicole wasn't strong enough to face her.
Freya was his mother, and this fact couldn't be changed. But Kerr wouldn't let his mother hurt Nicole a
bit.
The older woman glared at him, realizing his loyalty to Nicole was stronger than his love for her. She
took a threatening step forward, "Kerr!" "No!" Kerr put a hand out to stop her physically if needed.
Freya backed away in absolute shock. Kerr saw this but was caught in an impossible situation and his
priorities were clear.
Nicole was terrified by what was unfolding and couldn't help but blame herself for it. She tentatively
touched Kerr's arm.
"She's your mother Kerr. She's worried about you, that's all."
She had never received much love or even any acknowledgement from Freya. Pushing Kerr to agree
with his mother was the last thing she wanted to achieve. Seeing Kerr troubled, however, was more
unbearable for her than any insult Freya could throw her way.
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