Nicole's heart skipped a beat.
She was sure that once she handed over the evidence to the police, Tim would find out the truth, but
she had no other choice.
Dodging Tim, Nicole handed over the surveillance video to the police.
"The evidence you need are here. Here you are."
"Thank you, Mrs. Green."
Taking over the video camera, the police took Cornell away.
All of a sudden, the ward became so quiet that one could hear the sound of a needle dropping onto the
ground.
Never had Nicole been so nervous, but she was clear that Tim would figure out at last, even she said
nothing.
"Tim, listen to me."
All of a sudden, Tim threw a vase, aiming at Nicole.
The vase missed its aim, passed by Nicole and fell behind her, splintering.
This was the first time that Tim lost his head over Nicole.
Nicole was also stunned by his move.
Looking at Tim, she noticed that the veins on his forehead burst out, and there in his eyes were
condemnation and anger which he tried his best to suppress.
"Tim, I, I...."
"Get lost!"
Tim was so depressed that he sounded like a broken gong.
Nicole felt scared.
She had never seen Tim like this before, but she also felt wronged and worried.
"No, listen to me..."
"I told you. Get lost!"
Tim smashed his fist against the wall, his back facing Nicole, his shoulders trembling.
"Nicole, I don't want to quarrel with you, nor hurt you. You'd better be out of sight now before I lose my
mind. I knew that Maia didn't have much time left, and there was something between you two that you
were hiding from me. But how could you do this? How could you sacrifice her life in exchange for the
evidence? She was a bit evil, despicable and shameless, but even so, didn't she have the right to live?
You sacrificed her remaining life to help me know the truth, and clear away obstacles and threats for
me. So, you think, I, as a grown man, can't handle the matter? Do I need you and a dying woman to do
this for me?"
He felt the prick in his eyes, even some warm liquid leaking out.
He didn't want to be indebted to anyone, but now he would never have the chance to repay Maia in his
lifetime.
'She should have been the one who feels sorry, but now...'
Even if Maia was dead now, could he really find his peace of mind again?
Nicole did this for his own good, and she didn't know the messy relationship between Maia and himself.
In whichever way to know the truth, even from the mouth of Nicole, he would like accept, but definitely
not in this way.
Maia sacrificed her own life to tell him who had plotted against him all these years. How could he bear
this?
As a man, he couldn't protect his own woman, but was protected by this woman with her own life. Tim
felt deeply humiliated by such love.
Nicole was dumbfounded at the questions of Tim.
She never expected such a repercussion from Tim.
"I'm sorry."
"Go. Let Samuel pick you up. I don't want to see you for the time being. Leave me alone."
Nicole felt sad when Tim showed her the door.
For the first time, she felt that she might make a mistake.
Nicole bit her lower lip and left the ward without a word.
Maia was still lying in the ward serenely, but she would no longer open her eyes.
After Nicole left, Tim turned around to look at Maia with tears streaming down his handsome face.
"What’s wrong with you? Do you like my being indebted to you? Maia, you made me restless when you
were alive; now that you're dead, I will never forget you for the rest of my life, is that your intention?
How can you be so selfish? How can you!"
But Maia could never answer him.
When Nicole walked out of the hospital, Samuel was driving over.
"Nicole, Sorry that I'm late."
Just as Samuel got off the car, Nicole ran over and hugged Samuel.
She was sad!
So sad!
Samuel was surprised by Nicole's moves. Standing in amazement for a moment, he held her in his
arms.
"What's up? Anything wrong? Who upsets you? I'll teach him a lesson!"
Instantly, Nicole's tears flew out at Samuel's words.
"Samuel, I might have done something wrong."
"No! My darling will do nothing wrong."
At Samuel's words, Nicole turned from weep to wail.
"I infuriated Tim so much that he threw a vase at me. I've never seen him so angry, I..."
"Wait, did Tim throw a vase at you? Are you hurt? Come."
Samuel pushed Nicole out nervously and checked to make sure that she was fine before letting out a
sigh of relief.
"Tell me, is Tim crazy? Did he really throw a vase at you? I'll go find him! Even if he's your cousin, it
won't work. How can he throw a vase at you! He must lose his mind!"
After saying that, Samuel walked towards the hospital, but was held on by Nicole.
"Calm down. It might be my fault today."
Nicole felt ill.
Realizing her depression, Samuel couldn't help petting her back and whispered, "What happened? I
know Tim well, that is, he would rather hurt himself than you. What's wrong?"
Wiping her tears, Nicole whispered, "Perhaps I had been influenced by my auntie. She took Maia away
from Tim for her misgiving on Maia as a wife. I didn't agree with my auntie, so I informed Tim of my
auntie' intention. However, when confronting Maia and knowing that she had been a threat to Tim all
the time, I couldn't help it, I just... I just hated that she would pester Tim again. I hated that Tim would
get hurt for her, and I hated that there would be an estrangement between Tim and my auntie because
of her. So, I told Maia about Cornell's assassination which I learned earlier. Then she suggested that
we could record the conducts of Bella and Cornell in video to countermine, which would be easier than
we collect evidence by ourselves. I thought, this evidence would help Tim clear away all those
obstacles and threats, and cut off the connection between Tim and Maia, so Maia and I settled the plan
and hid it from Tim."
Learning the whole story, Samuel became serious and did not comment immediately.
Looking at Samuel with some apprehension, Nicole felt upset, "Samuel, do you also think it was all my
fault? I just realized how badly I did. Although Maia was dying, what I did was a murder. I understand
Tim's infuriation, and I feel so stupid that I would like to beat myself."
Samuel sighed and hugged Nicole closely.
"Your plan was a bit inconsiderate. But I know you meant well. You're not ruthless, you will not curse
Maia for the grudge between you two, and you will not disregard her life for the evidence. Your original
intention was to help Maia, wasn't it? Though the doctor said there was some time left for Maia, she
suffered a lot, not to mention her broken bones. Every minute she breathed would become an ordeal.
You intended to help her to end this ordeal while fulfill her wish of helping Tim. I understand."
Samuel's words made Nicole cry again.
"But Tim misunderstands, he considers me as an evil woman who killed Maia for the evidence! But I
did not! I sent Micah to protect her and encouraged you to investigate Zedd. With all these efforts, I
would have obtained the evidence by myself easily! I..."
"Yes, I know. As a woman, you were clear that Maia wanted a relief and would like to do something for
Tim before her death. Tim is asshole for misunderstanding you. He doesn't know you well enough even
though he confessed his feelings to you and proposed; or else, you would have been Mrs. Louis, am I
right? There, there. Calm down, Tim isn't an idiot, only shocked at the moment, and will figure it out
later. I am here for you, dear, I know you meant well. There, there. We will make Tim pay for his
mistake later. There, there."
Samuel patted Nicole's back while comforting her in words.
Nicole wailed.
"How did it come to this? How can he regard me, Nicole, as an evil murderer disregarding one's life?"
"No, Nicole, you misunderstood. Let's put it this way, Maia is the special one for Tim. Though he might
not love Maia, they have their exceptional stories, so he could stand her death in all of a sudden. Give
him some time. Since he is a human, not a god, he will make mistakes. There, there. Don't punish
yourself for Tim's mistakes. What about this, I take you to eat something yummy?"
Samuel's words soothed Nicole.
"I'm not Zoe who eats whenever she feels unhappy."
Seeing that she was better, Samuel said with a smile, "So what? It is a relaxation of my daughter.
Brilliant!"
"You're enchanted by your daughter."
"I am also enchanted by my wife. Look, she is beautiful and considerate, isn't she? Come, go eat
cakes. Isn't it said that desserts relieve bad moods? My treat!"
Samuel got into the car, holding Nicole's hand.
Nicole felt reluctant at first, but resigned herself to Samuel's persistence.
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