Chapter 20
Travis’s face darkened as his hands gripped the hospital sheets, his eyes blazing at Nicole.
Nicole found his anger baffling.
“Just give me your answer yes or no? If no, I’m leaving.
With Lucy here, Nicole wasn’t worried about Travis being left alone.
Travis grew even angrier at her impatience. “What’s the rush? Who are you meeting?”
Lucy wasn’t stupid–she had observed the exchange and understood what was happening.
Travis seemed deeply bothered by Nicole’s departure, and even more so by the thought of her with other men. This only meant one thing–Travis cared about Nicole. Only strong emotions could fuel such
anger.
Lucy clutched her wheelchair’s armrests anxiously, giving Travis a gentle smile. “Travis, darling, Nicole’s clothes are soaked. She’ll catch a cold if she stays like this. Let her go change, please?”
Travis scoffed, “She’s tough enough. A little water won’t make her sick.”
The thought of Nicole possibly meeting Alexander made him determined to keep her in his sight.
Lucy’s smile faltered as anger flickered in her eyes.
“Travis, please. The air conditioning is freezing in here. She’ll definitely get sick.”
It was summer, and the hospital’s air conditioning was on at full capacity.
Nicole could feel the cold seeping in.
She’d lost patience with Travis’s games.
“Mr. Graham, if you won’t agree to my terms, I’m leaving
Before she could finish, she let out a loud sneeze.
Travis’s brows furrowed – was she really getting sick?
Still, he wasn’t going to let her go so easily.
“You’re not going anywhere! After everything my family’s done for you, is this how you repay us?”
Travis, dear, Nicole’s really catching a cold. Let it go, please.” Lucy pleaded from the side.
Nicole knew that unless she agreed to care for Travis, he wouldn’t let her go, continuing to use guilt and moral obligation against her.
While she no longer cared for Travis, she had to consider Grandpa’s feelings.
“Mr. Graham, you’re right – your family has shown me great kindness over the years, But let me correct you on one point: Grandpa was the only one who truly cared for me I’ll stay and care for you during this time, but only out of gratitude to him. I don’t want his health to suffer from worrying about you. Is that clear enough?”
“Fine. Don’t worry I’m not keeping you here because I can’t bear to let you go. I just think you owe us after living off my family’s wealth all these years.”
Travis’s sharp tongue cut like a knife, each word successfully wounding Nicole’s stubborn pride:
+25 BONUS
Chapter 20
Nicole had been fiercely independent since childhood. In middle school, she’d started taking part–time jobs until Grandpa found out and angrily forbade it.
–
He insisted that the Graham fortune could support a thousand Nicoles there was no need for her to work menial jobs.
But Nicole had continued secretly taking various jobs, saving money bit by bit.
To her, only the money she earned could be spent with dignity.
Of course, her earnings were insignificant compared to the Graham family’s billions, but Nicole took pride in what she earned.
