Chapter 7
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Nicole’s eyelashes fluttered.
Gloria’s tone earlier sounded so natural, like she was discussing their child with Hayden. Clairmont Villa
had been Nicole’s home for seven years, yet Gloria spoke as if it were her own.
Worst of all, Matthew had lied about being sick to make Nicole return, despite knowing how much she
cared about him. She felt her heart plunge into an icy abyss.
Hayden’s expression tensed, genuine worry creeping into his voice. “Nicky, Gloria’s working here because
“Please don’t take this the wrong way, Mrs. Spencer,” Gloria interjected. “I’m only covering for Ms. Porter
while she’s away to handle her family matters. I’ll be helping Spencer for a few days, tops.”
She stepped forward and effusively took Nicole’s hand, emphasizing, “Really, you don’t have to read into it.
“Read into what? I hadn’t even said a word,” Nicole spat back, yanking her hand free.
Gloria’s smile faltered but quickly reformed into a gentle curve. “Matt called me earlier–says you refused
to go home and help with his homework, and that he’ll get reprimanded by his teacher again.
“Mrs. Spencer, maybe you should stop holding out against him. His school work is definitely more
important than-”
“That’s enough. You’re in no place to condemn her.”
Hayden cut in, putting a stop to her nonsense. He turned to Nicole, full of concern, and firmly said, “We’ll put a pin on your resignation. It’s late. Let me drive you home.”
Unbeknownst to him, Nicole’s ears were ringing, and nausea began to creep in. Every time her emotions
wavered, her body followed with a painful response.
She steadied herself, maintaining a calm facade. “Leave the resignation letter on your desk. I’ll come
back for it tomorrow. And make sure you sign it.”
“Nicky…”
Hayden reached for her, his fingertips brushing her cool silk jacket, and she felt a chill in its wake. Nicole stepped away quickly, refusing to hear another word from them.
As she exited, she noticed something she hadn’t before–an extra office next door.
Although she rarely came to the office building, she clearly remembered Melanie Porter’s–Hayden’s
secretary–room was located at the very end of the hallway because he disliked the distractions.
Yet, now, a plaque next door shouted in bold letters, “Executive Secretary to the CEO: Gloria Ashford“.
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So much for “helping Spencer for a few days,” she thought bitterly.
Nicole entered the elevator and pressed a floor button. Right then, her phone buzzed with a video call from Taylor. She answered, then stared in horror.
On the screen was Matthew, blood trickling from a wound on his head, crying inconsolably.
“Mrs. Spencer, please come home right now!” Taylor pleaded. “Mr. Matthew is hurt for real this time!”
A minute later, Nicole burst out of the elevator. She picked up her pace, breaking into a run. The wind
brushed past her cheeks, stirring up memories from years ago.
Back when Matthew was only three, he had tripped and hit his head while playing with her in the backyard. She had been so engulfed with guilt that she carried him in her arms and cried all the way to
the hospital.
While the doctor stitched him up, he didn’t cry but only trembled from the pain. Yet, with all the strength
his tiny body could muster, he reached up to wipe her tears.
“Don’t cry, Mommy,” he whispered. I’ll always love you.”
Now, that same soft spot ached. A single tear rolled down her cheek.
She might be able to turn away from the boy he was today, but she could never walk away from the three-
year–old in her memories.
Bright lights illuminated Clairmont Villa. Nicole rushed through the door and was immediately overwhelmed by the sharp tang of blood in the air.
Matthew was sobbing uncontrollably, and the family doctor had just finished applying medicine to his
head.
The moment he saw Nicole, his cries grew even louder. “I almost died, Mommy! You only came back
because I was dying!”
She sprinted over, panic roaring in her chest. “No, baby. You’re not dying. Let me see your wound.”
Matthew obediently leaned forward. Although the cut on his head was just a scrape, it was a nasty one.
Nicole exhaled in relief, reaching out to gently blow on the wound, only to be pushed aside.
“Ms. Ashford!” he exclaimed
Nicole froze as he disregarded his injury and raced into Gloria’s arms.
With tears still rolling down his cheeks, he sobbed, “Look–I cut my head, and it hurts! Can you blow on it, Ms. Ashford? The blowing makes it stop hurting!”
Gloria’s expression softened as she held him close. She blew a few comforting puffs over his wound and
Chapter 7
said, “There you go! Are you feeling better now?”
“Yes!” Matthew beamed, replying, “It doesn’t hurt as much anymore!”
Nicole’s lips had gone pale, and her stomach churned with a sour ache.
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Gloria ruffled Matthew’s hair with a mix of doting fondness and mock helplessness. Then, she looked up
at Nicole with an ambiguous smile.
“I picked up some children’s painkillers on the way here. If he’s still in pain tomorrow, make sure he takes them. They’re kid–safe, no risk of resistance.”
The way she spoke to Nicole sounded like she was talking to hired help.
Nicole’s gaze turned icy. “I don’t live here anymore. Give your order to someone else.”
Meanwhile, Taylor rubbed his hands awkwardly, unsure how to cut through the tension between the two
women. That was when Hayden walked in after parking the car.
Matthew obediently let his father inspect the bandage on his head, but out of the corner of his eye, he
noticed Nicole still standing off to the side.
He puffed up with self–importance and chirped, “Go wash some fruit, Mommy! Daddy and Ms. Ashford
both like grapes; me, I want apples!”
The words had barely left his mouth when Hayden gave him a light smack on the back of the head.
“Who are you bossing around like that? You’ve been way out of line with your mother lately, Matthew.
Apologize now,” warned Hayden.
Gloria quickly moved to shield the boy, frowning disapprovingly. “He’s just a kid–and he’s injured. Don’t
be so hard on him…”
Nicole couldn’t take it anymore. She grabbed her bag from the couch and turned to leave. As she ducked
her head, a wave of nausea surged so violently that she nearly threw up right there.
Her intracranial pressure had spiked again. She could do nothing but grit her teeth and force herself to
walk steadily out the door.
“Nicky, are you alright?”
Hayden stopped her in time before turning to Gloria. “You should leave. This is our family matter, and I don’t think you should get involved. Also, don’t drop by our place anymore.”
Gloria snapped her head upward, her face dropping.
Hayden turned his face away, his voice so soft it was almost like he was afraid of startling Nicole. “You don’t look so good again. Let me take you to the hospital.”
Before she could protest, he was already pulling her out the door.
A fresh wave of nausea hit Nicole hard. She couldn’t take it anymore; she shoved his hand away, covered
Chapter 7
her mouth, and rushed upstairs to the bathroom.
She collapsed by the toilet and dry–heaved several times, her body trembling from the force of it. The sound of her retching drifted downstairs.
Out of nowhere, Gloria’s weak and shaky voice sounded behind Hayden. “Hayden…”
He halted his footsteps, frowning. “What’s wrong with you?”
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Matthew, despite the bandage still on his head, ran over in a panic to support Gloria. “Ms. Ashford! Are you alright?”
She looked unsteady and slumped onto the couch, her breathing growing fast and shallow. She clutched a hand over her chest, seemingly struggling to speak. “My chest… hurts… a lot…”
Taylor let out a gasp. “Doesn’t Ms. Ashford have a heart condition? Is it acting up again? Mr. Spencer,
what should we do?”
Upstairs, Nicole had just rinsed out her mouth and opened the bathroom door when she saw Matthew rushing toward Hayden, clearly distressed.
“Mommy probably has that same nausea thing again! She’s fine!” he shouted, tugging hard at Hayden’s sleeve. “If you don’t take Ms. Ashford to the hospital now, she’ll die!”
Chapter 5
Chapter 8
