Love Strategy: CEO He is Really Scheming！

”If I’m not mistaken, it’s the younger daughter-in-law. Nicole, if you want to forget, then forget it completely. Dragging on the engagement with the Cooper Family isn’t a solution either, don’t let this marriage create bad blood between the Shi and Cooper families. Grandpa and the others are quite fond of the Coopers.”

Ariel Morris’s voice faded at the doorway. Wrapped in the quilt, Nicole pulled it tighter around herself, the corner of her lips lifting in a faint smile. ”What is there that I can’t forget? It’s not like it was that deep anyway.”

Nicole laughed softly, but her eyes suddenly stung for no reason. She reached out, pulled open the nightstand drawer, took out the sleeping pills she always kept there, and popped two into her mouth.

There was no water. Swallowing the two pills left her throat dry and scratchy, hard to get down. She forced them down anyway, and the choking made her eyes go a little wet.

In this silent night, even after taking two sleeping pills, Nicole still slept extremely fitfully.

The fine beads of sweat on her forehead grew denser and denser. All those past moments she’d tried to bury came back one after another, playing against her in her mind like a looping reel.

——-

On her eighteenth birthday, she was sitting in the Manor Estate in Italy, leisurely reading under a sun umbrella.

Aunt Myres walked over. ”Miss Nicole, Jude Charington, Young Master Charington, is here to visit.”

”Young Master Charington?” Nicole lifted her eyes for a glance. ”Just tell him Che isn’t home, let him come another day.”

Aunt Myres hesitated for a moment and said respectfully, ”Young Master Charington said he’s here to deliver a gift. Once he gives the gift, he’ll leave.”

”A gift? Let him in then.” Nicole’s eyes never left the book; she’d just gotten to the good part.

Aunt Myres went downstairs.

When she came back up, she was followed by Jude Charington and the others he’d brought along.

Jude’s voice rang out before he even stepped fully in. ”Where’s Young Master Floyd? I’ve brought him a present. Is he home?”

Nicole put down her book, looked at Jude and replied with a faint smile, her voice very gentle. ”Che had something to do and went out. You can leave the gift here, I’ll pass it on for you.”

As Nicole lifted her gaze, her eyes deepened a little when they met the two hot-bodied women standing behind Jude.

As soon as Jude saw Nicole, he strode straight over, his tone flippant with a bit of arrogance. ”So you’re that... what was your name again... aren’t you the girl Young Master Floyd brought back from the bar last time? Not bad, didn’t expect you to stay in favor this long. Looks like you really know how to serve a man.”

”My name is Nicole, Young Master Charington.” Nicole didn’t take his attitude to heart and had Aunt Myres bring tea for Jude.

”Why do I get the feeling you’ve become the mistress of this Manor Estate?” Jude sipped the tea, frowning at the deferential Aunt Myres. ”You’re not going back to the bar? Well, makes sense. Following Young Master Floyd beats anything. Nicole, I didn’t see it before, but you really are blessed.”

Nicole looked at Jude with a smile, her gaze a little deep. ”Aren’t you here to give me two women to share that ’blessing’ of mine? Young Master Charington’s taste is as consistent as ever—still into these hot-bodied types.”

Jude laughed, raising a brow. ”You’ve gotta have faith in Young Master Floyd’s skills. The three of you keeping him company, he can still have you all flat on your backs by the end of it. I’m giving you two extra girls to help ease your physical exhaustion.”

Shameless. Nicole sneered at him in her heart, while her face stayed all charming smiles. ”Young Master Charington’s debauchery really is second to none.”

”You only live once, might as well live wild while you’re young. So, Nicole, how’s your sex life with Young Master Floyd? Want me to have a word with him and borrow you for a day, let me take good care of you?”

The expression on Aunt Myres’s face changed; she was just about to step forward and remind Jude to mind his tongue when Nicole’s hand lifted slightly, and she glanced at Aunt Myres from the corner of her eye, giving a slight shake of her head.

Aunt Myres halted in her tracks.

Nicole’s fingers tightened slightly around the coffee cup. Her tone cooled a few degrees as she looked at Jude. ”I’m someone Young Master Floyd brought back. Where I go is his decision. If he wants me to keep Young Master Charington company, of course I’ll... be a good girl and do as I’m told.”