The CEO Gets What He Wants

After the private investigator left, Nicole remained in her seat, staring at her already-cold coffee for a long time.

Then, she pinched her arm hard. Only after feeling the pain in her arm and looking at the stack of documents on the table did Nicole finally believe that everything that just happened was real.

She had been living with the Lambert family for such a long time, and she had long thought of herself as the daughter of the Lambert family. Never had she considered that Claire and William's daughter would still be alive and have a chance to return to take away everything she currently had.

The thought of Cayden made Nicole lower her gaze as her heart ached.

She had loved that man for so long that she would even feel satisfied if he were to spare her a little of his gentleness.

Avery. Rumpley.

Nicole let out a sneer.

She is such a lowly being, but Cayden still loves her so much. If she really turns out to be the biological daughter of my adoptive parents, and if she suddenly becomes the Lambert family's real daughter, who knows if Mom will shift all of her love to Avery instead? A pauper like me will be abandoned when that happens, right?

With those thoughts in mind, Nicole scoffed quietly under her breath. She was never going to let that happen.

After Nicole reached home, she saw no signs of her mother around. It was then she recalled that her mother was usually in the yoga room at this time, so she hurried there.

Indeed, Claire was practicing yoga.

She was a woman who was almost fifty years old, but her face was still exceptionally smooth and clear. Time had barely left a mark on her.

Furthermore, her figure, which was clad in white yoga attire, was maintained to its perfect form.

Claire could easily do the difficult yoga forms, which impressed Nicole.

If she did not know her adoptive mother's real age, she would have thought that the elegant woman was only in her early thirties.

“Mom,” Nicole softly called out before flashing the older woman a sweet smile. “Not only are you becoming more and more elegant, but you're looking younger and younger. Other moms are looking older every year, but my mom is doing the opposite.”

When Claire heard Nicole's voice, she slowly opened her eyes. “You're teasing me the moment you get home, huh? Are you tired from work?”

When Claire heard Nicole's voice, she slowly opened her eyes. “You're teasing me the moment you get home, huh? Are you tired from work?”

Nicole tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and chuckled. “Work isn't tiring. Mom, I've accepted a major medieval fantasy film, and I'll be the female lead in it.”

“That's my girl. It has always been my wish to be in a film, but alas, that isn't a wish I'll be able to fulfill in this life of mine. Still, I'm glad to have you fulfill my wish,” Claire wistfully said.

Nicole then put out a yoga mat and started doing yoga with Claire.

When she saw the anticipation Claire had for her in Claire's eyes, Nicole pressed her lips tightly together as an indescribable look flashed past her face. “Unfortunately, all my shows save for the first film were average at best. I've let you down, Mom.”

Claire smiled and pinched her daughter's cheek. “Silly girl, I don't expect the best from your shows, and I don't expect you to become one of the top actresses. It's fine as long as you enjoy it. If you want to quit acting in the future, you can come back to manage the business with me. And even if you don't like to run a business and just want to stay at home, I'll be able to provide for you.”

Touched by Claire's words, tears welled up in Nicole's eyes. “Mom, you're so nice to me. Will you be this nice to me forever?”

In her usual gentle way, she replied, “Of course. You're my only beloved daughter. Who am I going to be nice to if not you?”

At that very moment, Nicole felt the desperate urge to blurt out the question plaguing her to Claire. If you knew that your biological daughter was alive, would you still love me unconditionally like this?

Nevertheless, rationality won her emotions, and Nicole hid the words on the tip of her tongue deep within her.

As Nicole rose to her feet, she took out a handkerchief and wiped the beads of sweat off Claire's forehead. “Mom, you must be thirsty after practicing yoga for so long. I'll get a glass of juice for you, so give me a moment.”

“Okay,” Claire responded with a smile.

She could feel herself loving her sensible adoptive daughter more and more with each passing day.

Without raising Claire's suspicion, Nicole sneakily picked up two strands of Claire's hair from her mat and kept it in the handkerchief.

Then, a complex look crossed her face.

I'll find a way to get Avery's hair so that I can do a DNA test for Avery and Mom. If my mother's biological daughter really is Avery...

Again, a vicious look flashed past Nicole's face. I'm not going to hold back if that turns out to be true.

In the office, Avery wrapped up the project inspection report and sent the PowerPoint file to Yvette's work email.

Right as she was done with her work, she heard the sounds of Cecelia retching.

When she noticed Cecelia's pallor, she worriedly asked, “Cecelia, are you okay? Are you sick?”

“Other than the retching, I feel fine—” Before Cecelia could finish her sentence, nausea rose in her throat again.