"How come I didn't see you when you came back?” Gloria looked at her tentatively.
“I didn't see you, either.Were you out for a walk?" Nicole could see that Gloria was hiding something
from her, so she did not want to expose her.
“Oh, yeah.I just got back from a walk." Gloria said with an embarrassed smile.
‘Fortunately, Nicole didn’t see me.Otherwise, how am I going to explain to her?'
"Are you guys having a school semester break soon?” Gloria changed the topic quickly.
"It seems like it's close."
"With the semester break coming, do you and Jared have any plans?” Gloria thought for sure they
would take advantage of the semester break to spend time with one another.
“Haven’t thought about it yet.Mom, do you have any plans?” Nicole asked rhetorically.
“I don’t have any plans.I will stay at home with your father." Gloria had a bored look on her face.
"I suggest you and Dad get an RV and travel around the world.It's especially cool to think about it."
Nicole said longingly as if she was already on her way.
“No.If your father and I are away, who will take care of you?” Gloria looked at Nicole with reluctance.
“We’re both old enough to take care of ourselves.If you guys really want to do that, I can help you
customize an RV.”
“Forget it.I can't really go away without worrying about you guys.I know you're independent, but your
two brothers aren't; they are still acting like children.” Gloria thought they should be better than that.
But she did not expect that Samuel had heard what she said.
"Mom, I never thought we would have such a bad image in your mind.We're just as outstanding too."
Samuel put his hand to his forehead and rolled his eyes.
“Nicole, look.Am I wrong?" Gloria glanced at Samuel and then at Nicole.
Nicole snickered.
"Samuel, you look like a child who hasn't grown up."
“Even you make fun of me.You must be thinking that I haven't bullied you in a long time.” Samuel said,
reaching out his claws at her.
"Are you sure?" Nicole raised her eyebrows and looked at him with an evil smile.
Samuel instantly remembered the scene in front of the school and gave up.
"For the sake of Mom, I'll spare you once today."
“Who spares who?” Spencer approached with his guitar.
“You seem to be everywhere.Just play your guitar.” Samuel gave him a look.
Spencer was upset and said, "Yeah, whatever."
And he went to the balcony.
"Who put a stool in here? Is it for me?" Spencer looked over at the three of them on the couch.
Gloria gasped and stammered.
"Err, I saw how nice the weather was and sat on the balcony for a while earlier.”
“Alas, I thought it was specially prepared for me.” Spencer sighed and sat down.
Nicole gave Gloria a look and continued to have a war of words with Samuel.
The next morning, Nicole got up and went to the dining room to get a glass of water.She once again
bumped into Gloria on the balcony on the phone.
This time, instead of pretending she did not see it, Nicole walked right toward her.
"Mom, who are you calling?" Gloria was shocked to hear someone call her.
She hurriedly hung up the phone and turned around panickily.
“It’s you, Nicole.I'm helping you with the engagement."
"Okay." Nicole nodded and went back upstairs with her glass of water.
Gloria looked on as Nicole went, and she let out a long sigh of relief.She felt lucky that she had wittingly
used Nicole's engagement as an excuse to muddle through the situation.
Nicole was upstairs, took out her laptop, and started deciphering Gloria’s phone.
“It knew it; it’s all from Norah.But what's this?'' Nicole saw several message logs with Norah's name
written on them.
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