Chapter 3024


    "What?" Patricia turned back, puzzled by his sudden call.


    "If you feel not okay and hesitant to call me, just ring up Charlie instead," Er suggested, then hit the


    gas and drove away.


    Patricia stood there for a moment, mulling over his words. Without having promised to contact Er, he


    seemed to assume it could be inconvenient for her and rmended reaching out to Charlie instead.


    As Er’s car disappeared into the distance, a hint of sadness flickered in Patricia''s eyes. She thought,


    ''I can imagine how difficult it must have been for him to say that.'' "He''s gone. Come on, let''s head


    back," Charlie''s voice came from behind, making Patricia jump. She turned to him, asking, "When did


    youe down?" "Just now," Charlie sighed, "Maybe you should think about leaving this job." "I don''t


    want to retire," Patricia said, biting her lip.


    Charlie patted her shoulder, "Mr. Johnston has already agreed; this decision won''t change." "But-"


    Patricia started to argue, only to be interrupted by Charlie, "I understand your thoughts, but I also feel


    that your happiness is my happiness."


    They had been there for each other since childhood. Patricia had once promised to stick with him for


    life, but Charlie knew those were just innocent pledges. If she could go back to a regr life, that was


    what he hoped for her.


    "Some things are just the way they are, and we have to ept that. But if there''s a chance to make a


    change, I hope you make the right choice," Charlie added.


    He used to believe that having Patricia by his side was safer andforting, but now things had


    changed. She had the opportunity to begin anew.


    "Charlie, I''m scared," Patricia''s eyes welled up with tears.


    Fear of losing Charlie, akin to losing her parents, gripped her.


    "Silly girl," Charlie said affectionately, ruffling Patricia''s hair, "I''ll make sure to take care of myself too."


    Patricia smiled and headed upstairs with Charlie, oblivious to the fact that Er hadn''t departed.


    Instead, he had parked his car around the corner of the street.


    Observing Charlie and Patricia, Er sensed a twinge of bitterness in his heart.


    After a deep breath, Er started the car and drove away, reassuring himself that as long as Patricia


    was happy, it was fine for her to be with Charlie.


    Three dayster, everything appeared to have settled back into routine.


    Nicole, as usual, came to thepany.


    As Nicole settled into her office, Lulu entered with some documents, her expression somewhat grave.


    "Just as you expected," she said.


    "What happened?" Nicole asked, frowning.


    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    "Check this out," Lulu handed the papers to Nicole. "The deal we''ve been ving over just imploded."


    "Is Everett behind this?" Nicole asked, grasping the situation as she epted the papers.


    "Yeah, it was him," Lulu exhaled heavily.


    Nicole perused the documents before looking up at Lulu. "Got it," she remarked.


    "That''s all? Seriously?" Lulu''s brow furrowed in confusion at Nicole''s response. " Aren''t we going to


    take action?"


    Nicole remained calm. "With the opportunity gone, there''s no point in fretting over what''s pointless,"


    shemented, setting aside the papers." Time to scout for new avenues." "New avenues?" Lulu


    echoed, a trace of bewilderment in her voice.


    Nicole rified, "I''mmitted to seeing this project through. If this partnership has hit a dead end,


    we''ll simply find another coborator."


    Lulu nodded, the realization dawning on her. They had been mapping out this project for ages, and


    though their initial choice of a partner had just crumbled, as Nicole pointed out, they still had the option


    to seek alternative alliances.


    "Got it," Lulu affirmed, geared up to initiate the hunt for a fresh coboration.