Chapter 20

It was rush hour now. The playground was under the teaching building No. 5. Students came and went,
so many people were looking at them.

Layton was quite famous in the school because he looked handsome. Several times when Nicole came
to the school, she heard a girl point at her behind her back and say, "Look, this is the sister of the
campus hunk." What's more, Layton didn't like studying, so he was often late for classes and skipped
classes and was often criticized by teachers publically. Almost all the people in the school knew him.
Now his family of five met on the playground, which was particularly eye-catching.

At that time, Nicole didn't want to meet the mistress and the daughter of the mistress at all, because
every time she saw them, her mood was very complicated. People always wanted to escape and hide
their emotions when facing the emotions they were not good at. In the past 8 years, Nicole almost
didn't contact with them, but unexpectedly, they still came to her.

Howard stepped forward and said, "Nicole, Layton, let's have a talk, okay?

Nicole glanced at them, coldly looked at Howard, and then looked at the mistress and the daughter of
the mistress.

Howard showed a guilty look. The mistress and the daughter of the mistress were very calm. Lena was
as cold as ever, while Primrose lowered her head and did not look at Nicole.

Howard continued, "Dad has been looking for you these days, but you never see me. I've been
inquiring about Layton's school, but I didn't expect you to transfer him here. Nicole, don't blame Layton.
It's not his fault. A good student cannot be taught in such a school. It's better for Dad to find some
connections to transfer him out."

Nicole opened her mouth and smiled, "Why should we use your connections?"



"I'm your Dad. I want to do something for you!" Howard stepped forward and said bitterly.

At that moment, Nicole reached out her hand and blocked Layton behind her. Her hand was like an
invisible gap, blocking their father-daughter relationship.

Nicole thought it was ridiculous. 8 years ago, when Nicole's mother jumped off a building and was sent
to the hospital, Howard left with his mistress without even looking at Nicole and her mother. After her
mother's funeral, Nicole went to Howard but he said that he was going to marry the mistress, letting
Layton and her live with our grandma. Just because of this sentence, Nicole braced herself and lived a
hard life and endured for 8 years. Even if she encountered any difficulties, even if she was going to
starve to death, she would never come to Howard, and Howard was no longer their father.

'Now that we are living a good life, why should Howard look for her back? He even hypocritically said
that he was our father and want to do something for us!'

Thinking of this, Nicole said in hatred. "You'd better disappear in front of me. Don't force me to expose
your scandal in public!"

Howard was shocked and even Lena looked up at Nicole.

Lena's expression was very complicated. She suddenly pulled away Howard and stepped forward. Her
expression was very calm, but obviously showed a trace of weakness. "Let's talk, Nicole. As for what
happened in the past, what happened now, what happened between your mother and me, and what
happened between you and my daughter, I think we should have a result."

Layton frowned and asked, "Nicole, what's wrong?"

Nicole looked at Lena. This woman was well maintained and flawless in the distance, but obviously a
little old at a close distance.



When Nicole first met Lena, Nicole thought Lena was very beautiful. Although Lena was nearly 40
years old, she was incomparably beautiful. Nicole's social circle was not narrow. Even at a young age,
Nicole had seen a lot of debutantes, but Nicole still thought Lena was very outstanding. At least, no
woman Nicole had ever seen could compare with Lena.

Now Nicole looked at Lena again. Although Lena was still a beauty, her temples were dyed white, and
even if she was applied with dye, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes were still revealed under her
delicate makeup.

With Lena's slightly haggard expression, Nicole couldn't help but guess what had happened to the
mistress in the past few years, and why Lena had come to her with Howard.

"Let's talk!" Lena was still very calm and pleaded. Even Primrose looked up at Nicole, with a faint
sadness and a little begging in her watery eyes.

Nicole really felt that something was wrong with these people. Out of curiosity, Nicole also wanted to
know how Lena solve the grudge between the two generations with her, so she acquiesced.

Nicole said to Layton, "Layton, go to the dining room first. I have something to deal with, so I won't be
with you."

Hearing this, Layton knew Nicole didn't want to get him involved, so he asked, "Why? Nicole, Dad
comes to me today, I should know what you are talking about."

Nicole narrowed her eyes and stared at him. "It's none of your business. I'll tell you everything in the
future. Now, go to the dining room to have dinner!"

Layton wanted to argue, but Nicole's eyes refused him.



Although Layton was usually naughty, he was very sensible. He knew that his sister showed such an
expression to show the prestige of the elders. If he refuted his elder sister again, she would definitely
punish him. Under the condition that he still relied on his sister to survive, he did not dare to contradict
his sister. So he left angrily.

Nicole and these people went to a nearby tea restaurant for dinner. At dinner time, Layton's school was
close to the downtown area, so there were a lot of people. They couldn't book a private room, so they
barely found a quiet place by the window.

The table was square, with two sides facing each other. Nicole sat on one side, and the other three sat
opposite her, looking a little crowded.

The waitress served the tea first. The tea leaves were separated from the tea water and needed to be
cooked by the guests. Primrose started to cook.

Nicole saw that Primrose was sitting on a wheelchair and steaming tea with ease. Her bright white
hands were delicate and skillful. Her every move set off the classical beauty and elegance of a lady.

Nicole was in a daze for a while until Howard said, "I came here today to discuss something with you..."

Nicole turned to look at this man. Howard looked down and then looked at Nicole again, with
expectation in his eyes. He sighed and said, "Dad wants to take you and Layton home. What do you
think?"

Nicole didn't say anything, but the corners of her mouth twitched unconsciously.

"I know you think it's very abrupt and won't accept it immediately, but I want to say, I am your father and
also want to compensate you and Layton."



It was not clearly if Lena wanted to hide the embarrassment, but she suddenly took the tea cup from
Primrose in a flat tone, "let me do it."

Primrose nodded obediently and let her mother to do it.

They were a family. The man was handsome, the woman was beautiful, and the daughter was clever
and lovely. They were indeed very eye-catching and harmonious. If there was no scandal behind them
privately, Nicole would bless them for the good. Unfortunately, they were the enemies of Nicole's
mother, and also her and Layton's opponents!

"It has been 8 years. Didn't you turn a blind eye to us? Why would Layton and I go back with you? "
Nicole asked, raising her eyebrows. Her tone was calm, but her expression was imperceptibly
sarcastic.

Howard felt that his this daughter had really changed a lot. She used to be unruly, willful and
thoughtless, which was very troublesome. Now he could not see her original shadow at all. Instead,
she was very calm, and even had a faint aura, which made him unable to breathe.

He sighed, "In the past few years, I've looked for you, including where you worked after graduation,
where you went to school, and how many schools Layton have transferred. I know it clearly, but I don't
dare to look for you, because I'm afraid... I'm afraid of your attitude... "

Nicole thought he had been looking for them all these years. He should know that she and Layton had
been very poor. She had almost been driven out of the house by the landlord, and it was Loin who
helped her get through it. But he didn't show up unexpectedly. What a so-called good father! How
regretful he was!

"Then why did you come to me today?" Nicole asked indifferently.



Howard took a look at Lena, and the two of them had complex emotions in their eyes, while Primrose
lowered her heads. This family was very strange again.

Howard looked at Nicole with pleading eyes and said, "People will remember a lot of things when they
are old. I have been thinking about all kinds of things in the past these years. No matter what kind of
person your mother is, no matter what you misunderstood father and Lena, I really feel sorry for you
and Layton. So I come to you and want to give you some compensation."

"What's wrong with my mother? I really don't know how I misunderstood you and Lena."

"You were still young at that time, and you didn't understand many things between adults... Dad and
Lena have known each other since college. We have always been in love. If nothing goes wrong, we
will get married and be happy together. But your mother... "

After a pause, Howard explained with difficulty, "There was a problem with the Lin family at that time,
and we needed the financial support of your grandma's family. Your grandpa had promised us that we
were just doing business in the economic market, but he suddenly changed his mind and insisted that I
marry your mother. Then I knew it was your mother's idea. I refused again and again, but your grandpa
threatened me. The Lin family was really in trouble, so I have to agree. When I was forced to break up
with Lena, we decided not to contact each other. But your mother didn't believe me and always made
trouble out of nothing. Your mother thought Lena and I still had contact. Your mother and I kept
quarreling and your mother even kicked me out of the house."

Howard took a look at Lena. The two of them were affectionate. "Finally, your mother kicked me out of
our house again. After I became homeless, I met Lena again. At first, I didn't do anything wrong to your
mother, but she made me tired. Men are all dignified. Even if the Lin family has a request to your
grandpa, I am also her husband. How can she treat me like this? "



"You want to say that my mother is willful, unreasonable, thoughtless, without your mistress's care and
respect for your man's dignity, so you choose to betray. You have no choice, and you are forced. You
didn't do anything wrong, and your mistress was not wrong either. It was my mother, my grandpa. They
forced you, weren't they?" Nicole laughed.

"You want to say that my mother is willful, unreasonable, thoughtless, without your mistress's care and
respect for your man's dignity, so you choose to betray. You have no choice, and you are forced. You
didn't do anything wrong, and your mistress was not wrong either. It was my mother, my grandpa. They

forced you, weren't they?" Nicole laughed.



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