Chapter 1393: Saying One Thing and Meaning Another Is an Illness—The Sooner You Treat It, the Sooner You’ll Recover

Nicole finished speaking and turned to leave, but behind her came Stuart Floyd’s voice, tight with nerves. "Nicole, when the truth comes out, could you say a few good words for us in front of Jose? After all, in his heart you’re different. And I know it’ll be hard for him to accept—could you talk him round more... All these years we didn’t come back to see him because we were afraid the Seal Family would catch on to who he really is..."

Nicole’s steps halted. She looked back at Stuart, her voice cool. "You made me your goddaughter just so you could get close to Jose Floyd. Back in Italy, you deliberately left him in the Floyd Family because you wanted a chance to approach him. So you acknowledged me, actually, only because I’m entangled with him, right?"

Celine Sutton hurriedly shook her head. "Of course not!"

Nicole’s gaze stayed fixed on Stuart, quiet yet filled with questioning.

Stuart said in a low voice, "From the beginning, when I knew your surname was Seys, that you were from City C, from the Seys Family, I already knew what you were to Jose. I’d had someone look into his current situation and found out he had a constant entanglement with a girl, and that girl was from the Seys Family in City C. So I knew it was you—you were the girl he was tangled up with. And you just happened to be Joshua’s classmate, so I suggested to Celine that we make you our goddaughter. But, Nicole, we really do like you, and we sincerely want to bring Jose back into the family."

Celine turned her head to look at Stuart, silent for a while, then looked at Nicole with a guilty expression. "Nicole, I’m sorry, but believe me, I really like you, and I truly hope you and Jose can end up together. You lost two children for his sake—our whole family owes you. Marry him, and I promise our family will make it up to you."

Nicole didn’t answer. She picked up her bag and walked out of the café without looking back.

The late autumn wind had a chill to it, and her body trembled slightly.

She didn’t want to get involved in the grudges between Stuart and Celine and the Olivia Summer couple, but this had dragged Jose Floyd in—should she tell him?

If Jose was the son of Stuart and Celine, then what about Olivia’s son? After the swap, what happened to Olivia’s child?

It couldn’t be Joshua; the ages didn’t match. He wasn’t in the same year as Jose. To switch babies without anyone noticing, the children had to be the same age. And Joshua was two years younger than Jose.

So where was Olivia’s child?

Nicole’s thoughts were in chaos. She fetched her car and drove back to the Seys Family home.

-

Meanwhile, Jose Floyd was standing on the balcony of Langdon Seal’s villa, a wine glass in hand, looking slightly lost in thought.

Langdon came over with his own glass, lightly clinked it against Jose’s, and said in a low voice, "What’s wrong? Been feeling off lately? From the look of you, I’d say it’s at least eighty percent to do with Nicole."

Jose shot him a glance. "You and Jorge both need to go see an eye doctor. How do you figure this has anything to do with her?"

Langdon let out a small laugh. "Every mood swing and every bit of unhappiness in your life can only be about her. The one who needs an eye doctor is you. No, you should be in cardiology—saying one thing and feeling another is an illness. The sooner you treat it, the better."

Jose choked for a moment, fell silent for over ten seconds, then stared blankly at the view downstairs. "Langdon Seal, are you still waiting for Ariel Morris?"

Jose’s hand, holding the glass, paused. His voice carried a trace of desolation, though his face feigned indifference. "Of course I’m waiting. Why wouldn’t I? It’s just one lifetime. It’s not that long. I’ll wait."

Wait a lifetime—

Love really is tormenting. When the one you love doesn’t love you, you’re still willing to waste an entire lifetime waiting—waiting for a ’maybe’ that will never come.