Chapter 4

Nicole closed the news article and searched the internet for information on Boyd Corporation. While waiting for the web page to load, she inexplicably curled her fingers into tight fists. Soon enough, she saw the headline pinned at the top of Boyd Corporation's official website, indicating that the Boyd family was offering a high reward in the search for their daughter. At that moment, Nicole's heart sank. With her trembling finger, she tapped on the headline to view the information provided by the Boyds from when their daughter was young. The young girl was only two years old and dressed up like a princess. All these years, the Boyds had partnered with several foundations and willing parties to search for their child. Despite their efforts, they still had no clue about her whereabouts. Nicole couldn't help but stare at Heidi Wright, the wife of the president of Boyd Corporation, as she fell into deep thought. She wondered if they would look so much like one another if they weren't blood-related. Nicole had a tough childhood. After the orphanage raised her until she reached high school, Trevor Gibson, the director, changed. He demanded that she start earning money to repay the orphanage for everything they had done for her. As such, Nicole began to work while studying. Subsequently, she even had a falling out with Trevor. She inhaled sharply. She looked down and saw that her palms had turned red from clenching her fists. She closed her eyes, no longer wanting to recall the past. Nevertheless, this post on the Boyd family's missing daughter made her waver. The night went by just like that. After Nicole woke up the next morning, she walked to the bathroom, feeling numb. She showered, then blew her hair dry. Working at the hospital never allowed her to live such a disciplined lifestyle. Now that she was suddenly suspended from her role and Jacob was out of her life, a sizeable part of her seemed to have been cut out from the deepest depths of her heart. Looking at herself in the mirror, she could see the paleness of her face and the gloominess in her dark eyes. She smiled bitterly, then spoke to her reflection in the mirror, saying, "Nicole, can you just cheer up?" She picked up her makeup from her dressing table and applied some light makeup on her face. Then, she found a decent-looking outfit in her wardrobe. She had never attended a banquet, so she wasn't sure what to wear. Over the last three years, Nicole had treated Jacob better than she had treated herself. When she worked at the hospital, she was always in a standard lab coat. Other than a few basic outfits, she had never bought new clothes. Now that she was wearing a white, long dress, its cut highlighted her slenderness and height. Then, she matched some simple yet elegant hair accessories with pearl earrings. When she was done, she pressed her lips together. She thought that this was the best she had ever looked. She wondered how Heidi would react when she saw her. She left home and hailed a cab to the entrance of the Boyd Corporation's banquet. She looked at the grand bungalow before her, the many luxury cars parked at the entrance, and the well-dressed guests who happily walked into the venue. She stood in a corner, looking extremely out of place. Classical music was being played at the banquet. Its melodious tunes drifted into Nicole's ears, and more than that, they made her emotional. She walked forward, only to be stopped in her tracks. "Excuse me, miss. Do you have your invitation with you?" an attendant asked in a voice that was loud enough for the others around her to hear. Everyone glanced toward Nicole simultaneously. Although these people hadn't seen her face and only saw her from behind, they mocked her out loud. "Why was someone like her invited to a banquet like this?" "She clearly looks poor and powerless." "Who knows if she's just here to try her luck? Look—she can't even present her invitation." Nicole heard every word that emphasized the distance between her and upper-class society. She opened her mouth to speak but didn't know how to explain why she was there. She wondered if she could say that she wanted to meet with Heidi because she suspected that she was her biological daughter. At the same time, a woman in the bungalow, with delicate makeup and a glass of red wine in her hand, directed her attention toward the door. The moment she saw Nicole's face, her expression darkened. She gestured to a bodyguard, then whispered something in his ear. A moment later, the bodyguard showed up before Nicole. "Excuse me, miss. Please leave if you don't have an invitation. Otherwise, we'll be forced to take action against you." The bodyguard in front of her was intimidating and fierce. Pursing her lips, Nicole pondered for a moment. Then, she mustered up her courage and said, "I'd like to meet with Mrs. Boyd. I just need a few minutes." "Miss, I wasn't negotiating with you. It was an order!" "I saw on Boyd Corporation's official website that they are looking for their—" Before she could finish her sentence, the bodyguard grabbed her by her arms, wanting to drag her out of the place. Shock flashed across Nicole's face. As much as she wanted to free herself, she couldn't overpower the bodyguard. Just as she was about to be thrown out, a frosty voice commanded, "Let go of her." Nicole was surprised to hear that. Then, she glanced toward the source of that voice. The man, dressed in a smart suit, stood with one hand in his pocket and a deep gaze. Everything about him, from his facial features to his aura, was cold. It turned out to be Aaron. Reminded that it was he who had saved her from that situation last night, Nicole held her breath. She couldn't believe he had helped her again that day. When the bodyguard noticed Aaron, he also appeared shocked. He released Nicole obediently. "M-Mr. Compton…" However, Aaron's eyes remained fixed on Nicole. "Do you wish to join the banquet?" Aware that he was speaking directly to her, Nicole nodded. "Come here, then," prompted Aaron in a deep, hoarse voice. For some reason, a chill ran down Nicole's spine. She then walked toward him. Once she got to Aaron's side, the bodyguards scurried away. In a dull voice, Aaron asked, "Do you remember me?" "You're Mr. Compton," Nicole answered while gathering her thoughts. "Have you forgotten what I said to you last night, then?" he asked. Nicole's heart fluttered. Instinctively, she glanced toward him. When their eyes met, she blurted, "Mr. Compton, why are you helping me? We've never met, and we don't know one another." "Was that why you didn't contact me? Right now, I'm the only one who can bring you into the venue." The corners of Aaron's lips curled into a playful smirk. Instead of answering Nicole's question, he walked toward his car. "The banquet hasn't begun yet. Come with me." Nicole studied him from behind. Understanding that she had no other way out, she had no choice but to follow Aaron. It wasn't until she was sat down by a makeup artist that she understood what Aaron was trying to do. She pouted. In an emotionless voice, she asked, "Do I look really lame?" Aaron, seated on the couch and reading the newspaper, lifted his gaze and looked toward her when he heard that question. He observed Nicole's eyes through her reflection in the mirror. If she truly were the daughter of the Boyds, she'd naturally have decent facial features. Nicole had a small face, a tall nose, and red lips—features that could captivate others with her natural beauty, even without much makeup. That said, Aaron was used to grand events like these, so he thought it would be good for Nicole to get another makeover. He lowered his head again. He asked the makeup artist, "Have you understood what I've just told you?" The makeup artist answered cautiously, "Don't worry, Mr. Compton!" Half an hour later, Nicole had her makeup and hair redone. Her long, dark hair was curled before being put up again, revealing her flawless neckline. Even Nicole spaced out a little when she looked at herself in the mirror. It wasn't because she was stunned by her own beauty, but it was because her appearance reminded her of Heidi. Even though she had only briefly looked at Heidi last night, she could already remember what the latter looked like. At this moment, Aaron was playing with a lighter in his hand. Even though he craved for a smoke, he held himself back. "Mr. Compton, what do you think?" The makeup artist spun the chair around so that Nicole faced Aaron. When he looked up, his eyes revealed a flicker of emotion. He thought that they truly did look alike.