Chapter 323

Nicole gently touched the diamond ring, her thoughts drifting back to a time when both her parents were still alive. Life had been carefree then, but everything had changed. Just as Nicole was lost in her memories, her phone suddenly rang. She closed the box and reached for the phone on the nightstand. Seeing Griffin's name on the caller ID, her brows furrowed with instinctive irritation. She pressed her lips together, a hint of reluctance on her face. However, with the phone ringing persistently, she had no choice but to answer it. "What is it?" Nicole's voice came out cold and distant. On the other end, Griffin chuckled softly. He could sense her irritation and couldn't resist teasing her. "Ms. Barnes, you wouldn't have secured the Barnes family's jewelry without my help. Don't you think it's a bit harsh to cut ties so abruptly? We still have an agreement, after all," he said. Nicole's grip on her phone tightened involuntarily as she recalled the deal she had made with Griffi