Chapter 248
“The Sawyer Group’s stock has hit the limit—down for several days straight,” Bryan reported. “Our acquisitions have now surpassed 10%.”
“Oh!” Nicolas finally gave him a proper glance. “That’s faster than expected.”
According to their original timeline, it would take at least a week to quietly acquire enough shares. Yet it had only been three days, and they’d already surpassed the halfway point.
“And the Sawyers? Any reaction yet? Has Luciano or Marshall started tightening the reins?”
“Not at all,” Bryan said, shaking his head.
It was almost comical. Even as over half the company’s shares were quietly scooped up, Luciano and Marshall remained calm—stubbornly insisting on their “wait-and-see” strategy. In a way, it was impressive how delusional they could be.
Most likely, they assumed the buying spree was just a bunch of unrelated companies jumping on the panic train. They believed that once Braiden was released and stock prices rebounded, those companies would dump the shares and they could easily reclaim them.
What they didn’t realize was that all those companies were tied to one man—the very person they had always looked down on: Nicolas.
Nicolas let out a cold chuckle. “Those two clowns—take away their puppet master, and they’re completely useless.”
Then he turned to Bryan with a calm smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“Go ahead. Tell the police they can release Braiden now.”
“Already?” Bryan blinked, surprised.
They had spent weeks digging up the evidence to have Braiden arrested, and now Nicolas was just letting him go!
“Yep. Time to let him out.”
A beautiful smile curved Nicolas’s lips—but his eyes were icy cold, carrying a cruel edge. “I want him out,” Nicolas said softly, “so he can watch—watch with his own eyes as the company he cares about most gets torn apart by the son he loathes the most. I want to see the exact moment his pride shatters.”
He wanted Braiden, and the entire Sawyer family, to witness the fall of the company they had built on his mother’s bones—witness it crumble piece by piece, and know exactly who brought it down.
The very idea made Nicolas chuckle low in his throat, like a predator savoring the hunt.
That laugh made the hairs on Bryan’s arms stand up. He’d been working with Nicolas for a long time now, but moments like these still sent a chill down his spine.
Nicolas was terrifying. Cold. Calculating. Merciless.
He didn’t hesitate to crush anyone who crossed him—even his own blood. If Nicolas wanted you destroyed, he would do it with absolute precision.
Bryan couldn’t help but wonder, ‘If one day, I ended up on the wrong side of this man!’
That thought alone was enough to make him shudder.
Just then, a soft voice broke the tension.
“Nicolas, more blocks, please.”
It was Noelle.
Bryan snapped out of his thoughts and looked over—only to witness a complete transformation.
The oppressive chill that had surrounded Nicolas moments ago vanished instantly. His features softened as he turned back to Noelle, smiling with warmth that seemed impossibly genuine.
He handed her a few blocks and asked gently,
“Sweetheart, do you want me to get you a step ladder?”
Chapter 215
“Yes,” Noelle chirped, bright-eyed.
She tilted her head, assessing the precarious tower she’d been building.
“Nicolas, these blocks you gave me aren’t working. Get me different ones.”
“Sure.” He swapped them out.
But Noelle frowned again. “Nope, these aren’t right either.”
“How about these?”
“Nope! Still not balanced. I’ll pick them myself.”
She crouched down to grab a few, but because she was standing on the edge of a chair, the shift in weight sent her toppling forward with a startled yelp.
Nicolas reacted instantly, catching her mid-fall and pulling her safely into his arms. He let out a relieved sigh and chuckled, “You really have no concept of danger, do you?”
Before he could finish the sentence, the towering stack of blocks collapsed in a dramatic cascade across the desk and floor.
Noelle's face turned pale as she stared at the chaos. “My tower. I spent so long building that.”
Her arms hovered mid-air in disbelief. Nicolas couldn’t help but smile. He lifted her onto his lap, seating her sideways on one leg, and comforted her.
“It’s okay. You can build it again. You’ve been playing for a while now—how about a snack? Hungry?”
The mention of food instantly perked her back up. “Yes! I want pizza!”
“Alright,” Nicolas replied with a laugh. He glanced at Bryan.
“Order some pizzas—make sure they’re loaded with meat.”
Hearing “meat,” Noelle’s eyes sparkled.
She wrapped her arms around Nicolas’s neck and swung her legs happily.
“You know me too well. Yes, lots of meat!”
Nicolas let out a low chuckle, brushing her nose with his finger.
“How about some veggies, too! There’s a vegetarian place with really good dishes.”
Noelle wrinkled her nose.
“Vegetables? Can they really be that tasty??”
“They’re better than the meat, I swear,” Nicolas said seriously.
“Really?” she asked, skeptical.
“Trust me. I’ll give it a shot.”
“Good girl.” He pinched her cheek, then told Bryan, “Add a couple of veggie dishes to the order.”
“Two?!” Noelle quickly grabbed Nicolas’s hand. “One is enough, right?”
“Let’s make it two. The portions are small,” he said smoothly.
Noelle looked reluctant.
So Nicolas added, “Trust me—paired with meat, the flavors are even better.”
“Really?” Noelle looked intrigued.
“Would I lie to you?”
Chapter 248
“Okay. Two then.”
“Perfect,” Nicolas turned back to Bryan. “You heard her.”
“Yes, sir.” Bryan sighed, dutifully noting the order.
As he turned to go, he glanced back at the scene—the once-blood-chilling CEO now cuddling a girl in his lap, discussing vegetable portions like a doting husband.
Maybe, Bryan thought, his heart’s not as cold as I imagined.
At least… not when it comes to her.