Mr. CEO

"I've been working for Abigail's company for more than a year now." Adeline took a deep breath. "I've got five million, so don't ask him for help anymore. I can pay it off myself."

"Nicholas already paid it for us..." Dave looked away.

"What?"

"Of course the money we borrowed has interest, Adele. If Nicholas hadn't paid it for us, you'd probably have to pay twenty million by now."

"So you're telling me we owe Nicholas now?"

Carol nodded. "Since you've got five million, I guess we have fifteen million to go."

"What are you trying to imply?" Adeline put her hands on her waist.

"Leave your job and work for his company, Adele."

"He has his own company?" Adeline bursted into laughter. "Doesn't he have his parents to—"

"His parents passed away a few weeks after you went missing," Dave sighed. "They had a car accident."

"What...? Then where is he now?"

"He sold his house and bought an apartment near his company. He was the one taking care of us while you were away, Adele."

"How about the debt then? Is it still piling—"

Carol shook her head. "There won't be any interest if we work for his company... I-I'm sorry, honey..."

"Then why don't you and dad work for him?" Adeline folded her arms. "Wouldn't that be easier?"

"We've reached the retirement age... We can't do anything about it."

"You know I can't work for him, mom. I live my own life and I do what I want."

"We were just—"

"Excuses again?" Adeline rolled her eyes. "I'm not a fool! You're just telling me this because you want him for me!"

"It's not only about that." Dave held her hand.

"Don't even think that you'll succeed, dad. I'm not making the same mistake again."

"Honey, is there someone you like...? But who could be better than Nicholas?"

"Erick, my boyfriend." Adeline smiled. "He's the manager of the company I work for. Happy?"

"You..."

"Don't even think of breaking us up. Nicholas and I are no more than friends."

"So all this time, you've been staying with Molly and Abigail...?" Carol stood up. "Do you even know how long we've been looking for you?"

"It doesn't matter. I've only been a way for a year and a half."

"Adele... please...I don't want to start a fight..." Carol touched Adeline's shoulder.

"Then stop telling me what to do! I love what I'm doing so don't interfere with my life. I don't need you to be a part of my life if you don't what to." Adeline stood up. "I've tried letting go of everything, including Nicholas so just please stop...making it all...come back... I don't want to keep dwelling on the past!"

"We're not against you're relationship with Erick." Dave leaned back on his chair. "We're just concerned about you and Nicholas."

"Then what do you want me to do? Go and—"

Before she could even finish what she was saying, a man in a black leather jacket unexpectedly went in. Adeline and her parents then looked back to see who it was before realizing that it was Nicholas, coming to pick up the packages sent by his friends from abroad.

As soon as Nicholas made eye contact with Adeline, his eyes widened as his cheeks flushed.

"Adele...?"

Adeline tried to hide her astonishment. "It's been a while hasn't it?"

"Y-You finally came back... It's been such a long time."

"You look different," Adeline said, noticing the hair that overflowed out of the crest of his head and receded in the back in a modest cut. "You changed into a different hairstyle?"

"I was—"

"We'll leave you two alone." Carol grabbed Dave's arm as she started pulling him towards the kitchen. "You guys can talk about the de-debt too..."