The Conditions

Amelia stood there, her breath caught in her throat, staring at Nick as if she couldn't quite believe what she was hearing. For a moment, the world seemed to blur around her, leaving only Nick's face in sharp focus. She needed more. She needed him to say something that made sense, that explained this madness.

Nick took a deep breath, trying to soften the blow. "His memory's messed up, Amelia. He thinks he's living in the past. He believes you ran away because I treated you badly."

Amelia blinked, the confusion giving way to a sharp edge of anger. "So why didn't you just tell him the truth? It's not that hard, Nick. Just explain things—tell him how it really is."

Nick shook his head, frustration and sorrow mixing in his eyes. "It's not that simple. The doctors say he's only got about six months left. They've warned me not to confuse him or upset him. It's better to keep him happy, even if it means playing along."

Amelia snorted, crossing her arms over her chest defensively. "Look, I'm sorry about your dad, I really am. But my life is different now. I have responsibilities, a whole team depending on me in the lab."

Nick leaned in, his voice low and urgent. "What if I told you I'd become the primary sponsor for your lab's research? Full funding, no strings attached."

Amelia's eyes widened, her breath catching again, but this time for a different reason. She hated how well Nick knew her, how he could pinpoint exactly what would make her hesitate. She almost said yes right then and there, but she caught herself just in time. 

"As you know. I've been working on graphene battery research as well, Amy. Mine's for electric car, and yours for electric aircraft purpose. I know what funding looks like."

Amelia gulped. She hated looking weak in front of Nick. "I... I will handle the funding issues with my colleague. It's none of your business. Don't forget who I am and where I come from."

Again, Nick let out a sarcastic laugh. He couldn't figure out why Amelia was so arrogant and wouldn't admit she needed financial help. 

"Bottom line, I don't need your help," Amelia finished. "I can handle my own problems."

Nick didn't miss a beat. "And I know you've sold off every last share you had in Wang Corp just to keep that lab afloat. But it's not enough, is it?"

Her anger flared up. How did he know about her financial situation? Her voice was sharp as she demanded, "How the hell do you know all that?"

Nick's smile was infuriatingly calm as he pulled out his phone and showed her a picture of himself, arm in arm with her colleagues at a fancy restaurant. "They're all very supportive of you accepting my offer."

Amelia's blood boiled. She felt betrayed, her mind reeling at how her own colleagues—people she trusted—had sold her out. "Traitors," she muttered under her breath, cursing them with every ounce of venom she could muster. But she was cornered. The truth was, Nick's offer would help so many people, and her research couldn't survive without it.

With a heavy sigh, her anger simmering down to a reluctant resignation, she asked, "What about the kids? You know I won't let anyone…especially your family…interfere with them."

Nick's face, which had been full of triumph, suddenly went stiff. The mention of his family made his eyes harden. His father, in the current condition, wouldn't stay calm if he knew about the twins. "Bring them with you. We can just keep them away from my parents."

Amelia's mind raced, weighing her options in silence. She needed the funding, there was no denying that. Wang Corp, under Aaron's leadership, had refused to help, claiming that research wasn't a sound financial investment. It was only Nick who could come through for her now.

And deep down, she remembered Mr. Zhao. He'd always been ambitious, driven, but never cruel. All he'd ever wanted was for Nick to take the reins of the family business and make it flourish. And Nick had done just that.

After what felt like an eternity, Amelia finally nodded, but she wasn't about to go down without setting her own terms. "Fine, I'll do it. But on two conditions. First, my family can't know about any of this. They despise your family, and I won't let this ruin what little peace I have with them. And second, no one from your family can know about Sean and Maddie. That means we won't be living with your parents."

Nick's brows furrowed in suspicion. He could tell there was more to her request than she was letting on, but her explanation, about avoiding misunderstandings or worse, bullying, seemed to satisfy him. He reluctantly agreed, "Fine. I'll take full responsibility for their privacy."

He paused, thinking it over before offering a suggestion. "I'll buy a new house for us—"

"No," Amelia interrupted sharply. "Don't waste money. I don't need a new house. We'll stay at the old one. The one where we used to live."

Nick simply nodded, though his mind was already working on a plan. The moment Amelia turned her back, he pulled out his phone and dialed his secretary, Harry. "I need you to repurchase my old house. It needs to be ready in two days."

Harry, caught off guard, stammered, "But, sir, that house was sold six years ago. I don't know if—"

Nick's voice dropped into a deadly calm. "I don't care how you do it. Get it back. And if you can't handle such a simple task, don't bother showing up to work on Monday."

As he hung up the phone, a small, satisfied smile played on his lips. Amelia might think she was calling the shots, but Nick was already one step ahead. He wasn't about to let this opportunity slip away.