Ambition and obsession - Season 1 Episode 7

The weather was cool in mid-January, with drizzle falling steadily outside.
Nicole’s eyes darkened a little as they gazed upon the date. Today was January 18th—the anniversary of her mother’s death.

Nicole wanted to take Hayden to visit her mother today, but the weather was really bad, so she decided to only do it after the weather improved.

The cemetery was desolate with few people. Holding a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a black umbrella in the other, Nicole walked slowly to her mother’s grave. To her surprise, there was already a man and a woman standing in front of the grave. The woman was Queenie, while the man was William Anderson—her supposed father.

William’s wrinkled face had a hint of emotion. “It’s been a while since we last saw each other, Nicole. I heard from Queenie that you’re back, so I came here to wait for you, thinking you’d come here.” When he heard from Queenie that Nicole had come back, he was a little skeptical. After some mental calculations, he realized that the anniversary of Nicole’s mother’s death was coming up. Since Nicole was very attached to her mother, she would definitely come here to visit her mother’s grave. Therefore, he came here early in the morning to wait for Nicole, and there she was, coming just as expected.

William was ashamed of what had happened five years ago. However, it was all thanks to this that Queenie was able to join the Gardner Family, which resulted in a turnaround for the then-decadent Anderson Family. He would never allow anyone – including his biological daughter right before him – to destroy the Andersons’ peace!

Nicole coldly walked past the hypocritical man in front of her. “Go away! Don’t disturb my mother’s peace.”

“Let go of the past, Nicole. Let’s have a heart-to-heart talk. Nicole…”

Regardless of what William said, Nicole laid flowers on her mother’s grave and paid her respects. After that, she turned and left without even looking at the two people behind her.

Queenie’s exquisitely made-up face immediately contorted when she saw how Nicole looked at them with disdain. What gives this bitch the right to put on such an arrogant air?!

Just as Nicole was walking past Queenie, Queenie grabbed her wrist so tightly, it was as if her nails were going to dig into Nicole’s flesh. “Nicole, don’t you want your mother’s things anymore?”

Nicole stopped suddenly.

Seeing the woman’s response, Queenie smiled smugly. “If you want to take her things, then come home with us!”

The rain was getting heavier and heavier. Standing in front of the family home, Nicole exuded an aura of melancholy from every pore as her exquisite features tightened. And here I am, in front of the Anderson Residence—the cold, disgusting house, she thought. Five years ago, to save her mother from illness, she had come here in tears to borrow money from the Andersons, only to enter into an agreement where she prostituted herself in return. And to think that I am back five years later…

Seeing Nicole enter the house, William immediately ordered the servants to serve her coffee, acting with all affection as if he were truly a loving father to her. “Let’s have something warm to drink, Nicole. The weather is a little cold.”

Doting father? Nicole let out a sneer. This scumbag of a man was playing outside when Mom was pregnant, she thought. Nicole’s mother had been in poor health ever since she gave birth to Nicole, but William forced her to divorce him when Nicole was eight years old. After the divorce, Nicole’s mother was left penniless. With no money to raise Nicole, she had no choice but to let her stay at the Anderson Residence.

Less than a month after the divorce, William married Nicole’s stepmother, who brought with her a little girl, Queenie, who was only three months younger than Nicole. Nicole’s stepmother hated Nicole, so it was routine for the then-little Nicole to be treated coldly, fed spoiled food, and severely beaten, but William turned a blind eye to all of this.

I wouldn’t have anything to do with the cold-blooded Anderson family anymore after Mom’s death! Nicole thought to herself. “Just say it. Why the hell are you making me come back?” she asked in a cold voice. The effort they put into making me come home, their submissive and hypocritical behavior—it’s obvious they’re coming at me with an axe to grind.

“Just stop talking nonsense to her, Dad,” Queenie chimed in. Getting straight to the point, she told Nicole, “I’m going to be straight with you, Nicole. We can allow you to return to the Anderson Family and continue to be the oldest daughter in the family – but on one condition.”

Looking at Nicole as if she was a piece of trash, she continued disdainfully, “As long as you’re willing to marry President Mann, we’ll let you marry him as the Anderson family’s Young Lady Nicole for the sake of dignity.” Looking at Nicole with a flicker of jealousy in her eyes, she added sarcastically, “You could have prostituted yourself for 200,000 five years ago anyway, so you don’t have to act hypocritical now. With the title of Young Lady Nicole, then becoming President Mann’s woman, you’ll at least live the rest of your life without having to worry about food and clothing.”

Queenie envied Nicole for sleeping with Colton. Ever since Nicole slept with the man five years ago, Queenie had never had the opportunity to touch him. Even though Colton had helped the Andersons a lot and granted her every wish, what Queenie really wanted was nothing more than the man himself!

A hint of surprise flashed across Nicole’s face when she heard Queenie’s words. “President Mann? You mean Joseph?” Is she talking about Hayden’s father?

“Joseph? What makes you think you deserve to marry him?” Queenie couldn’t help but laugh when she heard Nicole mention Joseph’s name. “How dare you even think about marrying Young Master Joseph? I’m talking about Robert Mann, Young Master Joseph’s father!”