Chapter 420 To Save Nicole, Oliver Knelt Down!
Sarah looked up at him, her lips trembling. "This has nothing to do with you."
She tried to pull away.
But the man held her tighter, his grip unyielding. She couldn't move, and his gaze remained intense, almost expectant.
Sarah lowered her eyes.
She understood what he wanted.
She decided to be blunt. "Yes, I broke up with him! But that doesn't change anything between us. No, there is no 'us' anymore. Oliver, we can never be together!"
The elevator was silent, except for his heavy breathing.
He stared at her, his muscles tensed under his thin shirt. Just then, Nicholas, who had stepped out of the elevator, returned. He stood at the door. "We're here."
The two of them quickly separated.
Nicholas's gaze was inscrutable.
Because of this incident, Sarah didn't go downstairs for dinner.
At eight in the evening, Nicholas knocked on her door.
He brought dinner and ate with her.
They ate in silence.
After a while, Nicholas looked at the untouched food in Sarah's bowl and asked softly, "What's on your mind? Did he... get to you?"
"No!"
Sarah absentmindedly pushed her food around with her fork. "I'm worried! I'm worried the Mitchell family won't agree to the match, and even more worried they won't be a match."
Nicholas smiled faintly. "Don't worry! Remember the lucky charm Nicole has? Grandpa gave it to her himself. He had Aaron get it from a famous church. It's supposed to be very effective."
Sarah looked up at him,
She smiled faintly. "Thank you, Nicholas."
Nicholas suddenly asked, "What about Jeremy? Do you have any regrets about him?"
Sarah was taken aback and shook her head lightly.
Nicholas then knew she had never been in love with Jeremy. He thought, deep down, there must still be a place for Oliver in her heart, whether it was love or hate.
He didn't ask further and placed a piece of meat in her bowl.
"Try the local specialty."
That night was destined to be sleepless.
The sounds of car horns in Vesper City echoed throughout the night, welcoming the dawn of a new year.
It was a new year.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows of the hotel suite, golden fireworks bloomed in the night sky.
The sounds of celebration were continuous.
Sarah leaned against her pillow, watching the commotion outside. Her phone, placed beside her, started to ring.
It flashed repeatedly.
She knew it was Oliver calling, but she didn't answer. Apart from matters concerning the children, she didn't want any unnecessary contact with him.
On the other side, Oliver didn't call again.
Late at night, he stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the boats on the river.
This place once held their love nest. They had been happy here for a time.
In the morning, they had breakfast at the hotel and then went to the agreed location.
An old-fashioned teahouse.
The Mitchell family and Alyssa's family filled the room.
On Oliver's side, there were only three of them.
When Oliver arrived, the Mitchell family glared at him with clenched jaws. Especially Lester's mother and Alyssa's mother, who burst into tears remembering their children's tragic deaths. Lester's mother looked at Sarah and remembered that she had Lester's cornea.
The room was filled with noise.
The Mitchell family was a local family of Vesper City, and some of them were unreasonable.
Sarah ignored their shouting and walked directly to Lester's parents. She knelt before them, tears in her eyes, her lips trembling too much to speak.
Back then, Lester had died tragically.
She had only met the two elders briefly before leaving for Marigoldia.
Years had passed since then.
Upon seeing her kneel, Oliver's veins bulged, and his fists clenched. "Sarah, this isn't your fault!"
Sarah ignored him.
She looked at the two elders, bowing her head. "I am deeply sorry for what happened to Lester. But if Lester and his wife are watching from above, they would want Nicole to be safe and healthy. I beg you, for Lester's sake, please save Nicole."
Lester's parents continued to cry.
They wanted to save Nicole, but it was clear they were being controlled by others.
Felicity stepped forward. She looked down at Sarah coldly. "What right do you have to mention Lester? If it weren't for you, Lester wouldn't have lost his hand. If it weren't for you, Lester and Alyssa wouldn't have died so tragically..."
Sarah remained silent.
Felicity's eyes were filled with malice. She raised her hand to slap Sarah.
She wanted to vent all the frustration she had suffered from Oliver on Sarah, to regain her lost dignity by humiliating her.
A hand stopped her.
Oliver's blue eyes were dark with anger. "What do you think you're doing?"
Felicity struggled but couldn't break free.
She laughed bitterly. "Feeling sorry for her? If you feel sorry, then kneel and cut off three of your fingers! One finger for each life—Lester, Alyssa... and Lowell's leg!"
Oliver's grip tightened, almost breaking her bones.
Felicity's frustration from unrequited love showed.
Even though this man had fallen, she still couldn't let go. Otherwise, she would have moved on with Lowell and her promising future.
Sarah looked up at Oliver, her face against the light.
He didn't like Lester, and he wasn't often with Nicole. Even Jeremy had advised her not to get too attached since there was no blood relation.
Kneeling and cutting off three fingers?
He wouldn't do it.
The Mitchell family waited, expecting an apology and justice. But like Sarah, they believed that someone like Oliver would never kneel and cut off three fingers for a little girl. It was impossible.
The room fell silent.
Under countless gazes, Oliver slowly knelt.
With a heavy thud, he knelt on the ground.
"Revenge for Lester!"
"He knelt! Cut off his three fingers."
"Don't be fooled by his act."
The Mitchell family surged forward.
They punched and kicked, venting their anger.
Finally, they threw a knife at Oliver's feet and issued a harsh command. "Cut them off yourself! If you don't cut off three fingers, it won't prove your sincerity!"
On the first day of the new year,
Fireworks occasionally sounded, and the wind from the river blew Oliver's hair. He picked up the knife without hesitation.
He had told Sarah he was willing to do anything.
Sarah stood by, her voice hoarse. "Oliver..."
Her eyes were filled with pain and years of unresolved feelings.
Oliver looked at her, whispering tenderly, "Sarah, don't cry. I deserve this. I said I would do anything. Nicole is not just your child; she's mine too. She calls me Dad."
Sarah's tears fell like rain.
Nicholas, who had never seen such a scene, couldn't help but speak. "Oliver!"
Oliver didn't hesitate.
He picked up the knife and was about to cut off his three fingers as the Mitchell family demanded.
"Stop!"
Lester's mother cried out.
She came over and slapped Oliver hard.
She took the knife and held it tightly, crying. "If Lester were here, he wouldn't want this! Lester was kind and pure. He wouldn't demand someone cut off three fingers. My Lester wouldn't. He would watch over his daughter, my granddaughter, and protect her."
"Cutting off his fingers won't bring Lester back."
"It won't save my granddaughter."
Lester's mother knelt, crying. "Please, help Nicole. Even if it's for Lester's sake, give his daughter a chance to live. My husband and I are old. We can't hold onto grudges. We need to look forward."
She bowed repeatedly.
She had lost her son and was in poor health. Now, in the spring breeze, she looked pitiful.
People are compassionate.
Someone spoke up. "I'll be the first to get tested!"
Others followed. "Count me in! She's Lester's child. If I don't help, who will? If I'm a match and don't donate, you can call me a coward!"
"Count me in!"
"Me too! I'm tough!"
In an instant, the Mitchell family turned to support Lester's mother.
Felicity panicked.
She looked at the volunteers and shouted angrily. "Didn't we agree? We were supposed to get Nicole's custody and demand compensation! Have you all forgotten?"
Lester's mother, crying, said, "Nicole staying with Ms. Miller was Lester's wish."
Felicity was furious. "Are you crazy? Are we just going to let him go? He killed Lester and Alyssa! He made Lowell jump and break his leg!"
The Mitchell family wavered.
They thought Felicity was right. Letting Oliver go so easily was too lenient. He should cut off his fingers, pay a large sum, and they should take Nicole.
Lester's mother hesitated.
She was alone in her plea.
At that moment, a familiar voice spoke. "Felicity, are you doing this for Lester or your own selfish reasons? Is it because you couldn't get Oliver, and now you're taking it out on Nicole? I never thought you'd be so vain and cruel."
Felicity was stunned. It was Lowell.
She wanted to argue but felt guilty and couldn't say a word.
People began to murmur, pointing fingers.
So, Felicity had tried to marry into money in Evergreen City!
Felicity's father, embarrassed, slapped her hard. "Shameful!"
Felicity ran away, crying.
Her father apologized to everyone. "I failed to raise her properly! Now, let's all get tested. Nicole is Lester's daughter. Every Mitchell family member should help."
"Yes! Absolutely!"
That day, everyone got tested. The results came two days later.
Oliver held the results,
He returned to the hotel and knocked on Sarah's door.