Chapter 347 Oliver vs. Nicole: Playing Cute

Chapter 347 Oliver vs. Nicole: Playing Cute
For the next two days, Oliver left early and came home late.
On the third day, it was time for them to go to her family's house for dinner.
Nicole was clearly in a somber mood.
Grover had bought the old house where her family was living when they were in college.
Dwayne hadn’t started working yet back then, so the house hadn’t been foreclosed on.
There was still no news from Dwayne.
When Nicole saw Grover and Bess, she noticed their hair had turned much grayer.
Nicole called out, “Dad, Mom.”
Oliver echoed her, "Dad, Mom."
Bess managed a faint smile. "Well, come on in."
Grover was making soup in the kitchen.
When he saw them walk in holding hands, his expression softened.
Oliver ruffled Nicole’s hair. "You two talk. I’ll go help in the kitchen.”
"Okay," Nicole said, watching him until his back disappeared through the kitchen doorway.
Bess stood nearby and watched the look in her eyes.
The corners of her mouth curled up.
Nicole snapped back to reality and asked, “Mom, what are you smiling about?”
Bess pulled her over to sit on the couch, glanced toward the kitchen, and said softly, "He's very good to you."
Nicole’s face flushed slightly, and she nodded. "Yeah, he's pretty good."
"Your dad and I were just like that back in the day. At first, neither of us could stand the other, but we eventually found our way to each other. When did you and Oliver start dating?”
"I don't know." Nicole shook her head.
Bess stroked Nicole’s cheek. “Have a baby soon.”
Nicole’s face flushed.
She couldn’t help but glance toward the kitchen.
Oliver looked in her direction, the corner of his mouth curving slightly.
Nicole pressed her lips together and quickly looked away.
She shook her head, her tone tense. "About my brother, you know everything by now, right?"
Bess sighed, "Yes."
"You can't be as headstrong as you used to be from now on. Now that you’re married, you need to move in a positive direction. The future of the Bell family depends on you.” She paused, then continued earnestly, "Oliver used to seem pretty proud, but now he’s even willing to cook for you. You’ve got to hold on to him tight.”
Nicole felt a lump in her throat.
"About my brother...is it true?" she asked.
Bess nodded.
Nicole didn't press the issue any further.
After dinner, Oliver and Nicole left.
On the way back, Nicole remained silent the whole time.
Oliver pulled the car over to the side of the road.
Nicole looked out the window. 
"What's wrong?" she asked.
Oliver turned to look at her. "Are you okay?"
She nodded, not daring to meet his gaze. "I just feel like you must really hate him. You should be happy right now."
Oliver reached out to wipe the tears from her face. 
"This has nothing to do with you." His voice dropped as if he were holding something back.
He opened the car door and got out.
Through the window, she watched him stand at the back of the car, light a cigarette, and smoke.
She sat alone in the car. 
It was so quiet that she could hear her own breathing.
When he returned, he opened the passenger door.
Before she could react, he had leaned in and kissed her deeply after reaching over to recline the seat.
The kiss was fierce and urgent.
He kissed away the tears on her face.
"Nicole," he called out, his gaze softening.
"I love you." He smoothed out the rumpled hem of her shirt. "I don't need your apology. Even if we forgive him, others won't. You have to understand that."
He wouldn't forgive Dwayne.
He didn't want to mix the two up.
Oliver took some wet wipes from the car and wiped her face clean.
"No matter what your brother does, my feelings for you are genuine," he said.
Nicole paused.
The car drove back to the Dawson house for dinner. 
Blanche and Alistair were coming over as well.
"Nicole," Blanche said first.
Nicole smiled and replied, "Blanche."
No one brought up what had happened before.
Nicole learned from Oliver that Alistair had indeed asked a maid to prepare the hangover remedy the last time. 
However, the maid wanted to embarrass Blanche, claiming that Alistair had sent it to her. 
Without giving it a second thought, Blanche accepted it.
The troublemaking maid had been fired; no one in the Dawson household dared to spread gossip anymore.
Gwen stood to the side, her brow furrowed the entire time. 
She exchanged a few polite words with them before ushering them inside.
As soon as Heinrich returned, he called Alistair and Oliver into his study.
Gwen went to the kitchen to prepare dinner while Blanche and Nicole sat down in the living room.
Nicole glanced around to make sure no one was nearby. 
She pulled a note out of her bag and slipped it into Blanche's hand.
"Blanche, this is the revised formula for the preconception supplement that I put together based on the previous one. If you trust me, try this for a while. Once we check your results, I'll add the preconception formula."
Blanche glanced at Nicole, looked down at the slip of paper, and then accepted it. "Of course I trust you."
"Thank you," she added, her voice softening.
Nicole said, "You're welcome."
Oliver and the others stayed upstairs for a long time and didn't come down until it was almost time for dinner.
As soon as Alistair came downstairs, he walked over to Blanche. 
She leaned in to whisper something to him, glancing over at Nicole as she did so.
The corners of Alistair's mouth curled up.
Oliver looked at them, then at Nicole. 
He sat back down beside her and took her hand. "What happened?"
"Nothing. I wrote up a health regimen for Blanche," Nicole said.
He was taken aback; he hadn't expected her to be willing to help. 
"Then I'd like to thank you on my brother's behalf."