The Deserted Rich Beauty (Nicole and eric)
Chapter 2196 Shattered

Nicole took a deep breath. She did not allow herself to be immersed in sadness and planned to look for Clayton immediately.

After walking a few steps, she realized that her clothes had been changed. She frowned slightly, but fortunately, she did not feel any discomfort other than feeling groggy. Nicole believed that Eric would not do anything to her at this time.

As soon as she went out, she saw Floyd sitting on the floor, playing with Chatty.

She froze for a moment, and her eyes instantly felt sore.

"Dad?"

Floyd looked up.

He looked at Nicole and was pleasantly surprised but also a little distressed.

"You're finally awake! Do you feel any discomfort?"

Nicole touched her head. "No... I just don't know how long I slept for..."

Floyd pursed his lips. He did not want to cause more trouble at this time.

"Not long. It was just a normal sleep. The doctor said that you were too tired and emotionally unstable. That's why you slept so soundly."

Nicole breathed a sigh of relief.

"Dad, why did you come here? Where are we?"

"We're at a hotel. Grant, Kai, and I came over, and I brought you back from Eric's place. Don't worry. We're your backer. With us around, we won't let you stay under his roof." Tears welled up in Nicole's eyes.

She nodded heavily and felt even more heartbroken when she thought of Clayton.

However, when she noticed that Chatty was paying attention to her, Nicole did not show her emotions and immediately wiped away her tears.

"Dad, I have something else to do. I have to go back to the earthquake site."

Floyd saw that she was distraught and sighed.

"Okay, but you have to eat something before going. Otherwise, you'll pass out, and Chatty will be worried."

Nicole looked at Chatty with a tangled look and nodded.

She waved, and Chatty ran over to her.

Chatty could keenly feel Nicole's uneasy emotions, so she carefully raised her eyes to look at her.

"Mommy, are you awake?"

Chatty could not wake Nicole up no matter how loud she screamed just now.

Later, Grandpa Floyd also said that Mommy was too tired, so she would have to sleep for a long time before waking up.

That was why Chatty held back from waking up her mother. Thus, when Nicole was awake, Chatty wanted to take good care of her.

Nicole smiled and reached out to carry her daughter.

"Yup. Chatty, did you eat breakfast?"

"Yes, Mommy. I'm a good girl!"

Chatty pressed her cheek against Nicole's and suddenly raised her head to ask, "Where's Daddy? Why isn't Daddy here?"

Nicole's face froze in an instant and turned extremely pale.

Floyd quickly carried Chatty and coaxed her.

"Daddy is busy, so he's away for a few days. Didn't I tell you just now?"

Chatty touched her head in doubt.

"Really?"

She could not remember a thing.

Floyd nodded solemnly. "Yes, really. Did you forget?"

Chatty got down on her feet and said guiltily, "I'll call Daddy to say sorry."

Floyd quickly stopped her.

"Daddy is busy, so don't disturb him for the time being."

"Okay then..."

Chatty put down the phone with understanding.

The waiter outside brought in the prepared meals.

The dishes were light and refreshing, Nicole's favorites.

Nicole did not even dare to look into Chatty's eyes.

Chatty was still young and easy to fool, but if Clayton was really dead, how should Nicole explain it to her?

Nicole dared not think about it, let alone face it.

Their good days together were too short.

They had planned out their lives together.

Nicole felt like she was chewing wax. Floyd sighed when he saw her, but he did not say anything.

They could talk about it after everything was settled.

What if Clayton managed to survive?

Nicole only took a few bites before she left.

She looked like she could not sit still for another second.

Floyd did not stop her and asked the driver to take her there safely.

When Nicole got there, Grant had already led a search party.

Eric was also there.

Eric saw Nicole, who did not even glance at him, and felt mixed emotions in his heart.

"Big Brother, how is it?"

Grant paused. He took out a transparent plastic bag from his pocket that contained a broken mobile phone.

"Look. This is Clayton's, right?"

Nicole was shocked like she was struck by lightning.

That mobile phone was so familiar to her. It even had shiny stickers that Chatty put on the back.

Clayton pampered Chatty and was reluctant to change his phone because this was his precious daughter's masterpiece. However, looking at that phone now, Nicole felt like crying.

The phone was stained with mud, and the screen was shattered. It was evident how hard the impact was when it fell.

Grant sighed. "Fortunately, our people found it first. Otherwise, Clayton's business secrets might be leaked. I've already told the team to search for him nearby. Nicole, I believe we'll get the news soon." They all knew that it would be bad news.

Nicole took the phone over and held it in her hand like it was a treasure.

Her silence made the two men feel a little lost.

They thought Nicole would lose control due to her sadness or be hysterical, but she did not.

It was uncharacteristic of her.

Nicole calmly took the phone and put it in her pocket.

Then, she looked around at the search and rescue team and pursed her lips.

"Alright. I'll help search as well. Brother, I'll leave this area to you."

Grant nodded.

Eric frowned and looked at her back, deep in thought.

"Mr. Stanton, is Nicole more emotionally stable now?"

Eric thought that Nicole would settle the score with him when she found out that he tranquilized her last night, but she did not even mention it.

He felt a little uncomfortable all of a sudden.

The feeling of being ignored was frustrating!

Grant thought about it and said, "No, she doesn't seem fine. I know my sister. The calmer she is, the more we should be worried."

He sighed. Starting today, he would have to arrange for someone to be by her side to take care of her.

No one would be able to accept their loved ones suddenly leaving them.

Eric was stunned.

Nicole followed the team everywhere and did not let go of any place where Clayton could possibly be. She searched more carefully than others.

However, as time passed slowly, the situation on top of the mountain was not optimistic

Fortunately, there were no more aftershocks, and the rescue went relatively smoothly.

The number of people rescued from the hotel was limited.

As of that afternoon, the instruments could not detect any signs of life in the rubble of the hotel.

Everyone's mood was complicated and sad.

The next step was to remove the rubble and bring out the corpses inside.

That afternoon, the latest reported figures in the news were 21 deaths and 30 wounded.

There should have been 22 deaths, but they could not replace Clayton's body.

In the end, they could only look at the river flowing through the canyon with a strong conjecture.

Perhaps Clayton had fallen into the river and was washed out to the sea.

This was the only explanation for why they could not replace Clayton.