Chapter 661:
Lonnie said nothing, but his silence was all the approval Rhys needed.
Taking a slight pause to gather his thoughts, Rhys began, âIf my memory serves me right, it was the same day the Sanderson family invited her back. That day was chaotic. My grandfather had a sudden health scare, and we had to arrange for him to be flown abroad for treatment.
But midway through the flight, my helicopter encountered a malfunction.â
It was a dire situation, and by sheer coincidence, I crossed paths with Harleeâs helicopter. I asked for her help, hoping she could get us where we needed to go.
However, she declined, suggesting instead that she could just transfer the control system.
Lonnie couldnât help but interrupt.
âHumph, naturally, she mustâve been eager to come home and reunite with us. Who in their right mind would want to play chauffeur for you?â
Rhys let out a chuckle, choosing not to argue.
âDespite the complications that ensued, Harlee ended up joining us. She intended to leave initially, but then, in a semi-conscious state, my grandfather confused her with Nicola, given her striking resemblance to Nicola, and insisted she stayâ¦â
âNicola,â Skyla interjected, her eyes narrowing with curiosity.
âAre you talking about Nicola?â
Rhys nodded, the faintest smile touching his lips.
Prompted by Skylaâs inquiry, Lonnie remembered Nicola, the legendary figure whose influence had been pivotal in their family lore. Indeed, without Nicolaâs remarkable contributions, neither the Sanderson family nor the Green family would stand among the esteemed families they were today. Their current prominence was unthinkable without her legacy.
Nicola, the youngest of Lonnieâs grandmotherâs siblings and even younger than Lonnieâs father, had grown up alongside Lonnieâs father and Nathaniel.
From their earliest days, Nicola was the heart of the trio, guiding them through their studies, playful escapades, journeys abroad for education, and later into the realm of business.
For nearly three decades, the three were nearly inseparable.
However, as time passed, Nicola became aware of a shift in Nathanielâs feelings toward her. These feelings, which crossed the bounds of their lifelong camaraderie, left Nicola unsettled.
Unwilling to confront such unconventional affection, and always having seen Nathaniel and Lonnieâs father as her juniors, Nicola chose to distance herself to keep Nathaniel from losing his way.
Her ability to vanish was so adept that even Nathaniel, with all his resources and success, failed to locate her.
Skyla knew Nicola because Nicola had returned when she and Lonnie held their wedding.
Having admired Nicola since childhood for her business acumen, Skyla held a deep respect for Nicola, cherishing her influence in her life.
Lost in memories, Lonnie mused aloud, âAh, thatâs why I felt such warmth when I saw Harlee. She bears a striking resemblance to Nicolaâ¦â
At this, Skyla gently nudged Lonnie with her elbow, a silent reminder to be cautious of the setting and to avoid sharing too much about Nicolaâs past in front of the younger family members.
Lonnieâs focus sharpened abruptly, his stern gaze locking in place.
âAnd then?â
Rhys, seemingly ready for this, continued earnestly, âI confess, the first time I saw Harlee working on that helicopter, something stirred inside me.
.
.
.