Before stepping out of Jess' room, he glanced back to see Lucille and Jess having a staring contest and he couldn't help but chuckle. He was looking forward to what kind of relationship the two most important girls in his life would develop.

He knew that Jess has apprehension towards Lucille, and he doesn't know why, though he was quite sure that her hesitation has nothing to do with not liking Lucille as part of his life. He wished Jess would open up with him more.

But alas, she kept on shrinking away from him. He sighed with frustration remembering how she would rather have an open-ended relationship with him than be in a serious one.

He was disappointed, but not that worried because Jess should know by now that he never gives up on things or people that matter to him.

He has all the time and resources to chase her pretty little ass! Well - time is a bit of concern since he has to prepare for the company turnover and Jess will be busy with her internship. Nonetheless, he wants her and he's ready to wait.

That isn't something he can say to the person on the other line of the call, whom he answered but put on hold until he found a quiet corridor to talk in. He was already expecting an argument with her, hence, he wanted a place where he can talk freely without disturbing anyone in this hospital.

"Hello, Nicole. Sorry, still in the hospital."

"How's Yue?" The tremors in her voice due to fear couldn't hide her worries for her daughter.

"She was okay. The doctors were done checking on her. She's having ice cream now." He felt a bit strange that they were talking in an easy manner. He decided to take advantage of them not in a fight mode to open the topic she doesn't like.

"Uhm, Nicole… the accident that happened today-- I don't think it was an accident," he said in a hushed tone. He felt guilty when he heard his ex-wife whimpered like a wounded animal.

"I am truly sorry, Nicole. I hope things weren't like this but --"

"Have you tightened the security around her?"

She asked cutting him off. He felt a bit surprised that Nicole opened the topic of security. She hated the fact that there was security around them because of his position in his family corporation.

It was one of the reasons why after the divorce, Nicole insisted on taking their daughter to China. She wished to give her a normal life where she will not be under constant surveillance.

His enemies had been playing him, they only target his daughter whenever she is with him. They were quiet for a long time, he thought it won't happen again. But he was wrong!

These unseen enemies have been hovering around him for years! They were a bunch of fucking cowards hiding in the shadow, not doing anything drastic. He would even forget that they exist until shit happened again.

Just like today. He thought he was on top of everything. His security was topnotch and yet, they were still able to get his daughter in these series of things that look like 'accidents'.

From the outside, it does look like a normal accident, something that won't raise a lot of suspicions -- if only they haven't been playing this sick game for years now!

"Yes, I did. And also -,' he cleared his throat, "I would like to have someone around Lucille even when she's back with you."

"Okay. Just do what you think is necessary."

He was surprised but glad that Nicole wasn't being difficult with their current situation. He never expected her to agree on this easily!

Nicole only allowed the two shadows he had on them, but within a certain radius for she always complained about the shadows suffocating her, so she would only allow two guards to follow them in a limited radius.

"I will let you know of the security details once I finalized it with Jin...uhm…" with the current flow of their conversation he was at a loss for words.

"Yeah, just let me know --" she caught on the awkwardness of Noah and now couldn't say what she wanted. "Uhm, okay...I call you again, I guess."

"I'll have Lucille call you later in the secured line."

"Uhm, sure...thanks."

When the call ended, he scratched the back of his neck, thinking the call was really an odd one. He couldn't remember the last time he and Nicole talked agreeing at the same time without raising their voice.

He was kind of glad and couldn't help wishing that they could be that way here on forward.

Shoving his phone back in his jeans pocket, he slowly takes the same hallway back to Jess' room to pick up his daughter.

There are a lot of things that he has to settle regarding the investigation of the accident, but Briare was a great help despite him being a difficult fellow to like. He found out that he owned the resort, that's why he was taking the investigation seriously.

He also found out Briare's connection with Jess and why he was too protective of her. It was because Ellise - Jess' friend was one of the resort's shareholders.

The information piqued his interest. Ellise was the same age as Jess but already deep in the business world.

He was about to push the door of Jess' room when he heard a peal of laughter from the room. He could clearly hear Jess and Lucille having a conversation. He cracked the door open and decided to eavesdrop.

With the gap from the door, he could catch their conversation much clearer. He chuckled softly when he realized that they were playing a game of riddle.

His cheek hurts from grinning ear to ear, hearing that Jess and Lucille were both being competitive.

The game was being taken so seriously that his heart was caught at the back of his throat when Lucille asked an unexpected question that Jess wasn't able to answer - which wiped the smile from his lips.