Nicole glanced at Logan, who also looked surprised, which meant that he was also unaware of Eric Ferguson's attendance.

The two of them looked at each other. Nicole then walked in with a smile as she looked at Gerard Lichman. She spoke casually. "Is this a set-up?"

Gerard shrugged his shoulders. He looked at Eric, then at Nicole.

"Vice President Nicole, I had no choice. Please forgive me for being presumptuous. Let me just clarify that I will remain neutral and will never interfere in the matters between you both. To express my sincere apology, when you're done talking, I'll bring you to visit our newly established

research lab. I'm sure you'll be very interested in it." 'Interested? Indeed.' Nicole thought.

However, she still felt annoyed that she had been deceived.

Nicole expressionlessly retracted her gaze and looked at Eric with a slight frown. "Mr. Ferguson, if this is because of that pipe, there's no need to waste your breath."

'Will they ever stop pestering me? My time is very precious, alright?'

"Nicole. " Eric looked at her with deep eyes. After a pause, he continued, "I know that my grandfather went to see you today and said a lot of unpleasant things. Don't take it to heart."

He knew that Nicole did not care for his apology and that it was futile. A simple "sorry" could not wipe away all that he owed her in the past three years.

Nicole lifted her eyes and thought that it was strange because Eric seemed a little weird today.

"Is that all?" She was getting impatient.

Eric was silent for a second before he spoke again. " That tobacco pipe is useless to you. If you were just deliberately trying to anger them, you've already succeeded. After your anger has subsided, please return it to my grandfather. As I mentioned before, you can state whatever conditions you like."

The atmosphere was silent for a moment. Nicole hooked her lips.

'Hah! When other methods didn't work, he decides to go down the emotional route? His purpose is to get back the emerald pipe. It looks like that stupid pipe is really important to them...'

Gerard could not help but crack a joke to break the silence.

"Whatever conditions? If she wants to get back together with you, are you willing to do so?"

The other three people in the room were stunned, and Logan could not help but subconsciously look at Eric.

Eric's eyes sank and he frowned slightly. The atmosphere was silent and still.

Just when Gerard regretted saying this, Nicole let out a light laugh. Her voice was clear, cold, and indifferent.

"Get back together? There's no need to assume because it'll never happen in this life. Someone like Mr. Ferguson should marry someone from the same social status. Why would he compromise on his own marriage?"

Eric's brow was tightly knitted when he heard this and wanted to say something, but Nicole continued, "But..."

She paused and hooked her lips into a faint smile.

"But if you must have this emerald pipe, the conditions can still be negotiated."

Nicole seemed to have thought of a perfect condition. Eric raised his head. "What is it?"

It seemed that he would agree to whatever she requested.

Nicole swept a glance at Gerard. "Can we have the room?"

Gerard froze. "Of course."

He straightened his tie and walked out without hesitation.

Whenever Eric and Nicole were in the same space, the atmosphere was extraordinarily awkward. If Eric did not force him to invite Nicole to dinner in his name, he was very reluctant to put these two exes together because he did not know how to deal with these majesties. After all, Gerard did not want Eric and Nicole's problem to affect their three-way cooperation.

Logan was also sensible to leave the room.

With only the two of them left in the room, Eric waited silently for Nicole to speak, but she did not seem to be in any hurry.

When Eric heard Gerard's proposal of remarrying Nicole, he surprisingly did not feel like it was an absurd idea. Anyway, they had been married once, so he did not mind getting married to her the second time. If they were to get back together, he would treat her better too.

However, Nicole was not willing. Nicole walked to the sofa on the side and sat down, then picked up a box of cigarettes on the table and skilfully lit one. She gently inhaled and exhaled a beautiful smoke ring. Seeing her slender fingers holding a cigarette, Eric felt a little uncomfortable, but she did so with such grace and charm.

Eric's eyes sank slightly. "You actually learned to smoke?"

In his impression, Nicole was a gentle and well- behaved woman that did not have any bad habits.

However, the woman in front of him looked so skilled and natural in her movements that showed that she had been smoking for quite some time now, yet he was not aware.

Looking at Eric's surprised face, Nicole smiled. Her smoking hand tapped lightly on the sofa. "Yes, I learned it three years ago."

Three years ago was when they just got married.

In other words, she had learned to smoke at the beginning of their marriage.