Free [Cardello Ruth] For Love or Legacy(Bookos.org) by Lenovo User Page B

comes home from the hospital and Stephan has returned. Tonight is about someone else.‖
    Nicole looked from Elise to Katrine, afraid to hope, afraid to care.
    Katrine said, ―Tonight is about you, Nicole. Welcome home.‖
    Nicole had never felt so wonderful and so awful at the same time.

    Amid the gregarious discourse that was part of having three generations of Adrades gathered around one table, Victor‘s phone rang. He held a hand up and the room quieted. "It's Stephan."
    He listened to his son for a moment then said, "Yes, I know, it's all over the news that Dominic won the bid, but it‘s for the best, Stephan. I'm surprised you went to China at all.
    Why? I'm looking at why. Nicole is here with us. It's time for you to come home and focus on what is really important." A red flush of anger filled the older man's face. "What am I talking about? I'm talking about this foolishness with Nicole. You put her in an awkward position of lying to us when you asked her to keep your relationship a secret. She deserves better than that.
    My future grandchild deserves better than that."
    Victor shook his head in response to something Stephan said. "And what is this about buying Corisi Ltd without even mentioning it? It‘s the right thing to do, but why the secrecy?‖
    Victor didn‘t give Stephan much time to explain before he said, ―You're right, we will talk about this more when you get home. Be sure of that. And don‘t dawdle in China. You have a new nephew waiting for you. Oh, yes, and you're lucky everything worked out with that, or even hiding in Asia wouldn't save you from Richard. Maddy had her baby the night you left. Thank God, Nicole was with her. You should have been. You should have made sure she got home safely."
    Stephan responded with something that calmed his father somewhat.
    Victor spoke with one hand waving in the air for emphasis. "She's fine. Everybody is fine.
    Your Nicole took care of Maddy. I'm not so happy with the details, but I'm glad you finally came to your senses and asked her to marry you."
    Nicole held her breath.
    "Now that is the first good idea you've had in a long time. Here she is."
    Listening to an influential businessman being lectured by his father like he was an errant twelve year old was humorous, but Nicole wasn't fooling herself into thinking that Stephan was going to be anything less than furious with her. She took the phone and held it to her ear, careful to reveal nothing in her expression.
    "Hi, honey," she said, half gurgling with a nervous laugh.
    "What part of no did you not hear?"
    "I miss you, too, honey, but we aren't alone right now. Your whole family is in the room with me."
    "Be very careful with my family, Nicole. Very careful."
    "Oh, don't worry. They're all thrilled at the news."
    "Apparently.‖ He was quiet so long that Nicole began to worry that the connection had been lost. When he did speak, the sarcasm was gone from his voice. ―Did you really help Maddy?‖
    ―I didn‘t have much choice. She decided to have your nephew in the back seat of my limo.‖
    He sounded shaken. ―And they are both really fine?‖ His concern for his cousin was moving to hear.
    ―They are. Your family is planning a celebration for little Joseph early next week. Will you be back by then?‖ Nicole sounded more nervous than she meant to.
    ―Worried that I will and everyone will find out that you‘re a liar?‖
    ―Not really.‖
    ―You sound pretty confident about that.‖
    ―Yes. I figure you‘re at least a teeny bit grateful to me now,‖ she said.
    ―You‘re right.‖
    Nicole sat down with the phone. ―I am? You‘ll help me?‖
    ―It seems like the least I can do, everything considered.‖
    "Oh, Stephan, thank you." Wait, that's too easy. "You really don't mind everyone thinking...I mean knowing that we're engaged?" A few heads turned quizzically toward her, reminding her that she'd have to watch what she said.
    "No, I've decided that your idea has...potential