Chapter 169 - I'm stuck with you!

''You did nothing wrong by acting the way you did, anyone could have done the same in your position, given the circ.u.mstances surrounding it, so I don't blame you, okay?''

After a long while, Tiana nodded. ''I know, but I still feel guilty, instead of taking your pain away, I doubled it, I'm such a bad person. ''

Nicklaus sighed; ''I'm fine now that you are here. I can't even remember any of the pain I felt.''

Tiana raised her head to look at him, and when she saw that he meant what he said, she nodded.

''Okay. So when are we catching this woman? '' A smile stretched Nicklaus's lips and he leaned in and pecked her on the lips; he liked the way she said 'we' instead of 'you', like his problem was hers, and she was ready to fight with him to the end.

''I'm not through with my story yet. '' He said and Tiana nodded, as though telling him to continue.

''So after my parents death, the Howells Corporation was handed over to my Uncle to take care of till I come of age. That was my grandfather's undoing. His second son was the next in line to be the CEO of the company, should anything happen to me, and he had given it to him to look over. I was little at that time, so I didn't understand the implications of what he had done until I had come of age. Although he was paid for every single day he spent overlooking the interests of the corporation, it was natural to want more, so the problem came when I was old enough to take back the company. Douglas refused to hand it over and that caused a huge disagreement in the family. Long story short, Grandpa finally made him give over the company, but that did not mean he didn't still want it. He had been fighting ways to get it back, and he had orchestrated the last havoc that happened in the company, in a bid to do so.''

Tiana's eyes were wide open as Nicklaus explained everything to her in details. There was really a lot she didn't know. She had suspected that there was something off in the family, but she couldn't point it out exactly, but it all made sense now, it finally made sense.

''So Beautiful, I'm fighting a lot of enemies, whose only way of getting what they want is by eliminating me, that's why I'm fully guarded all the time, and even when it seems like I'm alone, my guards are hidden in the corners. Catherine Wills, she wants her son to inherit the Howells Corporation, and that was why she tried to kill every person down to the last on that day, but because she couldn't find me, her plans were quashed, but that does not mean that she had given up yet. She would use any means possible to kill me, and I'm afraid now that I have you. ''

Nicklaus rubbed her cheeks with his thumb, pain in his eyes, I have to protect you with everything in me, and that is why we can't go public yet. You are my weakness, and if any of them gets my weakness, I'm done for. ''

Nicklaus's throat tightened as he explained to her. He had always been scared of falling for her, but he couldn't help it, the heart wants what it wants. He couldn't imagine any hurt coming to her; she was the only person who kept him going. She was actually the only person in his entire world that made him smile, and he was going to wreak havoc on any soul that tried to hurt her;

''Baby, the only time I'm weak is when I'm in love, I do stupid things for love, but aside that, I'm a very strong woman. You don't have to be afraid, I'm going to stand by you through thick and thin, and we're going to pass this hurdle together. Okay? '' 

Tiana reassured with a smile, as her hand covered his that were on her face;

''Alright… '' Nicklaus smiled, taking her hand and kissing the insides of her palm;

''So this woman, who is she? Do I know her? '' Tiana asked curiously;

Nicklaus shook his head, ''No, you don't… '' He stopped for a second, as though thinking about something; ''Liam, he looks a lot like my father. ''

Tiana's eyes widened at the revelation; ''…what? '' Nicklaus frowned as his eyes wandered;

''He says he's Liam Anderson, but Catherine's last name is Wills and I know her son, Michael Wills, so I'm really confused, how would someone who is not related look so much like my father, the similarities were too much to ignore. ''

Nicklaus said and Tiana nodded; ''Yeah, the first time I met him, I said the same thing to him, but he told me he wasn't related to you, and that people said that to him a lot. But then, if he was Catherine's son, he wouldn't want you to know, would he? ''

Tiana asked, and Nicklaus's eyes narrowed; Catherine was a smart woman, her son was her only card, it would be stupid of her to let him in the open the way she did with Michael, someone like her would keep him hidden away so no harm would come to him.

Nicklaus tilted his head to the side, and he thought, after a while, he stood up and quickly rushed to his room, Tiana followed immediately;

'Do a thorough investigation on Michael Wills, and look into the man I asked you of yesterday, and check if there are any connections with Catherine Wills.'

Tiana stood before him as she watched him speak to someone on the phone after a moment; he ended the call and turned to her;

''Beautiful, I'm doing an investigation on Liam; I strongly feel that there are connections between him and Catherine Wills, but I'm not sure. ''

Tiana nodded; her eyes watched him for a moment, and when she saw he was looking troubled, she hugged him comfortingly.

''Everything would be alright okay? Don't worry, I'm never going to leave you again, even if you don't want me anymore, I'm not going to go, I'm stuck with you now. ''

Nicklaus laugh rang in the room when he heard her. This woman, how was she so cute.