CHAPTER 138: NEW CHAPTER, NEW LIFE

"What took you so long? I told you, my stomach’s growling," Liam complained, lips curled into an exaggerated pout.

Nick scratched the back of his neck, feigning sheepishness, while Georgia blushed furiously behind him. Their hands remained linked as they stepped into the dining room, her body still betraying traces of what had delayed them.

Ella’s brows furrowed as her eyes darted to Georgia. "What happened to your legs?" she asked, concern softening her voice after seeing her best friend walking weirdly.

"Right—she slipped," Nick cut in smoothly, squeezing Georgia’s hand before letting go. "That’s why we took a while. I had to... massage her leg for a bit."

His answer was met with a pair of skeptical stares from Vicky and Liam, their expressions caught between disbelief and amusement.

Oliver, however, didn’t even bother hiding the smirk tugging at his lips. One glance at Georgia’s walk and he already knew exactly what happened.

"You should put a cold compress on your ankle," Ella suggested gently. "It’ll swell otherwise."

"It’s not that serious, really," Georgia quickly replied, her cheeks heating all over again.

’This girl... It’s not Georgia’s ankle that’s swelling... Silly...’ Vicky thought while trying not to laugh.

"Don’t worry about her—she’ll be fine tonight." Vicky stood, brushing off the tension, and moved toward the table. "Let’s eat before the food gets cold."

Everyone gathered around, but Nick’s eyes narrowed as he noticed a missing presence. "Where’s Katie? Isn’t she joining us? She has school today, right?" he asked Wendy.

"She usually wakes up around seven or eight," Wendy explained. "Her playschool starts at half past nine."

"I see..." Nick murmured, leaning back in his chair. "Guess I won’t get to see her today then."

"Aren’t you coming back later?" Wendy asked.

"No," Georgia answered for him. "He’s going to be busy today—and so am I. I might go home late, so please don’t wait for me for dinner."

Wendy’s shoulders slumped as she toyed with her fork. "It’ll just be me and Katie again then."

"I could come over and join you," Ella offered warmly. "If that’s not too much. I’m usually free at night anyway. I could practice reading with Katie."

"That would be wonderful, Ella. Thank you," Georgia said, her grateful smile making Ella beam in return.

After breakfast, everyone dispersed, each heading to their respective offices. The house grew quieter, the chatter fading into the distance.

But for Nick, there was no ordinary workday ahead—there was judgment waiting.

Oliver accompanied him, both men striding into the cold halls of the federal agency office.

Inside the hearing room, silence pressed down like a storm cloud.

Georgia’s face flickered in his mind—her lips swollen from his kisses, her body trembling beneath his only hours ago. That memory gave him strength, even as the chair beneath him felt like it could collapse at any moment.

Even though he was ready to move forward with the new Chapter of his life, there was still a bit of sadness that, after all these years, it was the end of his career as a merchant navy ship captain.

"Captain Nicholas Knight," the lead officer began, voice steady. "You stand accused of negligence at sea and misconduct. How do you plead?"

Nick inhaled deeply, the words clawing at his throat. His hands curled into fists against the table. He could fight it, deny it—but he had already decided. His voice came out raw, resolute.

"Guilty," he said.

The room buzzed with whispers, but Nick didn’t flinch. His heart pounded, not with fear, but with acceptance.

Oliver glanced at him sharply, but Nick didn’t meet his gaze. His mind was elsewhere—with Georgia, with the thought that even stripped of everything, he would still fight to keep her, to keep them.

The officer’s gavel struck the desk. The echo was final, reverberating like the end of an era.

But for Nick, it was only the beginning of his new life with the woman who made him feel alive again.

Nick and Oliver didn’t linger inside the federal agency. Once the last document was signed and the verdict sealed, the two men exchanged a hug before parting ways.

Oliver disappeared into the morning traffic, while Nick, shoulders squared and expression grim, steered his path toward the Knight Fleet Maritime head office—where another battle and his father awaited him.

Meanwhile, across the city, Georgia carried her own weight of responsibilities. She stopped by a bakery and ordered two trays of muffins and several cups of coffee. Her staff deserved more than her gratitude—they deserved celebration.

Pacific Manning Services, Inc. was far from what it used to be. Once a thriving company with nearly a hundred employees under her father’s steady leadership, the pandemic had carved it down to just twenty loyal full-timers.

The office they now occupied was modest, tucked away from the city center, but it was still standing. And standing meant surviving. Georgia vowed she would turn survival into growth. Their debts were finally cleared, and with her at the helm, she’d make sure her father’s legacy didn’t fade.

As she parked her car, one of the security guards, a familiar face, approached with a broad smile.

"Good morning, ma’am! It’s so good to finally have you back."

"Good morning, Josh." Georgia returned the smile warmly, her presence soft yet commanding. She gestured to the bags in her hands. "Can you help me with these? I bought them for everyone. Don’t forget to grab yours before heading back to post."

Josh’s grin widened as he took the trays, and Georgia stepped into the office. It was still early; only a handful of her people were scattered across their desks. Their sleepy eyes lifted the moment she entered, and Georgia felt a swell of determination rise inside her.

Placing the boxes on the nearest table, she raised her voice, letting it carry the confidence she wanted them to feel.

"Good morning, everyone! I brought muffins and coffee—come and get yours before starting the day."

The simple gesture drew smiles, laughter, and warmth into the small space. And as she watched her staff gather, Georgia’s heart tightened. They weren’t just employees—they were family. And she would fight tooth and nail to rebuild this company for them.

"Georgia! Thank God you’re here. Did you get my message?" Melanie, the HR Manager, rushed forward, her face tight with worry.

Georgia balanced the coffee tray in her arms, her brows pulling together. "I got the reports from you, Irene, and Frank. Don’t worry, I reviewed them already, and I have good news. Let’s head to my office and have our meeting there. Are they both in yet?"

Melanie shook her head, her voice strained. "No, not that one. I sent another message last night. I only found out last Friday, but I had to confirm it before telling you."

A sharp twist of unease coiled in Georgia’s chest. Her pulse quickened, dread creeping in. "Mel... what is it? You’re scaring me."

"Let’s talk in your office," Melanie urged, lowering her voice.

The moment they entered, Melanie set the muffins aside and moved straight to the computer, her fingers trembling slightly as she typed in her access codes. The screen lit up with numbers and transactions, and Georgia could already feel her stomach dropping before a word was spoken.

"Our people haven’t received their salaries," Melanie said flatly. "It was supposed to be released last Tuesday. Irene and Frank are both conveniently on sick leave, and when I couldn’t reach them, I assumed it was just a bank issue. But it isn’t. I waited three days, hoping it would sort itself out. It didn’t. And since you or David never removed my access... I checked myself."

She turned the monitor toward Georgia.

Georgia’s heart stopped. Her blood ran cold, her lips losing color as if life itself had been drained from her body.

Her voice cracked, raw with disbelief. "How... how can this happen?"