CHAPTER 91: TOO SHY TO ADMIT

When their food arrived, Nick leaned forward, elbows braced, his eyes fixed on Georgia in that steady way of his, like he was about to reveal something important.

"Georgia, you must be wondering why I brought Ella and Katie here," he began, his tone casual, as he put butter on his bread.

Georgia tilted her head, studying him. She took a slow sip of water before replying. "Actually, yes. I was going to ask after breakfast, but since you’ve brought it up... I’d like to know. And don’t get me wrong, I’m glad they’re here."

Nick’s gaze didn’t waver. "We’re in the southernmost part of the country, and we can’t leave until the police finish their interviews. Oliver says it could take three days... maybe a week. And while we’re here, we’re still trying to push the Davises into taking our offer." He paused, lowering his voice.

"I know you’ve been worried about your niece. So I figured, why not bring her here? It’s safer that way. We asked Ella for her help in locating Katie, and she wanted to come. I said yes."

The sincerity in his voice made her chest tighten.

"She didn’t trust me before," Vicky teased lightly, glancing at Ella with a playful smirk.

Ella flushed, caught off guard. "I just... couldn’t hand Katie over like that without seeing for myself. And—" she glanced at Georgia, a little shyly—"I wanted to see you, too. Sorry if I came on too strong."

Vicky chuckled, shaking her head. "That’s fine. I’d have done the same in your shoes."

"We need to go to the police station later. They have more questions for the documentation... and they’ll need your statement about Nancy."

Georgia’s fingers stilled around the coffee cup. Before she could answer, Oliver spoke from his seat beside Ella and Vicky, his tone practical but edged with warning. "Raymond’s lawyer and father will be there later, which works in our favor. We could present our offer right then and there. If they settle right away, then the police will no longer keep us here since we will drop the charges. We can all go home."

He leaned forward, clasping his hands. "But Georgia... I won’t sugarcoat this. Your case against Nancy will be hard. There’s no witness, no proof. Even Raymond says he can’t remember; he was too drunk that night."

Nick’s jaw tightened, but he let Oliver continue.

"The only thing people on board can confirm is that everyone, including Raymond and you, was drunk; it was a party anyway. The police might not take your word. Nancy’s lawyers will twist it, say you were hallucinating... or dreaming the whole scene."

Georgia’s breath hitched, a sharp exhale of frustration. "I know," she murmured. "I’ve thought of that too. If that’s the case, then I guess I just have to let it go and be careful about Nancy."

Nick’s fingers tightened briefly around Georgia’s hand, almost possessive. His eyes, dark and unwavering, locked onto hers. "No," he said, his voice low, almost dangerous. "I’m not letting her walk away from this. I’ll find a way to make her pay."

Georgia searched his face, seeing the steel in his gaze, and exhaled softly. "Alright. It’s your call. But, Nick... don’t let it consume you. If we can’t make her pay, karma will. One way or another, her sins will catch up to her."

For a beat, the air between them tensed before he finally gave a single, slow nod. "Alright. I’ll do that."

The tension broke when Liam cleared his throat. "If Raymond accepts your offer, we can go home right after, right? Since there are a lot of us, maybe we should take the private jet instead of booking a flight. It’s cheaper and more comfortable. I can arrange it."

Nick didn’t look away from Georgia until the last second, then turned casually toward Liam. "Yes, do that. But we’re not leaving right away if Raymond accepts. There’s an ocean park here, isn’t there? We’ll take Katie there first, before going home." He said it with deceptive nonchalance, tearing a piece of bread and taking a bite.

Georgia froze mid-chew, her mind momentarily blank. Around the table, eyes shifted toward Nick.

Liam’s brow furrowed. ’What the hell? Nick hates theme parks. He’d rather be in a bar surrounded by women than anywhere near a park.’

Oliver smirked to himself, watching the subtle flicker in Nick’s gaze. ’This isn’t just guilt over her brother or some attempt at compensation. No... I know exactly what this is.’

Across from them, Vicky caught on instantly, her lips curving with quiet delight. ’Oh, he’s trying to win her over. This is going to be fun.’

Ella tilted her head, studying the two of them. ’Is he courting her? It looks like it... and he’s not even trying to hide it. But still too shy to admit it!’

"Ocean Park?" Georgia’s brows arched in disbelief. "Why would we go there? We should all go home and rest."

Nick leaned back in his chair, his expression infuriatingly calm, though there was a glint in his eyes that told her he’d already made up his mind. "Katie told me last night, while you were passed out from exhaustion, that she’s never been there. So, I’m taking her." His voice dipped, smooth and certain, before he angled a conspiratorial wink at the little girl. "Right, Katie? You’re excited to see all the marine animals?"

Katie straightened in her seat, saluting like a sailor. "Aye aye, Captain!" she chirped, sending a ripple of laughter around the table.

Nick’s gaze slid back to Georgia, as though testing her. "So... will you be joining us? Or are you still too tired and planning to hide in the hotel?" His teasing smile held a quiet challenge, the kind that made her pulse pick up despite herself.

Georgia’s eyes narrowed slightly, though a spark of heat lingered behind them. ’You’re the reason I was tired in the first place,’ she thought, lips twitching in restrained amusement.

"If Katie’s going, of course I’m going too," she said finally.

Katie let out a delighted squeal, throwing her arms around Georgia. "Thank you, Aunt Georgia! I’m sure you’ll love it there!"

Georgia chuckled, realizing Katie was reassuring her instead of the other way around. But Nick... he was still watching her, the corner of his mouth curving in quiet satisfaction. This was exactly the answer he wanted.

’I need to make her like me, the real me, and not of what I could offer to her,’ Nick thought deeply.