# Chapter 60 She's Coming Back to the: The Ghost of the Past Returns
The afternoon had taken on a gray, melancholy hue as Nicole finished her conversation and hurried back to the private room. She needed to call Ian and leave—this place suddenly felt suffocating, as if the walls themselves were closing in on her.
But as she reached for her belongings, a jolt of irritation struck her. She had left her bag behind.
"I'll get it. You can wait in the car," Ian said firmly, already turning on his heel before she could protest.
Nicole hesitated for only a moment before following him anyway. Something in her gut told her to stay close, but as she rounded the corner, she froze.
Eric and Keith were just leaving.
Her heart seized. Instinctively, she stepped back, positioning herself on the opposite side of the elegant fountain at the hotel entrance. The cascading water created a thin veil between her and the two men, but their voices carried through the air like poisoned darts.
"I heard that Wendy's coming back soon?" Keith's voice was casual, almost cheerful.
Eric responded with a low, noncommittal "mm."
Keith chuckled. "I haven't seen her in so long. I kind of miss her. Although she was at fault, your punishment was a little too heavy. She's one of us, so you should just forgive her..."
The two men continued walking, their conversation fading as they climbed into a sleek car and disappeared into the gloomy afternoon.
Nicole stood frozen behind the fountain, the water droplets catching the dim light like tears. Her chest constricted, each breath feeling like shards of glass scraping against her lungs.
*Wendy Quade is one of them.*
The realization hit her like a physical blow.
*But no matter how hard I try, I'm only an outsider to Eric Ferguson.*
That name—Wendy Quade—had been a curse haunting her for three agonizing years. Nicole had convinced herself she was finally free, that the ghost had been exorcised when Wendy was sent abroad after that fateful party. She had chosen not to pursue it further, content to let the woman disappear from her life entirely.
But now?
*Getting Wendy Quade to leave the country is a punishment to them? Her return is just a matter of a word of forgiveness from Eric Ferguson?*
A bitter, hollow laugh threatened to escape her throat. The irony was almost too cruel to bear.
*What about the three years of her sucking my blood dry? I might be able to forgive others, but not her!*
Nicole's eyes hardened, the pain transmuting into something colder, sharper.
*So she's coming back? I'll welcome her with a big gift then.*
"Nicole?"
Ian's voice broke through her dark reverie. He stood before her, her purse in hand, his brow furrowed with concern as he took in her pale, stricken expression.
"What's wrong? Are you not feeling well?"
Nicole blinked, forcing the shadows back into the corners of her heart. A practiced smile curved her lips. "No, I'm going back. My driver is here."
"I'll send you back." Ian didn't give her a chance to refuse, gently guiding her into the car and settling beside her.
She nodded, grateful for the company but too drained to speak. Ian glanced at her several times, his lips parting as if to say something, but he held back, respecting her silence.
When they arrived at her apartment building, Nicole asked the driver to take Ian home and retreated upstairs, the weight of the afternoon pressing down on her shoulders.
She had barely sunk into the couch when the doorbell rang.
Opening the door, she was greeted by a magnificent bouquet of red roses, their velvety petals catching the light. Behind them, Ian's charming face appeared, radiating warmth.
"Lan... I'm really tired today." Her dismissal was clear, almost desperate.
But Ian just raised an eyebrow, that playful smile still dancing on his lips. "I know. This bouquet isn't for my future girlfriend. It's for our Lil N who's upset today."
Nicole paused, meeting his gaze. For a moment, the rambunctious mask slipped, and she saw something deeper, something earnest in his eyes.
"Since I'm already here, you're not gonna invite me in?"
She trusted Ian. She always had. Reluctantly, she stepped aside.
Ian walked in, his voice turning serious. "Nicole, even if you have one less Eric Ferguson by your side, you still have many people around you. Don't be upset because of him. He's not worthy of your attention."
*Yeah, to others, Eric is not worthy of me. But to Eric, I'm not worthy of him.*
Nicole poured him a glass of water and slumped back onto the sofa, her defenses crumbling. "You saw through it? I'm so useless, huh?"
The news of Wendy's return had stripped away her carefully constructed insouciance, revealing the raw, bleeding wound beneath.
"Yeah, a little." Ian smiled, his eyes impossibly alluring.
"Get lost!" Nicole snorted, but a genuine lightness crept into her chest for the first time that day.
Ian laughed softly. Then, without warning, he stood, crossed the distance between them, and pulled her into his arms. Nicole tensed, ready to struggle, but he released her just as quickly.
With a serious smile in his eyes, Ian leaned down, his face inches from hers. "He has no right to make you mad anymore. Lil N, you'll forever be my queen."
The sudden proximity stunned her. His faint agarwood scent filled her senses, and her heart lurched violently against her ribs.
For a fleeting moment, the shadows of the past receded, and she allowed herself to breathe.
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## Reader's Impressions & Star Rating
This chapter is a masterclass in emotional storytelling. The raw, visceral pain Nicole experiences upon hearing Wendy's name is palpable—you can *feel* her chest tighten, her breath catch. The contrast between Eric and Keith's casual conversation about Wendy's return and Nicole's silent agony behind the fountain is brilliantly devastating. It's a stark reminder that while the world moves on, some wounds remain fresh and bleeding.
The moment where Nicole realizes she's been an outsider all along, while Wendy is "one of them," is particularly gut-wrenching. You want to reach through the pages and pull her into a hug.
And then there's Ian—the absolute hero of this chapter. His tenderness, his unwavering support, and that bold, heart-fluttering move at the end? *Chef's kiss.* The agarwood scent, the "you'll forever be my queen" line—this man knows exactly how to heal a wounded heart.
But the foreshadowing is deliciously ominous. Nicole's promise to "welcome Wendy with a big gift" sends chills down the spine. The quiet, vengeful Nicole is far more dangerous than the weeping one.
**Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 Stars** — A perfectly crafted chapter that balances heartbreak, tension, and a glimmer of hope. The emotional depth is staggering.
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## Next Chapter Prediction
Nicole's cold promise of a "big gift" for Wendy's return is not an empty threat. Expect her to begin laying meticulous groundwork for revenge—perhaps reaching out to old allies, digging up secrets from Wendy's past, or strategically positioning herself to expose the truth that sent Wendy abroad in the first place. Meanwhile, Ian's bold confession of loyalty will either complicate their relationship or strengthen their bond. But the real question is: when Eric Ferguson hears that Nicole is preparing for war, will he finally realize what—and who—he's about to lose? The storm is coming, and no one will remain untouched.