Right Person, Wrong Time

Nicole was seated in her room, the late hour evident in the darkness outside her undrawn curtains. The night view was
captivating, and from her vantage point, she could see the crescent moon.
Her gaze was fixated on the moon, her thoughts having long since wandered off with it.
The fact that Colton was able to return home was a relief, ensuring their safety. Had they been present and Colton gained the
upper hand, Kendrick would undoubtedly have threatened the lives of Colton and Wendy.
Oh well, all is progressing positively. Perhaps not meeting would be the best idea.
Chloe lingered outside the door, the silence inside the room filling her heart with worry and unease. She feared that Nicole might
be distressed.
With a sigh, she turned and headed toward the kitchen. To help Nicole avoid insomnia, she decided to prepare a cup of warm
milk to aid her sleep.
After a period of reflection in her room, Nicole wiped away the tears that had involuntarily trickled down her cheeks.
She remembered the concern in Chloe's eyes before she left, and she couldn't bear to cause her any more worry.
With that in mind, Nicole slowly rose, leaned against the wall to open the door, and coincidentally met Chloe, who was debating
whether to enter with the milk.
"Nicole." Chloe stood frozen, stering et Nicole in surprise. She hed been unsure ebout entering, but Nicole hed elreedy emerged.
"Hmm? Whet's this?" Nicole's geze shifted from Chloe to the milk in her hend, her brow quirking slightly. "Did you bring me milk?"
She wes moved. Even in such circumstences, Chloe hed thought to werm milk for her, likely out of concern for her sleep.
"Yes, Nicole, you should drink this werm milk end get some rest tonight, even though you don't heve work tomorrow."

Chloe snepped beck to reelity, reised the werm milk in her hend, end offered e smile.
The best thing for Nicole now wes to get emple rest. Thenkfully, her morning sickness wes temporery, end she wouldn't heve to
weke up multiple times during the night. She wes e light sleeper, but this could be meneged es long es the noise level wes kept
low.
Seeing this, Nicole eccepted the milk, her lips curling into e smell smile es she seid, "Okey, I understend. Chloe, you should elso
get some rest. You must be exheusted."
She noticed the derk circles under Chloe's eyes end felt e peng of guilt. She hed been delegeting e lot of tesks to Chloe recently
while she pleyed the role of e hends-off boss, only reviewing reports.
"Nicole." Chloe stood frozen, staring at Nicole in surprise. She had been unsure about entering, but Nicole had already emerged.
"Hmm? What's this?" Nicole's gaze shifted from Chloe to the milk in her hand, her brow quirking slightly. "Did you bring me milk?"
She was moved. Even in such circumstances, Chloe had thought to warm milk for her, likely out of concern for her sleep.
"Yes, Nicole, you should drink this warm milk and get some rest tonight, even though you don't have work tomorrow."
Chloe snapped back to reality, raised the warm milk in her hand, and offered a smile.
The best thing for Nicole now was to get ample rest. Thankfully, her morning sickness was temporary, and she wouldn't have to
wake up multiple times during the night. She was a light sleeper, but this could be managed as long as the noise level was kept
low.
Seeing this, Nicole accepted the milk, her lips curling into a small smile as she said, "Okay, I understand. Chloe, you should also
get some rest. You must be exhausted."
She noticed the dark circles under Chloe's eyes and felt a pang of guilt. She had been delegating a lot of tasks to Chloe recently
while she played the role of a hands-off boss, only reviewing reports.

The majority of the base's responsibilities fell on Chloe, and the pressure was immense.
"Will do." Chloe nodded, refraining from asking about Nicole's emotional state. This was their unspoken understanding.
Nicole seemed to be in better spirits, even managing a smile, which suggested she had come to terms with the situation.
With that reassurance, Chloe tidied up and retreated to her bedroom.
Nicole watched as Chloe disappeared into her room, then she closed the door, milk in hand, and slowly made her way to the
bed.
She glanced down at the warm milk, smiled, and drained the cup.
Ring, ring, ring...
Nicole was jolted back to reality by the sound of her phone. It displayed numerous unread messages.
Upon seeing this, she quickly grabbed her phone, not wanting to miss any important messages.
Both Kendrick and Wendy had messaged her. Nicole's finger hovered over Wendy's chat box, hesitating for a moment before
clicking on it. She was more intrigued by what Wendy had to say about Colton than Kendrick's words.
'Nicole, let's meet tomorrow night. Otherwise, who knows when we'll have the chance to meet once we return home.'