Chapter 58
On the way back, Nora fell asleep leaning against the window.
Walter signaled Royce to turn up the heat, switched off the music, and drove quietly and steadily.
"Mr. Wood, we found out that Ms. Adams secretly escaped to Silverlight City on her own. The Adams family and the Smith family don't seem willing to let her go just like that. I heard James wants to force her to marry the son of the Smith family's butler, who's mentally ill. She escaped after calling the police."
Royce's voice was a bit hoarse.
He didn't understand why all the evil in the world had to concentrate its attacks on this kind woman.
Walter's expression was grim, his eyes dark as he stared out the car window.
"Back then, Ms. Adams must have been blind to fall for someone like James. She really picked the wrong person." Royce sighed.
Six years ago, he already felt James wasn't good enough for Nora.
But back then, Nora only had eyes for James.
"Ms. Adams showing up at the club was an accident. One of the club's business managers named Savannah was Ms. Adams's cellmate in prison. Because the club was short-staffed for the chamber of commerce banquet, Savannah asked Ms. Adams to help out. She started as a drinking companion, but maybe Ms. Adams couldn't handle alcohol, and Savannah looked out for her, so she moved her to the front desk."
Walter frowned and glanced at Nora. If he hadn't recognized her at the club, she would have suffered even more.
"Ms. Adams is currently living with Savannah in an apartment provided by the club. The living conditions aren't great." Royce said quietly.
"Let's go home." Walter didn't plan to let Nora continue sharing a rental with others.
"To Number Nine Mansion or..." Royce wasn't quite sure.
Over the years, Walter had many women, most of whom went to Number Nine Mansion. Even Bronte, who had been with Walter the longest, always met him at Number Nine Mansion.
Walter had never brought any woman back to his own home.
"Back to Lakeside Villas."
Royce turned around in surprise to look at Walter, as if to confirm.
Walter said nothing more, so Royce drove straight there.
That was Walter's own residence, where no woman had ever been.
Looking at the sleeping Nora, Walter rubbed his temples. This time, he really wouldn't let her go easily.
Emerald City.
Jasper's auto repair shop.
Samuel sat in the yard, playing with a Rubik's cube. He was only five years old, but he solved it incredibly fast.
"Hey kid, where are the adults in your family?" A man driving a van stopped his vehicle and looked in from outside the iron gate.
Samuel looked up.
"Uncle Jasper went to work. No car repairs today."
Jasper had gone to work as a bodyguard for a wealthy family, working one day and resting the next.
Today Samuel was home alone.
The man looked around. "Kid, I've got candy here. Open the gate for me and I'll take you somewhere fun."
Samuel looked at the man. "You shouldn't take candy from strangers, and I won't go out with you. Are you a human trafficker?"
The man stared at Samuel in shock. "Who taught you that? I'm just being nice, offering you candy."
"Well, I have candy too. Would you dare eat it?" Samuel put down his Rubik's cube and asked.
The man laughed. This kid was smart enough. "Open the gate. I'm really not a trafficker, I just need to take you somewhere."
Seeing Samuel ignore him, the man got back in his van with a dark expression, planning to ram through the iron gate.
Someone had paid him to bring Samuel over. He was just doing a job for money.
Just as he was about to ram the gate, a black sedan pulled up by the roadside.
Seeing someone arrive, the man quickly drove away.
David got out of the car, finding that van suspicious.
Without thinking much about it, David walked to the gate carrying snacks. "Samuel."
Samuel ran over happily when he saw David. "David."
"Mr. Smith asked me to bring you food."
Samuel bit his lip and asked quietly, "Isn't Dad coming?"
"Mr. Smith is very busy. It's already good that he's thinking of you, Samuel." David smiled and crouched down, reaching through the gate to ruffle Samuel's hair. "I've already handled your school enrollment. Jasper will take you to school tomorrow when he has time. Study hard, and don't open the door for strangers."
Samuel nodded obediently.
Suddenly remembering something, Samuel ran quickly into the house and brought out a carefully folded piece of paper. "This is a gift for Dad."
Samuel was really trying hard to make Michael like him. He really wanted Michael to be his father.
David took the paper and sighed, not bothering to correct Samuel's way of addressing Michael. "Mr. Smith and I are going on a business trip to Silverlight City tomorrow. You need to behave at home."
"Will you bring Mom back with you?" Samuel missed Nora.
"Yes." David nodded.
He had already found out that Nora very likely went to Silverlight City. Michael going to Silverlight City early was also to look for Nora.
Recently, James and Aiden had been frantically searching for Nora too. Michael was worried they might harm Samuel.
Given James and Aiden's way of doing things, they might very well use Samuel to force Nora to come back.
"You have to keep your word." Samuel's eyes reddened.
David paused, then nodded. "Samuel, think about whether your mom has any friends in Silverlight City."
Samuel thought for a moment, then looked up at David. "Mom has a friend named Savannah. She got out of prison earlier than Mom and came to see me for her. I remember her phone number."
Samuel had a photographic memory and was especially sensitive to numbers.
David was amazed by Samuel's intelligence and had him write down the number.
After leaving the snacks, David got in the car and opened the drawing Samuel had made. He felt unexpectedly moved.
Samuel had drawn two adults holding hands with a child in the middle.
Dad was holding an umbrella, sheltering him and Mom from wind and rain.
From the drawing, you could see how desperately Samuel longed for a complete family.
Silverlight City, airport.
Michael arrived in Silverlight City early and didn't have anyone notify Walter.
"Did you find the address?" Michael asked in a low voice.
"Savannah's place is in the dormitory building at Nightfall Clubhouse, in Amber District."
David called a car and went straight to Savannah's place.
"It's already past midnight, why isn't this Savannah home yet?" David complained quietly.
"Savannah is a drinking companion at a nightclub."
Michael frowned. "Go to Nightfall Clubhouse!"
David hesitated. "Mr. Smith, if you go directly to Nightfall Clubhouse, that's Mountain Construction Group's club. Mr. Wood will definitely find out."
"Don't make me say it twice." Michael felt inexplicably irritated. Was Nora also working as a drinking companion?
David didn't dare say more and drove straight to the club.
In the early morning hours, the club's nightlife was just getting started.
"Excuse me, do you have a woman named Nora working here?" David went to the front desk and asked.
The night shift receptionist shook her head. "Don't know her."
"What about Savannah?" David asked again.
"You're asking about Savannah? She's drinking with clients right now, sorry but she can't come see you." The receptionist looked troubled. "Savannah is with some pretty important people tonight, so..."
Savannah was keeping Ronan and his group company.
"Room number." Michael hadn't waited in the car and walked straight into the club.
The receptionist was shocked by Michael's presence and looks, stammering, "Are you... Mr. Smith from Emerald City?"
"Where is Savannah?" David asked again.
"Room 3688."
Michael walked into the elevator with a dark expression.
The receptionist was terrified, thinking she must have seen wrong. This was Michael, someone even more powerful than Walter.
Trembling, she picked up her phone and quickly called the manager.