Chapter 226

Chapter 226

"Mr. Smith." Nora got in the car, feeling a bit nervous.

Was Michael mad at her?

"Weren't you fired?" Michael reminded Nora.

Nora hummed in acknowledgment, then realized what he meant.

"Then what should I call you?" Michael asked with a gloomy expression.

"I can't always call you that." Nora felt that title was a bit embarrassing.

"Burns your tongue?" Michael was quite unhappy, "Or am I not worthy?"

"No, that's not it." Nora quickly waved her hands, looking down at her hands nervously, "Are you mad at me?"

Michael sighed and pulled Nora over for a punishing kiss, "Why would I be mad?"

Nora's ears turned red as she looked around nervously. They were at the school gate, but thankfully there weren't many people around.

"Did Daryl come to see you?" Nora asked quietly.

"You've gotten bold, haven't you? Contacting Daryl behind my back?" Michael held Nora's hand with one hand while driving with the other.

"It's just business." Nora stole a glance at Michael and explained, "The Fields family wants to establish themselves in Emerald City, and working with the Smith Group would solve everything once and for all."

"So you sold me out?" Michael said through gritted teeth, "Do you know what that's called? Human trafficking."

Nora looked at Michael in shock. How was what she did human trafficking?

"Mrs. Fields' biological daughter still hasn't been found. They gave her a year's time. I thought a year would be enough for you." Nora explained again.

"Is Daryl an idiot?" Michael didn't believe Daryl would let Nora off so easily, "What else did you promise him?"

"Just to work as his assistant and help him secure the Westville Village project." Nora lowered her head, her voice getting smaller and smaller.

Michael slammed on the brakes and pulled over to the side of the road.

The Westville Village project was being handled by the Adams family, with Aiden as the main person in charge.

Was Nora trying to compete with Aiden for the project?

Frowning, Michael looked at Nora, "Are you sure?"

"It's fair competition. I'm not trying to hurt the Adams family. That's not what I'm thinking. I..." Nora panicked, her eyes reddening. Whenever she got anxious, she couldn't give a complete explanation.

She was afraid Michael would misunderstand and think she was vicious.

Afraid Michael would be like Daryl and think she was a poisonous snake.

"Unfair competition would be fine too." Michael's chest ached as he squeezed Nora's hand reassuringly, "Nora, you don't owe anyone anything. You're the victim. The Adams family raised you for twenty-one years, but that's not an excuse for them to hurt you."

Nora's breathing quickened as she tried desperately to calm herself.

"I'm just worried you'll get hurt when you're around Aiden." Michael was afraid Aiden would trigger Nora.

Those past memories were torture for Nora every single moment.

Michael had Marcus investigate Nora's experiences over the years in detail. The file was sitting there, but he didn't dare look at it.

He was afraid he'd lose control of his emotions, let alone Nora herself.

"I won't." Nora shook her head.

Biting her lip, Nora looked at Michael with determination, "I want to help you."

She just wanted to be a woman of value to Michael.

Michael's heart skipped a beat, a suffocating feeling surrounding him.

He often hated himself for not falling in love with Nora sooner.

He even wished he could go back six years, to take her away when Nora's identity as the fake heiress was exposed, and give her a home.

Every time he thought about Nora's experiences over the years, Michael felt suffocated and powerless.

He couldn't change the past, he could only work hard to create a secure future for Nora.

"Nora, do whatever you want. I'll always be behind you." Michael had wanted to say you don't need to do anything, just stay with me.

But that would be too selfish.

Rather than restricting and restraining Nora's growth, it was better to give her enough security and let her flourish freely.

"Whatever you want to do, go ahead boldly. Win or lose, you still have me behind you."

Nora stared at Michael blankly for a long time.

So this was what it felt like to have someone supporting you.

She took the initiative to kiss Michael, then scared herself. What was she doing?

Her mind was racing. Nora wanted to run.

Michael was stunned for a moment too, but reacted faster than Nora. He pressed his hand on Nora's head and smiled, "You seduce me and then want to run?"

"I didn't." Nora lowered her head, blushing, not daring to look at Michael.

"Let's go." Michael smiled and drove Nora home, "We'll settle this at home. You need to explain to me why you want to work as Daryl's assistant. That's the one thing I don't agree with."

Nora looked at Michael fearfully, "That won't work. I already promised Mr. Fields."

"I don't agree." Michael's face darkened. Daryl wasn't a good person, no better than Walter.

"Why?" Nora sniffled.

"Because I'm your husband." Michael glared at Nora.

Nora felt warm inside and secretly looked away at the car window.

Her face felt so hot.

She thought her heart had gone numb long ago, but it could still beat.

"You just said I could do whatever I wanted." Nora muttered quietly.

"Nora, you've gotten bold, haven't you?" Michael ground his back teeth. Was Nora starting to talk back to him?

"You're the one who said it." Nora gathered her courage, "Besides, I'm just going to work. I won't have any personal contact with Daryl. I'll leave as soon as work is over."

Nora held up three fingers in a pledge.

Seeing Michael grunt twice, Nora felt uncertain.

She decided to act cute.

"Honey." Why did it sound so awkward?

"The Fields family wants to establish themselves in the Emerald City market, so there's bound to be some competition. Know your enemy and know yourself, and you'll never lose. I can be your spy." Nora looked at Michael ingratiatingly.

Michael was amused by Nora.

"I'm the CEO of the Smith Group. Do I need my CEO's wife to personally be a spy?"

Rubbing Nora's head, Michael just wanted to hold her close and spoil her.

"Getting to know the enemy better is still good." Nora said huffily. This man was so stubborn.

If she told Daryl now that she wouldn't work as his assistant, knowing Daryl's temperament, he'd probably be furious.

Michael didn't say anything.

They were both men—how could he not know what Daryl was thinking? He was saying bad things about Nora while his eyes kept drifting to her. He was even worse than Walter.

At least Walter dared to admit he liked Nora.

"Michael." Nora grabbed Michael's arm with both hands and shook it, imitating Emma's way of acting cute.

Michael parked the car and took a sharp breath.

Was that supposed to be cute? She'd pinched his arm until it turned red.

Getting out of the car, Michael opened the passenger door. Without saying a word, he hoisted Nora over his shoulder and headed inside.

Nora's head was spinning from being lifted. She nervously clutched Michael's clothes, "What are you doing?"

"You made me angry. I'm going to punish you." Michael smacked Nora's bottom, "Begging won't help. You've used up your begging chances for today."

"Can I work as Daryl's assistant then?"

Michael took a deep breath and said through gritted teeth, "It's not impossible. Please me, and I'll think about it."