Chapter 200 Come Find You Tonight
"The house has been transferred; it's under your name now. Whether you want it or not, it's yours. As for Grandma's jewelry, if you don't want it, just throw it away." As Steven spoke, he swept the jewelry box straight into the trash can.
The cardboard trash bin Nora made for herself was quite deep. Once the pieces of jewelry fell in, they immediately disappeared from sight.
"Steven! What are you doing!" Nora jumped up in shock. "This is jewelry Grandma bought, it cost a lot of money. How can you just throw it away like that?"
"I already said, if you don't want it, throw it away."
Nora bit her lip and glared at him hard, then bent down and dumped everything out of the trash can, finally recovering those pieces of jewelry.
She took the jewelry and walked into the office bathroom to wash it carefully with water.
Steven's gaze grew colder and colder, his emotions so suppressed they were about to explode.
He finally walked over, his tall figure appearing in the bathroom mirror.
Nora had just finished washing the jewelry. When she looked up, his cold stare startled her. "What are you coming in here for?"
Steven didn't say anything. He pulled her directly in front of him and kissed her forcefully.
He bit her, seemingly with anger.
Why couldn't she act like before, being sweet and giving him a way out? Why did she have to make their relationship so tense?
He hated her coldness, and he hated how decisive she looked.
Was it because of Philip? Did she really want to be with Philip, eager to cut ties with him?
He clearly hadn't done anything to wrong her, so why couldn't she just wait a little longer?
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got, and he kissed her harder.
Steven bit her neck until it hurt and burned. "Steven, what are you doing!"
She was just washing the jewelry peacefully, and he suddenly burst in, acting crazy?
She pushed him breathlessly, but couldn't push him away. Instead, he lifted her onto the sink counter, her legs dangling, trapped in front of the mirror, unable to move.
"Steven!"
He held her tightly in his arms. She hummed softly in discomfort, "Don't bite me, what do you want?"
No matter what she said, Steven just ignored her, kissing and biting her forcefully.
Nora suddenly remembered scenes from before.
Every night, Steven would kiss her, holding her and refusing to let go.
Her body actually liked Steven.
Gradually, a thin layer of sweat appeared on her nose. She looked like she'd been pulled out of water, kissed until she had no strength left.
"Steven..." Her voice was soft, a bit hoarse, pleading with him in a low voice, "Stop biting, it hurts."
Steven felt like the Nora he was familiar with had come back. She only showed this soft side when she was really being bullied.
Thinking that she might also be like this in front of Philip made him feel even worse.
He pulled her closer, bit her earlobe, his voice low, "Stop moving, be good."
He missed her too.
It had been a long time since he'd touched her, and he'd been thinking about it.
Nora's lips were red, breathing lightly.
She should have been angry at Steven acting like this, because he was clearly just venting out his emotions.
But Nora couldn't get angry. She still loved him very much. Thinking of that tin box that could never be found again, her heart suddenly ached, and tears flowed down.
She cried very sadly.
Steven thought Nora was unwilling. He let her go and looked down at her. "Am I forcing you again?"
Nora cried while wiping her tears, her voice full of sobs, sounding especially wronged.
Steven's eyes became complicated. Just as he was about to comfort her, noisy sounds suddenly came from outside the office. Jimmy rushed in aggressively with several people. "Nora! About notifying Olivia, as I asked, what did Olivia say? Are you going to give us that two hundred thousand dollars or not?"
The bathroom door was closed.
When Nora heard this, her crying stopped abruptly. Her eyes were red, like a helpless child.
Steven gently touched her hair and asked in a low voice, "Who are those people outside?"
"That's Willow's son. He says Olivia got his mom thrown in jail, there's no one to take care of the kids at home, and he wants us to pay two hundred thousand dollars for nanny fees, or else he'll come make trouble at the office every day."
Steven's face darkened. "How many days have they been coming to make trouble?"
"Three days."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Steven stared at her.
Nora pressed her lips together. "We're getting divorced anyway, why would I tell you? I have to learn to solve problems myself. You can't always help me."
Actually, she knew Jimmy was just trying to scare her and wouldn't really hurt her.
As long as she kept ignoring him, Jimmy would give up when he couldn't get the money.
"Who said I can't always protect you?" Steven was a bit unhappy.
Nora froze for a moment and looked up at him.
Steven glanced at her and turned to walk out. "Stay here, fix your clothes. I'll go handle this."
He closed the door behind him.
Nora sat on the sink counter, her face still very red.
She jumped down and straightened the underwear and dress that Steven had messed up.
Outside, when Jimmy and his group saw a tall man come out of the bathroom, they all felt a bit intimidated.
Steven's presence was too strong. They were all a little scared.
"Who are you?" Jimmy asked, trying to stay calm.
Steven glanced at him, his voice cold. "You're Willow's son?"
"Yeah, that's me. And who are you?"
"I'm Nora's husband." Steven's gaze was calm, like bottomless water.
Jimmy's heart tightened, but he still said stubbornly, "Well, perfect, your wife and her sister owe me two hundred thousand dollars. If you're really her husband, you pay it."
"Two hundred thousand dollars, right?" Steven said unhurriedly. "Fine, come downstairs with me. My checkbook is in the car. I'll go down and write you one."
Jimmy didn't know why, but he felt a bit nervous. However, thinking that there were five people on his side, he agreed. "Okay!"
"Steven!" Nora heard this from the bathroom and quickly opened the door.
"It's fine." Steven wouldn't let her come out. His tall figure blocked the doorway, blocking others' view.
Her eyes were still red, showing traces of having just cried. Steven didn't want others to see her like this.
He said in a low voice, "Stay here for now. Come out after I leave."
Nora shook her head and lowered her voice. "Don't give them money. I already called the police."
A flash of approval showed in Steven's eyes. He thought she was very calm.
He said quietly, "The police are too slow. Cancel the call. I'll handle this."
"You're not allowed to give them money." Nora grabbed his sleeve.
Steven looked at her and smiled. "Don't worry, I won't give them a penny."
Nora was momentarily dazed by his smile, watching as he left with Jimmy and the others.
Going downstairs, Steven sent a text message on his phone.
The group arrived at the underground parking garage.
As soon as they walked into the garage, Jimmy and his crew had bags thrown over their heads and got beaten up badly.
Jimmy got beaten the worst, his head hitting the ground, hurting so much he cried.
Steven leaned against the car hood, lit a cigarette, and smoked slowly.
"Beat him a few more times," Steven instructed James.
He always had bodyguards with him, just not obviously.
"You got it!" James flexed his fingers, walked over, and gave another round of punches and kicks.
Jimmy screamed in pain. "Who the hell are you!"
"Someone you can't afford to mess with!" James threw another punch.
Jimmy hurt so much that he was spitting acid. "Stop, stop, I'll never bother Nora again."
The others also shouted, "We're just from a debt collection company. Jimmy asked us to come. We never hurt your wife. He paid us to scare her!"
They could all tell that Steven wasn't an ordinary person, with bodyguards around him and such a strong presence.
James walked to Steven's side. "Mr. York, they say someone paid them to come make trouble."
"Ask Jimmy who's behind this." Steven flicked his cigarette ash, his expression calm.
James walked over, pulled off Jimmy's bag, grabbed his hair, and dragged him in front of Steven.
"Talk, who sent you?" James asked coldly.
Jimmy froze for a moment. Seeing several bodyguards around Steven, all clearly skilled, he panicked immediately.
He didn't dare hide anything anymore and confessed honestly, "It was Terry!"
Steven narrowed his eyes. "Why did he do this?"
"Because Olivia exposed him for swiping the company card and wanted him to pay back over three hundred thousand dollars, or she could sue him. Terry was upset about it, so he contacted me and told me to go ask Olivia for money." Jimmy said this and glanced at Steven.
"What else?" Steven blew out a smoke ring, his eyes cold.
Jimmy was so scared he knelt on the ground, his voice trembling. "The first time I went, Nora wouldn't give me money. I was going to give up, but then Terry said he could pay to help me find some people from debt collection companies to scare her. I thought I would try it if I could get the money. I really didn't know Nora had someone like you behind her. If I had known earlier, I definitely wouldn't have dared come!"
Jimmy was very regretful now.
He actually just sold cars. He looked fierce but didn't really dare to get physical. He just wanted to scare Nora into giving him money.
Steven looked at him, his tone calm but frightening. "I'll give you two choices now. First, go upstairs right now and beat up Terry. Come up with your own reason. Second, if you dare tell anyone about today, I'll make your whole family disappear from South City."
Jimmy trembled all over, his eyes full of fear.
One was a way to live, one was a way to die.
No wonder Terry wanted him to go trouble Nora—he wanted to use him as a scapegoat!
With this man backing up Olivia and Nora, who would dare bully them?
"I choose the first one!" Jimmy immediately stated his position, his voice trembling. "I'll go and find Terry right now and beat him up good."
Steven didn't say anything more and turned to get into his Maserati.
Jimmy saw the car logo, and the fear in his eyes deepened.
That car must cost at least one or two hundred thousand dollars, right?
How could such a person be ordinary?
It was already past two in the afternoon, and Steven still had to go back to the office.
He called Nora.
Nora was pacing anxiously upstairs. When she saw his call, she quickly answered. "Steven, are you okay?"
"I'm fine. The matter's been handled. They won't come bother you anymore." Steven sat in the car, his tone gentle, putting her at ease.
"You didn't give them money, did you?"
"No, I handed them over to the police." Steven casually made up a reason. "I'm heading back to the office now."
After hearing, he was going back to the office, Nora felt a bit disappointed. "You haven't finished your grilled fish yet."
"I'll come eat it tonight." Steven's voice was low, with a touch of softness.
Nora was stunned. "What? You're coming over again tonight?"
"Yes." Steven agreed, though actually he just wanted an excuse to see her again.
"Okay then, I'll put away what's left." Nora covered the grilled fish.