Chapter 122
The Smith Group.
Nora sat to the side with her tray, eating a few bites of fruit, but she didn't seem to have much appetite.
"You should eat more. You're so thin, you can't handle being pushed around. If you're going to be Mr. Smith's assistant, you need to be ready to be pushed around." David muttered quietly, complaining about Michael.
Nora made a sound of acknowledgment and ate a few more bites of fruit.
She seemed only interested in the cherries, strawberries, and sweet peaches on her plate.
In front of Walter was a boiled chicken breast, without a drop of oil.
He didn't bother with his knife and fork, using his fork to spear fruit from Nora's plate, a rather intimate gesture.
In reality, Walter was deliberately provoking Michael.
Everyone knew Michael was a germaphobe. Walter was challenging him.
Challenging Michael to do something he could never do.
"I heard Mr. Smith is a germaphobe. All these years, besides Aria, he hasn't touched a single woman?" Seeing Michael's face darken, Walter continued his provocation.
"Don't talk while eating. Noah's upbringing seems a bit lacking." Michael frowned.
Nora's hand holding the knife and fork froze for a moment. Michael hadn't denied his relationship with Aria.
So it was true.
"Aria has a nice personality, obedient and low-key." Walter said casually, his words still provocative.
"That's really too bad. Mr. Wood is marrying her sister Pearl. If you really feel that sorry about it, you could mention it to the Clark family." Michael put down his water glass and wiped his hands. "Take your time eating."
With that, he got up and left.
"I'm done too. I need to get to work." Nora put down her knife and fork and stood up abruptly.
Walter's face darkened. "It's not work time yet, is it?"
"Overtime." Nora tried to leave.
"Nora, how long are you going to keep this up with me?" Walter grabbed Nora's wrist.
"I'm not keeping anything up with you." Nora nervously tried to pull her wrist back.
David quickly finished eating, got up, and ran off.
"Today, the Clark family went to the Smith family to see Nolan. Michael will marry Aria sooner or later. If you stay at the Smith Group, the Clark family won't let you off easily." Walter was genuinely worried about her.
"It has nothing to do with Mr. Wood." Nora shook off Walter's hand, feeling irritated for some reason.
She thought she'd long ago lost her temper, but apparently not.
She just didn't dare lose her temper.
Because she had no one backing her up, and she didn't have the ability to support her own temper.
Walter was clearly displeased. He'd probably been too indulgent with Nora lately, making her lose sight of reality.
Nora was just that type of woman. He'd known it six years ago.
If Nora had any sense of when to advance and retreat, five years ago, she wouldn't have chosen prison over him.
Rubbing his temples in frustration, Walter sighed.
What could he do? He just happened to like Nora's personality.
If her pride was completely worn away, she wouldn't be herself anymore.
Walter wasn't in a hurry. He had plenty of time to wait for Nora to figure it out herself.
Besides staying by his side, she had no other way out.
"Mr. Wood, you've been showing up at the Smith Group quite frequently lately." James walked into the dining room, clearly looking for Nora.
"You have a problem with that?" Walter leaned back in his chair, his voice low.
Even if you do, keep it to yourself.
"Noah won't agree to you and Nora being together. Pearl is about to be released. Do you think the Clark family will accept your relationship with Nora?" James clenched his fingers, but right now, he still needed Walter.
"In the face of absolute profit, the Clark family has no right to say no." Walter stood up and walked to James's side. "Saying things like that is the biggest difference between you and Michael—because you've never reached Michael's level."
Walter was using praise to kill, deliberately stirring up conflict between James and Michael.
But he was right about one thing: in the face of absolute profit, the Clark family had no right to say no.
If the Clark family didn't agree to Walter and Nora's relationship, they'd just break off the engagement. Walter would love for the Clark family to break it off themselves.
Unfortunately, the Clark family wouldn't choose to break off the engagement just because Walter kept a woman on the side.
In this kind of business marriage, everyone understood the deal.
The Adams Villa.
Ava's face looked terrible. "What kind of tricks did this Nora use to hook Michael and make him protect her like this?"
"Michael won't be interested in Nora for long. She used dirty tricks to get her current job. How long will Michael keep her around?" Evelyn stood in the doorway, her voice choked up. "Aiden, that day I really did get dizzy and faint on my own. It wasn't Nora's fault, but after she got out of prison, her attitude toward us was clearly revenge."
Aiden was silent, saying nothing.
He knew, too, that Nora had come for revenge.
Revenge against the Adams family, revenge against James.
If not for revenge, why would she stay by Michael's side and keep stringing Walter along?
Had she really fallen this low? Selling her body to get Michael and Walter to help her?
"Does she really think Michael will marry her?" Ava sneered. "Forget the Smith family—who in Emerald City would dare marry her?"
"Michael won't marry her." From outside, Aria walked in, smiling sweetly. "I'm Michael's fiancée."
Evelyn glanced at Aria.
She had indeed heard that the Clark family had approached Nolan multiple times to discuss a marriage alliance between the two families.
Nolan was indeed planning to have Michael marry Aria.
The Clark family had it all figured out—eldest daughter Aria would marry Michael, younger daughter Pearl would marry Walter. The Clark family wanted to capture both business giants.
"What brings Ms. Clark here today?" Evelyn asked.
"I went to the Smith Group today. I was planning to see Michael, but I ran into James instead. He must have just come back from the airport. I thought since we'll all be family in the future, I'd come see you." Aria spoke politely.
She and Evelyn didn't really care for each other anyway.
The Adams family looked down on the Clark family for being too greedy, and the Clark family looked down on the Adams family for swapping their real and fake daughters and bringing back an ignorant invalid, becoming the laughingstock of Emerald City.
"James?" Evelyn froze, then quickly walked to Aria's side. "You saw James at the Smith Group?"
"Yes." Aria looked pure and innocent. "You don't know—today Nora caused trouble at the company. Michael is allergic to peanuts, and she actually gave him peanut candy, sending him to the hospital. It's infuriating."
Evelyn's breathing tightened as she grabbed Aria's arm. "Nora sent Michael to the hospital? How did the PR department and senior management handle it?"
If Nora got in trouble and James suddenly returned to the Smith Group, Evelyn didn't need to think hard to know there was a connection.
The Shadow City project was something James had always taken seriously. He'd clearly said he was meeting with Lyle today, but just for Nora, he dropped everything and came back?
"I heard she just had to write a self-criticism. She really got off easy." Aria said casually.
Evelyn's eyes reddened with anger as she walked outside.
"Evelyn!" Aiden got up and chased after her. "Where are you going?"
Evelyn stopped and called James.
At first, James didn't answer.
When she called a second time, James picked up.
"James, where are you?" Evelyn asked, suppressing her tone.
"I'm at the hotel." James lied. "There's something I need to handle here. What's up?"
"Nothing." Evelyn's breathing trembled.
James was lying to her because of Nora.
After Evelyn hung up, Aria stood in the doorway looking innocent. "Did I see wrong?"
"Evelyn!"
Evelyn willfully got in her car and drove straight toward the Smith Group.
She was always so reckless.
"What's going on?" Aria looked anxious. "What's wrong with Evelyn?"
Aiden was in a hurry to chase Evelyn and didn't explain.
Aria watched the siblings drive off one after another, a smile spreading across her face.
They say this Evelyn is nothing but vicious and brainless, and it's really true.
Now the Smith Group was going to be quite a show.