Chapter 143
By the seaside.
Michael walked ahead, with Nora following behind him.
With Michael there, how could she have any mood to look at the ocean?
Her heart beating somewhat frantically, Nora's mind was full of Michael.
She had thought he would take her straight back to Emerald City, but unexpectedly, he really brought her to see the sea.
"Mr. Smith, it's been handed over to the police. The cleaner said Luna's assistant told her to do it. The police have detained Luna's assistant, but she's taken all the responsibility. For now, they can't trace it back to Luna."
David called Michael.
"Leak this to the media, say that I drank that bottle of water and got hurt." Michael's voice was low, "Take down all the online news about the marriage alliance between the Smith family and the Clark family. I don't want to see any more news about the alliance. Understand?"
"Yes, Mr. Smith."
Michael went to the car to make his call.
Nora walked alone by the seaside.
There were flower lights along the beach, specially prepared for tourists.
Whenever someone walked past, the lights would turn on, and the flowers would bloom.
There would also be soft music.
Nora looked up in surprise at the automatically opening flower bud lights, standing in the light and gently spinning in circles.
She had once been the only student of Emerald City Ballet Company's principal ballerina and had once been the white swan representing the Emerald City Ballet Company in performances.
But during those years in prison, her pride had been broken.
Gently raising her hand, Nora made a ballet arm position.
Her body was terribly stiff. Nora lowered her hand in disappointment.
It seemed she could never return to what she once was.
Following the soft music, Nora tried to stand on pointe.
After several attempts, Nora gave up.
A swan with broken wings could never fly toward the blue sky again.
By the car.
Michael leaned against the car door, his gaze burning as he watched Nora.
He had actually seen Nora on stage before. Back then, he had only felt that James didn't deserve that blooming white rose.
But later, the rose was broken, shattered into pieces, trampled into the mud by people.
But what wrong had the rose done?
Was the rose's mistake that she bloomed too beautifully, or that she was too pure white?
"Mr. Smith, what time is the flight?" Afraid of missing the plane, Nora ran over to ask.
Michael came back to his senses and suddenly pulled Nora into his arms, reaching out to hold her.
Nora froze for a moment, not daring to move.
"Let's go home." Michael's voice was hoarse and tired.
"Okay." Nora nodded.
Following Michael into the car, Nora's heartbeat remained fast.
This marriage transaction between her and Michael, no matter how long it lasted, was her good fortune.
This Michael was truly impeccable.
"Mr. Smith, thank you." On the plane, Nora carefully glanced at Michael.
"For what?" Michael had Nora sit on the inside, asked the flight attendant for a blanket, and covered Nora with it.
"If it weren't for you, that bottle of water..." Nora was so scared her hair nearly stood on end.
Michael said nothing, his gaze deep.
"Sir, your coffee." The flight attendant walked over with a smile, bringing Michael his coffee.
Nora instinctively took the coffee cup and took a sip herself.
After confirming it was fine, she breathed a sigh of relief and passed it to Michael.
The professional smile on the flight attendant's face stiffened.
Michael watched Nora's actions, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, "This is..."
"I'm sorry." Only then did Nora realize that although she had tested the poison for Michael, she had also used Michael's cup.
He definitely wouldn't drink it now.
"Excuse me, could you pour another cup?" Nora asked the flight attendant awkwardly.
The flight attendant maintained her professional smile, "Of course."
"No need." Michael nodded politely to indicate it was fine.
The flight attendant left, and Michael held the coffee cup with a smile. "Is it poisoned?"
Nora shook her head, her ears turning red, "No poison."
Michael took a sip of coffee, "I never thought the coffee on planes tasted good before."
Nora's ears turned even redder. Actually, it didn't taste good at all, so bitter.
More bitter than medicine.
"Sleep for a bit, I'll watch over you," Michael spoke softly, telling Nora to sleep for a while.
Nora stared at Michael blankly, then quickly looked away, nervously gripping her fingers, turning her head, and closing her eyes to pretend to sleep.
This was bad; she had probably really been bewitched.
When she was in prison, Nora had read a book that said when deadly temptation was placed before you, no one could resist that attraction, but when you truly fell deep into it, death would quietly arrive.
Nora knew Michael was a very dangerous person, perfect and highly poisonous.
One wrong step, and there would be no redemption.
But her heart would still be moved.
Perhaps she really lacked self-awareness.
Aria had said, "Nora, don't make yourself a joke again."
Not knowing how long she had slept, Nora was gently awakened.
"Nora, we're home."
Slowly opening her eyes, Nora discovered that at some point she had been leaning on Michael's shoulder.
She sat up straight abruptly, nervously unbuckled her seatbelt, stood up, and followed Michael.
"You're off the plane?"
Just after getting off the plane, Nolan called Michael.
Clearly, David's efficiency was good. The news about Luna's assistant's criminal act and injury to Michael was already trending.
"Yes, just arrived," Michael said in a low voice.
"Come home," Nolan told Michael to come home first, his voice indifferent, showing neither joy nor anger.
If he were a normal father, at this time, he should be concerned about his son's health, whether he was injured, but Nolan only told Michael to come home.
Not only that, Michael could already guess that Nolan would next want him to take down the trending topic.
"I'm not feeling well, I'm going home to rest first. We can talk about anything tomorrow." Michael hung up on Nolan directly.
Tomorrow, Luna would be back.
To settle accounts, of course, everyone needed to be gathered together for it to be interesting.
Looking back at Nora, Michael smiled, "After work tomorrow, come back to the Smith Villa with me."
Nora's fingers went numb. She had psychological trauma about the Smith Villa.
"Don't be afraid, I'm here." Michael was silent for a moment, then spoke again, "I'm taking you back to watch a show."
Nora bit her lip and nodded.
She didn't know why, but she actually felt a bit sorry for Michael.
In that house, how had he managed to get to where he was today all alone?
From the airport back to Michael's place, Nora's heart felt sour the whole way.
Home.
Going back to their home together.
That marriage certificate had actually given Nora unrealistic fantasies.
She was actually starting to fantasize about marriage.
Nora still remembered she had once told Savannah that she would never get married in this lifetime.
She had long ago given up on men.
But now, what was she doing?
Fantasizing about dating Michael normally, or fantasizing about married life?
"Nora, I'm hungry." Just entering the door, Michael pulled Nora into his arms, resting his chin on her head, his voice tired and hoarse.
"I'll make you dinner right away. Is noodles okay?" Nora asked nervously.
Michael made a sound of agreement and proactively rolled up his sleeves to help in the kitchen, "I'll wash the vegetables for you."
Nora nodded, her ears turning red.
But soon she regretted it.
Michael wasn't washing vegetables; he was destroying them.
He seemed to think every single vegetable didn't suit his taste.
He threw them all in the trash.
Nora quickly rescued the remaining vegetables, on the verge of tears, "Mr. Smith, these vegetables are very expensive."
Michael smiled and stepped back, no longer making trouble.
While washing vegetables, Nora's phone rang.
"Nori! Are you still in Shadow City?" The call was from Jasper, his voice panicked, "Pearl came by, you must not let her find you!"
Nora's hand holding the phone stiffened. On the phone, she heard Samuel crying.
He was calling for mommy.
"Jasper, what happened to Samuel?" Nora's voice trembled.
"Samuel got hurt, he and I are at the hospital. Don't worry, and don't come back. Pearl's people are watching us; they just want to force you to come back!" He must have been discovered, as Jasper hung up the phone in a hurry.