Chapter 39
"I don't think you're dirty. Don't listen to her nonsense." Gerald pulled out the nuts and placed them in Nora's hand.
Nora didn't dodge. She took the nuts and ate one.
Evelyn had no idea that the first time she mentioned marrying Nora off to Gerald, Nora had already secretly asked the servants about him.
Gerald had bipolar disorder and paranoid delusions, but he didn't have episodes all the time—only when triggered.
When he wasn't having an episode, he was no different from a normal person.
Nora had studied psychology in prison and read many books on the subject. She understood very well how people like him thought. They hated being looked down upon, their self-esteem was sensitive and fragile, but their protective instinct was strong. Only by pretending to be an even weaker victim could she trigger that protective instinct within him.
"Beatrice Grace said you should be my wife, said I could do that kind of thing to you." Gerald sat down next to Nora. Seeing she didn't resist, he thought she was okay with it.
"Do you know I'm sick?" Nora looked at Gerald. "I don't want to hurt you. I think they're trying to hurt you."
Gerald looked at Nora, shocked. "You're sick?"
"Otherwise, do you think they're really that kind? Are they usually good to you?" Nora was taking a gamble.
"Good? What good." Gerald cursed. "These people, every single one of them looks down on others. My dad has worked for the Smith family for so many years, and which one of them respects us father and son?"
"The nanny usually looks down on you, but suddenly she's finding you a wife. Don't you think that's strange?" Nora asked quietly.
"What's wrong with you?" Gerald was already getting angry. He knew that Beatrice wasn't a good person.
"AIDS. It's contagious. Once you catch it, there's no cure, and you'll die." Nora showed Gerald the bruises covering her body. "Look, I don't have much time left."
Gerald looked at the dark purple bruises on Nora's skin in shock and instinctively moved away from her.
"I don't know why the nanny would want to hurt you either." Nora sighed and spoke again.
"That day I heard them talking secretly. They said that years ago you went crazy and hurt a young maid at the Smith family, bringing shame to them. Your dad has worked for the Smith family for many years with high pay and they can't fire him. They want to take your dad's position, so they need to provoke you into making another mistake. If you hurt me and I happen to die, this will blow up. You and your dad will both be kicked out of the Smith family. It's killing two birds with one stone."
Gerald's anger became uncontrollable. He furiously got up, grabbed a nearby stool, and smashed it against the warehouse door.
Nora trembled in fear and curled up in the corner.
She was actually very scared. If Gerald lost control, she would be caught in it too.
"Bastards, that bitch, I knew this Beatrice wasn't a good person. She's been unhappy with my dad for a long time. I've heard her curse him several times!" Gerald cursed while trying to force the door open.
Nora hugged herself tightly, trying her best not to get hurt.
But once Gerald's manic episode started, it was completely out of control.
He went crazy smashing things in the warehouse, cursing wildly.
Outside.
The nanny and several servants pretended not to hear, chatting and eating fruit with smiles, acting like they wouldn't help unless someone died.
"Won't someone die?" a servant worried.
"What's there to be afraid of? If someone dies, it's her own bad luck for provoking a psycho. Psychos don't go to jail for killing people." Nanny Beatrice said coolly, looking like it would be perfect if she died.
Several servants looked fearfully toward the warehouse. "Can Nora's small frame handle this? It really looks like someone's going to die."
Upstairs.
James stood by the window. He could hear the noise from the backyard warehouse even from upstairs.
Gripping his hands in frustration, James wanted to go down.
He only wanted Nora to give in and admit she was wrong. He hadn't meant for her to die.
"Mr. Smith! Ms. Evelyn Thomas is coughing up blood!"
Just then, a servant from Evelyn's room ran out, voice urgent.
James rushed to Evelyn's room. "Evelyn."
"James, I'm so scared." Evelyn still had blood at the corner of her mouth. "Take me to the hospital."
James paused for a moment, then carried Evelyn downstairs. He didn't have time to worry about whether Nora lived or died.
"Have the butler go in and check. Don't let anyone die!" Before getting in the car, James still instructed the nanny.
But the nanny instinctively glanced at Evelyn.
Evelyn's face was cold, and she said nothing.
The nanny understood and didn't immediately have someone open the warehouse door.
Evelyn wanted Nora dead.
As long as Nora was alive, she was afraid—afraid that one day Nora would take back everything that belonged to her.
So Nora had to die.
In the warehouse.
"Calm down, Gerald, calm down."
Seeing Gerald had completely lost control and still no one came to open the warehouse door, Nora cowered in the corner, crying and begging him to calm down.
Gerald couldn't hear anything anymore. He flung a stool that flew toward Nora.
Nora curled up and hugged herself. The stool hit her ear, leaving a gash. Blood immediately poured out.
Her ear was ringing badly. Nora's left ear had temporarily gone deaf—she couldn't hear anything.
Gerald was still going crazy, constantly smashing things.
Nora leaned in the corner, her heartbeat getting slower and slower.
Would she die here?