Chapter 42
Nora looked up at Michael, taking a long time before speaking. "Mr. Smith, there's no point."
If she mentioned Evelyn, if she dragged Evelyn into this, it would only bring ruthless harm from James and the Adams family.
She just wanted to protect herself.
She wasn't like Michael, born into privilege and power.
Michael frowned. "If you don't know how to fight back when people bully you, then any harm you suffer is your own fault."
Michael's voice was cold, making Nora a bit scared.
Michael wasn't a good person in the traditional sense, but he had saved her many times. She was grateful to Michael, but she also couldn't expect him to understand her.
"Mr. Smith, let's make a bet." Nora's voice was hoarse, but her eyes were intense.
Michael looked at Nora meaningfully. "Bet on what?"
"Even if I tell them, Evelyn won't be affected at all." Nora let out a bitter laugh.
But if she did that, James and Aiden wouldn't let her go.
Nora could already imagine the consequences.
No one could understand her fear of those consequences.
Where Michael was no different from others was that he would only blame her for being cowardly and not fighting back, without knowing why she didn't fight back.
Michael frowned. "I can help you."
"You have no reason to offend your own family and the Adams family for me." Nora shook her head. For Michael, it was just a bet.
She didn't want Michael to do this either.
He was powerful, but she was insignificant.
Michael looked at Nora quietly, examining her seriously for the first time.
She seemed to understand life too clearly.
She knew her place very well. She was a smart woman.
The police came and took statements.
Nora followed Michael's suggestion and mentioned Evelyn too.
But shortly after the police left, they called back saying Evelyn knew nothing about it, that the nanny Beatrice had just been talking nonsense, and Beatrice had already confessed.
Nora's IV drip wasn't even finished when James and the Adams family had already handled the matter.
Nora glanced at Michael, her voice hoarse. "You lost."
Michael's face looked terrible.
Today he'd actually been taught a lesson by a woman like Nora.
Beatrice had changed her story because James and the Adams family had pulled strings.
He did have the ability to help Nora turn things around, to make Beatrice tell the truth, but Nora was right—she wasn't worth him doing that.
"Thank you for today." Nora pulled out her own IV needle and bowed to Michael.
Michael instinctively wanted to stop her, but it was too late.
Nora seemed used to it, not even pressing down on the needle site, as if she didn't care at all.
After speaking, Nora seemed afraid of something and stumbled away trying to escape.
She didn't even dare finish the last bit of anti-inflammatory medicine.
James and Aiden must be frantically looking for her right now.
Today, if she fell into James and Aiden's hands, life would be worse than death.
Evelyn was their precious darling, after all.
"Nora!" Michael felt strangely irritated. What was she running from? What was she afraid of? He was still here—James wouldn't dare punish her in front of him, would he?
"I'm still here, what are you running from!"
"Can Mr. Smith protect me for a lifetime?" Nora asked trembling.
Michael frowned. She had quite the ambition, wanting him to protect her for life?
"Since you can't, then don't show kindness casually. Someone at Mr. Smith's level should understand this better than me." Nora tightened her clothes and glanced at Michael's suit. "Mr. Smith, the clothes—when I have money, I'll definitely pay you back."
She didn't owe favors.
Watching Nora frantically looking for Samuel.
Michael just felt he was acting very strange.
"Since I lost the bet, you and Samuel can come to my place today." Michael felt this was the most he'd ever broken his own rules. Letting Nora stay at his place temporarily.
"I'll help you handle the matter between the Smith family and the Adams family."
Nora stopped, turned back to look at Michael in surprise, a bit scared. "Mr. Smith, is there something about me you want?"
Nora didn't believe Michael was really just being kind.
Attracted to her? Impossible. Anyone else maybe, but not Michael.
A man at Michael's level—what kind of woman couldn't he have?
Then why?
"I need a woman as a shield. You don't need to ask more. Right now, you fit my requirements." Michael said flatly.
Nora understood. Probably because she was easy to deal with.
Actually, this was exactly what Nora wanted. Didn't this mean she'd be attaching herself to Michael?
But now that Michael had extended an olive branch, she regretted it.
She didn't want to drag Michael into this.
"Sorry Mr. Smith, I don't sell myself." Nora bowed again.