Chapter 43
As she got up to leave, Nora spoke again. "When I was in prison, those people put dirty things in my water cup. I actually knew there were dirty things in it. I fought back, and they just got worse. So I simply stopped resisting and forced myself to drink it despite the disgust, once, twice... As long as I endured until they got bored, they wouldn't torture me this way anymore."
After Nora developed depression, she lost her ability to speak. For a long time, she couldn't talk at all.
But facing Michael, she seemed to have so much she wanted to explain.
"Just when they were about to lose interest in this form of torture, one inmate kindly warned me in front of everyone. What could have passed if I just endured it brought even crazier revenge after someone reminded me. After all, that inmate couldn't protect me all the time - she was released the next year."
Nora's smile was somewhat bitter.
After that protective inmate was released, what kind of days Nora experienced probably didn't need much explanation.
Michael stood frozen in place.
He had actually been lectured by Nora twice today.
Michael knew Nora was hinting at his current situation - if he couldn't protect her for life, then he shouldn't intervene lightly.
"Think carefully about what I told you before you answer. Given how much James hates you and Samuel, he won't help solve Samuel's schooling problem, but I can." Michael knew Nora's weak spot.
Disappointment flashed in Nora's eyes.
She couldn't think too well of businessmen like Michael.
Over these years, she had completely closed herself off. She absolutely couldn't develop feelings for anyone again, and couldn't give her trust to anyone.
"Mommy!" Samuel came back, running happily to Nora's side. "David bought toys, for me."
Nora hugged Samuel and shook her head. "Samuel, you can't just take things from other people. Give it back to him, okay?"
Samuel lowered his head in disappointment. He clearly loved those toys, but Nora was right - he had forgotten. "Sorry, Mommy."
After speaking, Samuel returned the toys to David. "Sorry, David, can I still return them?"
David was stunned for a moment. "Nora, they're just kids' toys. Stop trying to act special, thinking this will make Mr. Smith think highly of you?"
David looked down on Nora - it was deeply ingrained.
Nora still didn't explain anything and was about to leave holding Samuel.
"Nora." Michael picked up the toys Samuel had put on the ground and handed them back to Samuel. "This is what I promised Samuel. He traded his stuffed animal with me. He gave me his stuffed animal, so we made a fair exchange. Nobody owes anyone anything."
Nora's arms holding Samuel stiffened for a moment. She glanced at Samuel, then bowed in thanks. "Thank you, Mr. Smith."
Samuel took the toys, his eyes staying on Michael the whole time.
It wasn't until Nora carried him far away that Samuel finally looked away.
Michael rubbed his temples and said in a low voice, "Tell the Adams family and James that I was the one who called the police today. Tell them to stop bothering Nora."
David nodded. "Okay."
Hiding in the subway station, Nora didn't take Samuel home.
If James and Aiden went there, they would cause trouble for Jasper.
"Mommy, this is Ultraman." Samuel sat in Nora's arms, playing very seriously with the toy in his hands. You could tell he really treasured it.
"Why does Samuel like Ultraman?" Nora asked softly.
"Mommy said Daddy is fighting monsters on another planet, so isn't that Ultraman? My daddy is a hero." Samuel said very seriously.
Nora's eyes immediately reddened. She held Samuel tightly in her arms and said with a smile, "Ultraman isn't our hero. Daddy is a hero as amazing as Iron Man, fighting monsters."
Samuel's eyes lit up. "I like Iron Man. Uncle Jasper told me his story."
Nora hugged Samuel tighter, her breathing hot. "Should Mommy tell Samuel another story?"
"Yes!" Samuel happily hugged Nora.
Children are always so easily satisfied.
After hiding in the subway station all night holding Samuel, Nora leaned exhausted against the wall, looking at Samuel sleeping in her arms.
He was too sensible, so sensible it broke Nora's heart.
All night, he hadn't asked once why they weren't going home.
He just stayed by her side.
Nora felt even more grateful that her decision to keep Samuel back then was the right choice.
"Nora, you have congenital heart disease, a weak constitution, and your uterus isn't well-developed either. If you abort this child, it will be hard to save your uterus, but if you don't abort, the risk to you is very high."
After learning she was pregnant, Nora felt sick for a very long time. She didn't even know who the man was that raped her that night.
She had hated this child too. She wanted to abort it, but in the end she wavered.
She kept Samuel.
"Samuel, it's dawn. Let's go home."
At 6:40 in the morning, Nora woke Samuel and took him home.
At this time, if James and Aiden's people hadn't found her, they must have already left.
But when she brought Samuel back to the rental apartment where Jasper was staying, Nora was so scared she burst into tears.
Their rental apartment had been set on fire. After a whole night, nothing was left.
"Jasper." Nora ran toward the rental apartment in terror.
"Uncle Jasper!" Samuel cried too. Jasper was still inside!