Chapter 51
Nora really didn't know what use there was in holding onto her so-called pride anymore.
In Emerald City, her reputation was already ruined to the core. Everyone knew she was dirty enough to have a child with her lover, but only she knew that night had been her first time.
With her reputation ruined, she could never be clean again.
As long as she could make money and save enough for Samuel's medical treatment, she could do anything.
Savannah was somewhat shocked that Nora would agree.
During those five years in prison, no matter how those cellmates bullied and humiliated her, she remained unmoved—neither humble nor arrogant, never begging for mercy, gritting her teeth through the pain without making a sound.
She never expected that just a few days after getting out of prison, Nora would come around.
"Try working with me for a month first. Start with something else—I'm afraid your body really will get ruined." Savannah sighed, paid the driver, and got out to help Nora with her things.
Nora didn't have much to carry, just a few pieces of clothing that Jasper had sent over when she went to prison.
"Thank you."
Nora quickly expressed her gratitude.
"Thank me for what? Now that you're in Silverlight City, I can't help you with much else, but wherever I have a place to stay, you'll have shelter from the wind and rain."
The snow was falling heavily, piling up on Savannah's long hair.
Nora reached up to touch her own hair. Her once shoulder-length hair had been cut when she entered prison, and after six months without a haircut, it now barely reached her shoulders.
"Savannah, do you have any chance of meeting Walter from Mountain Construction Group?" Nora asked quietly.
Savannah climbed up the stairs to the rental apartment, cursing as she went about people with no manners throwing all kinds of filthy things in the stairwell—it stank.
She looked back at Nora and laughed. "Who? The richest man in Silverlight City?"
Nora said nothing.
"Sure I have a chance—on TV, on my phone, in the news." Savannah thought Nora was joking.
Nora's eyes were full of disappointment.
How could she possibly meet Walter?
"Our club is the biggest and most high-end in Emerald City. I heard Mountain Construction Group has shares in it, and several of their top executives do like to come and have fun, but I've never seen Walter. I've only seen him in financial magazines. If you want to meet him, it's not completely impossible, but you'd have to be lucky."
Savannah knew a bit about Nora's situation.
If it were any other woman, she might have mocked them for being delusional, but Nora was once a young lady of the Adams family in Emerald City. The people she could meet were naturally numerous.
After all, Nora's ex-boyfriend was James from the Smith family of Emerald City.
Nora's eyes brightened, and she smiled at Savannah. "Thank you, Savannah."
"You were always saying thank you in prison. We're all people without futures—why be so formal?" Savannah lifted her chin, looking at the garbage in the stairwell. "See that? That's where people like us belong."
Nora looked at the dirty, rotting, stinking garbage and said nothing.
Emerald City, the Smith Group.
"Mr. Smith, here's last quarter's financial summary for your review."
"The project James is in charge of had expenses of 1.2 billion dollars. What's the return rate?" Michael frowned, somewhat displeased.
"Mr. James Smith said we shouldn't focus on return rates in the early stages."
The secretary was a bit scared.
Michael sneered. "Not looking at return rates—is he doing charity?"
In Michael's view, James was foolish without knowing it.
"Should we thoroughly investigate where this money went?" the secretary asked quietly.
After all, James and Michael were brothers. If they thoroughly investigated the fund movements, it might affect their brotherly relationship.
"Investigate. Don't alert anyone." Michael snorted coldly. He didn't trust anyone in the Smith family, including his father Nolan.
"By the way, Mr. Smith, Walter from Mountain Construction Group said next month's Aetheria Chamber of Commerce gala is in Silverlight City, and he's inviting you there." The secretary checked Michael's schedule. "Last year's chamber gala was in Emerald City, hosted by you. Walter is returning the favor this time."
"Just showing off strength to each other." Michael said flatly. "Arrange the schedule."
The Wood family of Silverlight City and the Smith family of Emerald City had been cooperating sincerely while secretly competing for many years.
Walter was a smart man, but Michael always felt he had ulterior motives. Compared to Walter, Michael preferred his brother Oscar Wood.
The secretary nodded and left the office.
"Mr. Smith, we still haven't found Nora's whereabouts, but the Adams family has come many times. You won't see Aiden, so he's been going to Mr. Smith." David quietly entered the office, looking a bit awkward.
Clearly, Nolan had been giving David trouble.
Michael leaned back in his chair, looking at David with cold eyes. "I won't see him."
"Mr. Smith, stop being stubborn. You haven't gotten the shares your grandfather left you yet. If you don't get married, this position is only temporary. Only when you're married can you truly have a say." David was extremely anxious. "James and his mother Luna are eyeing those shares. It's not good for you to offend Mr. Smith right now."
Besides, it was all for an unrelated child.
Samuel getting beaten was indeed heartbreaking, but Michael was, after all, part of the Smith family.
A small lesson should be enough.
"Until Nora is found, I won't see anyone from the Adams family, including James." Michael said in a deep voice, pointing at David in warning. "Say one more word and you can get lost too."