Chapter 55
Everyone in the room was shocked.
So Nora was Walter's woman.
No wonder she turned down eight million dollars. Having a child for Walter, forget eight million—even hundreds of millions would be within easy reach.
"You can leave now." Walter told Nora to go out.
Nora stared at Walter blankly. So it really was him that night?
She fled the room in a panic and hid in the bathroom for a long time, constantly splashing cold water on her face.
All these years, she'd been tortured by the memory of that night. Like a nightmare, it ate away at her soul.
During her five years in prison, Nora had nightmares almost every night, dreaming of someone reaching for her, groping her body randomly, then dragging her to hell.
She hated herself for not staying awake that night, hated herself for giving in to the drugs in her drink.
What Nora couldn't accept most was that besides feeling disgusted with herself, she'd eventually stopped resisting.
She had responded to him.
"Nori, are you okay?" Seeing Nora return with wet hair, Yasmin asked quietly.
Nora shook her head.
"HR needs you to fill out a personal information form."
Nora took the form and glanced at it, taking a deep breath.
The form was too detailed, even asking if she was single.
In the name field, Nora was about to write her own name, but after thinking about it, she wrote Nora Thomas instead.
She'd carried the name Nora Adams for over twenty years—the first twenty years with pride, but these last few years with shame.
The Adams family hated her but wouldn't let her go. She'd already been kicked out by the Adams family, so keeping that name was pointless.
After filling in everything required, Nora handed the form to Yasmin.
"Nora Thomas, that's a nice last name."
Nora just smiled and said nothing.
She stayed at the front desk until ten at night, when the night shift came to take over and she could leave.
"Savannah has to drink with clients tonight, so she won't go back with you."
Nora nodded, planning to go home alone.
After changing clothes, Nora walked outside and hesitated for a long time, but decided to wait and see when Walter would leave.
She needed to get answers.
Sitting behind the reserved parking spot, Nora hugged her knees and zoned out.
She'd escaped, and had no money to buy a phone. Savannah said she had an old phone, but Nora hadn't had time to get a SIM card yet.
The chamber of commerce banquet was coming up soon. Staying here was dangerous, but if she didn't stay, she couldn't ask Savannah to take her in. After all, she'd promised to help Savannah, and the club was short-staffed right now.
"Mr. Wood, everything at the club has been arranged. Don't worry, nothing will go wrong." The assistant followed behind Walter, opening the car door for him.
Several club managers followed along, smiling as they saw Walter to his car.
Clearly, Walter's status was something they feared.
Nora hid behind the car, nervously peeking out. With so many people around, she didn't dare show herself.
After Walter got in the car, he glanced in the rearview mirror and saw a fuzzy head buried between legs, huddled silently behind the car.
The assistant was about to drive when Walter spoke in a low voice. "You get out."
The assistant paused. "Mr. Wood, aren't we leaving?"
"I'll drive myself back." Walter got out of the car, indicating the assistant could go.
Several managers also looked at Walter.
"Tell them all to leave." Walter frowned, disliking this kind of fuss.
The managers exchanged glances and left with the assistant.
Once the parking lot was empty, Walter leaned against the car door and smoked.
Nora hid behind for a while, then poked her head out to look. Seeing Walter looking this way, she quickly ducked back.
Walter's expression seemed amused, as if waiting to see what Nora would do.
Gathering her courage, Nora stood up and walked over with her head down. "Mr. Wood,"
"You need something?" Walter looked at Nora meaningfully.
"Was it you? That night six years ago." Nora kept her head down, asking quietly.
Walter studied Nora. Now, if he threw her in a crowd, he probably wouldn't give her a second glance.
The Nora who once caught his eye was that white swan shining on stage, not this timid, dust-covered ugly duckling.
You could say that destroying a person was really easy—it only took five years.
"Who do you hope it was?" Walter asked.
Walter knew everything about Nora.
Five years ago, he did have thoughts of bringing that white swan home to keep.
But back then, Nora was too proud.
She wouldn't bow her head, so he could only wait to see her edges worn smooth, her pride stripped away.
Nora didn't speak. Hope?
She hoped nothing had happened that night, but that wasn't realistic.
"If I said it was me, what would you do? Blackmail, extortion, or call the police?" Walter asked meaningfully.
Nora's head dropped even lower. "No."
She hadn't blackmailed or extorted money from Aiden and James—they'd framed her.
But no one would believe her.
Her eyes reddening, Nora looked up at Walter. "I don't want anything. If it was you, could you please do a paternity test with Samuel?"
Walter looked into Nora's eyes, his brow furrowing.
This Nora was still the same as always, making him break his own rules.
"Samuel is sick and needs his father's cooperation for tests." Nora was afraid Walter would misunderstand and explained anxiously. "I'm not trying to use the child to get anything, absolutely not."
Walter crushed the cigarette butt and threw it in the trash, opening the car door. "Get in."
Nora stood there, uneasy, not knowing if Walter had agreed.
"What illness?" Seeing Nora standing still, Walter asked.
"Hemolytic anemia." Nora said quietly.
Walter was silent for a long time before speaking. "Why should I help you?"
Nora froze, biting her lip, as if struggling for a long time. "What can I do?"
For Samuel, she could do anything.
Reputation and all that—she didn't care anymore.
"Stay with me for three years, and I'll take care of the child's illness." Walter looked at Nora, seeming to wait for her reaction.
Nora just stood there blankly, looking somewhat lost.
If this were Nora from six years ago, when Walter said these things, she would have refused immediately.
Back then, Nora was always proud, as if she'd never bow her head even if her spine broke.
But now, her head hung too low.
"I need to see the paternity test first." Nora wasn't stupid. She had to make sure Walter was Samuel's biological father.
Walter raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth lifting. "Fine, I'm available anytime."
Nora's tense heart remained suspended.
Walter wouldn't randomly claim a son. This kind of person had no real feelings either. It was most likely him that night.
"Get in the car, I'll take you back."
Nora shook her head. "No, no need."
"Afraid I'll do something to you?" Walter looked at Nora meaningfully.
Nora didn't speak.
"Leave your contact information. I can't have you running around where I can't find you." Walter handed over his phone.
Nora froze, keeping her head down, not moving.
She didn't have a phone.