Chapter 106
"Nora!"
Royce rushed into the alley, looking around anxiously.
Where did Nora go?
"Nora!"
The alley was very quiet. Royce ran around searching for a long time but couldn't find Nora.
He didn't know that when Nora got scared, she liked to find a corner to hide in.
She was hiding in fear next to a trash can in the corner of the alley, trembling all over.
Six years ago.
Nora had a drink at a party, and then was taken to a room in a confused state.
She was terrified, struggling and screaming inside, but her body was completely out of control.
Nora desperately tried to escape, tried hard to stay awake, but it was useless.
She cried and banged on the door wanting to leave, calling for help, struggling, but no one came to save her.
If it weren't for the hotel's floor-to-ceiling glass being completely sealed, she would have had the urge to jump.
She just curled up in the corner like that, slowly losing hope in everyone.
"Slut, shameless."
"Look at the marks on her body, not even wearing clothes."
"Look, there's blood on the bed, how shameless."
The next day, before Nora woke up, Evelyn and James had already rushed in with reporters.
She opened her eyes in confusion, then hugged the blanket in terror to cover herself.
The fear in that moment even exceeded that night.
She was like a fish thrown on shore dying of thirst, making her last struggle.
Nora cried helplessly, begging James to help her.
But James's eyes were cold, cruel, unfamiliar, disgusted.
Every expression threw her hard into hell.
Trampling on Nora step by step.
What did she do wrong? The ones who were wrong were those who hurt her.
But no one believed her. Everyone wanted to trample her into the mud, to make her suffer forever.
Nora was scared. When she was terrified, even breathing was difficult.
Hiding in the corner, Nora cried silently until her whole body shook.
A few drunks passed through the alley. Nora curled up even tighter, biting her finger hard, crying but not daring to make a sound.
Her finger was already bitten through, the sweet metallic taste of blood spreading in her mouth.
It seemed like she couldn't breathe on her own anymore.
Just like that day when James and Evelyn locked her in the Smith family warehouse, her fear reached its peak, and the physical symptoms of depression and anxiety made even breathing feel numb.
"Nora."
Just when Nora's fear reached its peak, within her line of sight was a familiar figure.
She stiffly raised her head, her gaze frozen as she looked at Michael.
She must be dreaming.
Wasn't he on a business trip to Harmony City? How could he appear in Silverlight City?
It was impossible.
It must be a dream.
Michael's breathing was a bit rapid. Seeing Nora's condition was wrong, he slowly crouched in front of her. "Give me your hand."
Nora was biting her hand, and there were already blood marks on the back of her hand. She was biting deeply.
Nora's gaze trembled, her fingers also shaking as she raised them, wanting to reach over, but feeling she was dirty, she froze in place, hesitating.
Michael grabbed Nora's wrist and pulled her into his arms, breathing a sigh of relief. "Let's go home."
He found her.
David said he didn't care about Nora, but he still floored the gas pedal all the way, arriving at the hospital in one hour and ten minutes.
Savannah said Walter had taken Nora away, and that Walter's condition was very wrong.
Michael ran downstairs. Seeing Walter's car was still in the parking lot, he knew Nora must be nearby.
He knew that when Nora was scared, she liked to hide in corners, in places she considered safe.
"Mr. Smith!" David also caught up. Seeing Michael had found Nora, he breathed a sigh of relief. "Walter's assistant is also looking for Nora. Walter rushed back to the Wood family. I heard Noah's heart was uncomfortable."
Michael covered Nora with his jacket, his voice low. "Go back to Emerald City first."
David looked at Michael in shock. "Mr. Smith, it takes at least four hours to get back to Emerald City from here, and then we have to rush back to Harmony City. You'll have no rest time at all before your afternoon meeting. That's too exhausting."
Michael didn't care and carried Nora to the car.
It took Nora a long time to realize that the person beside her was real, not imaginary.
She tried hard to make a sound, but for now, she couldn't make any sound at all.
"Have some hot water." Michael handed Nora hot water.
Nora took it with trembling fingers, warmth slowly spreading from her fingertips.
Michael didn't ask Nora what happened.
He just sat quietly against the seat, waiting for Nora to recover before speaking. "If you have an emergency in the future, you can tell me. I'll arrange a driver for you."
Nora opened her mouth and spoke softly with her head down. "Thank you."
Michael didn't speak and slowly closed his eyes.
Nora held the hot water in her hands, her voice hoarse. "How come Mr. Smith is in Silverlight City?"
"Just passing through." Michael said it casually.
Nora lowered her eyes and didn't speak.
Michael probably didn't want her to misunderstand.
Throughout the journey, Michael didn't say another word.
Nora secretly glanced at Michael. He was extremely good-looking. Even with his eyes closed, his features still carried a deep, noble air.
Her panicked heart gradually calmed down. Nora leaned against the car window, watching Michael rest.
It seemed that just by looking at him, her heart could calm down.
"Are you hungry?" Perhaps sensing Nora was looking at him, Michael slowly opened his eyes, his voice husky and pleasant.
Nora was startled and sat up straight, instinctively trying to get up. Her head hit the car roof, and the water cup in her hand almost fell.
Michael reached out to catch Nora's cup and smiled. "Next time I'll get a bigger car."
Nora's ears turned red. She kept her head down and didn't speak.
Michael brought over some snacks and placed them beside Nora.
The snacks in the car were originally prepared for Samuel.
Because Samuel had low blood sugar last time, Michael had David keep some snacks in the car.
Nora stared blankly at those snacks, then looked up at Michael.
Don't be so good to her.
A flower growing in darkness will die if it suddenly sees sunlight.
She carefully reached out and took a piece of bread. Nora tore it open and took a bite.
Very sweet.
After eating the bread, Nora's stomach felt much better.
The car was too quiet. Nora leaned against the window and fell asleep.
"Mr. Smith, we're here."
Michael looked at the time. 3:30 in the morning.
Making a shushing gesture, Michael carried Nora out of the car.
Nora was normally a light sleeper. In prison, she would wake up immediately at any disturbance.
But for some reason, this time she slept very deeply.
David hummed softly. "Mr. Smith, you should sleep at home for a while too. We'll leave at eight."
Michael nodded and carried Nora into the bedroom.
After putting her on the bed, Michael wanted to leave, but Nora's fingers were tightly gripping his sleeve.
Standing by the bed in silence for a long time, Michael's thoughts were also somewhat complicated.
His treatment of Nora was indeed too different.
This might not be a good thing for Nora.
It seemed he still needed to maintain some distance.
Unless he could take full responsibility for her.