Chapter 113
Michael has been steady and mature since childhood.
Probably because of his family situation, Michael started living independently with Vance when he was just five years old.
While other kids were going through their rebellious phases and acting impulsively during adolescence, Michael was already wise beyond his years.
He did everything in an orderly manner and never acted on impulse.
No matter what he did, he would think everything through beforehand—whether it was worth doing.
In kindergarten, when the teacher handed out small animals and excellent students could choose first to take one home and raise it, Michael would refuse.
Even back then, he knew that raising a pet meant being responsible for it. A dog's life is only about ten years, and he would be sad and heartbroken, so he simply chose not to have one.
Michael was someone who knew how to cut his losses in time.
So romance and women had been just concepts to Michael for a very long time.
He was too rational. In his view, with absolute rationality, there was no room for hormonal attraction, and love didn't exist.
Michael never imagined that one day he would act so impulsively as to want to help a woman fight for custody of a child.
It was all harm, no benefit.
"Think it through," Michael looked at Nora.
Once he made a decision, he wouldn't change it.
He didn't care about gains and losses, didn't care about offending the Wood family, and cared even less about his reputation.
Even if these things would bring him trouble, with Michael's capabilities, he could completely dismiss them.
"Staying with the Wood family does seem much better than staying with me," Nora slowly released her grip and smiled in resignation.
Besides, she couldn't owe Michael too much.
"Mr. Smith, I'll go up by myself in a bit. You don't need to come with me—after all, it's a family matter," Nora said quietly.
Michael frowned but said nothing.
He was actually getting angry over Nora calling it a "family matter."
Just because Walter and she had Samuel together, their business was a family matter—so what was he, her nominal "husband"? An outsider? She really did just see him as a business partner, didn't she?
With a snort, Michael spoke in a low voice. "Call me if anything happens, even if you just let it ring once."
Nora looked up at Michael and opened her mouth. "Is Mr. Smith this good to all his business partners?"
She didn't know what she was hoping for—hoping that she was somehow different from all his other "business partners"?
Lowering her head, Nora gripped her fingers in self-mockery and got out of the car.
Michael watched Nora enter the hotel, feeling inexplicably irritated.
---
Suite living room.
Even from the hallway, they could hear Noah's joyful laughter.
"See that? A little genius, just as smart as Walter was as a child."
Noah was bragging. In just a few hours, he had already grown incredibly fond of Samuel.
"My mom says these are all very simple and not worth bragging about. People should stay humble," Samuel sat on the carpet, having solved all the puzzle toys in his hands.
It was obvious that Noah liked Samuel. He didn't even need to do another paternity test before wanting to acknowledge Samuel's identity.
This Samuel was just too likable.
"Samuel!" Walter arrived at the hotel first, rushed into the room, and picked Samuel up. "Grandpa."
Noah's expression instantly darkened, and he snorted. "You won't even answer my calls. Walter, you've really gotten bold now."
Walter had been angry with Noah for a long time over the incident of taking Nora away last time. No matter how Noah tried to reach him, he refused to go home.
That day, Noah tricked him into coming back by pretending to have a heart attack relapse. When Walter found out, he ran away that very night and refused to answer his calls anymore.
Noah had no choice but to come to Emerald City himself to see what kind of woman this Nora was who had stolen Walter's heart.
Of course, since he was in Emerald City, Samuel was the most important thing.
"Grandpa, this has nothing to do with Samuel and Nora. You shouldn't have taken Samuel away without saying anything!" Walter thought Noah's actions were inappropriate, but he couldn't criticize him too harshly.
"I was the one who wanted to go with him," Samuel proactively explained for Noah.
Walter froze and looked at Samuel in his arms. "Why?"
Samuel fell silent and didn't answer.
He actually didn't really want to admit that Walter was his dad.
He liked Michael better.
But he knew what a paternity test meant.
It meant that from a genetic and hereditary standpoint, he was Walter's son.
Samuel knew that with a paternity test, they could take him away from his mother.
Samuel was too smart—he had to take the initiative. He didn't want Nora to be bullied, and he didn't want Noah to take him away.
He tried his best to impress Noah, showing him that Nora's education was successful, that he was happy with Nora, and that he even attended the best gifted program in the country.
He would work even harder to study and grow, so that one day he would have enough ability to protect Nora.
He was fighting for time to stay by Nora's side.
"Mr. Noah Wood, Nora is here," the assistant led Nora in.
This was Noah's first time meeting Nora.
He had to admit, Nora was very beautiful, with delicate features—the type men would like.
Walter had good taste. Noah had investigated Nora. Apart from being a fake heiress, whether it was her SAT scores back then or her title as a teenage prodigy, she was worthy of Walter.
It was just unfortunate.
Fake was fake.
"You should be grateful your genes are decent. And you still wanted to hide this from the Wood family? You had quite the plan," Noah spoke in a stern tone, not kindly.
Samuel climbed down from Walter's arms and ran to Noah. "Do you like my mom? My mom is very kind."
Noah liked Samuel and knew this wasn't the time to lecture Nora in front of him. "The smartest choice your mom made was giving birth to you."
Samuel's chubby little face was very endearing. "My mom came to pick me up. We're going home, but I'll miss you."
Noah smiled from ear to ear. Not wanting to scare Samuel, he had no choice but to let Nora take Samuel home.
As for discussing custody with Nora, they could find time tomorrow to talk privately.
The child was innocent.
"Mom, let's go home," Samuel turned and hugged Nora, looking up at her.
Nora smiled at Samuel and looked nervously at Noah.
"Samuel, take the toys and these gifts with you," Noah had people buy Samuel lots of clothes and shoes.
His great-grandson couldn't dress like some poor kid.
Though Samuel looked good in anything.
"I can't. I really like you, but Mom told me I can't take other people's things. These aren't mine," Samuel shook his head. He couldn't take them.
Nora's nose tingled as she lowered her head and held Samuel's hand.
She didn't need to explain anything—Samuel's upbringing was her most powerful explanation.
Noah instinctively glanced at Nora. A greedy woman actually taught her child not to take other people's things casually?
"Samuel doesn't like these clothes and toys?"
Samuel's eyes showed longing. "I do like them, but Mom told me that things I like, I should work hard to get myself, not rely on others to give them to me."
Noah looked at Nora meaningfully. "Walter, take Samuel out first. I need to talk with Nora."