Chapter 126
Evelyn's eyes reddened as she clutched James's clothes tightly. "James, I won't apologize. Why should I apologize to her? What right does she have to make me apologize?"
James's face looked terrible. He knew Michael's personality - even if Nolan came, he might not be able to persuade him, let alone himself.
Looking up at Nora, James wanted her to speak up and end all this herself.
After all, he felt he owed Evelyn something he could never repay in this lifetime.
Nora kept her head down, standing behind Michael.
"Why are you looking at her? Look at your own woman." Michael stepped forward, perfectly blocking James's view.
Nora felt the person in front of her was so tall and strong. That complete sense of security instantly calmed her racing heart.
"Nora, why should I apologize to you?" Evelyn shouted at Nora with red-rimmed eyes.
With Michael here, James couldn't protect her at all.
Evelyn was unwilling to accept this.
Why should she?
Nora didn't speak, just kept her head down.
"Nora, you owe me. If you hadn't taken my life, you should have died long ago. Even if I killed you, I wouldn't need to apologize!" Seeing that James couldn't help her, Evelyn cried out at Nora.
"So, Ms. Thomas, are you admitting that you spread rumors about Nora because of a personal grudge?" David stepped forward and summarized for Evelyn.
"Evelyn, are you mentally twisted? Why drag us into your conflict with Nora?" Terry had just hung up the phone after getting chewed out by his family, nearly driving him to depression.
Terry was furious and now looked at James with displeasure. "James, can you control your woman? She's been spreading rumors all these years. If it weren't for your sake, I wouldn't let her off!"
James's face darkened as he gave Terry a warning look.
Terry snorted, extremely angry.
The others had also been scolded badly by their families. Michael had put direct pressure on them, and their families didn't dare provoke him.
"Michael, we were wrong, too. We'll definitely hold Evelyn accountable for spreading rumors. It's also our fault for not standing up to clear Nora's name immediately. We apologize first!" Several people exchanged glances and quickly apologized to Nora. They couldn't actually go to court, could they?
Their families would skin them alive.
Besides, any fool could see that Michael was protecting Nora now.
Michael said nothing, just glanced at Nora.
Nora instinctively moved closer to Michael, clearly resisting these people.
"Get lost!" Michael frowned.
Several people gasped and ran off immediately.
"Michael, I didn't provoke Nora, I..." Terry walked over shamelessly to explain.
"You get lost, too." Michael was getting impatient.
"Okay." Terry smoothly turned around and was about to run.
David couldn't help but laugh.
Terry stopped, backed up to David, and pointed at him. "You wait. I'm remembering this slap."
David rolled his eyes and said nothing.
Terry snorted, looked back at Nora, and left in frustration.
No need to guess - James and Evelyn were bullying Nora again. But this time, they'd run into someone they couldn't mess with.
"James." Evelyn looked at James nervously. She didn't want to apologize.
But without apologizing, Michael didn't seem like he would let her leave.
"Michael, you don't understand what happened between Nora and Evelyn. Nora stole Evelyn's life first. Even if someone's at fault, Nora was wrong first. Evelyn had twenty years of her life stolen. She suffered so much during those twenty years." James still tried to explain to Evelyn.
"So your mom was probably a bit malnourished when she was pregnant with you." Michael's patience with them was really limited, and he kept checking the time.
Everyone knew Michael had a full schedule today. Delaying the company's normal operations because of Evelyn, wasting Michael's time.
"I heard Mr. James Smith's mom was a mistress when she was pregnant with him, living day to day. She was just a poor student with nothing. No wonder Mr. Michael Smith said his mom was malnourished when pregnant with him."
"Right, I heard that too. A mistress who got promoted."
Company employees whispered. No one dared speak loudly, but when many people talked, everyone could hear.
James's face darkened, looking at Michael with heavy hostility.
Evelyn panicked, too, looking at Aiden helplessly.
Aiden kept his head down, never speaking.
He felt ashamed but couldn't leave Evelyn behind.
"When Nora and Evelyn were switched, they were both babies in cradles. A baby switched without any choice - both sides are victims. The real culprit has been convicted and imprisoned. You keep saying she owes you your life, but what about her life? How will you repay that?" Michael looked at Evelyn, questioning coldly.
"Or do you think only the Adams family's life counts as a life? A wealthy lifestyle, a superior social status? In Nora's view, she would rather have lived with her real brother, grown up being loved by Jasper. She doesn't need great wealth, just a family living peacefully together - that beats all the fake stuff from the Adams family."
Michael's gaze fell on Aiden.
These words were also meant for him.
Claiming to love his sister, but the moment he learned Nora wasn't his real sister, his attitude changed instantly. Those twenty years of sibling affection were obviously completely fake.
Such family love was utterly disgusting.
Aiden's fingers clenched tightly, knuckles white, but he couldn't say a word in response.
Michael's words cut straight to the heart.
"That's because her mom was greedy for our family's wealth and deliberately let her daughter enjoy life while making me suffer with them!" Evelyn shouted shrilly.
"According to my investigation and interviews with neighbors, the Thomas family devoted everything to you over these years. Jasper wore summer clothes in winter, while you had new clothes all year round. To send you to the best school, Jasper's mother worked day and night to pay for your education. Your elementary and middle school were the same as Nora's, with the same quality education. Tell me, what kind of family could the Thomas family be to afford the same educational environment as the Adams family? You dropped out later because your grades were too poor and you couldn't pass the exams, isn't that right?"
Since Evelyn showed no remorse, Michael saw no need to save face for her.
Evelyn froze, looking at James in panic. "That's because the Thomas family felt guilty."
Michael didn't bother saying more to Evelyn. This stupid woman annoyed him just by looking at her.
"Evelyn, you're wrong this time. Apologize to Nora, and I'll take you home." Aiden grabbed Evelyn's wrist, quietly begging her to stop talking.
If she continued, he would be the first to break down.
Michael was right. What did Nora do wrong?
But what had he done to Nora all these years?
Right now, Aiden just wanted to escape.
He didn't even dare to lift his head and look at Nora.
Together, they had destroyed Nora.
Especially him.
Six years ago, Aiden watched as someone entered Nora's room, watched as Nora was violated and raped.