Chapter 182
Michael smoothly pulled his arm away from Tessa's grasp and moved closer to Nora, "Brought my wife here for a meal."
Tessa froze, thinking she'd misheard, "This is?"
"I'm Mr. Smith's assistant." Nora quickly explained, cutting off Michael's words.
Did he just say wife?
Michael frowned, looking at Nora meaningfully, as if reminding her not to forget her role.
Only then did Nora realize—her purpose was to help Michael fend off women.
But did she need to fend off this Tessa too?
"Assistant?" Tessa had a beautiful smile, with a hint of familiarity in her features, "Since when did Michael get a female assistant?"
"I'm also Mr. Smith's mistress!" Nora blurted out nervously, stammering.
This way, Tessa wouldn't bother Michael anymore, right?
Michael took a deep breath, actually annoyed by Nora.
Mistress?
So that's what he was to Nora?
"Michael." Tessa looked shocked, then laughed and covered her mouth, "So Michael isn't as immune to women as the rumors say. Besides me, there are actually girls who can get close to you?"
Tessa spoke suggestively, then crouched down in front of Samuel, "You're such a cute kid. Do you know me?"
Samuel shook his head and hid behind Nora.
"I know you. You're a celebrity. Your picture is on billboards." Joseph said proudly.
"This little one knows me. Do you know what my relationship with Michael is?" Tessa asked meaningfully.
"No." Joseph shook his head.
"Would you like me to be your aunt?" Tessa deliberately teased Joseph, but the words seemed aimed at Michael and Nora.
Michael frowned, about to speak, when Joseph beat him to it, hands on his hips, "No way! I already have an aunt. My aunt is prettier than you, and she makes amazing ribs. They're so good!"
Tessa looked embarrassed, thinking Joseph was just making it up, "Michael, my brother just got back from Novaria to see me. Want to join us for dinner?"
By the window, the man sitting with Tessa stood up and walked over.
He was tall, and even backlit, Nora could feel his overwhelming presence.
"Daryl Fields." Michael took Nora's hand and made the introduction.
Daryl walked over with a serious expression.
His eyes fell on Michael holding Nora's hand, clearly displeased, "Mr. Smith, long time no see. Have you also stooped to worldly ways?"
Daryl's voice was low, obviously looking down on Nora.
He was mocking Michael—had he really fallen to the point of keeping a mistress?
Nora glanced up at Daryl, then nervously pulled her hand back and lowered her head.
She really did bring Michael nothing but trouble.
Daryl—everyone knew that name.
Michael of Emerald City, Daryl of the wealthy Fields family.
Domestically, Michael was on par with Walter, but the Fields family was a century-old enterprise with background and power far beyond the Smith family and the Wood family.
And Daryl himself was extremely capable.
Fortunately, Michael was so strong that in just a few years, he'd brought the Smith Group to the same level as the Fields family—a true business legend.
Nora didn't know the relationship between Michael and Daryl, but she knew her presence would make others look down on Michael.
"I heard the Fields family's real daughter still hasn't been found, yet you have time to sit here eating." When it came to hitting sore spots, Michael knew how. He knew Daryl's weakness, his wound.
Years ago, the Fields family matriarch, Daryl's mother Juliet Fields, a rare female business powerhouse, came to Emerald City for business when she was eight months pregnant. Her water broke during a meeting, and she was rushed to a nearby hospital where she gave birth to a daughter.
Juliet had three sons. This last-born daughter should have been the precious princess of the Fields family, cherished by her three brothers and everyone in the family.
Unfortunately, similar to the Adams family's experience, three years after Juliet brought her daughter home, she discovered a blood type mismatch and realized her daughter had been switched at birth.
The daughter she'd brought home was Tessa. Tessa wasn't the real Fields family princess, yet she'd enjoyed all the family's wealth and privilege.
And the real Fields family daughter—no trace of her.
The nurse who delivered the baby at that hospital—despite the Fields family using every connection to search all these years, they still hadn't found their real daughter.
Daryl had once sworn he wouldn't return to the Fields family until he found his sister. Now he was in his thirties, his sister still missing, yet he had time to care whether Michael kept a mistress.
Daryl's face darkened.
Not just Daryl—Tessa, the adopted daughter with no blood relation who'd been raised by the Fields family all these years, also looked embarrassed and uncomfortable.
"Michael..." Tessa smiled, trying to ease the tension, "You two haven't seen each other in so long, don't be at each other's throats the moment you meet. You'll make me think you're fighting over me."
Tessa laughed softly, speaking with great skill.
Michael took Nora's wrist again, "If you say that, my lover will misunderstand too."
Nora kept her head down, not daring to look up.
"Lover? Michael, you'd better open your eyes wide and not let a woman fool you and ruin your reputation." Daryl's voice was low, "If I remember correctly, this should be that fake heiress Nora who deliberately switched lives with the real Adams family daughter for twenty years and was sentenced to five years for fraud and extortion, right?"
Michael's eyes instantly turned cold. The two men at the peak of power were thick with tension.
Daryl sneered, "She does look good. All appearance, no substance. Seems you're just another shallow man after all."
"Mr. Fields." Nora bit her lip, her voice hoarse as she looked up at Daryl, "Judging people by hearsay, knowing someone through your ears, and attacking someone's female companion at first meeting—you call Mr. Smith shallow, but what are you? Vulgar, or just ill-mannered?"
Michael's lips curved up slightly, his grip on Nora's hand tightening.
He loved the feeling of being defended by Nora.
He was even a bit proud.
Daryl paused, seemingly surprised that Nora dared to talk back to him.
Had Michael spoiled her this much?
He narrowed his eyes, studying Nora for a long moment.
For some reason, looking into Nora's eyes, Daryl felt a slight pang in his chest.
She really was a formidable woman.
Probably skilled at seducing men.
He'd almost gotten interested in Nora himself.
With a cold laugh, Daryl spoke, "Judging someone by hearsay isn't scary. Judging someone by the law is scarier. A convicted fraudster who's been to prison—do I need to get to know her better?"
Nora bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Daryl, my woman doesn't need your lectures." Michael looked at Daryl warningly, "I remember your grandfather was once framed by competitors and went to prison for economic crimes. So what? Your grandfather can be framed, but Nora must be guilty? Keep your mouth shut until you know the full story."