Chapter 188
Exhausted from being thoroughly worn out, Nora nestled in Michael's arms and slept until early the next morning.
"Breakfast?" Michael had already freshened up and sat on the edge of the bed, calling Nora to wake up.
Nora rubbed her eyes and found that they were swollen. "Good morning, Mr. Smith." As soon as she spoke, she realized her voice was hoarse as well. Nora lowered he head, feeling aggrieved. Her eyes were red-rimmed; she had cried a lot last night. Michael was so mean. "I'll take you to the beach later." Michael tilted Nora's chin and kissed her face.
How could he like her so much?
"Can you swim?" Michael ruffled Nora's hair.
"Yes!" Nora's eyes lit up, clearly showing her excitement.
She could not only swim but had also set diving records; she was amazing.
"That's great." Michael stood up and sat on the nearby sofa, waiting for Nora to change into her swimsuit.
Nora's ears turned completely red. Michael was so different—like he was coaxing a child.
Also, Nora surprisingly discovered that Michael seemed to be getting closer and closer to her.
Heliked to steal kisses when no one was around, and he liked to flatter her and hold her hand, just like lovers in a passionate relationship. Stunned for a moment, Nora was scared by her own thoughts.
It was just that Michael was temporarily interested in her—she shouldn't be so full of herself.
Her heartbeat slowed down. Nora calmly got out of bed, washed up, and changed into her swimsuit.
The swimsuit she had bought was a simple strappy one-piece with a little skirt attached. She put on the white garment, which showed off her perfect figure.
Michael, sitting on the sofa, had been looking forward to seeing her, but when he saw Nora in the swimsuit, he frowned. He got up and covered her with a bathrobe. "I don't want others to see."
Nora stammered, "Then, then we won't go."
Michael could tell Nora really wanted to go.
"Let's go diving." Michael pulled Nora into his arms, letting her sit on his lap to eat.
"How did you know I can dive?" Nora's eyes sparkled.
Michael snorted but didn't say anything. Of course, he had seen it in the photos and videos James had kept. He was clearly jealous to the point of madness, yet he wanted to know more about Nora, so he had watched those photos and videos over and over again. At the beach, this private area didn't have too many people, but those who came were either rich or noble.
Some were surfing, while some were sunbathing on the sand—it looked lively.
"Miss, are you alone?" Nora was applying sunscreen under a beach umbrella when someone came to flirt with her.
She nervously looked around. Nora was frightened; Michael had gone somewhere. Nora timidly glanced at the stranger. The man in front of her was tall and handsome, his smile seemed to glow.
He had deep features and was very tall, wearing only beach shorts with a body even better than a model's. However, Nora still thought Michael looked the best. All along the way, even with her by his side, it didn't stop women from asking him for his contact information.
"Beautiful lady, can I have your number?" The man scratched his head awkwardly, communicating in English.
Nora shook her head, about to refuse.
"She has a man." Michael's deep voice rang out. The man was stunned and looked at Michael.
"What a coincidence," he said. Michael frowned, not finding it coincidental at all.
"You know him?" Nora asked nervously.
"Zander Fields, the second son of the Fields family and Daryl's younger brother," Michael introduced him with a gloomy face.
Nora nodded in surprise. "No wonder he looks a bit familiar."
So, he was from the Fields family. She didn't expect to meet him here. Compared to Michael and Daryl's coldness, Zander seemed much more sunny, talking warmly with Michael. Michael had a look that said: "I don't want to deal with you."
"Didn't expect our taste to be so similar. Someone as confident as Mr. Smith surely wouldn't mind if I add her on WhatsApp, right?" Zander was a bit persistent.
He had noticed Nora early on. From the moment he saw Nora, his eyes hadn't left her.
He didn't know why, but it was strange—he felt there was something special about Nora that attracted his attention.
"I mind very much," Michael refused directly.
Zander awkwardly touched his own nose. "Alright then."
Seeing that Michael was very unfriendly, Zander could only leave first.
He looked back at Nora several times. Zander himself found it strange.
He had countless women around him. Although Nora was indeed very beautiful and stunning, she clearly wasn't his type. He didn't know why he was attracted.
"What are you looking at?"
After a few steps, Zander bumped into Daryl.
Daryl frowned and followed Zander's line of sight.
What a coincidence—Michael and Nora.
Talk about enemies on a narrow road.
"Mr. Smith actually has the leisure to bring his mistress out on vacation," Daryl's tone was hostile.
"You're being a bit nosy," Michael was very angry. From now on, he'd have to investigate before going out to avoid running into the Fields family.
Nora was also a bit afraid of Daryl and hid behind Michael.
"Daryl, why are you being so mean? You're scaring her." Zander was a bit unhappy.
"Scared? I think you're blind. Are you falling for her?" Daryl warned Zander. "If she were timid, she wouldn't have spent five years in prison for blackmail and extortion."
Zander was stunned and looked back at Nora.
Nora lowered her head, nervously clasping her hands.
She thought that coming abroad where no one knew her, she wouldn't have to be afraid anymore.
Turns out, no matter where she went, there were people trampling on her wounds and dignity.
"Daryl, my upbringing tells me I can't curse at you, but if I don't, I have nothing to say to you. So you better get lost." Michael hadbeen in a good mood, bringing Nora out to relax, but encountering this made his mood turn terrible.
"Michael, when Tessa went to Emerald City, what did you promise me?" Daryl was equally angry.
He was seeking justice for Tessa.
Michael had promised Daryl to look after Tessa, but he hadn't promised to marry Tessa.
"Daryl, what are you talking about?" Zander frowned, standing between Michael and Daryl. "What's wrong with you? This is a public place. What are you saying? Do you know her? Are you close?" Daryl ignored Zander. But Zander wouldn't let it go. "No, you need to apologize to her. She didn't provoke you. You suddenly acting like this is too much."
"Zander!" Daryl was getting a headache from his brother's nagging.
"If you don't apologize, I'll call Mom right now and tell her you're insulting women in public. That's too much." Zander didn't know why he wanted to protect Nora, but seeing her eyes turn red made his chest tighten.
"Zander, did diving get water in your brain too?" Daryl didn't want to explain.
But he also realized he might have been a bit too much.
Whether Nora was pretending or not, seeing her eyes turn red did make his breathing tight.
"You must apologize." Zander wouldn't agree to let Daryl just walk away.
Daryl frowned. They were also here to attend a wedding, and Juliet was here too. He was really afraid Zander would go to Juliet and make things worse.
"Nora, I'm sorry." Daryl turned around and apologized to Nora.
Michael ignored Daryl and left with Nora.
Nora looked back at Daryl once, then quickly looked away.
Daryl frowned. Why was he attracted to this Nora?
"Daryl, don't you think she looks a lot like Mom?" Zander clapped his hands.
He knew why he was attracted to Nora.
Because Nora looked very much like Juliet when she was young!