Chapter 223
Daryl narrowed his eyes. Was Nora placing too much confidence in Michael?
"Nora, I've told you before—I can help you, but you need to leave Michael and come to me." Daryl wasn't about to help Michael easily.
"Mr. Fields, you're not short of women, and you wouldn't be interested in someone like me, would you?" Nora forced herself to remain calm, suppressing any hint of a stutter, "I'd like to propose a different deal."
"Oh really?" Daryl smiled, "What kind of deal?"
"If the Fields Group wants to maintain its position in Emerald City, it needs a solid project. I heard the Fields family is competing with the Adams family for one."
Daryl had been investigating Nora, and Nora had been doing the same to him.
"The Adams family's influence in Emerald City isn't something to underestimate either, especially since Owen's biological daughter has married into the Smith family." Daryl deliberately tried to provoke Nora.
Nora clenched her fingers, "I've already left the Smith Group. I can apply to be your assistant. If you think my education isn't good enough..."
Daryl narrowed his eyes, "Welcome aboard."
Nora was really smart. She'd rather be a work assistant than go to his house as a personal helper.
She was telling Daryl that he didn't lack women—what he lacked was someone who could actually help him.
And her value as Nora far exceeded any physical pleasure between a man and woman.
"The Adams family raised you for twenty-one years. Isn't it a bit heartless to help me go against them?" Daryl questioned in a low voice, "For Michael's sake, you've forgotten even basic gratitude. Is this what Michael taught you?"
"Mr. Fields, when you don't understand someone's situation, please keep your mouth shut." Nora's voice trembled.
It probably took some skill on Daryl's part to push her to say something so defiant.
Nora could tolerate Daryl insulting her, but she wouldn't let him badmouth Michael.
"The Adams family's project manager is Aiden. Aiden and I will compete fairly, based on our own merits. It has nothing to do with gratitude or lack thereof." Nora's fingernails dug marks into her palm.
If it weren't for Michael, she wouldn't want to go head-to-head with the Adams family either.
But she had no choice now.
She couldn't let Michael fight alone anymore. He was too exhausted.
Nora knew Daryl would consider her proposal. Overseas trade hadn't been doing well these past few years. The reason Daryl came to stay in Emerald City was to secure this project—a project Juliet had wanted to win over twenty years ago.
Twenty years ago, if not for this project, Juliet wouldn't have returned to Emerald City so close to her due date. In her effort to secure the project, she went into early labor and gave birth to her daughter in a small town, only to have the baby switched.
Now that the Westville Village project had restarted, both Daryl and Juliet had their eyes on it.
But after twenty years without penetrating Emerald City's business circle, Daryl wasn't entirely confident.
Besides, the Adams family had climbed too fast these years with the Smith Group's support, and the government had policies favoring local businesses. It wouldn't be easy for Daryl to win the project.
"Why should I trust you?" Daryl asked back.
Nora was talented—her SAT scores and academic record were perfect. But she'd been in prison for five years, disconnected from society. Having her help him win such a difficult project seemed ridiculous.
Yet somehow, Daryl believed in Nora.
"Because I'm the person in this world who understands Aiden best." Nora took a deep breath.
She'd never thought she'd go head-to-head with Aiden.
Even when Aiden had broken her heart back then, she'd just treated it as her way of atoning.
But now, Michael was more important.
"The Adams family raised a viper." Daryl sneered, mocking Nora's cruelty.
After a long silence, Daryl spoke again, "Deal."
In his view, Nora going after the Adams family—who had raised her for twenty-one years—for Michael's sake was too cruel.
But that had nothing to do with him. He was a businessman. What he wanted was profit.
Michael's place.
After Daryl hung up, the phone slipped from Nora's hand.
Trembling all over, she crouched on the ground, hugging herself tightly.
Once she chose to oppose the Adams family, everyone would call her cruel.
Nora knew the consequences.
But she had no other choice.
What she owed the Adams family, she'd already repaid long ago.
She and Aiden would compete fairly.
The Smith Group.
As soon as Michael entered the company, Nolan charged up furiously and tried to hit him in front of reporters.
Michael raised his hand and grabbed Nolan's arm.
Nolan glared at him with fury, "Are you rebelling now?"
Trying hard to break free, Nolan realized that this son who now stood half a head taller than him had grown too strong for him to shake off.
"Dad, careful with your back." Michael pushed Nolan away and straightened his tie, "Did you think I'm still that eight or nine-year-old kid? Watching you abuse people, powerless to do anything?"
Nolan froze for a moment, then became even more angry, "After all these years, you're holding a grudge against me now?"
Michael smiled, "Of course not."
"Aria is such a wonderful girl, and you won't cherish her. You were with her six years ago, but now you won't take responsibility!" Nolan deliberately shouted, "Aria tried to kill herself and is in the hospital. I'm ordering you to go see her right now!"
Reporters snapped photos frantically, and rumors about Michael and Aria instantly flew everywhere.
Clearly, just as Michael and Nora knew how to fight with public opinion, so did Aria.
Aria had positioned herself as the victim, while the protagonist of Michael's relationship announcement became the "mistress."
Now people online believed Michael had been with Aria for six years and was being torn apart by a third party.
In an instant, public opinion was shifting.
What was most disgusting was that Nolan and Aria had people expose the "mistress's" identity, even leaking Nora's photos and information, saying Nora had seduced Michael as his personal assistant.
They also leaked that Nora was a socialite in their circles who would sleep with any man.
And news about Nora switching lives with a rich family's daughter was all dug up.
This way, public opinion would definitely split.
Some people even found out Nora had a five-year-old son.
Of all people, why would Michael choose a single mother?
"Mr. Smith, have you really been with Aria for six years?"
"Excuse me, did your personal assistant break up your relationship with Aria?"
Reporters blocked the entrance, all demanding answers.
Michael looked coldly at Nolan.
Clearly, Nolan was challenging his limits.
He could mess with him, but going after Nora meant he thought he'd lived too long.
Nolan also looked coldly at Michael. Father and son were locked in a standoff.
"The board members are all waiting. Think carefully about what you should and shouldn't say." Nolan spoke first, warning Michael not to speak carelessly in front of reporters.
"If you behave and admit your mistakes, I'll treat all your previous behavior as just rebellion. Otherwise, don't blame your father for being ruthless." Nolan made his threat clear.
He wanted Michael to accept the reporters' narrative.
Sacrificing one Nora—Nolan didn't think it was a big deal.