Chapter 64
Savannah looked at Michael in shock, instinctively scooted aside, and quietly stood up to stand nearby.
A woman's sixth sense is quite accurate - whether a man has bad intentions or not is actually easy to see through.
At least Michael had no bad intentions right now.
Nearby, several managers also looked at each other in shock. Who exactly was this Nora?
Walter personally came to deliver breakfast, and Michael personally came to smooth things over.
Now everyone was on edge, thinking about how to treat Nora properly and appropriately from now on.
"Mr. Smith is watching." David stood aside, completely at a loss. This club had too many eyes and ears, and here he was, a big CEO, the heir to the Smith Group, lowering himself to comfort a woman.
Seeing Michael reach out his hand, Nora was somehow tempted to raise hers.
But halfway up, Nora pulled it back, instinctively moving away from Michael, slowly shuffling out on her own. "Sorry."
Hunching her shoulders, she apologized to the managers, then apologized to Michael. "Sorry."
"Come with me." Michael grabbed Nora's wrist, wanting to take her away.
The burn on the back of her hand had mostly healed, but there was a circular burn mark near her lower eyelid, shocking to see.
Actually, everyone at the club could tell how that injury happened - nothing more than a cigarette burn.
Nora's face was too clean and flawless, and so pale without any color, so the cigarette scar was very obvious.
"What happened to your face?" Michael asked.
Nora anxiously tried to break free from Michael. Being the center of attention terrified her.
Seeing Nora wouldn't speak, Michael didn't press further. He took out burn ointment from his car and handed it to Nora.
Nora froze for a moment, looked at the burn ointment, then looked up at Michael.
He actually kept burn ointment in his car - was it because of her hand?
Shaking her head, Nora lowered her head and mocked herself. How self-absorbed - how could that be possible.
"You're not afraid of scarring?" Seeing Nora didn't apply it, Michael casually asked.
He wasn't very good at talking with women, but he wanted Nora to lower her guard.
But Nora was wound too tight.
Shaking her head, Nora smiled at Michael.
That smile carried seventy percent self-mockery.
How could she be afraid of scarring? She was already covered in wounds. Besides this skin, her heart was already rotting and festering inside.
"Come back to Emerald City with me. This whole thing was my oversight." Michael never admitted fault voluntarily, but Nora had indeed taught him a lesson.
He was used to being high and mighty, never truly putting himself in others' shoes.
Nora shook her head.
She couldn't go back. Walter had delivered breakfast once, and now she was already in the eye of the storm. Going back would be like walking into a trap.
Michael had capability, but he couldn't protect her forever.
And she had nothing to exchange with Michael on equal terms.
Walter was at least Samuel's biological father. No matter what, she was already tied to him.
"Nora, you're not stupid." Michael didn't spell it out, giving Nora time to think.
Nora must know what Walter's purpose was.
Five years ago at the trial, when she went to prison, Walter just watched coldly from the sidelines.
Even Michael knew that someone with Nora's personality would definitely work hard and behave well in prison, so why didn't she get a single chance for sentence reduction?
Even Savannah got out six months early.
"The Chamber of Commerce dinner is in a week. I'll be in Silverlight City until the third of next month. Before I leave, you still have a chance." Michael stuffed his business card into Nora's hand. "Think it over carefully."
Nora held that card, her fingers trembling.
This was the olive branch Michael was extending, but she didn't know how to accept it.
Michael was also a businessman. He wouldn't give her kindness for no reason. Either way, it was being kept, making dirty deals that couldn't see the light of day. Between Walter and Michael, it was up to her to choose.
"Is Mr. Smith here to steal my person again?"
A black sedan pulled up alongside them. Walter got out and asked meaningfully.
"Just competition." Michael said flatly.
"If I remember correctly, Nora should be your brother James's former fiancée." Walter pulled Nora into his arms, smiling provocatively.
"You said it yourself - former." Michael's voice was low.
"Isn't Mr. Smith afraid of bad rumors spreading, dirtying the reputation you've built in Emerald City all these years?" Walter was reminding Michael that Nora was involved in too many relationships - don't mess with her.
Nora kept her head down, but heard another layer of meaning in those words.
She was dirty.
"What's dirty are the rumors, and people's hearts." Michael said meaningfully, then got straight into his car.
"Mr. Smith, I'll host a dinner tonight to properly fulfill my duties as host." Walter said politely.
"Our Mr. Smith appreciates Mr. Wood's kind offer, but you should manage the women around you better and watch out for jealous fights." David rushed over, glanced at Nora, and quickly got in the car to take their Mr. Smith away.
This couldn't continue. Looking at the two big shots' posture, they might start fighting any minute.
Walter's expression darkened, his hand on Nora's shoulder slowly tightening. "From now on, you're not allowed to see him."
Nora lowered her head in pain, saying nothing.
Walter pulled out the business card Nora was clutching and asked flatly, "Do you think I alone can't protect you?"
Nora said nothing.
Walter threw away the card, clearly unhappy.
Royce stood aside and quickly spoke up. "Mr. Wood, Bronte came to give Ms. Nora Adams trouble."
Walter's steps paused. He turned back to look at Nora. "Why didn't you call me?"
Nora still said nothing.
Walter knew very well that Nora didn't trust him and was constantly on guard and alert.
"Nora, only I can protect you all along, understand?" Walter lifted his hand to grip Nora's chin, his fingers lightly brushing her cheek.
He wanted Nora to depend on him completely, but it seemed that would still take some time and methods.
Nora lowered her head, murmuring softly. "All along?"
How long was "all along"?
Wasn't the time limit of this "all along" decided unilaterally by Walter?
It could end anytime, anywhere, at any moment.
"Since Mr. Smith isn't welcoming, let's go home." Walter had no interest in continuing to deal with those business circle people either, and got in the car with Nora.
"What do you want for dinner? I'll have someone deliver it to the house." Walter asked gently.
Nora huddled by the car door and thought for a moment. "I'll make it myself. There are still ingredients in the fridge."
Walter thought about this morning's breakfast - it tasted quite good.
"When did you learn to cook?" Walter was curious.
The old Nora wasn't this domestic - she was more like an angel who didn't eat mortal food.
"Before I went to prison, for a year." Nora's voice was hoarse.
That year was more terrifying than death.
It made her prefer going to prison rather than staying outside.
Walter looked at Nora and after a long while asked, "Before the trial, I asked if you were willing to come with me. You refused. Do you regret it now?"
In Walter's view, Nora had wasted five years for nothing, worn down her pride, suffered all kinds of grievances, and in the end, wasn't it still the same result?