Chapter 66
Nora's body was shaking badly.
A request? What request did she want to make?
"Go to sleep." Letting go of Nora, Walter's voice was hoarse.
Nora ran back to her room in fear and shut the door hard.
Leaning against the corner, Nora slowly slid down to the floor.
Biting her finger hard, she was losing control. Her hand was so numb it wouldn't obey her anymore.
What should she do? She still couldn't forget that night's experience.
She seemed like she would never escape that shadow and hell.
Those people had destroyed her.
Raising her hand to grab her hair, Nora's breathing became more and more rapid.
Over these years, she had hated, been angry, and lost control.
Why? Why did they treat her like this? What had she done wrong!
What choice did she have? Why did everything come back to punish her?
Nora desperately wanted revenge, wanted to drag them all to hell with her.
But why did conscience have to grow in her of all people?
Why should she be condemned? Why should she feel sad? Why should she painfully deny herself again and again, thinking it was her fault, that she had taken over Evelyn's twenty years of life for no reason, that everything was her fault?
She deserved it!
Why did she have to compromise again and again for the child, for everyone, doing things she didn't want to do?
Why did it have to be so exhausting?
Nora wanted so badly to be free. When the episodes hit, even breathing was heavy. She felt like she couldn't breathe, felt like she was suffocating. She desperately tried to save herself.
Deep inside she was struggling - she didn't want to die, but her body kept mechanically simulating countless ways of dying.
What should she do?
Who could save her?
Curling up her body tightly, Nora gripped her hair hard.
No one could save her. Everyone couldn't wait to trample on her in the abyss.
In darkness, no light would appear.
And no one would truly be willing to reach out their hand to her.
Her phone rang. It was Jasper calling.
Nora's fingers stiffly slid across the screen, but she couldn't answer no matter what. Her fingers were numb, like hands that had been frozen for a long time.
Tears fell on the screen, making the phone even more unresponsive.
Nora frantically wiped the phone on her clothes and slowly answered. "Jasper."
Forcing down her collapsing emotions, Nora's voice was hoarse.
She couldn't let Jasper worry.
"Nori, are you asleep?" Jasper asked quietly.
"No."
"The hospital called today. They said Samuel's condition isn't serious. After observing for a while, when he's a bit older, they can do a small surgery. We still have time to save money. Don't make yourself suffer out there."
Jasper wanted to tell Nora to come back, not to do things that made her unhappy.
Actually, Jasper could guess why the hospital was suddenly so attentive, with even the dean and director personally calling him.
It must be that Nora had found Samuel's biological father, and he had powerful influence and status.
"Jasper." Nora took a deep breath and smiled. "It's fine. I can't come back right now, but I'll still send you my salary every month."
"Nori." Jasper fell silent, then spoke again. "Who is it?"
He wanted to know who Samuel's father was.
Who that man was.
"Walter." Nora looked up, trying hard to hold back tears.
Jasper fell silent again.
Walter.
Jasper had an impression of him - a man as famous as Michael.
Five years ago at the trial, Walter had been there too.
"We can't play rich people's games, Nori. I can support you now. I'm working as a bodyguard for the Williams family, making thirty thousand dollars a month. The Williams family pays well. Supporting you two is no problem." Jasper wanted Nora to come back.
Being with Walter, what good could come of it? Nothing more than selling her body.
"Jasper, I can't come back right now. Savannah needs help here. You take care of Samuel and yourself." Nora bit her finger hard.
If she went back now, it wasn't about money - it was about whether the Adams family and the Smith family would let her go.
As long as the Adams family and James didn't touch Samuel, she could hide out here for a while.
"Walter, is he good to you?" Jasper had already guessed that Nora and Walter were together.
"He's pretty good to me." Nora thought for a moment, then continued. "Really pretty good. Actually, Walter's the kind of person who, as long as you go along with what he wants, is quite generous."
She still remembered when Walter was pursuing her - he really threw money around. Jewelry worth millions of dollars, he'd bid on it and give it away without hesitation.
It's just that she had lived twenty years as a rich young lady in the Adams family, so at least materially, it was hard for money to twist her values.
Nora could also understand why Aiden was so obsessed with destroying her, destroying everything she had.
Because Aiden knew that all the glory she had was given by the Adams family.
So he believed the Adams family had the right to take it all back.
"If you're suffering, come back." Jasper didn't have the ability to protect Nora well. He didn't know what he could do.
"Okay." Nora was a bit nervous. "Samuel, is Samuel asleep?"
Jasper walked into the room and called out. "Samuel. Mommy's on the phone."
"Mommy! I miss you so much." Samuel happily rushed over and told Nora. "Mommy, David bought me lots of toys and snacks. Daddy told him to buy them. I didn't want them at first, but since Daddy bought them, I want to keep them."
Samuel was asking for Nora's opinion.
Nora could hear that Samuel really liked Michael.
"Michael had David go see our Samuel?" Nora choked up, asking softly, her crying voice mixed with tenderness and a smile. "Then it must be because our Samuel is so cute that he likes Samuel."
Samuel was very happy. "Mommy, I like Daddy too."
"Mommy, when are you coming back? I miss you so much."
"Mommy, Daddy said he went to Silverlight City too. Are you together?"
Nora curled up in the corner, crying so hard her whole body was shaking.
Biting her finger hard, Nora spoke with difficulty. "Yes, I'm with him."
She had somehow lied to Samuel.
Samuel's voice carried such great surprise.
"Mommy, I miss Daddy too." Samuel was a bit excited. "Can I talk to Daddy?"
"Samuel." Nora thought for a long time before speaking. "Michael isn't your daddy, but I'm with your real daddy now."
On the other end of the phone, Samuel fell silent.
After a moment, Samuel spoke. "Is Daddy strong? Can he protect Mommy?"
Nora took a deep breath. "Yes."
"Then can I meet Daddy?" Samuel sounded hopeful.
Nora froze, instinctively feeling her heart tighten.
Samuel wanted to meet Walter, but what about Walter? Did he want to meet Samuel?
"Mommy will ask Daddy what he thinks, okay?"
On the other end, Samuel seemed disappointed.
After a long while, he spoke in a sweet childlike voice. "Mommy, it's okay if Daddy doesn't want to see me. Samuel just needs Mommy. Uncle Jasper can protect us."
Nora held the phone, silent for a very long time.
After coaxing Samuel to sleep, Nora hung up and gathered the courage to open the door to see if Walter was asleep.
Walter was still sitting in the living room. Clearly he had no intention of sleeping.
"Aren't you going to sleep?" Nora asked from behind the partition.
"Come here." Seeing Nora wasn't asleep, Walter's voice was low.
Nora walked over and poured him a glass of warm water.
"What is it?" Walter could see Nora wanted to say something but hesitated.
"Can I make a request?" Nora looked at Walter carefully.
Walter sat up straight. "Yes."
Whatever request you make is fine.
"Can you meet Samuel?" Nora looked at Walter nervously, quickly waving her hands. "I don't mean for you to acknowledge Samuel. It's just that Samuel wants to meet his daddy. I'm not..."