Chapter 76
James was taken away by the police, but the chamber of commerce event continued.
Michael remained the most eye-catching presence at the entire banquet, with countless people wanting to approach him and get close.
But Michael's face always said "stay away."
This man who occupied an absolute position in the business world had an innate sense of superiority.
"Mr. Smith, interested in having a drink?" A female celebrity approached, wanting to meet Michael.
Everyone in the circle knew Michael wasn't interested in women and was hard to approach, but there were always those who thought highly of themselves and wanted to try.
What if Michael was interested in someone like her? That would be a real leap to success.
The Smith Group's film and television company had always been a leader in the entertainment industry. Who wouldn't want to sign with the Smith Group? Who wouldn't want to be an artist under Michael's company?
"Sorry, our Mr. Smith doesn't drink." David smiled and stepped forward, blocking the drink for Michael.
Michael held a champagne glass, constantly looking at his phone screen.
He was waiting for a call from the hospital.
No call meant Nora hadn't woken up yet.
Frowning, Michael felt he'd gone too easy on James earlier.
---
Silverlight City Hospital.
When Nora woke up, there was no one in the hospital room.
Taking a deep breath, Nora felt her throat was very dry.
The breathing mask had a plastic smell that made Nora uncomfortable.
She frowned and struggled a bit, feeling like her whole body had no strength.
She had actually survived.
Her head was spinning badly - the side effects of excessive blood loss had finally come.
"Ms. Adams, you're awake." A nurse came in and quickly helped Nora. "Don't move for now, lie down a bit longer."
Nora curled up, her stomach cramping with pain.
Walking in the freezing cold for so long last night, her body couldn't handle it.
"Ms. Adams, is it your period?" The nurse saw blood stains on the bed and quickly went to get a sanitary pad.
Nora had lost quite a bit of blood last night. Although she was treated in time, with her period coming, she wouldn't have an easy time for a while.
After saying thank you, Nora removed the blood oxygen monitor from her hand and tried to get out of bed.
"Where are you going? Mr. Smith said you should rest well in the hospital. He'll be here soon." The nurse had already called Michael immediately.
"Bathroom." Nora went into the bathroom and locked the door.
Sitting on the toilet, Nora rubbed her temples with a headache.
Last night, on impulse, she had called Michael.
But now she had to think clearly about one thing - she couldn't stay with Walter anymore, since he wouldn't call off his engagement with Pearl.
As long as Walter didn't break off the engagement, she would never choose to stay by his side.
Now she had completely offended James, Aiden, and the Clark family. If she didn't want to drop the charges, these people wouldn't let her go.
So far, only Michael could protect her.
But why would Michael help her?
What could she offer Michael?
Biting her finger, Nora's anxiety flared up again.
She had to quickly figure out a solution, or she would really die.
Her body trembled stiffly, Nora's hands kept shaking. Her anxiety had long since become physical - that feeling was worse than death.
What could she offer Michael? To make an equal exchange.
"What's this Ms. Adams's relationship with Michael? I've never seen Michael care about any woman before."
"That's Michael! I've always seen him in the news. Have you guys heard any gossip about the Smith family? About Michael and his brother James's family drama."
"I heard that James's mom was Michael's dad's mistress. She became the official wife after getting Michael's mom killed, and then wanted to bring her twins to fight for the Smith family fortune and the inheritance rights to the Smith Group."
Even the little nurses at the hospital had heard all kinds of gossip about the Smith family.
Nora sat in the bathroom, her hand biting her finger freezing for a moment.
She knew a secret.
Michael's mother was indeed killed by James's mother. She had heard it with her own ears.
Although outside rumors might be false, sometimes there's truth behind them.
With Michael's current position, he couldn't possibly not know the real cause of his mother's death. He and James had always been pretending to get along.
James had also said countless times that he wanted to take away everything that belonged to Michael and pull him down from his throne.
"Mr. Smith!"
Michael had arrived. The little nurse called out anxiously and shyly. "Ms. Adams is in the bathroom. She's been in there for a long time."
Michael glanced at the bathroom location and walked over quickly. "Nora?"
Nora got up in panic and opened the bathroom door in a fluster.
Michael was just about to open the door too, and they bumped right into each other.
Instinctively stepping back, Nora nervously lowered her head. "Thank you."
Michael breathed a sigh of relief. Although Nora didn't look well and had gauze wrapped around her neck, she seemed to be out of danger. Not like last night when her cold touch made him feel like he was holding a dead person.
"Have you thought it through?" After the nurses left, Michael backed Nora into the bathroom and asked in a low voice.
"The police came. I pretended to be unconscious." Nora said quietly, not knowing how to face him.
"What? You still have feelings for James?" Michael frowned, his expression not looking good.
If James treated her like this and she still had feelings for him, then she deserved it.
"James has a hundred ways to get away with it. I know him well." Nora clenched her hands and looked up at Michael. "If Mr. Smith wants to use my injury to make sure James can never recover, that's unrealistic."
Michael narrowed his eyes, looking at Nora with deep eyes. "Is that so?"
She thought he was helping her to crush James?
He wouldn't bother using a woman to deal with James.
Besides, James wasn't worth his effort.
"I've thought it through." Nora gathered her courage and looked directly into Michael's eyes. "You said before that you needed a woman by your side to help you block certain troubles. I can do that."
Nora clenched her hands and bit her lip before speaking again. "Mr. Smith, let's work together. I know who killed your mother, and I know James and his mother's weaknesses. Things you can't do conveniently, I can do."
What she could do was help Michael deal with the threat from James and his mother.
As the eldest son, if Michael went too far, people would criticize him.
But she was different.
As long as Samuel and Jasper were safe, she could do anything.
She wasn't even afraid of death.
Michael's eyes grew deeper as he lifted his hand to pinch Nora's chin.
Nora's eyes were clear but not stupid.
She was calculating.
Calculating how to use him.
Smiling slightly, Michael became more interested in Nora. He wanted to see what kind of surprise she could bring him.
"What do you know?" Michael's voice was hoarse.
"I once heard James's mother say that if she hadn't bribed someone at the nursing home to switch your mother's medication, James would still be hiding around as an illegitimate son who couldn't show his face."
Nora looked at Michael intensely, as if afraid he wouldn't believe her. "I'm not lying. You can check."
"Does Luna know you overheard their conversation?" Michael frowned and asked.
Luna was James's mother.