Chapter 78
Jasper frowned at him. "What do you want?"
Aiden wanted to come in, but Jasper blocked him.
"Aiden! I'm warning you, you better not show up at my house alone." Jasper said angrily. He wouldn't be able to stop himself from hitting him.
Someone pampered like Aiden wouldn't be able to take a beating without his bodyguards around.
Aiden clenched his fingers. "Are you sure she hasn't come back?"
"You forced her to leave Emerald City. How could she possibly come back now? Samuel is asleep. Stop acting crazy here. If you want to find someone, go look somewhere else." Jasper pushed Aiden out.
Aiden lowered his eyes, breathing somewhat anxiously.
Nora hadn't come back, and his people in Silverlight City hadn't found her either. Something must have happened to her.
"Mr. Adams, whether you want to believe it or not, I have to tell you again - our family never mistreated Evelyn, and I never hurt her. Nori was switched by my mother when she was still a baby. She's been the victim all along. You don't need to treat her like this."
Jasper grabbed Aiden's collar, his eyes red, somewhat losing control. "Please, just be human."
Aiden pushed Jasper away forcefully, equally angry. "Jasper, you have no right to make me trust you. Evelyn is very kind. She would never use her own reputation to frame you! If you treated her well, would her depression be so severe now that she could commit suicide at any moment?"
"Let me tell you, Jasper, if I have to choose between you and Evelyn, I will definitely choose to believe Evelyn." Aiden opened the car door and drove off.
Jasper rubbed his forehead and cursed in frustration. "Idiot."
These rich people, their brains are all broken.
Taking a deep breath, Jasper first locked the iron gate, then quickly ran back inside to pack. "Nori, wake Samuel up. We're leaving tonight."
Nora curled up in the corner, her face already pale with fear. "Has Aiden left?"
Jasper looked outside. "He's gone for now, but I'm not sure if he'll come back. There's not much to take anyway. We're leaving tonight. Crimes have consequences. Pearl brought this on herself. We absolutely won't compromise or settle."
Nora hugged her legs, crying pitifully.
Last night, she really thought she was going to die.
She was so scared, really scared.
"Don't be afraid. I won't leave you alone anymore. If we run, we run as a family. I can't let you bear this alone." Jasper's voice was thick, his eyes also reddening.
Men shouldn't cry easily, but he felt sorry for Nora.
Jasper had been worried about Nora this whole time, afraid she wasn't eating or sleeping well out there alone.
This time, no matter what, he couldn't let Nora run away by herself.
"Jasper." Nora looked up at Jasper, her voice choked.
Jasper walked over and comforted her softly. "Don't be afraid. If the sky falls, I'll hold it up."
"Jasper, Samuel's condition has relapsed and needs treatment. Walter said he's already discussed a treatment plan with specialists. He'll need regular treatment for about a year. We can't run." Nora shook her head, wiping her tears.
Jasper's hand slowly dropped, and he punched the wall weakly.
It was all because he was useless.
"Jasper, Samuel still needs to go to school. Let's not run." Nora smiled, trying to make herself look less scared. "Michael said he would protect us. He promised to protect us."
Jasper's face darkened. "He'll protect us? Is he a charity worker? Why would he protect us for no reason? Nora, what did you promise him? What about Walter? Why isn't he taking care of you? He's Samuel's father. What is that bastard doing!"
Jasper said emotionally. "Did he bully you? I'll kill him. Once he's dead, it'll all be over!"
Six years ago, when Nora was assaulted at the hotel, he, as her brother, couldn't do anything.
People like them were like ants, only fit to be stepped on.
"Pearl is Walter's fiancée." Nora smiled weakly.
Jasper's body instantly stiffened, his hands dropping powerlessly.
Birds of a feather really do flock together.
"Michael said he needs a completely obedient woman by his side, to occasionally act as a shield. Because I'm obedient and easy to get rid of later, he's willing to protect us, though it's only temporary."
Nora didn't know how long Michael could protect her - probably until before his engagement or marriage.
But at least it would give them time to breathe. "Michael is different from the others, Jasper. He won't touch me. He doesn't lack women."
Jasper frowned, still somewhat skeptical. If Michael wanted to find an obedient woman to act as a shield, there must be thousands if not ten thousand. Why did it have to be Nora?
"You were James's former fiancée. Don't you think he has some other scheme?" Jasper wasn't stupid either. With the connection to James, Michael shouldn't have chosen Nora, but he did, which meant there was definitely something wrong between Michael and James.
Nora gripped her hands fearfully. She didn't dare tell anyone that Michael's mother was killed by Luna. She was afraid of implicating Jasper and Samuel.
"Jasper, just don't worry about it. We don't have any other options right now. Samuel needs regular treatment. We can't leave." Nora's voice was very small. She wanted to trust Michael once.
One last time, Nora would take out her trust and give it to someone.
If this time she still couldn't get the protection she wanted, then she only had one path left.
And that was death.
If she died, it would be the best choice for both Samuel and Jasper.
"Mommy." Samuel woke up, groggily getting out of bed and calling for his mother.
Nora rushed into the room in panic and hugged Samuel tightly. "Mommy's here."
Samuel cried, thinking he was dreaming. "Mommy, I missed you so much."
"Mommy's not leaving anymore, never again." Nora held Samuel tightly, comforting him softly.
"Mommy." Samuel's little hands cupped Nora's face, looking carefully. "It's not a dream. Mommy came back!"
Nora smiled through her tears, amused by Samuel's reaction.
If there was any meaning to her life, it was wanting to stay with Samuel until he grew up.
"Mommy, I missed you so much. Please don't leave again, okay?" Samuel nestled in Nora's arms. "Mommy, I've been very good lately."
Jasper looked away, and after a moment, he put on a smile. "Samuel went to kindergarten recently. Samuel is very smart and was even praised by the teacher."
"Really? Does Samuel want to keep going to kindergarten?" Nora looked happy.
Samuel was a bit scared, but still nodded. He wanted to go to school.
"Samuel, be good and sleep well. Mommy won't leave again. I'll stay with you always."
Samuel lay in Nora's arms, refusing to let go.
Nora struggled to pick up Samuel and laughed. "Samuel has grown up. Mommy can barely carry you anymore."
Samuel looked sullenly at the gauze on Nora's neck. "Mommy's hurt. I'll blow on it to make the pain fly away."
Nora held Samuel tight, choking up. "Samuel blows on it, and Mommy won't hurt anymore."
Holding Samuel in her arms, Nora softly hummed a lullaby.
This lullaby was taught by a woman in prison. Her son had died when he was eight, and after that, she became disturbed and would hum the lullaby from time to time.
"Pearl sent the video to the kindergarten parent group. I was afraid Samuel would be affected, so I had him take a leave of absence."
Jasper said quietly.
Nora's eyes darkened. "We didn't do anything wrong. Why should we bear the consequences? Tomorrow I'll take Samuel to school."
"The principal of Holy Shield Kindergarten is said to be from the Clark family." Jasper was somewhat worried.
"Then we'll change schools." Nora didn't want Samuel to suffer.