Chapter 84
Samuel froze for a moment, looking at Walter in confusion, then shrank back into Nora's arms a little scared.
Nora kept her head down nervously. "Mr. Wood."
"It's my fault." Walter apologized first. He really was careless this time, never expecting James and the Clark family to go after his grandfather.
"Come back with me."
Nora kept her head down and took a deep breath. "I'm not going back."
Walter's hand reached out to help Nora but grasped at air. He saw distance in Nora's eyes.
"Is it because I didn't protect you, or because I didn't agree to break off the engagement with Pearl?" Walter asked in a low voice.
Nora kept her head down and said nothing.
Actually, Walter knew everything.
She just wasn't important enough.
"Mommy." Samuel hugged Nora and asked quietly. "Who is he?"
Nora's eyes reddened as she looked at Walter tentatively.
She actually wasn't sure if Walter was willing to acknowledge Samuel.
"Samuel, I'm your dad." Walter crouched in front of Samuel, gently reaching out his hand. "Sorry, I came late."
In his view, Nora was probably just throwing a short-lived tantrum, and he could smooth things over.
A man like Michael with such serious obsessive cleanliness wouldn't be interested in Nora.
Samuel looked at Nora in panic, his eyes reddening.
He had imagined countless times that his dad would suddenly appear one day and say, "Samuel, I'm your dad."
But when Walter appeared and said sorry he was late, Samuel felt like crying.
"I don't like daddy." Samuel looked away and hugged Nora tightly.
Because Walter didn't protect Nora properly.
Walter took a deep breath and looked at Nora. "Come with me first."
Nora kept her head down, stood up holding Samuel, then shook her head. "No need, Mr. Wood."
She was drawing a clear line with Walter.
Walter felt a tightness in his chest as he watched Nora leave with the child.
Rubbing his temples, Walter cursed the Clark family in his mind and quickly caught up.
He had worked so hard to coax her into staying by his side, and these bastards ruined it all.
"Nori, let me give you a ride." Walter caught up, reaching to hold Samuel. "Mommy's too tired, let daddy hold you, okay?"
Samuel hesitated, then said quietly. "Can you protect mommy?"
Walter froze, looking into Samuel's eyes.
Samuel's eyes were too much like Nora's from before - innocent, clean, and pure.
"Yes." Walter nodded.
This time was an accident.
He wouldn't make the same mistake again.
"Then will you marry my mommy?" Samuel sniffled and asked quietly.
Walter's steps stiffened, and he said nothing.
Nora hugged Samuel tighter and quickly explained. "He's still young, he doesn't understand."
"I do understand. Joseph said no man would marry mommy, said mommy is a thief who steals other people's dads. That's not true. Someone will marry mommy." Samuel cried out in grievance. He didn't believe Joseph's words.
That's why he fought with Joseph.
Actually, when Joseph was bullying him, he never fought back, afraid of causing trouble for Jasper and Nora.
But when Joseph said bad things about Nora, he lost control.
Walter stood frozen in place, rubbing his temples.
He couldn't possibly marry Nora.
Except for that title, he could give Nora everything.
Nora looked back at Walter, not knowing what she was expecting. Maybe she had that brief fantasy of wanting to give Samuel a complete family.
But she knew very clearly that Walter wouldn't marry her. It was all just wishful thinking.
Without saying anything, Nora stood alone at the bus stop with Samuel, waiting for the bus.
Walter followed beside Nora, wanting to say something, but several times he opened his mouth, the words got swallowed back.
The bus came, and Nora got on. Walter followed.
In Walter's memory, he had never taken a bus before.
The bus was crowded. Walter was afraid Nora was too tired holding the child, so he offered to hold Samuel.
Samuel didn't want Nora to be too tired, so he reached out to Walter.
Nora paused, then handed Samuel to Walter.
The bus braked suddenly, and Nora lost her balance and almost fell, but Walter caught her.
"Come sit here with the child. You three really make a beautiful family." On the bus, an elderly person smiled and stood up, offering Nora the seat.
"No need, thank you." Nora waved her hand.
The old person smiled. "It's good to be young. The child is so cute."
Walter didn't explain, just held Samuel and smiled politely.
Nora kept her head down and explained quietly. "We're not a family of three."
Marriage, giving Samuel a complete family - these were things Nora didn't even dare to think about.
Her whole life was already ruined. No one would want to marry her.
And no one would willingly be Samuel's stepfather.
Nora didn't want to just find someone randomly and let Samuel suffer.
Walter - she actually had fantasized about it. Even knowing it was unrealistic, she had thought that even if Walter had no feelings for her, if he was willing to give Samuel a complete family, she would do anything.
She no longer hoped for so-called love.
She wouldn't love anyone again, and no one would come to love her.
The old person said nothing and got off at their stop.
Nora glanced at the Royce following the bus and said helplessly. "Mr. Wood, you don't need to do this."
What was Walter doing? Rich people experiencing life?
"If you don't want to come back to Silverlight City with me, then stay in Emerald City. I'll make arrangements. Every month I'll spend half a month in Emerald City with you and Samuel. If you need anything, you can contact me or Royce anytime."
Walter said quietly. When Nora reached her stop, he got off the bus holding Samuel. "This is the Royal Garden Villa key card. You and Samuel can live here. Keep the card I gave you too."
Nora looked at the card Walter handed her.
He was indeed very generous with her.
If Walter didn't have a fiancée, she might really have fallen so low as to be Walter's mistress.
"Walter, I told you, I won't be anyone's mistress. That's my principle." Nora shook her head and reached out to take Samuel. "Mr. Wood, we still need to take the subway. You should go back."
"Nora!" Walter was getting anxious. "Do you have to be so stubborn? I said I'll give you everything I can."
"What if I said I only want a title, a title for Samuel, and I want you to marry me?" Nora turned around and looked at Walter.
Walter clenched his fists and stood there frowning. "Nora, I told you not to be too greedy."
Nora smiled and turned to leave.
Yes, she was too greedy.
Six years ago, who was it that forced her despite her begging?
Who ruined her? Who made her have Samuel?
Looking up at the sky, Nora tried hard not to let tears flow out.
These grievances meant nothing.
Nothing at all.
"Nora!" Walter unwillingly chased after her, but there were too many people at the subway station, with heavy foot traffic.
Nora, holding Samuel, had already disappeared into the crowd.
For someone like Walter who had never experienced subways or buses since childhood, he was completely at a loss and couldn't find Nora and Samuel.