Chapter 92
Nora didn't say anything.
"The Smith family - you still trust them? Don't forget who gave you those five years in prison."
On the other end of the phone, the man sounded somewhat agitated.
Nora was silent for a long time before speaking softly. "Either way, he saved my life, more than once."
"It's just their usual trick. You have value to him for dealing with Luna and James." The man warned Nora. "Don't trust anyone from the Smith family."
"This is my request - don't involve Michael." Nora took a deep breath, trying to warn him.
But he laughed, and after a while finally spoke. "Alright. It's rare for you to ask me for something."
The Smith Group, CEO's office.
"Mr. Smith, have you seen the news? Someone's deliberately steering public opinion. Now everyone's calling James a bastard child and Luna a homewrecker who slept her way up. Nora couldn't have done this, could she?" David entered the office, speaking excitedly.
But thinking it over, David felt a bit worried. "Mr. Smith, this wasn't you, was it?"
Michael had only asked him to post the video of James hitting someone online.
Combined with James's old bar fight incidents being dug up again, it quickly shot to the top of trending topics and stayed there.
Now the Smith Group was caught in the storm too.
Actually, Michael was taking a big risk going after James, because they were all Smith family, so he'd be affected too.
But Michael still agreed to help Nora.
"These past few days, has Luna gone after Nora?" Michael tossed the documents in his hand onto the desk.
"Luna doesn't even dare go out now, how would she dare?"
David smiled. Luna had spent years packaging herself as a high society lady, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't change the fact that she was a homewrecker who destroyed someone's family.
"But Mr. Smith found the bodyguards who were involved." David said quietly.
Nolan was planning to have someone take the fall.
"All arranged?" Michael raised an eyebrow.
David nodded, taking a sharp breath. "Are you really planning to send James to prison?"
Michael had anticipated that Nolan would look for bodyguards to take the fall, so he'd already contacted those bodyguards in advance. Now they didn't dare easily take the blame for James.
After all, they all had families.
"Of course not. I'm waiting for Nolan to come beg me." Michael leaned back in his chair, his fingers lightly tapping the desk.
Luna was now caught up in public opinion too, so she didn't dare make any rash moves. With Nolan unable to find anyone to take the fall, only one path remained - Nora.
Glancing at the time, Michael stood up. "Let's go to the hospital."
With no other options, Nolan would definitely have the Adams family go after Nora.
Emerald City Hospital.
Nora leaned against the headboard, calling Jasper.
Samuel was now attending school normally. No one at school dared bully Samuel anymore, and the teachers and principal had personally apologized.
Also, Jasper's boss seemed really nice - he'd actually gone to the school to see Samuel himself, and in front of all the teachers and kids, held Samuel and kissed him several times.
After that, the school really started taking Samuel seriously.
Although the Williams family couldn't compare to the Smith family in Emerald City, Clea was an exception.
Clea's ex-husband was a wealthy man from abroad, rumored to be from a very dangerous family.
"Nora, you're really something, aren't you?"
The hospital room door was pushed open. Ava and Owen came in person.
Aiden followed behind them, his expression not great.
Nora had already guessed that Ava and Owen would come to "persuade" her.
"You're still more capable - getting out of prison to get revenge? Getting back at the Smith family for prosecuting you for extortion back then?" Ava sat elegantly on the sofa, her voice low.
Owen's expression was also serious. "Drop the case immediately. Stop with these tricks. And Pearl's case too - drop that one as well, and apologize to the Clark family and the Smith family!"
Owen used a commanding tone.
Nora just felt her eyes burning hot. Holding back the tears, she smiled. "Mr. Adams, in what capacity are you ordering me around?"
As a father?
Hadn't Owen and she already cut all ties long ago?
"The Adams family raised you for twenty years!" Owen slammed his hand on the table, his anger intense. "I was willing to let you off as long as you agreed to donate a kidney to Evelyn, and then we'd be even. I never expected you to be so ungrateful, with such big ambitions!"
Nora's fingers gripped her clothes tightly. She looked up at Owen. "The Adams family raised me for twenty years, made me serve five years in prison for a crime I didn't commit, had Aiden throw me into a stranger's bed, had people ruin the rest of my life - and that's not enough? You want my life too?"
What had she done wrong?
Aiden's face paled. He instinctively looked up at Nora. "I didn't."
Nora laughed sarcastically. "Wasn't it you who had Evelyn bring James to catch us? You didn't? Even if you weren't the mastermind, when I was crying and begging for help, you didn't save me, did you?"
Six years ago, she'd been drugged and thrown into a strange room in a daze. To stay conscious, she'd cut her leg with glass shards and desperately banged on the door calling for help.
Aiden had been right outside the door.
Perhaps feeling guilty, Aiden's breathing tightened. His hands clenched into fists, and he lowered his head without refuting.
He had indeed been outside the door.
Not only had he not saved Nora, he'd called Evelyn and had her bring James over to "catch them in the act."
Aiden had thought that as long as James misunderstood, the marriage alliance with the Smith family would fail, and James would return to Evelyn.
James would break up with Nora and call off the engagement.
But he hadn't expected the media to show up too.
Ruining Nora's entire life.
He'd expected even less that Nora would get pregnant from that night.
And insist on keeping that little bastard.
Aiden had regretted it too. He'd gone to find Nora to make her abort the child. He wanted to hide her away - at least he could ensure she lived comfortably for the rest of her life.
But Nora refused to abort the child. She insisted on having it.
"So you're saying you really are getting revenge on us, starting your payback?" Ava sneered, glaring at Aiden. "Aiden, get out."
Aiden didn't want to leave. He was afraid Ava would do something to Nora.
He felt it was enough already.
Tormenting Nora to this point was enough.
"Get out!" Ava stood up, looking at Aiden with intense anger. "I've told you many times - she's not your sister. Evelyn was harmed by them into what she is now! Evelyn's entire life has been ruined by them. She deserves to die!"
Ava truly hated Nora.
Nora knew that.
Slowly releasing her grip, Nora spoke bitterly. "I won't drop the case. Pearl won't let me go, and James won't let me go either."
"Nora, you're digging your own grave." Owen sighed.
With Nora's capabilities, trying to shake Emerald City's major families? She was delusional.
"With my physical condition, asking me to donate a kidney - you're already forcing me to die." Nora's voice trembled. "I know I owe the Adams family. All these years, I thought I'd paid enough."
If it weren't for Samuel, she wouldn't even care if they wanted her dead. But with Samuel here, she couldn't die yet.
"Evelyn's condition keeps getting worse. Her depression is all thanks to you people. Paid enough? Dream on." Ava was getting emotional. "Nora, you'll owe us for your entire life."
Nora smiled numbly.
She wanted to pay the Adams family back with her life too.
Death would actually be a relief for her.
She could be free of this guilt forever.
But Nora still wanted to be there as Samuel grew up.
Anyway, with her physical condition, she didn't have many years left to live.