Chapter 93
"Nora, this is my last warning. Drop the case now and apologize to the Clark family and the Smith family! Otherwise, don't blame us for what happens next." Ava pointed at Nora threateningly.
Nora shook her head. "The Clark family and the Smith family have nothing to do with the Adams family. I owe you twenty years of raising me, not the Clark family and the Smith family."
"Nora! Now you've learned to talk back?" Ava raised her hand to hit Nora.
"You want to end up at the police station too?" Michael's cold voice came from the doorway.
Aiden froze for a moment, frowning at Michael.
He was getting close to Nora just to deal with James.
In Aiden's view, Michael wasn't a good person either.
He looked back at Nora meaningfully. Aiden wanted to say something, but in the end, he didn't. "Mom, Dad, let's go."
Ava was so angry she could barely breathe. She turned to look at Michael. "Michael, what do you mean by this? James is your brother, Evelyn is your future sister-in-law. You're family."
Michael smiled. "What does that have to do with assault being illegal?"
Seeing Ava about to say more, Owen pulled her back. "Let's go. Let the Smith family handle this themselves. As long as Evelyn isn't hurt, we're staying out of it!"
Anyone could see this was an internal Smith family power struggle. Was Michael really helping James? Only a fool would think so.
Ava wasn't stupid either. She was angry, but she knew what Michael was capable of.
He cut off cooperation with the Adams family just like that. When Michael got ruthless, he didn't care about anyone.
"Thank you."
Only Nora and Michael were left in the hospital room. Nora lowered her head and quietly said thank you.
"You don't need to thank me." Michael stood by the hospital bed.
She was pretty capable herself, getting someone to spread the news about Luna being a mistress who became the wife again, and no matter how hard the Smith Group's PR team tried, they couldn't suppress it.
Michael looked at Nora meaningfully and lifted his hand to grab her chin. "Who's helping you?"
Besides him, there must be someone else behind Nora.
Even the Smith Group's PR couldn't suppress the trending topics. Walter?
Nora panicked a bit and looked away. "I don't know what Mr. Smith is talking about."
"Nora, I promised to help you and keep Jasper and Samuel safe. That's just a verbal promise. Would you trust it?" Michael realized he had really underestimated Nora. "You deliberately let me help you release the video of James assaulting someone, then your people hyped up Luna's story, tying us together this way?"
Nora gripped her clothes tightly. Being misunderstood didn't matter.
She really didn't dare trust anyone's verbal promises easily.
Nora did want to tie her interests to Michael's.
But to Michael, she was just a tiny ant that he could crush at any time.
"Mr. Smith doesn't need to worry. I'm not greedy." Nora looked at Michael with trembling eyes.
She wasn't a greedy person. She just wanted Samuel and Jasper to be safe.
If Michael didn't need her anymore, she would leave without hesitation.
That was also why Michael chose her - because she was easy to deal with.
Michael frowned slightly and let go of Nora. "I'll take you home from the hospital."
Nora quickly got up and hurriedly gathered her things. "Mr. Smith, you really don't need to come in person."
She could just take a cab back.
Michael didn't say anything, just stood there waiting for Nora to pack.
Nora didn't have much to take. She just tidied up the hospital bedding and followed Michael out.
"Mr. Smith, the discharge has been processed. Walter's assistant also came to pick up Nora, but I sent him away." David spoke quietly in Michael's ear and opened the car door for him.
Michael said nothing and gestured for Nora to get in first.
After hesitating for a while, Nora got in the car.
She nervously pressed herself against the car door, practically trying to squeeze through it.
Michael leaned back in his seat, finding Nora's cautious behavior somewhat amusing. "Want me to open the car door for you?"
Nora made a small sound and lowered her head, her ears turning red.
Throughout the ride, Nora was distracted and didn't notice this wasn't the way home.
It wasn't until the car stopped in front of the marriage registration office that Michael spoke. "Get out."
Nora froze, then hurriedly got out of the car, looking around in shock. "Mr. Smith?"
"Didn't you ask me to marry you?" Michael walked toward the marriage registration office.
Nora stood frozen in place, her fingers and legs going numb. "Mr. Smith, that's not what I meant. I didn't..."
Michael stopped and looked at Nora. "You can refuse."
"There's no need to go this far. Actually..." Nora stammered her explanation.
"Or do you have a better way to protect yourself and a better candidate?" Michael interrupted her.
Nora kept her head down, her mind somewhat blank.
Michael's move left her confused.
He was Michael, after all.
How could he just get a marriage certificate like that?
Even Walter didn't want to be tied to her in this way.
Even knowing this was just temporary cooperation, Nora still spoke quietly. "You should have better options. My reputation..."
"Marriage can help me get what I want faster." Michael didn't hide his intentions. "We each get what we need."
Nora kept her head down and followed Michael.
Indeed, a marriage certificate was currently the biggest guarantee for Nora.
Besides, Michael wouldn't let outsiders know about their marriage.
This kind of secret marriage was perfect for Michael.
"Why choose me?" Nora asked quietly.
"You said it yourself - you're not greedy." Michael had David take Nora to handle the paperwork.
"Ms. Nora Adams, please come this way." David called out to Nora. "You probably understand why Mr. Smith wants to get a marriage certificate with you. This is just a cooperation."
Nora lowered her head, her hands gripping tightly.
"Mr. Smith trusts Ms. Adams and hasn't done a prenuptial property agreement, but for safety and to reduce future troubles, I think you need to sign this agreement." David pulled out a prenuptial agreement.
"This marriage will last a maximum of three years. During this time, Mr. Smith can end the marriage at any time, and you can also request to end it at any time. Three years from today, regardless of the reason, please handle the divorce procedures promptly."
David pointed to the agreement content and continued. "As compensation, all of Samuel's living expenses, education costs before he enters society, and future university, graduate school, further studies, or studying abroad expenses will all be covered by Mr. Smith."
"In addition, as long as you follow the agreement requirements, whether you end the marriage early or after three years, Mr. Smith will give you an additional property in Emerald City, ten million dollars in cash, and monthly living expenses after the marriage ends."
David spoke calmly. This Nora should really be grateful - Michael was truly kind!
"No need, I don't want money or these things..." Nora looked at David nervously. She really wasn't doing this for money. She just wanted to protect herself.
She calculated against Michael out of desperation.
"You'd better just sign obediently. It's good for you, good for me, and good for Mr. Smith. If you take these things, I can rest easy too." David's words had deeper meaning.
He didn't believe anyone wouldn't want money. Taking these things would save everyone trouble.
Nora's fingers stiffened, and she didn't explain further.
She picked up the pen and signed the agreement.
It wouldn't take three years. She would leave.