Chapter 95
Michael sat across from Nolan, lounging lazily on the sofa. "Yes."
"James's situation must be resolved as soon as possible. There are already voices from the company's senior management and board of directors. After all, James is your brother, a member of the Smith family." Nolan reminded Michael not to go too far.
"I can help Luna, and I can help James too. Getting me to convince Nora to marry him isn't impossible either." Michael said with a smile, his tone negotiating.
In the room, hearing Michael say he could help, Luna perked up. She stopped using the oxygen, put on her slippers, and rushed out. "Michael, you're back! Michael, James..."
"I've tried every method. The Adams family and you have pushed Nora into a corner. Besides marrying into the Smith family to protect herself, she has no other way out. So using other means to force Nora to drop the case is obviously impossible now." Michael laid the negotiation out in the open.
"Michael, how about we trick her first? Just agree for now, get a marriage certificate with her, and after this is over, we'll figure out how to deal with her. She's just a Nora." Luna quickly coaxed Michael.
"I can marry Nora." Michael said lightly.
Nolan frowned. "No. Michael's reputation is equally related to the Smith family's reputation."
Michael sneered coldly. In Nolan's eyes, the Smith family's reputation was more important than his own son.
"Nolan!" Luna was so anxious she choked up. "Even if it's just to temporarily appease Nora, just marry her in secret. This marriage absolutely won't let anyone know. James is also your son. You can't be so biased. If he's convicted and goes to prison, his whole life will be ruined."
Nolan raised his hand and rubbed his temples, obviously having a headache.
"Asking me to sacrifice myself is of course no problem, but shouldn't Father also give me some guarantee for what belongs to me?" Michael got straight to the point.
Luna froze for a moment. She knew Michael wouldn't compromise easily.
He was waiting for this.
"As long as I get the marriage certificate, I can go to the notary office to get the shares that belong to me—Grandfather's and my mother's shares, all belonging to me. Does Father have any objections to this?" Michael looked at Nolan.
"No way!" Before Nolan could speak, Luna disagreed first. "Michael, your grandfather doesn't only have you as a grandson. James is also your grandfather's grandson. Those shares definitely can't all go to you."
Michael sneered and stood up. "Then there's nothing to discuss. The company has regulations—any internal personnel with a criminal record, no exceptions, cannot participate in company management."
Luna's face went pale, and she clenched her hands in panic.
This Michael!
Obviously Michael and Nora had teamed up to harm James!
That damned Nora.
A calculating look flashed in her eyes. Luna could only compromise temporarily. "Since Father left a will, I have no objections."
Nolan looked up at Michael.
At that moment, he truly realized that Michael had grown up.
"I have no objections." Nolan said.
"As for the shares in Father's hands, whoever you want to give them to has nothing to do with me." Michael had no interest in scheming for those few shares in Nolan's hands. If he thought it appropriate, he could give them all to James.
As for whether to maintain this pitiful father-son relationship in the future, that would depend on what Nolan did.
Luna gritted her teeth and clenched her hands.
No rush. First save James. If Michael died in an accident, or if they caught him doing something wrong, the shares could still be fought over.
Besides, marrying Nora was a ticking time bomb and a stain Michael could never erase from his life.
"Tomorrow, I'll take Nora to the notary office. I hope Father will be there as a witness." Michael straightened his tie and left directly.
He wasn't afraid at all that Luna would expose his marriage to Nora, because Nolan was someone who extremely valued the Smith family's reputation. He probably wished he could bury this matter underground.
"Nolan, look at Michael. He's grown up now and doesn't even respect you anymore. He's started openly fighting for the family shares. Father's shares clearly include James's portion too. How can they all go to him?" Luna cried aggrievedly and moved closer to Nolan ingratiatingly.
Nolan's face darkened. "Look at the good son you've raised! Father's shares were written in the will!"
Luna's face looked terrible after being scolded. She lowered her head unwillingly and clenched her hands. She would never let Michael succeed and dominate everything alone.
---
Michael's residence.
Nora sat on the sofa waiting for Michael for a long time. Because she was in an unfamiliar environment, she didn't dare move around and could only lie on the sofa to rest first.
Michael came home at ten o'clock at night.
After returning home, he found Nora already asleep on the sofa.
Looking at Nora on the sofa, Michael paused for a moment and instinctively lightened his footsteps.
Throwing his suit jacket aside, Michael tugged at his tie. He had thought having a strange woman at home would make him very uncomfortable, but seeing Nora sleeping on the sofa, he surprisingly didn't feel any disgust.
"Mr. Smith!" Nora woke up. Seeing Michael had returned, she sat up in panic and nervously raised her hand to tidy her hair.
"Have you had dinner?" Michael glanced at the time.
Nora shook her head.
Since Michael wasn't coming home for dinner tonight, no chef came to cook.
The chef's schedule was all arranged by David.
Frowning, Michael was obviously dissatisfied with David's negligence.
"I made dinner. There were ingredients in the fridge. Mr. Smith, if you don't mind, you can have some." Nora quickly got up and went to the kitchen to bring out the still-warm food.
Michael had already eaten dinner and initially wanted to refuse. Besides, he was particular about cleanliness and didn't eat food made by non-regular chefs.
But remembering the delicious smell of the food Nora made for Walter in Silverlight City, he inexplicably wanted to try it.
Getting up and walking into the dining room, Michael looked at the food on the table.
Very simple home-cooked dishes, different from the usual Michelin restaurant head chefs. Nora's food seemed very ordinary, but somehow warm and homey.
Michael sat down and picked up his knife and fork to taste a bite.
If David were here, he would be shocked right now.
Nora looked at Michael expectantly. Although her cooking skills weren't great, she had put her heart into it.
Michael looked up at Nora, saw the expectation in her eyes, and instinctively took a few more bites. "It tastes good."
"I washed them very clean, the vegetable leaves." Nora held her bowl and smiled carefully.
Michael said it was good, so that was good.
Michael's hand holding the knife and fork paused as he looked at Nora. "If you're willing, I can leave the cooking to you too. I'll pay you separately."
Nora jumped up immediately and quickly waved her hands. "No need to pay me. I can cook. I'll learn more dishes too. Really, no need to pay me."
It was already more than enough.
Michael didn't want to put too much psychological burden on Nora, so he nodded. "Tomorrow, come with me to the notary office. Nolan and Luna will be there too. Don't be afraid. I'll be there."