Chapter 96
Nora nodded and served Michael some soup.
Michael froze for a long moment. He'd clearly already eaten dinner, yet somehow he still felt like having some.
Nora ate very carefully. The moment Michael put down his utensils, she immediately did the same, standing up to clear the table.
Michael took the initiative to put the dishes in the dishwasher—something he normally wouldn't lift a finger to do.
"We're partners. Outside of work hours, you're not a maid." Michael wanted Nora to stop being so humble.
Nora crouched by the dishwasher, feeling awkward for a long time.
Her fingertips felt a bit cold. Nora looked down at the floor, feeling lost.
Five years in prison had left her completely out of touch with society. She had no idea how to use these modern automatic appliances.
Seeing Nora crouching there motionless, Michael also crouched down beside her and spoke softly. "I don't know how to use this dishwasher either. We can just have the maid wash them tomorrow."
Nora looked up at Michael, her heart beating a little faster.
He said he didn't know how to use it either.
She knew Michael didn't know how because he never touched these things, but Nora still found some comfort in that.
"Then I'll learn from the maid tomorrow." Nora smiled at Michael.
Michael smiled back softly. "Okay, teach me once you've learned."
Nora's ears turned a bit red. She lowered her head, clasping her fingers together.
Don't be too gentle with me.
I don't deserve it, and I'm scared.
"The master bedroom on the first floor is here. The room is spacious, and you should like the walk-in closet." Michael knew Nora definitely hadn't picked a room yet, so he took the initiative to recommend one.
Nora nodded and entered the room, hiding behind the door. "Mr. Smith, good night."
Michael wanted to say something more, but Nora's good night cut him off. She really was timid.
He nodded and turned to go upstairs.
Having a stranger suddenly move into his home and say good night to him—Michael surprisingly didn't mind this feeling at all.
The corners of his mouth lifted as Michael entered his study.
With Nora moving in, the house somehow didn't feel so empty anymore.
In the bedroom.
Nora walked around the room, then nervously hid in the bathroom.
After adjusting for a while, she carefully filled the bathtub with water.
It had been so long since she'd been able to relax like this with peace of mind.
Being around Michael, that sense of security came naturally.
Her phone vibrated.
Nora leaned against the bathtub and opened her phone to check. It was a WhatsApp message from Michael.
He was reminding her not to get her wound wet.
Nora's cheeks flushed red again.
She set her phone aside, curled her legs up as she sat in the bathtub, and held up her injured hand, staring at it for a long, long time.
It felt like a dream.
Being with Michael, even if they were just using each other, was incredibly lucky for her.
Leaning against the edge of the bathtub, Nora slowly closed her eyes.
So tired.
Finally, she could sleep soundly.
Ripple Court Hotel.
After the police finished questioning him, Walter returned to the hotel in a very bad mood, his face dark.
The Smith family thought he was the one who called the police? Michael really knew how to cause him trouble.
"Has Nora been discharged from the hospital?" Walter asked.
Royce's grip on the steering wheel tightened. "Today at the hospital, I ran into Michael's assistant David. He said Nora was in the doctor's office, so I went there, but the doctor said Nora had been discharged. When I ran to the inpatient ward, Nora was already gone."
Walter's expression darkened. "Go to Jasper's place."
He was worried about Nora.
"Mr. Wood, have you ever thought that as long as you and Pearl don't break off the engagement, Ms. Adams will never feel secure?" Royce gathered his courage to speak.
Someone like Pearl wouldn't let Nora go even after getting out. If Walter didn't break off the engagement, Nora couldn't possibly stay with him.
"Then I'll just hide her away." Walter rubbed his temples. "Grandpa promised this marriage to the Clark family. It can't be canceled that easily. I can only try to delay it, or get divorced after three years."
"Mr. Wood, this isn't fair to Nora and Samuel." Royce was getting anxious as he waited at a red light.
"Fair? What's fair? Marriage is just a transaction. It doesn't affect my feelings for her. Except for that title, I can give her everything." In Walter's view, even if Pearl became his wife, she'd just be a decoration.
She wouldn't get his love.
He could give Nora everything except the title.
Royce opened his mouth but said nothing, driving toward Jasper's place.
But Jasper's auto repair shop was already closed, and the inside had been cleaned out.
"Excuse me, where are the people who lived here?" Royce got out of the car and asked a neighbor.
"Jasper? He moved away. That landlord wasn't a good person—he bullied his sister, so Jasper beat him up, and then they moved." The neighbor really liked Jasper and Samuel, and spoke with some indignation.
Walter frowned and rolled down the window. "Find out where they moved to."
Royce nodded and got back in the car. "Mr. Wood, you should go back to the hotel and rest. I'll handle the search."
"That landlord—deal with him." Walter leaned back in his seat, speaking wearily.
How dare anyone bully Nora?
"Yes, Mr. Wood."
As Royce drove away, he suddenly remembered something very important. "By the way, Mr. Walter Wood, the Silverlight City paternity testing center called and said Mr. Noah Wood's people went to check."
Walter frowned and sat up straight. "How did they handle it?"
"The people there did as you instructed." Royce quickly replied.
Walter nodded. "Have them keep a close watch. Don't let anything go wrong."
Royce nodded.
Noah's people had asked about the relationship between Samuel and Walter. The testing center definitely said they supported a father-son relationship.
This way, for Samuel's sake, Noah wouldn't hurt Nora, and wouldn't let the Clark family hurt Nora either.
Nora would be temporarily safe.
So this matter needed to be kept secret for as long as possible.
Once Noah found out Samuel wasn't Walter's son, given Noah's personality, Nora would be in danger.
Rubbing his temples with a headache, Walter spoke again. "The trending topic about James and Luna is still up. Michael is pretty ruthless."
"James and Luna have never been content. As a mistress and illegitimate son who climbed their way up, they want too much, but their abilities don't match their ambitions. They might not be a match for Michael." Royce nodded.
Walter looked out the window, his words meaningful. "As a partner, I'd rather my client be an idiot than a strong opponent like Michael."
Tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest, Walter spoke again. "With Nolan's abilities, James will be out in three months at most. This matter will blow over quickly."
"Do you mean to support James, Mr. Wood?" Royce looked at Walter nervously.
If Nora found out, she'd be very hurt. James had hurt her so much.
"Not support—control." Walter preferred James, who could be controlled, rather than Michael, who could become his biggest competitor at any moment.
Besides, what Walter worried about most was Michael competing with him for Nora.
Without Michael, the only person Nora could choose would be him.
He absolutely couldn't allow Michael to take Nora away from him.
To get Nora, he had already sacrificed too much of her.