Chapter 32 Steven Applies an Ice Pack to Her
Willie frowned. "Come on, Bianca. I've worked with Nora for over two years. She doesn't seem like that kind of person."
Bianca shot back, "You never really know someone! What if she did steal it?"
Willie's face hardened. "If she really stole it, I won't put up with her."
Willie was already fed up with this issue. His family kept bringing up Nora, and as long as she stayed, Willie wouldn't have a moment of peace!
But Nora had helped him before, and kicking her out directly would make him look ungrateful to his peers. It was best if she left on her own.
Eleanor, with her long, old face, chimed in, "And that Olivia of hers is no good either. I'm old enough to be her grandmother, yet she talks back to me ten times for every word I say. Just look at her, she's run away from home again, and who knows where she is now? It's been two days! She might be out there messing around with some random guy!"
"Isn't Olivia at Nora's place?" Willie knew exactly where Olivia was.
Eleanor retorted, "And you believe her?"
Willie's face turned dark.
Bianca added, "Yeah, Willie, Olivia's a troublemaker. You better keep an eye on her, or you might end up raising someone else's kid..."
Bianca even insulted Olivia's unborn child.
Willie's expression soured, and the family fell silent. After all, Willie was the head of the household, and the family relied on his company for their prosperity.
After dinner, Olivia felt tired, and Nora suggested she rest in her room.
Nora, with her swollen foot, began cleaning up the table.
"Let me do it." Steven couldn't stand watching her struggle and stepped in.
Nora sat down and watched Steven clean up.
When Steven took the initiative to help, he deserved praise.
Nora remembered this and said to Steven, "You're pretty good, helping with chores. You're a good man."
Steven looked embarrassed. "No need to thank me. It's just part of the job."
He didn't believe household chores were inherently women's work.
In a family, both men and women are members, and maintaining cleanliness is everyone's responsibility. Why should it be considered women's work? Nora worked too, and she was just as tired.
He wasn't very familiar with it and had a strong aversion to dirt, so he felt a bit lost looking at the greasy table.
Nora chuckled, "Why don't you bring me the trash can, and I'll throw away the bones and scraps?"
"No need." Steven refused, took a deep breath, and forced himself to deal with the greasy mess. He brought the trash can over, swept the scraps into it, rinsed the dishes, and put them in the dishwasher.
He was getting better at household chores.
Nora said, "Steven, you need to use a cloth to wipe the table."
"Where's the cloth?"
"Hanging on the rack by the counter."
Steven glanced over and saw a clean white cloth. He picked it up, and it wasn't greasy at all.
Nora and Olivia were both neat freaks, and their kitchen was spotless.
Steven smiled and took the cloth.
Nora reminded him, "Steven, you need to use some dish soap, or the table won't get clean."
Nora taught him how to do chores, thinking it was a good idea. If Steven learned, she'd benefit in the long run.
Steven added some dish soap and wiped the table, feeling a bit uncomfortable but managing to control it.
At this rate, would Nora cure his cleanliness obsession?
After cleaning the table, Steven turned on the robot vacuum to clean the floor. Once it finished, it would return to its charging station.
Nora limped to her room.
Steven paused, then went to the fridge, grabbed an ice pack, wrapped it in gauze, and walked into the room. "Here, put this on your foot."
Despite his often cold demeanor, he was quite thoughtful.
Nora glanced at her foot, almost forgetting about it. Her ankle wasn't painful anymore, just swollen.
"Thanks." She took it and thanked him.
Steven didn't leave; he sat by the bed and watched her apply the ice pack to her ankle.
Nora thought about the day's events and found them amusing. She started singing, "Uptown Funk you up, Uptown Funk you up..."
Steven's face darkened. "Why are you singing that song again?"
Nora's eyes sparkled. "I didn't expect you to like this kind of song. It's so out of character."
She laughed so hard her stomach hurt.
Steven found her laughter annoying and pulled her close, threatening, "Stop laughing."
Nora was suddenly pulled close and froze, looking up.
Steven's handsome face was right in front of her.
Nora stopped laughing and speaking, remembering how he had carried her at Harman Tower today, making her feel warm and safe... Her face turned red.
Seeing her blush, Steven smirked and wrapped his arm around her waist, teasing her. "Why are you blushing?"
"No, I'm not..." Her voice was soft, and her eyelashes trembled.
Her shy demeanor left Steven staring.
His gaze fell on her lips.
He had kissed her this morning, and they were sweet and soft, but he hadn't tasted them for long... His eyes darkened, and just as he was about to kiss her, a loud argument erupted from the next room.
Nora snapped back to reality. "It's Olivia."
She quickly got off the bed, and Steven supported her, his hand on her waist.
Nora stiffened, feeling a bit uneasy, but didn't push him away. She let him support her to the next room.
The door was closed, and Olivia and Willie were arguing over the video call.
Willie's cold, handsome face appeared on Olivia's phone. "Olivia, where have you been these past two days?"
"I told you, I'm at my sister's place!" Olivia shouted in frustration.
Willie had been interrogating her for an hour.
Olivia was on the verge of losing it.
"Your sister's place? Olivia, the house behind you looks too nice. Is this your sister's place? Do you think I'm a child?" Willie had just checked his wife's phone location.
Her coordinates were at Riverside Apartment, a mid-range complex where a two-bedroom apartment costs at least $4,000 a month. Nora couldn't afford such a place. She barely made $4,000 a month, so she couldn't possibly rent such an expensive apartment.
Hearing the argument, Nora glanced at Steven, who remained silent.
"Olivia!" Nora called out, "I'm coming in."
She pushed the door open.
Olivia was on a video call with Willie, tears streaming down her face.
Nora's heart ached at the sight. She walked over, took Olivia's phone, and showed her face to Willie. "Willie, it's me."
Willie saw Nora and calmed down, smiling. "Oh, Nora."
"Willie, Olivia has indeed been staying with me these past two days. But I have a question for you. Olivia ran away from home, and you didn't worry? You didn't come over or even call?" Nora spoke with clear logic.