Chapter 4 Elizabeth Replenished the Gift
Nora turned around. "What's up?"
"Here, take the card," Steven said, slipping it into her hand. "Grandma gave it to you, so it's yours now."
Since Elizabeth insisted, it was now hers.
Nora hesitated, her voice soft. "Grandma's so old and doesn't have any income. I feel bad taking it."
Steven stayed silent.
Elizabeth had shares in the company, with more money than she could ever spend.
"How about this? You keep the card. If Grandma ever needs money, you can give it back to her," Nora insisted, trying to hand the card back to Steven.
Steven's eyes were hard to read.
Wasn't she supposed to love money?
Shouldn't she be checking the balance on the card right away?
To test her, Steven took the card, his gray eyes thoughtful. "Alright, I'll keep it."
Nora didn't think much of it. "I should get ready for work."
She headed back to her room to change.
Steven watched her retreating figure, deep in thought.
Steven walked downstairs and spotted a Maserati parked at the entrance of their apartment complex.
"Mr. York!"
James Smith, his assistant, opened the car door for him.
Steven bent down and got in, picking up the divorce papers next to him. He glanced at them before setting them aside and grabbing a business contract instead.
He had drunk too much last night and left the divorce papers in the car.
He would give them to her tonight. Since they had decided to divorce, there was no point in dragging it out.
His phone rang.
Steven glanced at it; it was Elizabeth calling.
"Hello, Grandma," Steven answered.
"Steven, I'm picking out some jewelry for Nora. What do you think she would like? Does she like jade?" Elizabeth was at a jewelry company, looking at exclusive pieces with the owner.
Steven rubbed his temples, exasperated. "Didn't I tell you not to get involved in this?"
"You married her and haven't even bought her any jewelry. People will say the York family has no manners."
"It's not what you think, Grandma," Steven said, his brows furrowed.
They had a contractual marriage, not a traditional one.
"Nora is a good girl. I can tell she's nice and takes care of people. Steven, we can't be so harsh. Since you married her, you need to follow through with the proper gestures..."
Steven pressed his lips together.
At that moment, a girl carrying a lunch bag walked out of the apartment complex.
It was his wife, Nora.
Nora walked into the sunlight, her long curly hair framing her bright face. She seemed to be in a good mood, humming a tune with a smile on her lips.
Suddenly, she stopped and looked towards the Maserati across the street.
The car windows were tinted dark blue.
Nora could vaguely see a man inside, with a tall build and strong presence.
He looked a bit like her husband.
But she wouldn't mistake the man in the luxury car for her husband. Her husband was just a manager; there was no way he could afford such a car.
But Steven was indeed sitting inside.
When their eyes met, Steven felt a moment of panic, afraid she would recognize him.
The first time they met, Steven had driven a BMW, so Nora didn't know that his usual ride was this million-dollar Maserati.
She didn't think much of it and walked away.
"Steven? Can you hear me? If you don't answer, I'll buy the jade for Nora," Elizabeth's voice crackled through the phone.
"Buy diamonds," Steven suddenly said, his eyes still on Nora's figure in the distance.
She had a great figure, drawing catcalls from some sleazy men on the street.
Steven frowned slightly and saw Nora swing her purse at one of the men, making him yelp in pain.
A hint of amusement flashed in Steven's eyes.
This Nora was interesting.
People said she was gentle, but she could be fierce. And though she seemed smart, she often acted foolishly.
"Alright, I'll buy diamonds. Steven, what color does Nora like?" Elizabeth asked.
Steven was distracted, not really paying attention.
"Just get her a regular diamond. Don't buy anything too expensive," Steven said indifferently.
"How much is 'not too expensive'? Is around a million dollars okay?"
Steven sighed. "Just get her something worth a few thousand dollars."
"What? A few thousand dollars?" Elizabeth was taken aback and a bit unhappy. "That's too cheap. It's a gift for Nora!"
"Grandma, I've already told you, I'm testing her. Don't break the rules. A few thousand dollars is fine," Steven said, exasperated.
"I can't give something so cheap!" Elizabeth was furious. The York family couldn't give such a measly gift. It would be a joke.
"Then don't give anything," Steven said, hanging up the phone.
Elizabeth's face darkened, and she vented to her companion, Lally. "That brat dared to hang up on me. I'll deal with him at the company later!"
"Yes, yes," Lally, who had known Elizabeth for a long time, soothed her. "Mrs. York, what did Mr. York say?"
"He said to buy a few thousand dollars' worth of jewelry or nothing at all! Can you believe that?" Elizabeth fumed.
Lally suggested, "How about this, Mrs. York? You buy two sets. One, according to Mr. York's instructions and give it to Mrs. Nora York first. The other, you can give to her later as a welcome home gift when she moves into the estate."
Elizabeth thought it made sense.
She happily selected a set of jewelry worth a few thousand dollars and another set of extremely expensive jade with the help of the jewelry company owner.
Nora walked for a few minutes and reached the subway station.
Riverside Apartments were conveniently located above the subway, with a mall on the first five floors, making it easy to get around.
That's why Riverside Apartments were so expensive. The area had a hospital and schools, making it a prime location.