Chapter 57 Steven Misunderstands
Steven never came back.
James walked over to Nora and said, "Nora, your brother-in-law took off with that woman. Do you still want to follow them?"
"Yes!" Nora snapped out of her daze and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
She was a rational person and knew what needed to be done.
James picked up her shopping bags and paid for the clothes. He then led her to Steven's Audi parked outside.
"Nora, you sit in the back. I'll drive," James said, putting the bags in the car.
"Thanks!"
Nora thought James was a good guy. She climbed into the car and noticed a box of coffee on the back seat. Without thinking much, she grabbed it and shoved it to the back.
James drove, following Willie.
After a while, Willie's car stopped outside an apartment complex. Hazel got out, waved goodbye to Willie, and they went their separate ways.
It meant there was nothing to capture tonight.
Nora felt a bit disappointed.
How could those two manage to keep it so discreet?
James drove Nora back to the Riverside Apartment.
He parked the car in the underground garage and handed the keys to Nora. "Nora, I've parked the car in the garage. Here are the keys. I'm heading out."
"James." Nora suddenly remembered the first time she met James. She had told Steven that cars and women shouldn't be lent out lightly. Now, thinking back, she felt she had been petty.
James was genuinely kind. Nora said to him, "Thanks for today."
"No problem," James replied and left.
Nora carried the clothes back home, turned on the lights, and found the house empty.
Steven hadn't returned.
Nora let go of the bags, and they fell to the floor. She felt a wave of melancholy.
After all, Steven never said he wasn't going to divorce her.
Everything was just her wishful thinking. She even held his hand today and called him "darling." Now, thinking about it, she felt embarrassed.
And all these clothes and shoes, which she thought were sweet last night, now seemed repulsive.
She took out her phone and transferred $2000 to Steven.
He had mentioned the clothes cost over a thousand dollars, and the shoes around four hundred. By transferring $2000, she was even giving him a profit!
Steven was at a business dinner with George.
Nora used Online Banking, but Steven hadn't opened the app, so he didn't know about it.
He glanced at Facebook.
Nora hadn't sent him any messages.
But James had: "Mr. York, I've safely dropped off Mrs. York at home."
Steven pursed his lips and opened Nora's chat interface, refreshing it. There were still no new Facebook messages.
She usually loved to bother him.
She would send several messages a day.
Now, she hadn't even informed him she was home. Steven found it unsettling.
Nora moved the bags to her room, tidied up, and went to take a shower.
Since Steven still wanted a divorce, she decided to stop being infatuated with him. From now on, she would keep her distance.
As for Riverside Apartment, she would stay until her little nephew was safely discharged from the hospital, then move out.
At around eleven, Steven returned.
Nora was in bed, pretending to sleep. She hadn't fallen asleep yet, but when she heard the door open, she closed her eyes.
Footsteps approached.
Nora squeezed her eyes shut.
The next second, the bedroom door opened, and Steven stood outside.
The lights in the room were off.
Nora lay quietly, facing away from him.
Steven stood at the door for a while, then turned and left.
The next morning, Steven was woken up by some noise.
He frowned and sat up, then opened the door. The sounds from the dining room grew louder.
Steven walked out and saw Nora wearing the vintage red dress he bought yesterday, baking in the morning light.
"What are you doing?" Steven asked, looking at the electric mixer in her hand.
"Cookies," Nora replied calmly as she beat the butter and sugar. She wanted to make some cookies to thank James and Philip. As for Steven, she decided not to.
From now on, she would manage her feelings and not get infatuated with Steven, so he wouldn't think she was attracted to his looks!
Steven assumed the cookies were for him and didn't say anything as he went to wash his face.
Riverside Apartment's kitchen had all sorts of high-end appliances, which were a boon for Nora.
When Nora put the cookies in the oven, she thought she'd miss this place if she moved out.
"You can bake?" Steven suddenly appeared again. He had washed his face and changed into an outdoor shirt. He stood tall and handsome.
"Yeah, I learned a bit while working part-time at a bakery," Nora replied.
Steven was about to ask why she didn't make coffee today when Nora went to wash up.
Twenty minutes later, she came out.
The cookies were done baking, and she had also made two slices of cheese toast. Since she was still living here and Steven was around, she decided to cook for him. After all, he had lent her several thousand dollars.
Nora took the cookies out of the oven and set them aside to cool. She brought the cheese toast to the dining table and said, "Today's breakfast is just toast. I don't have time to make lunch."
"It's fine," Steven replied, picking up the hot cheese toast. It had eggs and bacon, and the cheese stretched as he bit into it. She cooked well. She really had a talent for it.
Steven smiled and suddenly wanted to try the cookies she had made.
Nora finished her toast, and the cookies had cooled enough. She found three bags and divided the cookies into them. She put two bags in her purse and placed the last one in front of Steven.
Steven had been watching her the whole time. Seeing her bring the cookies over, he smiled slightly and asked, "What's this for?"
He had a smile on his lips.
Nora said, "This bag of cookies is for you to give to James."
Steven's smile froze, and his face darkened, "Why give them to him?"
"To thank him for bringing me home yesterday." Nora packed up her things and prepared to leave.
Steven was incredulous, "And?"
Thank James? What about him? She made three bags of cookies, and none were for him? He had helped her a lot recently, hadn't he?
Nora put on her high heels and said, "That's all. I'm off to work. Goodbye."
With that, she opened the door and left.
Steven's face turned completely dark. He looked at the bag of cookies meant for James, his eyes cold. He knocked it to the ground.
At the office, Steven handed the bag to James.
James looked at it. It was a bag of cookie crumbs, unrecognizable, crushed completely, and the bag was crumpled. "What's this?"
Steven said expressionlessly, "Nora's cookies for you."
"These are cookies?" James's eyes widened, "They're so crushed, you can't even tell what they are!"
Steven suddenly felt a bit better.