Chapter 142 Steven Gave Sashimi to Nora
"Nora, this thing between Olivia and our family - it's not right for you and your husband to get involved." Willie scolded her.
Nora found it amusing. "Then why did your whole family, including relatives, get involved in the thing between you and Olivia?"
Willie was stumped and couldn't answer.
Nora continued, "Besides, this is now between Olivia and Willow. Why can't I help Olivia? Your family can gang up on her and pressure her, but we can't have her back?"
"We're not bullying her! We just want to talk things over. We're relatives - there's no need to make such a big deal out of this, right?"
"Willow deserves it," Nora said bluntly.
Willie was getting annoyed. "Nora, I'm not calling to argue with you. I just want to know where Olivia is so I can talk to her myself. We're relatives after all - there's no need to let it come to this."
Willie was pretty upset about Nora scamming him out of a hundred thousand dollars, but dealing with Willow's situation was more urgent right now.
He'd settle the other stuff after handling Willow's mess.
"Who says we're relatives?" Nora sneered. "We're not related to such nasty people. Let the court decide what it decides. Stop calling me, or I'll block every number you use."
After hanging up, Nora looked at her darkened phone screen and said, "They're really shameless."
"Does Willie keep calling to harass you?" Steven asked her.
"Not really, he only contacts me when he can't find Olivia. It's fine - when I'm in a bad mood, I just yell at him. Saves him from bothering Olivia."
"Need me to handle it?" Steven glanced at her.
If Nora needed help, he'd step in. If not, he'd let her decide for herself.
Learning to solve problems was how you really grew.
Steven still hoped Nora would grow.
"No need. Olivia put her phone on airplane mode. She blocked all the Reed family members' contact info. Now she only uses Facebook to reach me, so they can't bother her." Olivia was smart - she knew how to avoid those jerks.
"Just say the word if you need anything." Steven stuck to his usual line.
Nora nodded. "I know."
After Willie got hung up on, Eleanor asked him, "Willie, what did Nora say?"
Willie shook his head. "She won't tell me which hospital Olivia's in."
Bianca asked, "Willie, who exactly hired that lawyer for Olivia? I heard he's really famous. Olivia doesn't have money - how could she afford him?"
Willie looked at his family members' faces. "Did you guys know Nora got married?"
Everyone's eyes widened - they had no idea.
"Nora got married?" Bianca was the most shocked. "When did this happen?"
"I only found out the other day. The guy seems pretty well-off. He has a place at Riverside Apartment - not cheap. Seems like he comes from money." Willie said, "The lawyer helping Olivia is a friend of Nora's husband."
The Reed family members were stunned.
Nora actually got married?
Bianca didn't believe it. "Who knows if he's really her husband? If she married so well, why didn't she tell everyone? She must have found herself a sugar daddy, that's why she's keeping quiet."
No one knew for sure since they couldn't see Nora's marriage certificate.
Bianca said, "No wonder she's been buying diamonds and eating well lately - turns out she found a sugar daddy. And not only that, while she has a sugar daddy, she's still leading Philip on. Disgusting."
The Reed family members said nothing.
Eleanor said, "Stop going on about that. The important thing now is dealing with Willow's situation."
Eleanor had been really stressed lately. Now that Willow was arrested, Willow's family kept coming to her demanding answers.
If Eleanor couldn't get Willow out, she'd probably get cursed to death by Willow's family. They'd never be able to face each other as relatives again.
"From Olivia's attitude, I don't think this can be fixed," Willie said honestly.
When Eleanor heard this, she started crying. "If Willow can't get out, how am I supposed to face her family? Willie, are you trying to let them drive me to my death?"
Willie's face darkened.
Bianca felt bad for Eleanor. She hugged her and said to Willie, "Willie, if it doesn't work out, let's find a way to force Olivia out."
Willie looked at her.
Bianca said, "Put up some money. I have friends in the media. We can post that video of Olivia and Nora kneeling to mom on social media, get people online to attack them, dig up their address, and then we go find her. I bet she'll give in then."
Willie hesitated. "Olivia right now..."
"Willie!" Seeing Willie soften, Eleanor immediately started crying. "Are you really going to just watch Willow go to prison?"
Willie's head was spinning from all the wailing. Finally, under Eleanor's crying and pleading, he gave in.
At noon, James brought over lunch.
When Nora opened it, she found a beautifully colored plate of sashimi.
She'd mentioned wanting some this morning, and Steven had it delivered.
Nora felt warm inside.
When Steven was good to people, he was really good...
Nora called him. "Got the lunch you sent me - it's a box of sashimi!"
Steven smiled. "Didn't you say you wanted some?"
"Yeah, but I didn't mean right away. I was thinking of taking you out to eat it next time." Nora thought eating alone was wasteful. Good things should be enjoyed together.
Steven raised an eyebrow. "Is that you asking me out?"
Nora laughed. "Sure, next time I'll treat you to dinner."
Steven thought about it - Nora asking him to dinner meant he needed to print coupons again. This time, sashimi coupons.
"Tonight?" Steven checked his schedule. "How about we book a hot spring hotel, stay the night, and we can..."
What they could do was obvious.
Nora bit her lip lightly. "Can't - I need to stay with Olivia these next few days."
And she needed to rest up.
She always needed time to recover after sex.
"You're not coming home for the next few days?" He was a bit unhappy. Things had just gotten sweet this morning, and he wanted to take it further.
"Olivia's still in the hospital. Without someone to talk to, she'll get depressed easily. Plus, you've been really busy lately..." Steven did seem especially busy recently.
Steven pressed his lips together. Thinking about how busy he'd been, he reluctantly agreed.
But he added, "Behave yourself at the hospital. Don't go running around, or you'll be in trouble when I catch you. And if you dare go out with another guy..."
"I know!" Nora cut him off, pouting.
He was the one who kept imagining things, but he blamed it on her.
Steven was so petty!
"BOSS..." Clarence pushed the door open, followed by several bodyguards bringing in a bruised Duke.
Steven had Duke brought in and roughed up.
Hearing "BOSS," Steven's expression changed. He covered the phone's mouthpiece and shot Clarence a death glare.
Clarence got the hint and dragged Duke to the small conference room next door.
But Nora had already heard. She asked, "Did someone call you BOSS?"
"Just a joke, guys messing around."
Hearing Steven joke around, Nora found it kind of funny.
Especially imagining Steven's serious, cold face.
Just thinking about it made her laugh.
"Well then, BOSS, you go do your thing. Bye." Nora said reluctantly.
Steven's lips curved into a smile. "You hang up first."
"Okay." Nora agreed, wanting to say something sweet. She hesitated, then said, "Honey, thanks for lunch. Make sure you eat well, too."
Steven paused, couldn't help but smile. "I'll come see you tonight."
His Nora was so sweet and clingy. But Steven loved hearing it - it put him in a good mood all day.
"Okay." Nora agreed and hung up.
After hanging up, Steven's smile faded as he went to the small conference room to see Duke.
He walked in gracefully and sat on the sofa, looking down at Duke.
Andrew was in the hospital.
Duke was forced to kneel, looking scared.
"Andrew's been harassing Nora lately. What exactly is he trying to do?" Steven asked in a low voice.
Duke, beaten black and blue, said fearfully, "Mr. Steven York, we didn't do anything to her. Mr. Andrew York just wanted to be friends with her."
"Really?" Steven glanced at him.
Clarence threw a punch, hitting Duke in the chest.
He'd had training - one punch made Duke cough up bile.
Duke's face went pale as he collapsed on the ground.
"If you don't tell the truth, you'll be joining Andrew at the hospital." Steven's face turned dark.
Duke's face went ashen with fear. He stammered, "I'll talk! I'll talk! Mr. Andrew York originally wanted to set a trap for Nora to get back at you, but she saved Mr. Andrew York at the last minute, so he didn't do anything to her. The order was real, too - he didn't hurt her."
"She saved Andrew?" Steven raised an eyebrow. "When was this?"
"One time, Mr. Andrew York had a severe allergic reaction and passed out. Nora saved him with acupuncture..." Duke said this, then looked up at Steven's scrutinizing gaze. "That's what happened. Mr. Andrew York just wants to be friends with her now, really doesn't want to do anything bad."
Steven only knew that Nora and Andrew went to the hospital together that day, but didn't know Nora had saved him.
So that's what happened.
Steven glanced at Duke.
Duke felt an inexplicable chill.
Steven tossed a document at Duke's feet. "Take this project. This afternoon, bring Andrew and go on a business trip to Astoria."
"But Mr. Andrew York is in the hospital right now..."
"Arrange a private plane to take him." Steven's words left no room for argument.
If Andrew didn't suffer a bit, he wouldn't learn his lesson.
Duke didn't dare say anything more.
Steven always meant what he said - everyone knew his temperament. Better to be smart and shut up, or you'd regret it.
That afternoon, a bruised Duke went to the hospital with the documents to find Andrew.
Andrew was so angry he threw his food. "That sneaky bastard! He's doing this on purpose, seeing me in the hospital and deliberately making me go on a business trip!"
Was he trying to make him a cripple?