Chapter 172 You Don't Understand Men's Friendship
Although Willie didn't care enough about Olivia and always sided with his family, he had always maintained the image of a kind person in front of her.
Willie would occasionally buy Olivia gifts, and her friends all said she had it good - her husband had a successful career, and she didn't have to worry about food or clothing. This made it impossible for her to see Willie's true colors.
In most people's eyes, a husband who provides for the family and doesn't drink or gamble is considered a good husband.
Because of his successful career, Willie was seen as an excellent man in most women's eyes, since there were plenty of men in society who didn't support their families.
But outsiders could only see the surface, not the truth behind it.
Olivia's heart felt like ice.
She looked up with tears in her eyes. She didn't want to cry, but couldn't help the tears from flowing.
Alton glanced sideways, his gaze fixed on her. "Have you figured out how you're going to handle this?"
The others didn't say anything.
Seeing Olivia cry, no one dared to speak. Nora's hands were clenched tight until Steven held them.
Alton pulled out a tissue for Olivia.
"Thank you." Olivia wiped away her tears, took a deep breath, and said, "I'm planning to schedule a lawyer and go to Apex Technologies Corporation tomorrow to assess the company's value."
Even before this, Olivia had been determined to get divorced.
She was just more determined now.
From the day her child died, she never planned to turn back.
"Since you need legal services, why not give this case to our Skyline Law Firm? We need projects anyway." Alton wasn't usually such a pushy person, but today he kept pressing, directly saying this out loud.
Olivia frowned. "I really appreciate Mr. Bridges' help, but your law firm is too expensive. I can't afford it."
She had previously taken $540,000 from Apex Technologies Corporation and transferred $200,000 to Alton to cover his previous fees. Although it might not be enough, that was all she could give.
She needed to keep the remaining $300,000-plus for the divorce lawsuit.
In the future, she would need to start her own business, so she naturally wanted to keep as much money as she could.
Plus, she couldn't keep living at Nora's place forever. She planned to rent a place - it felt awkward to keep disturbing Nora and Steven's time together.
"Pay whatever you want. I'll take this case for you." Alton said directly.
The others on the sofa could sense the tension.
Alton was pressuring Olivia.
Olivia frowned uncomfortably. Unable to refuse, she could only say, "Then please arrange another lawyer from Skyline Law Firm for me, just a regular one."
Last time Alton helped her with Willow's case, Olivia had seen his abilities.
But she didn't want to owe Alton anything, and she definitely didn't want to sleep with him after the divorce. She had standards.
Olivia just wanted to hire a regular lawyer and pay the market rate.
Alton was about to say something.
Steven stopped him with a look. "Let's leave it at that."
He was already being a bit too much. Even if he was interested in Olivia, he needed to see if the feeling was mutual.
If not, pushing repeatedly was going too far.
Nora heard Steven say this and squeezed his hand, grateful that Steven had helped Olivia out.
Nora could also tell that Alton was getting a bit anxious.
She had just realized that Alton had taken an interest in Olivia.
After everyone left, Nora went into the room to ask Olivia, "Olivia, does Mr. Bridges have feelings for you..."
Olivia lay on her side on the bed. Hearing this, she said somewhat coldly, "Whatever he's thinking, I won't agree to it."
She would never touch love again.
After the divorce, she just wanted to live well by herself, focus on her career, save up for retirement, and live peacefully.
Nora didn't say anything more.
She understood that Olivia's marriage had failed, and naturally, she would need a long time to heal.
"So what are you going to do with these photos?" Nora brought the photos into the room.
Olivia lay on her back, looking at the ceiling, her face indifferent. "Even if I'm getting divorced, I won't let the third party off easy. Nora, put those photos on the desk. I need to take them to the company tomorrow."
Nora understood what Olivia meant; she perked up. "Olivia, I'll go with you tomorrow."
Olivia was probably going to confront someone.
Nora wanted to be there with her.
Olivia nodded. "Okay." After they discussed tomorrow's plans, Nora left the room.
Nora suddenly remembered the supplements Elizabeth had brought.
She had eaten some, but Steven hadn't yet!
Nora walked to the pot and ladled out the remaining bowl of supplement, bringing it into the master bedroom.
Steven had finished showering and was sitting on the bed in his robe, looking at his phone, his posture relaxed.
Seeing her come in with a bowl, Steven asked, "What's that?"
"It's a supplement. Grandma asked me to make it for you." Nora handed it to Steven. "Drink it quick, and I'll take the bowl out when you're done."
Steven didn't think much of it and drank the whole bowl.
They had no idea this was food meant to boost sexual desire.
Elizabeth had spent a lot of money on it, hoping for a great-grandchild.
After Steven finished, Nora took the bowl out. When she came back, she sat at the computer to continue her online class.
Steven worked on his phone. They each did their own thing, and the atmosphere was fairly peaceful.
After a while, Steven suddenly felt very hot.
He tugged at his robe collar, his eyes darkening. "Nora."
"What's wrong?" Nora turned around.
Steven asked in a husky voice, "What did you just give me?"
"The supplement Grandma brought today." Nora didn't know what it was either. Seeing his expression becoming increasingly strange, she guessed, "Are you feeling really hot after eating it too?"
She had felt the same way in the evening, and only managed to calm down after taking a shower.
"You didn't even ask what it was before making it for me?"
Nora's face flushed slightly. "I thought it was just a supplement. Grandma brought it, so I didn't think much about it."
Steven said nothing, but his gaze grew hotter, as if it could burn through her clothes. He said suggestively, "Close your computer and go take a shower."
Nora's face flushed, and her heart raced. It seemed like the heat from drinking the supplement earlier was being triggered again.
"I already showered this evening." She licked her lips.
Steven's eyes became deep and suggestive. "Come here."
Nora's ears turned red. "Maybe not. Just go take a cold shower."
"You made this supplement for me. Now that I'm aroused, you need to come take care of it yourself."
Nora blushed. "Let me use the bathroom first."
Then she saw that sexy nightgown on the hanger again.
The heat in her body seemed to intensify.
She bunched the nightgown in her hands, wanting to stuff it in the closet and hide it.
But as soon as she came out of the bathroom, Steven caught her. Seeing the nightgown in her hands, he smiled suggestively. "Want to play with this again?"
Nora's face turned even redder. "No! I was going to put it away!"
"No need to explain." Steven glanced at her and pulled her into his arms.
Nora's whole body trembled.
Could he please listen to her explanation? She really was just going to put the nightgown away!
But would that man listen?
Already restless normally, and having drunk that supplement tonight, his whole body temperature was burning hot.
He trapped Nora on the bed, his palms hot to the touch, releasing all the heat Nora had been suppressing...
Afterwards.
Nora lay exhausted in his arms.
Steven covered her with the blanket and lovingly stroked her hair. "Took care of that, feeling much calmer now, right?"
"It's all that supplement's fault."
Nora was speechless. Who would have thought Elizabeth would buy that kind of thing?
Steven chuckled softly, his voice sexy. "It probably wasn't all that kind of supplement. There might be some nutritious ones. Check tomorrow and make something to eat. You're too frail."
"There are some nutritional supplements," Nora said lazily.
"Then why didn't you make the nutritional ones today?"
"I was going to open the nutritional ones, but Grandma stopped me. She handed me the one we drank today and said it was the most expensive, told me to make it first."
So they were tricked by Elizabeth.
Steven wanted to laugh.
Elizabeth would stop at nothing to get them to have children.
"Are you uncomfortable anywhere? Tell me if you are. If not, let's sleep." Steven looked down at her.
Nora shook her head, staying lazily in his arms.
This was her favorite sleeping position, being held by Steven, warm and comfortable.
"By the way, I'm not making you lunch tomorrow." Nora arranged her hair and lay down.
Steven's sexy chin rested against her forehead. "Why not?"
"I need to go with Olivia to Apex Technologies Corporation tomorrow."
"What for?"
"Olivia said tonight that tomorrow she needs to find someone to assess the warehouse value at Apex Technologies Corporation, and also confront the mistress. I'm worried she'll get bullied, so I'm going with her to check it out."
"Just you two?" Steven frowned, not thinking it was very reliable.
"Well, there's no one else. My parents wouldn't go, and Tanner has to work."
Steven frowned.
Nora said, "Plus I don't have any other friends who could help."
The only one was Amelia, but she was an employee at Apex Technologies Corporation, so it wouldn't be good to ask her for help - it might harm her.
"Are you forgetting someone?" Steven looked at her.
Nora glanced at him, understanding what he meant. "You mean you?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Don't you see me?"
"I see you." She smiled, saying gently, "But tomorrow is Friday, you have to work. You're so busy every day, how could I trouble you?"
"I can't go, but I can find someone to go for me."
Steven held her chin, saying somewhat seriously, "If you're too embarrassed to trouble even me, then how are you okay troubling others?"
"I'm not. I wasn't planning to trouble anyone else. But who are you going to find to go with us?" Nora was quite interested, looking at him with beautiful, big eyes.
Steven felt heated again by her gaze, his eyes deepening. "I'll borrow a few bodyguards from Chris for you. If the Reed family dares to bully you, beat them to the ground."
"You're always borrowing people from him. Won't that be awkward?" Nora looked at Steven.
His face was really handsome, making her not want to blink.
Steven touched her face. "No, we have a great relationship."
Actually, they were all his own bodyguards.
"Couldn't tell." Nora actually thought Steven always seemed to dislike Chris and was very guarded against him.
"You don't understand male friendship."
Nora felt grateful in her heart and reached out to hug his neck. "Thank you, honey!"
Steven's eyes filled with a bit of desire, chuckling as he rubbed her waist. "You're welcome."
Nora laughed from the tickling.
Steven turned her face toward him and kissed her.
The soft texture of her lips was intoxicating, and kissing her made it easy to lose control.