Chapter 4
Dakota kept talking, “I don’t know who Tessa’s mother is, but she has to be very pretty.”
She purposely lifted her long hair to show the clear kiss mark on her
collarbone.
“Sorry, my husband is always so impatient. Does Damien act like this toward you, too?”
Norah took a deep breath and replied, “Have you ever seen a rabid dog lunging for its prey?”
Dakota’s expression changed, and just as she was about to answer, she noticed someone around the corner.
“Let’s find out if that rabid dog is lunging for its prey or for a person.”
Before Norah could understand what she meant, Dakota suddenly fell backward down the stairs.
“Ah!” Dakota screamed.
Norah quickly tried to catch her but only caught the edge of her clothes and a button came off.
Damien came running from around the corner when he heard the noise.
He saw Dakota tumbling down the steps and Norah reaching out her hand.
Damien pushed Norah aside and rushed to pick up Dakota.
0729
11
“Dakota, wake up!”
Dakota held Damien’s arm with a painful look, “Damien, don’t blame Norah. She just doesn’t like Tessa much. I only gave her some advice, and she got angry.”
After she said that, she fainted in his arms..
Damien suddenly looked at Norah, who had been pushed to the ground.
“Norah, what I hate most is people who act one way to your face and another behind your back.”
Damien carried Dakota to the hospital. “You better hope Dakota is okay, or don’t expect me to show you any mercy, not for old times‘ sake.”
Hearing the car start downstairs, Norah looked at her hand, scratched by a
stone.
It was bleeding.
The director heard the noise and came over to help Norah stand up. He looked like he wanted to say something but stopped himself.
Norah took off the silk scarf from her neck and pressed it against the cut. “Sir, I’ve been volunteering here for many years. I thought we were friends by now.”
It was lunchtime at the Child Welfare Center, and the children burst out in a joyful swarm.
Watching Tessa bounce around, the director said warmly, “Tessa is really lucky. She and Mr. Harvick get along like they’re really father and daughter.”
On the way home, Norah called a number she had saved on her phone for five years.
078
Chapter 4
The phone rang once before someone picked up.
Stephen Zorlock’s lazy, smooth voice said, “Why would Ms. Xander bother to call me?”
Norah ignored the teasing tone and asked directly, “Stephen, is our engagement still valid?”
Stephen laughed over the phone, “Ms. Xander, you must be joking. You’re married now. If you want a lover, you’re calling the wrong guy.”
Norah calmly repeated, “I just want to know if the engagement is still valid.”
Stephen suddenly moved closer to the microphone and said, “Ms. Xander, are you trying to have an affair with me?”
Norah lost her patience. “Just pretend I never called you.”
After hanging up, Norah pulled her car over to the side of the road.
The phone displayed a message from Dakota.
“Norah, what’s it like being a fake wife for five years?
“Can you guess what Damien is doing right now?”
An animated image appeared next.
Damien was dressed in an expensive suit, squatting as he tied Dakota’s shoelaces.
The cufflinks on his sleeves were the ones Norah had picked out for him.
Norah’s palm, which had stopped bleeding before, started bleeding again because she gripped the phone so hard.
07.29
Suddenly, the phone rang. It was Stephen.
“Ms. Xander, you’re still far too hasty. If you had been careful enough, you would have realized the marriage certificate was fake, wouldn’t you?”
Stephen really knew his stuff. In only three minutes, he uncovered the truth that took her five years to find out.
Norah held the phone tightly
hear your mockery, I just und said. “Mr. Zorlock. I’m not calling to
to ask…”
Stephen cut her off quietly. “Valid, and it always will be.”
Norah felt puzzled and asked, “What do you mean by that?”
Stephen, who rarely sounded serious, replied, “I mean that our engagement is always valid. If you want, I’m ready to be your legal husband, Norah.”
After a moment of silence, Norah finally spoke, “I still have some things to finish in New York. Let’s meet in front of the Chicago City Hall next
Monday.”
Stephen went back to his mocking tone, saying, “Anyone who doesn’t show up is a coward.”
Norah called him “childish” and then ended the call.
Later that evening, after dinner, Norah was about to head to the bedroom. when she heard a noise at the door.
Dakota came inside, holding Damien’s arm, followed by several servants carrying suitcases.
Damien told the servants to take the bags to the guest room, then looked at Norah.
“Dakota just got back here and couldn’t find a place to rent, so I asked her to stay at our home for a few days.”
Dakota raised her eyebrows and said, “I’m only staying a few days. Mrs. Harvick, does that bother you?”
Norah remained calm, “It doesn’t bother me. Ms. Wallace, you can stay as long as you need.”
In any case, she’d be gone in three days.
