Chapter 131: Chapter 129: Hurry Back and Have a Good "Exchange" (9)
"Nora, I’m so glad you’re still alive."
Ethan Ellsworth chimed in, "And get this. This idiot heard you fell into the river, and she started wailing before jumping right off the bridge after you. Even I was stunned."
"Thank you, Chloe." This was a heartfelt thanks; not many friends would go that far.
"Don’t mention it. I just hope you’ll take better care of yourself from now on, Nora."
Nora Ainsworth was deeply moved. "It’s impossible to guard against everything, but I’ll do my best to protect myself."
The two of them pulled apart, and Nora Ainsworth looked at Herman Hawthorne. "Boss, I’ve brought shame to you. I learned all those martial arts, but I didn’t even get to use them."
Herman Hawthorne waved his hand dismissively. "When you get back, have Quentin give you a lady’s handgun to carry, just in case."
Ethan Ellsworth grinned mischievously. "Quentin already gave his girl a real gun. Why does she need another one?"
Nora Ainsworth slowly turned and walked toward him. Ethan Ellsworth took a step back and immediately threw his hands up in surrender. "Nora, I was wrong!"
Nora Ainsworth smiled at him. "And how were you wrong?"
A shiver went down Ethan Ellsworth’s spine. He gave a sheepish laugh. "I misspoke. How about this? I’ll punish myself with three drinks, okay?"
Nora Ainsworth turned away. "Fine. I’ll watch you drink them."
Chloe Marshall immediately stepped forward and poured three glasses of whiskey. Ethan Ellsworth downed them all in one go. After the three drinks, his head was already spinning.
Quentin Grant stood up. "You three, come over to our place tomorrow night. We’ll have a small get-together, just us. It’s late now, but tomorrow morning, I’m holding a press conference to clear Nora’s name."
Herman Hawthorne stuck a hand in his pocket and turned. "Alright then. We’ll report to your place tomorrow morning."
The group left Temptation together.
As they were leaving, Herman Hawthorne took the initiative to ask, "Nora, where are you living now?"
Nora Ainsworth pointed to the residential complex next door. "Building 2, Apartment 801."
"No wonder you could come here every night to meet with Young Master Grant. So you live this close, huh?"
Nora Ainsworth felt a little embarrassed. "You guys should get going, it’s getting late. Ethan, you take Chloe home."
Ethan Ellsworth waved his hand. "OK, no problem. You two should hurry back and have a nice, deep ’conversation’."
Quentin Grant just smiled without saying a word, while Nora Ainsworth had long since gotten used to Ethan Ellsworth’s punch-worthy tone.
Two cars drove away, leaving just the two of them.
They looked at each other and, like an old married couple, burst out laughing in unison.
Nora Ainsworth suddenly felt her heart warm. ’This warmth that comes from within, this feeling of just standing here together... as long as he’s by my side, it feels like I have the whole world. Isn’t this exactly what I’ve always longed for?’
He wrapped an arm around her shoulder, his voice low and enchanting. "Honey, let’s go home."
Nora Ainsworth hummed in agreement and got into the car with him.
The car drove steadily toward the complex. Quentin Grant drove, turning his head from time to time to look at her. He couldn’t help but smile, and he was glancing over at her quite frequently.
So frequently that Nora Ainsworth had to protest, "Keep your eyes on the road."
Quentin Grant turned his head back and focused on driving.
Halfway there, it suddenly started to rain. The city in the rain had a distant, hazy beauty. Nora Ainsworth opened the window, and a cool breeze brushed against her face. She held out her hand, and soon her palm was full of raindrops.
Five minutes later, the car reached the entrance to the complex, and Nora Ainsworth closed the window.
As they turned the corner and were about to stop at the main gate, she saw a woman standing at the entrance, holding an umbrella.
It was Charlotte Young.
Quentin Grant saw her too. He honked the horn, the gate slowly opened, and the car drove in. Charlotte Young ran in after them.
After he finally turned off the engine, Quentin Grant said in a low voice, "Stay in the car. I’ll get rid of her."
Nora Ainsworth grabbed his hand. "If anyone’s getting rid of her, it should be me. Don’t you think?"
Quentin Grant froze for a second, then his face filled with a smile. "Yes, Mrs. Grant. Please, step out of the car."
Nora Ainsworth pushed open the car door. A black umbrella immediately opened over her head, held by one of the Men in Black, who was smiling for a change.
When Charlotte Young saw it was a woman, she wondered who could be returning in President Grant’s car. But when she saw the woman’s face, her mind went blank. ’How is it her? Isn’t she... dead?’
"Surprised, are you?" Nora Ainsworth stood before her, her presence immediately overpowering.
Charlotte Young took two steps back, her face a little pale. "You... how... how are you still alive?"
Nora Ainsworth sneered. "Catherine Callahan arranged for you to get close to Quentin. The intention is obvious. It’s just a shame that not only did I not die, I’m alive and well!"
Charlotte Young stammered, "What are you talking about? I don’t understand."
"I don’t care whether you really don’t understand or are just pretending not to. Why are you here so late at night?"
Seeing Nora’s cold tone and how she spoke as if she were already Mrs. Grant, Charlotte Young couldn’t help but feel annoyed.
"I don’t need to report my business to you. I’m here to see Quentin, not you. Why are you asking so many questions?"
Quentin Grant walked over, but before he could speak, Nora Ainsworth cut in. "Of course I have to ask. As the saying goes, your own man is a good man, but there are always bad women trying to lead good men astray. Wouldn’t you agree?"
"You haven’t even married into the Grant Family yet and you’re already this arrogant. Nora Ainsworth, why don’t you wait until after you’ve married Quentin to start showing off?"
Nora Ainsworth shook her head. "No, I’m going to show off right now. If not now, when?"
She turned to the Men in Black. "Inform the complex’s security. This woman is not allowed inside our complex ever again. Now, throw her out."
The Men in Black didn’t dare hesitate. They nodded in unison. "Understood!"
Two men directly dragged Charlotte Young out. Quentin Grant stood there, watching the whole thing without saying a word.
Nora Ainsworth looked at him. "Are you angry with me for doing that? Has your image of me changed completely now?"
Quentin Grant took her hand. "Why would I be angry? You’re my woman. Whatever you do is right."
Nora Ainsworth blinked. "Why is whatever I do right? Is it just because I’m your woman?"
Quentin Grant leaned closer, his voice pleasant and musical. "It’s also because I love you."
This was the first time Nora Ainsworth had ever heard him say he loved her.
And it was so incredibly heart-stirring.
So deeply moving.
Those were the most beautiful words she had ever heard.
She took the initiative to snuggle into his embrace. "I never thought we would end up together."
He took the opportunity to wrap his arm around her and walk toward the living room. "I never thought so either."
When they reached the living room doorway, he bent down and took out the cotton slippers she used to wear often. Nora Ainsworth, still not used to him waiting on her, said shyly, "I can get it."
But he held her foot in place. "Don’t move."
He personally put them on for her, then swept her up into his arms and carried her upstairs.
The bedroom was just as it was before, except now there was a photo of her hanging on the wall. If she wasn’t mistaken, it was the only photo of herself on her phone—the same phone she had intentionally left at the entrance of the Seagull Hotel.
