Chapter 201: Chapter 199: As Long as I Want You, You Are Mine (5)
Nora Ainsworth stood there, well aware that she had already offended Cecelia Willow. But she didn’t regret it. She wasn’t about to be wrongly accused for nothing when she had the power to prevent it.
Looking at the red handprint on Ryan’s face, Nora asked with feigned concern, "This is all my fault. Why don’t you hit me back?"
In front of so many people, a grown man like him was too embarrassed to retaliate over something like this. He shot her a vicious glare and then said coolly, "That won’t be necessary."
Nora continued, "I’ll go get you something for the swelling later."
He paused, looked at her, and a cryptic smile appeared on his face. "Then I’ll have to trouble you, Nora."
"It’s what I should do."
The incident seemed to be over, but Nora knew better than anyone what Ryan was planning.
’He wants to wait until we’re alone to teach me a lesson. But we’ll see who’s teaching whom a lesson!’
She bought some topical ointment for the swelling and went to the door of Room 805.
Ryan opened the door and stepped back. "Come in."
Nora went inside and bolted the door behind her.
She tossed the ointment onto the table. "I bought this for you. Don’t be shy. This stuff costs a few bucks, you know. I won’t ask you to pay me back. Consider it a handout to a beggar."
Ryan was furious. "Nora Ainsworth, you bitch! If I don’t teach you a lesson today, you’ll never learn your place!"
Nora sneered at him. "Ryan, you disgusting piece of trash who slept with the director. You deliberately framed me today and made me public enemy number one. Lucky for me, I have some dirt on you. And you still want to teach *me* a lesson? Fine, I’m waiting. Let’s see what *you’re* really made of!"
Ryan slowly advanced on her. Nora didn’t move. When he was just a few steps away, she struck first, landing a punch square on his face and following it up with a roundhouse kick to his crotch.
Caught completely off guard by Nora’s fighting skills, Ryan was seriously injured. He clutched his groin, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
"Nora Ainsworth, you...!"
"Me? What about me? Did you really think I’d dare to come to your room alone without a few skills of my own? Ryan, you’d better watch your step with me. Don’t make me beat you up every single time I see you!"
He glared at her through gritted teeth. "Nora Ainsworth, I won’t let you get away with this! You bitch!"
Nora pulled a long whip from her waist and advanced toward him. "Say that again, if you’ve got the guts."
She lashed out, the whip cracking against his body.
"AHH!" Ryan howled in pain. He spun around, looking for a weapon to fight back with, but found that there wasn’t even a stick in the room.
Watching her close in on him step by step, he trembled. "Nora Ainsworth, this is a hotel! If you dare to touch me again, I’ll call the police immediately!"
"Go ahead. I was just here to bring you some ointment. You tried to lay a hand on me, and I was only defending myself."
"You!" Ryan was seeing red, watching helplessly as she pulled a small bag of pig’s blood from her pocket and smeared it on herself. It looked exactly like a real injury. It was clear she had come prepared.
Ryan never expected that this seemingly delicate woman would have so many tricks up her sleeve.
She slowly coiled the whip back around her waist, hiding it under her coat. She shot him a sidelong glance. "Don’t even think about how you’re going to get back at me next time. If there is a next time, I’ll make you scream in agony. Try me, if you don’t believe it."
Ryan didn’t say a word. He watched her leave, then collapsed onto the edge of the bed with a groan. "That bitch!"
His dignity as a man had been utterly shattered by her. How could he possibly swallow this humiliation?
Nora had been prepared for him. She wasn’t just carrying a long, flexible whip; she also had a sharp little knife on her, just in case she needed it for self-defense.
She stepped out the door and looked up to see Leon Lynch leaning against the wall, seemingly waiting for her.
When he saw the bloodstains on her, his pupils contracted. "Did he do that?"
"No, it’s just pig’s blood I put on myself. He wanted to hit me, but he didn’t stand a chance."
Only then did Leon Lynch relax.
"Go change your clothes. I’ll take you to lunch."
Before Nora could speak, the elevator doors opened, and Mrs. Lynch walked out, a purse on her arm, her hair done up, and wearing high heels.
She walked up to Nora but refrained from getting physical. "I’ve already heard about what happened yesterday. Nora Ainsworth, you and Leon were engaged once. The fact that you didn’t get married is proof enough that you two aren’t meant to be. Let my son go. He’s my only son. If anything were to happen to him, how could the Lynch Family go on?"
Leon Lynch’s expression darkened. "Mom, I’m fine."
"You be quiet!" Mrs. Lynch’s eyes were red. "Instead of going to the office, you just stand guard over her. Has she even shown any gratitude? Son, why are you so foolish? You’re my only son! Are you trying to kill your mother with worry? There are countless other women in the world. Today, I don’t care if you want to go abroad or never come home again. Leon, Mom has decided to use force."
As she finished speaking, the elevator doors opened again, and a dozen bodyguards stepped forward. "Young Master, please come back with us."
Seeing this, he sighed. "I’ll go pack my things."
He turned and walked toward Room 804.
Watching Leon enter Room 804, Mrs. Lynch moved to slap Nora across the face, but Nora caught her hand with lightning speed. They locked eyes in a battle of wills.
"Mrs. Lynch, don’t think you can play dirty just because your son can’t see you. I’m not someone you can just slap whenever you feel like it!"
"Nora Ainsworth, I see you’re just like your mother. A bitch, born to be a homewrecker! Do you have to drive Leon to his death before you’ll let my son go?!" Mrs. Lynch shoved her. "For the sake of how much he loves you, if you marry him, I will reluctantly agree to you two being together. But if you have no intention of marrying him, then I demand you reject him outright!"
Nora lifted her head, her tone softening considerably. "I won’t marry him."
"Good. You said it yourself. Remember your words. It’s not that I didn’t give you a chance; you’re the one who didn’t take it!"
She nodded. Footsteps approached, and she turned her head to see Leon walk up to them. He had heard everything.
"Did you hear that, son? She has no intention of marrying you."
It was an answer he had already known in his heart.
"Take care of yourself. I’ll come back to see you in a few days." He ignored his mother’s words, his eyes fixed on Nora.
Nora steeled herself and said, "Don’t come back, Leon."
The air seemed to freeze. Leon looked at her. "Be good. Don’t be difficult. Just listen to me."
Without waiting for her to speak again, he turned and left.
Nora stood there, watching him step into the elevator. Their eyes remained locked until the doors slowly closed.
Back in her room, she changed, washed the clothes stained with pig’s blood, and lay down on the bed. In quiet moments like this, her mind tended to wander.
DING. Her phone chimed. She opened it to find another text from Charlotte Young: *Come out for a bit. We need to talk.*
Nora immediately deleted the text and blocked her number. When it came to Charlotte Young, she didn’t have the patience to play her games.
