Book 1: She Becomes Glamorous After the Engagement Annulment

Chapter 5

Chapter 13: Cherry Looks For Her Daddy

“That child… Dad was the one that handled it. He never told me. I don’t know anything…”

The sobbing Angela’s speech was unclear. As the others were a distance away from her, they couldn’t hear her clearly.

Nora frowned slightly, frightening Angela so badly that she spoke again. “I really don’t know! I swear! If I’m lying, then let my face become pockmarked! Sob…”

Angela had always been vain since she was a child. The fact that she had sworn such a vicious oath showed that she really didn’t know.

Nora couldn’t hide her disappointment.

She couldn’t be bothered to waste any more time, and she stood up and walked out slowly.

When she passed by Justin, Nora thought of how she had ultimately been violent just now and ended up embarrassing Justin.

She wanted to explain, so she looked at Justin.

The man was also looking at her, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

Nora thought for a while. After she thought of what to say, her lips parted. However, the moment she opened her mouth, she couldn’t help but yawn.

Justin was rendered speechless.

Next to him, Lawrence was furious. Never mind that she had hit someone, but she’s even yawning so arrogantly at Mr. Hunt now? Was she showing off?

As soon as the thought appeared in his mind, the expressionless woman spoke. “I definitely wasn’t trying to provoke you, Mr. Hunt.”

The corners of Lawrence’s lips spasmed a little. Only a fool would believe that!

He was just about to give her a sarcastic reply when he heard his boss’ icy-cold reply: “… Uh-huh.”

Lawrence was confused.

After explaining, Nora walked past him slowly.

Justin stared at her from the back and narrowed his eyes.

The woman’s actions just now had been decisive and straightforward and hadn’t been sloppy in the least. They were wild and fervent.

But it seemed like she hadn’t gotten what she wanted, and she looked a little sad. Her listless appearance unexpectedly made him want to help her.

As soon as the thought appeared, he heard Lawrence, who was standing behind him, complain, “It’s a good thing that you forbade them from fighting. Otherwise, judging from Miss Smith’s skill, that group of rich kids would have been beaten up by her.”

“…”

Lawrence said to himself again, “But surely she didn’t misunderstand and think that you were saving her, right? She’s already currying favor with Pete to get close to you. If she misunderstands, it’ll become even harder to shake her off!”

Justin gave him a frosty look. “You’re too noisy.”

Meanwhile, at the cafe.

Cherry wore a small T-shirt, overalls, cowboy hat, and sunglasses, and she looked as if she was dressed in an endearing hip-hop style.

She bounced into the cafe and picked up her cell phone to find that Chesty had sent her several text messages.

“Are you here yet? You’re already ten minutes late!”

“Surely you didn’t run away because you’re really a super cute girl?”

Cherry was about to reply when she received a call from Chesty. She picked up and said, “I’m here, Chesty! Table 25… 26… 28!”

An awfully bored Chester was already seated there with three empty glasses in front of him. “Yep, yep, Table 28, that’s right. You’re here? Where are you?”

“Look down.”

He looked down and saw a cowboy hat.

His gaze continued down past the hat to see his nephew, Pete’s, incredibly familiar face.

Chester was perplexed.

He rubbed his eyes and opened them again—the person in front of him was still there.

He became even more confused, and he subconsciously said into the phone, “Leader?”

“I’m here, Chesty.”

Beside him was his young nephew’s childish voice.

Coming from his cell phone was the familiar young girl-sounding voice.

The two voices overlapped, causing Chester to collapse into the chair as if he had just seen a ghost.

He looked at Cherry incredulously and stammered, “L-l-leader?”

Cherry blinked her big, round eyes. “Uh-huh, that’s me.”

She didn’t expect Chesty to be her uncle, either. The two of them had even had pizza with her father!

Cherry hung up, climbed onto the chair opposite, and sat down. Then, she said to the waitress, “A glass of milk, please. I’m still growing up, so I can’t drink coffee. Thank you.”

Her adorable self melted the waitress’ heart into a puddle of goo. “Sure, kiddo. Just a moment.”

Then, she quickly ran off to get the milk.

Chester felt as if the sky was falling.

Was this really his nephew that had always been clumsy with words?

He really was just pretending when he went against Justin all this time!

Also! It was more than enough to have just one member who was derelict in his duties and playing games all day long among the Hunts. Pete was the one and only grandson! He was Justin’s only son!

If Justin were to know that he had been playing games with Pete… Chester swallowed hard. He felt as if he could already see himself in his grave.

Chester shuddered. Suddenly, he thought of something and jumped to his feet anxiously: “Sh*t! It’s already half-past eight! Justin will be back soon! Hurry and go back up to do your homework, Pete! Otherwise, Justin’s gonna kill us both!”

He threw $30 onto the table, picked up Cherry, and ran out as if he was competing in a 100-meter dash race.

But as soon as he ran to the entrance, he immediately saw Justin exiting the bar with a group of bodyguards and waiting for the elevator.

Chester was shocked.

He put down Cherry and promptly said, “Go up the stairs to the second floor while I stop Justin. After that, hurry to the top floor! Don’t let anyone find you!”

Without waiting for Cherry to reply, Chester rushed toward Justin as if he was all prepared for his death. “I need to have a talk with you, Justin.”

Justin asked, “… What kind of talk?”

Chester braced himself against his icy gaze, bit the bullet, and said, “A… h-heart… heart-to-heart talk.”

“I’m not free,” Justin said coldly and entered the elevator.

Chester followed him in. In order to buy more time, he pressed the elevator buttons for every floor in a panic. “I-it’ll only take a little of your time, Justin…”

Justin narrowed his eyes and said with mild displeasure, “You’d best really have some kind of trouble that you want to talk to me about.”

“Justin, I think I…” Chester racked his brains, but he couldn’t think of any troubles that he had. Finally, he forcibly said, “I don’t like women?”

As soon as he said that, even he himself was dumbfounded.

What the f*ck?

What did he just say?

When he saw the contemplative look in Justin’s eyes, he panicked. “No, that’s not what I meant, Justin. I…”

A rambling Chester said a whole lot of things before he finally made it past the hurdle. When they reached the top floor and opened the door, upon seeing Pete sitting obediently at the desk and studying, he breathed a sigh of relief.

When he saw that Justin had entered the study, he sneaked over to Pete and winked. “For your sake, I’ve been totally misunderstood.

A question mark slowly appeared in Pete’s mind when he heard his inexplicable words: ?

Had Uncle Chester gone mad?

Downstairs.

A puzzled Cherry, who watched her father and uncle enter the elevator, ran after them with her short little legs. Unfortunately, she still missed the elevator.

Did her uncle tell her to go to the top floor just now?

Wasn’t there only two presidential suites on the top floor?

As it turned out, Daddy was the dummy next door that Mommy had mentioned?!

She was going to the top floor to look for her father and ask him why he had driven Mommy and herself downstairs! Didn’t Daddy like her anymore?

With that in mind, she entered the elevator, tiptoed, and pressed the button to the top floor.

Chapter 14: Narcissism Is An Illness. Get It Treated

Hotel Finest’s management was very strict, and one needed room cards in the elevator, too.

Cherry’s room was not on the top floor, so she couldn’t light up the button for the top floor even after she swiped the room card through the card reader.

She pouted unhappily. After thinking about it, she decided to return for now to the 38th floor where her room was and go up the stairs after that.

But as soon as she got out of the elevator, she ran into Nora.

Cherry instantly suppressed her desires.

She could still look for Daddy tomorrow, but Mommy was obviously a little depressed and needed her very much now!

Nora had called several private investigators, but there were still no leads. After all, if even Angela didn’t know where her son was, then her father might be the only one who knew the truth.

But to negotiate terms with her father… He was no simple-minded fool like Angela.

Just as she was lost in her thoughts, a small figure jumped over and hugged her leg. “Mommy, I love you so much!”

Her thoughts interrupted, Nora rubbed her head and asked softly, “Where did you go to have fun with Mrs. Lewis?”

Cherry looked at her fingers. She didn’t dare to look at Nora’s eyes when she lied. “We just strolled around in the hotel. It isn’t any fun here at all. Mommy, I’ll sleep with you.”

Nora let out an “Okay” and opened the door.

Then, she turned around to see Cherry leaning against the wall and striking a handsome pose. “Mommy, if you miss my brother, then you can just look at me. He probably looks just like me. We’re twins after all!”

Nora chuckled. “Boy-girl twins are fraternal. Just like ordinary siblings, it’s very difficult for them to look exactly the same.”

Cherry hung her head in disappointment. “Is that so? I thought he would look just like me.”

Nora laughed and brought her into the room.

After taking a bath, the two were lying on the bed when Nora’s cell phone rang—it was from the Smiths. She cast her eyes down and contemplated for a moment. Then, she turned off the cell phone and went to bed with Cherry.

When she woke up the next day, Cherry had already quietly gotten out of bed and was playing with Mrs. Lewis outside.

She took a look at her cell phone. Aside from dozens of missed calls from the Smiths, there was also one from her paternal aunt.

Her paternal aunt had been the kindest to her during all these years. Because of that, her relationship with Lisa was also pretty good. Thus, she returned the call.

Someone picked up very quickly, but it was her father’s voice that rang out instead. “Here I was, thinking that you’ve already left the family, Nora!”

Nora lowered her eyes lazily and got out of bed to get something to eat. “What’s up?”

“What kind of attitude is that? I have something to ask you—did you shamelessly sabotage Anthony’s proposal to your sister yesterday? And even hit her when the sabotage failed? Also, you have been saying that you wanted to annul the engagement. Now that you’ve gotten your way, why are you trying to seduce Anthony again?He’s your sister’s fiancée!”

“…”

It had always been like that ever since they were children. The moment she and Angela had a disagreement, Henry would blame her for it without even trying to find out the truth.

Nora was already used to it. She slowly said, “He doesn’t seem to be her fiancé yet, right?”

“He was going to be very soon, but you’ve messed everything up now! Come back right away and apologize to your sister! Otherwise, don’t blame me if I disown you!”

“Do what you want.”

Nora was about to hang up after giving a frosty reply when she heard Henry yelling angrily, “You ungrateful woman! Not only are you disobeying me, but do you also not care whether your aunt is alive or dead?!”

Nora paused. “What’s wrong with her?”

“What’s wrong with her? She has a brain tumor! If you have even the slightest bit of a conscience, then come to the hospital in town. Otherwise, you won’t even be able to see your aunt for the last time!”

“I’ll be right over.”

After hanging up, Nora quickly washed up, changed, and went out.

When the elevator arrived, she entered to see that there were already two professionally dressed female elites inside.

Nora closed the doors after she entered. Her eyes were closed on the way down. She overheard the discussion between the two behind her:

“Isn’t it inappropriate for us to treat the little mister like this? This is corporal punishment.”

“What nonsense are you spouting? We were sent by the old madam.

Besides, didn’t you see that the little mister didn’t even cry after he was hit? He doesn’t talk very much, either. I heard that he’s autistic.”

“What? No wonder he looks dull and slow-witted. I’m telling you this secretly, but I felt a little good when I saw him being reprimanded. So what even if you’re rich and prestigious? In the end, he still has to listen to us obediently!But what if Mr. Hunt finds out?”

“It’ll be because he didn’t finish his homework, then. Mr. Hunt is very strict with the little mister. Fathers would be at their wits’ end once their children cry or kick up a fuss, but Pete only knows how to stubbornly endure it… Even if I don’t give him lunch, I betcha he won’t even say a word about it at night.”

Ding!

When the elevator arrived on the first floor, the two tutors walked out and went to eat in the hotel restaurant.

Nora, who exited along with them, frowned. She felt exceptionally uncomfortable.

Those two had come from the upper floor, so they could only have come from the presidential suite on the top floor. Therefore, the ‘little mister’ whom they spoke of must be Justin Hunt’s son?

Nora cast her eyes down and decided to mind her own business.

The cab she booked had already arrived. She was about to get in the car when she heard a commotion behind her. Sure enough, it was Justin who had come out with his bodyguards.

Nora looked away and got into the car.

Before the car started, the sight of the child that had buried his head into Justin’s shoulder while being carried by him suddenly flashed into her mind.

Although she didn’t get a clear view of his face, he looked about the same size as Cherry, so he was likely about the same age as her.

Unease welled up in Nora. She suddenly opened the car door, got out, and walked straight towards Justin.

She was stopped by the bodyguards before she even got close.

We’ve already seen these methods a million times. Can you put in a little more effort and use a more novel pickup line?”

Nora was puzzled.

In the distance, Justin, dressed in a black suit, kept his eyes straight and entered the Bentley sullenly. He didn’t see her at all.

At the sight of the car starting, Nora’s eyes narrowed angrily. This was a rare moment where she decided to meddle for once, yet she was being misunderstood in such a way?

visit She turned around to leave. After taking a couple of steps, unable to suppress her anger, she turned back and went up to Lawrence. She repeatedly tried to hold back her anger, but still failed in the end. She said, “Mr. Zimmer, you should have Mr. Hunt neurology specialists when he’s free.

Narcissism is an illness. Get it treated.”

Lawrence was confused.

It was only after she snapped at him that Nora finally got into the cab as if nothing had happened, and went straight to the hospital in town.

There weren’t many people in the hospital.

Nora went upstairs and entered the VIP ward.

She hadn’t even seen her aunt yet when Henry walked toward her furiously and threw the contract in her face. “Nora, you have to sign the ownership transfer agreement today, and also apologize to your sister! Otherwise, don’t dream of saving your aunt!”

Chapter 15: The Siblings Meet

Nora frowned. Before she could answer, a gentle but anxious voice reached them. “Are you trying to drive me to my grave, Henry?”

On the hospital bed, a gentle middle-aged woman wearing a hospital gown struggled to get out of the bed. Her hair was all shaved, and she looked frighteningly skinny due to her illness. Her cheeks were sunken, but it nevertheless couldn’t hide her gentle personality.

She was Irene Smith, her aunt.

Nora took a couple of quick steps forward and sat on the edge of the bed. She held her hand and greeted, “Aunt Irene.”

Irene looked at Nora up and down for a moment. Then, her eyes turned red. “You look so much like your mom after you’ve slimmed down, Nora.”

Her voice trembled as she spoke. “You’ve had such a hard time outside all these years.”

During the five years when she lived abroad, Henry had never given her a single cent. It was instead her aunt who always sent her some money as living expenses.

Although it wasn’t much, it was her way of showing her kindness.

Nora’s heart was warmed.

At this point, her stepmother, Wendy, said, “Nora, your aunt has been pretty nice to you ever since you were a child, right? She’s sick now, and you’re the only one that can cure her! You won’t watch her die, will you?”

Nora frowned.

A brain tumor…

She casually tugged off the medical report and CT scan next to her and started to read them seriously.

A naggy Wendy said, “Your aunt’s operation is too difficult, Nora. A moment of carelessness and she’ll suffer brain damage, so no one in the hospital wants to do it. Dr. Larson, the head of the Department of Neurology in this hospital, is Angela’s professor at the School of Medicine in her college. If she begs him to do it, maybe he’d be willing to take the risk and give it a go.”

Wendy sighed at this point before continuing. “But now, Anthony’s saying that without the company, he’ll never get engaged to your sister. Your sister is terribly upset and in a bad mood. You can’t possibly ask someone for help in such a gloomy manner, right?So, as long as you give your sister the company, we’ll let Angela beg Dr. Larson for help. Whether your aunt’s operation goes through or not completely depends on you now.”

When Wendy finished speaking, Henry shouted angrily, “You must also apologize to Angela for sabotaging her marriage proposal, seducing Anthony out of spite, and for hitting her!”

Wendy, who was pretending to be the good guy, said, “We’re a family. What are you saying all these for? Sigh, Nora, your aunt’s illness can’t be delayed any further. Why don’t you sign the agreement immediately?”

While the two were putting on a joint act, Nora finished reading her aunt’s CT scan.

It was indeed a little tricky. The tumor had enveloped the blood vessels, so the slightest carelessness would lead to mistakes and cause her aunt to die in surgery.

Not many doctors would dare to take on a surgery like this even in New York, let alone Dr. Larson in California.

Well, aside from her, that was.

Irene yelled angrily after hearing what they said. “Henry, that company is the only thing that Nora’s mother left for her. How can the two of you be so shameless?!”

Wendy smiled. “That isn’t quite right, Irene. What do you mean by she left it for Nora? Henry and Nora’s mother were husband and wife at that time. That’s their joint property.”

“You’re so shameless…!” Irene looked at Nora again. “Don’t listen to their nonsense, Nora. My illness is incurable. Even if you sign the agreement and have them perform surgery on me, there’s a 90% chance that it’ll fail anyway. Hurry and go!”

“Okay. I’ll visit you again when I have time.” Nora put down the medical record and turned and walked out.

Her aunt was in serious condition, and it indeed didn’t brook any further delay. What was important now was to contact the hospital and borrow their equipment and facilities first.

Henry and Wendy didn’t expect that she would just up and leave like that. Moreover, she even disappeared from the ward in the blink of an eye.

Henry cursed, “She’s a total ingrate. Your kindness toward her was all in vain!”

Wendy also spoke sarcastically. “You were so kind to her, Irene. But in the end, she didn’t even want to stay a moment longer here with you!”

Irene bit her lip with her eyes red. “Finding me a doctor had nothing to do with Nora from the start.”

_

In the top-floor presidential suite of Hotel Finest.

“Why didn’t you finish your homework from noon, Pete? This section is completely blank! How are we supposed to proceed with the afternoon syllabus if you do that? Finish your homework.”

With a chilly look, Pete looked at the assignment that obviously hadn’t been given to him at noon and was already beyond his syllabus.

He didn’t speak but instead stared at the tutor just like that.

The tutor curled her lip. “What are you looking at me for? I heard that your father completed all these lessons effortlessly when he was your age. Don’t you even know how to do this question? If that’s the case, then it must be your mom who lowered your IQ genes!”

It was only when he heard the word ‘mom’ that Pete finally reacted. His jaw was taut as he picked up the pen. Then, he started to write silently on the workbook.

He already knew how to solve these problems a long time ago.

His mom wasn’t stupid!

as he finished answering it, the tutor said, “It’s wrong. Why didn’t you include the problem solving process? I’ve already told you so many times! Stretch out your hand!”

Is including the problem-solving process even necessary for such a simple question?

Pete didn’t move.

The tutor immediately grabbed his hand, took the ruler, and struck his palm hard a few times.

Smack! Smack! Smack!

The pain made Pete’s eyes widen, yet he pressed his lips together tightly and refused to speak.

“This is punishment for not attending the class seriously. Now, your punishment is to attend class while standing!”

Pete stood for two hours until even his calves were sore. Only then did the tutors end the afternoon lesson. The two tutors were still whispering between themselves when they left:

“He really can’t speak?”

“Alright, don’t talk too much. The old madam has instructed us to take good care of the little mister!”

“Okay. We’ll come again to report to Mr. Hunt in the evening. We must make him sound a little more stubborn and misbehaving. Children who don’t do their homework aren’t good children!”

After the two of them left, Pete looked at the homework assigned by the tutors on the table. He knew that his answers were definitely “wrong” again.

Even if he had completed them, they would still say that he didn’t complete his homework.

But even so, he didn’t want to speak. If he spoke… He pressed his lips together tightly when he thought of the consequences.

All he wanted now was to talk to Mommy and the little girl next door who was great at playing games.

The light in his eyes dimmed again when he thought of that.

Unfortunately, the lady next door had been driven away and she had moved one floor down.

One floor down

Pete suddenly stood up. He put on his clothes and quietly left the room. It was impossible for him to take the elevator because the bodyguards were all standing guard there.

He went along the wall toward the corner and slipped into the stairwell. Then, he opened the door and darted in.

At the same time.

Downstairs, Cherry took advantage of the opportunity while Mrs. Lewis was preparing dinner to also slip out quietly.

She didn’t manage to go there yesterday, so she would go upstairs to look for her father today!

The tiny form of Cherry, who was wearing a cool children’s outfit, entered the stairwell. Her short little legs climbed up the stairs with great effort.

As she walked, she suddenly heard footsteps coming from above.

As soon as Cherry looked up, she saw Pete walking down.

“…”

Their eyes met, and for a time, the air was incredibly still and quiet.