Book 1: She Becomes Glamorous After the Engagement Annulment

Chapter 49

Chapter 145: God-mom… Tanya???

The premium VIP wards were on the top floor of the inpatient department. The lift was full, but Tanya was simply too anxious, so she had taken the stairs instead.

Therefore, she didn’t expect to run into Joel.

Joel, who had something urgent to attend to, had to go downstairs, so he also took the stairs.

Joel was currently standing on higher ground and looking down at Tanya, while Tanya was standing on lower ground and looking up at him.

The two looked at each other.

For a while, neither of them spoke.

Tanya had rushed all the way here, for fear that Cherry was seriously ill. At the sight of Joel’s familiar face, she subconsciously felt even sadder and her eyes instantly reddened.

Five years ago, she could have made that man her pillar of support.

But five years later, he had already become another woman’s pillar of support.

The thought made Tanya hold back the tears about to gush out of her eyes. She cast her eyes down and walked around Joel so that she could go up.

Joel was watching her.

When the woman first saw him, there had been some lingering affection in her expression. It reminded him of how she had always come to him immediately whenever she was lectured by a professor or whenever she encountered some kind of difficulty.

She would hug him and cry, or hug him and laugh.

She always shared all her feelings with him. Just now, she had looked as if she wanted to rush forward and hug him.

Yet it had taken only an instant for the woman to change her mind. The look in her eyes became distant, and she even wanted to walk past him.

The rose-scented shower gel on her wafted over to him. The scent was so familiar and so long-lost that it made a lump form in his throat.

Tanya wanted to walk past the man quickly and hurry to the ward.

There was no one else in the stairwell, and the door had shut out all the noise in the hallway outside.

She felt like she could even hear the man’s heartbeat in the small, closed-off environment. The stairs were relatively narrow, so Tanya turned sideways when she passed him by.

It was at this point that the man suddenly grabbed her arm. He asked, “Tanya, do you know that there’s something going on between Justin Hunt and Nora Smith?”

Tanya didn’t immediately understand what he meant, so she frowned and said, “Their relationship can’t be made public yet. What’s the matter?”

‘Can’t be made public yet’… In other words, she knew?

Since she knew that man was two-timing her, then why was she still staying with him?

Five years ago, when she realized what had happened between him and Hillary, hadn’t she immediately left him so firmly and resolutely? Was it because she loved that man more than she loved him?

Joel felt terribly frustrated. He asked, “Therefore, you’re willing to turn a blind eye to their relationship? Or are you actually the mistress instead?”

Although he hadn’t interacted much with Nora before, he could tell that she was a very prideful woman.

Joel would never believe that she would become someone’s mistress.

But if it wasn’t Nora, then the real mistress was… Tanya?

Anger surged up in Tanya when she heard what he said, and she let out a sarcastic laugh.

So, was she actually someone like that in his eyes?

She looked down and pushed Joel away at once. Then, she said distantly, “There’s nothing between the two of us anymore, Mr. Smith. It’s none of your business whether I’m someone’s mistress or not, right?”

Tanya wanted to leave after saying that, but Joel held on to her arm, pulled her toward him again, and slammed her against the wall at the back!

Tanya’s words just now were tantamount to a tacit admission to Joel.

The look in his eyes turned dark and the aura around him also turned oppressive. He said coldly, “Since you’re willing to be someone’s mistress, then… why don’t you be mine?”

An angry Tanya snapped, “Joel Smith, can you get any more shameless?!”

Joel gripped her chin and forced her to look up at him. He said, “How much is Mr. Hunt giving you? How about I double the amount? Or is it because of the child? In that case, if you bear me a child, I’ll give you the position of Mrs. Smith. Isn’t that better?”

‘Child’…

Tanya was so furious that she was shaking all over.

She sneered, “Your behavior is going to make me think you still have feelings for me, Mr. Smith.”

Taunts had been the most effective on him in the past.

Her words indeed made Joel’s expression change, but right after that, he leaned in close. She could feel his breath on her neck as he spoke.

“I wouldn’t call it feelings, but I do miss your body very much. I wonder if it’s become even more alluring after five years of separation?”

His words were as if a hard slap across Tanya’s cheek.

She shouted angrily, “What, is Hillary not satisfying your needs?”

Joel’s voice also became a little harsher. He said, “She was never as curvy as you right from the start. After all, a dancer’s body is softer and more flexible, so you can better match me and get into all kinds of positions with me!”

“Joel Smith, you’re so shameless!”

“Shameless? I can be even more shameless, Ms. Turner. Do you want a taste of it?”

Joel started to kiss Tanya right after he said that!

A furious Tanya struggled to get away from him, only to find that the more she struggled, the more fiercely the man kissed her. It was as if he wanted to swallow her whole… She simply couldn’t push him away, no matter what she did. Tanya slowly gave up struggling.

Joel felt like he had gone crazy.

Originally, he had said all those things and provoked her just for a momentary thrill, but when he saw her admitting to it without denying anything, he found his heart hurting even more, and felt even sadder.

He allowed himself to vent all the yearning he had toward her during the last five years, but suddenly, something warm dripped onto the back of his hand.

The warm current felt as though it was scalding hot, causing his movements to suddenly stop.

Joel looked at Tanya and saw that she was really crying.

For a moment, he actually felt somewhat at a loss.

Smack!

Tanya slapped him across the cheek. Then, she pushed him away and rushed upstairs.

In the ward upstairs.

When Tanya entered, she found an alive and kicking Cherry playing games. It was then that she realized that she had been tricked. After comforting Cherry a little, she left with flustered emotions.

Joel was the only one left in the empty stairwell.

Joel clenched his fists. When he thought of Tanya’s tears just now, he suddenly gave himself a slap.

He had been a real scumbag just now.

But he really couldn’t bear to see her disrespect herself like that.

Joel leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. After a long period of silent contemplation, he suddenly heaved a huge sigh.

He stood up suddenly. However, instead of going down, he went back up.

He stood at the door and hesitated for a long time before he finally turned and walked toward the young Mr. Hunt’s VIP ward.

When he reached, he stood at the door for a long time again… At last, he pushed the door open.

However, he only saw two bodyguards and two nurses there.

Tanya wasn’t there.

His brows drew together. Then, Cherry raised her head and looked at him in puzzlement. She asked, “Handsome mister, why are you here?”

Joel was about to speak when Cherry pursed her lips and said, “I don’t like you! It must’ve been you who bullied God-mom Tanya and made her cry!”

Joel was utterly stunned when he heard what she said. He asked, “What did you say?”

God-mom… Tanya?

Chapter 146: It’s A Small World

Cherry had been part of Operation Complain To Daddy, so she naturally knew that it was Mia’s father who had bullied God-mom Tanya. However, she was still young, so she didn’t understand the complicated relationship between the two.

With her hands on her hips, she looked at Joel and said, “Handsome mister, how can you bully a girl when you’re so good-looking? God-mom Tanya was crying!”

Crying…

He thought of her tears that had fallen onto the back of his hand…

Joel suddenly stepped forward. “She’s your godmother? And not your mother? So, she’s not related to Justin Hunt at all?”

Cherry straightened her back at once. “Why wouldn’t she be related to him?!”

Joel’s heart sank, but the next moment, he heard Cherry continue:

“My godmother is Mommy’s good friend. Since Mommy and Daddy have given birth to me, then my godmother will definitely be related to Daddy, yeah! Don’t you dare bully God-mom anymore. Otherwise, I’ll get Daddy to beat you up, yeah!”

After saying that, the little fellow even got off the bed, came up to Joel, and kicked him in the calf..

Although she had kicked him with all her strength, to Joel, it was nevertheless still just a very light kick. He lowered his head and looked at the tiny fellow in front of him who was about the same age as Mia. He suddenly rubbed her head and said, “You’re right. I’m a bad person. I shouldn’t have bullied your godmother.How do you think I should apologize to her?”

Cherry, “?”

Eh?

The young mister surprisingly owned up to his mistakes very quickly.

Cherry thought for a moment and replied, “A fault confessed is one half-redressed, mister. You’re a pretty good man!”

Joel tried to sound her out and asked, “Do you know what your godmother likes the most?”

Cherry tilted her head and thought for a while. Suddenly, her eyes lit up and she replied, “I know! There’s nothing that God-mom has lacked during all these years—except for one thing!”

“What is it?”

_

“Nora! Smith! What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Nora was driving when she heard Tanya’s roar over the phone. She looked ahead lazily and asked casually, “How does it feel to meet your old flame, Ms. Turner?”

The other woman’s voice instantly became dejected and she replied, “Not so good.”

Nora chuckled softly and asked, “Did you guys manage to resolve the misunderstanding?”

Tanya didn’t reply.

Nora raised her eyebrows. “You can’t be serious, right? Are you going to let the misunderstanding continue when I’ve already created an opportunity for you?”

Tanya let out a wry laugh and said, “It’s not about that. It’s mainly because… Even if we resolve the misunderstanding, so what? The two of us can’t go back to what we used to be anymore.”

“Why?”

Tanya sighed. “He’s already in a relationship with Hillary. What would that make me, if I involve myself with them? Besides, they already have a child…”

The conversation suddenly became a little depressing.

Nora fell silent for a moment. Then, she suggested, “How about… we make him a widower?”

Tanya, “?”

She received a huge shock and quickly said, “There’s no need for that at all! Even if he becomes a widower, I still don’t like it that he was once in a relationship with Hillary. He clearly knows that she is the one person I hate the most…”

Nora was rather disappointed. “… Okay, then.”

Tanya, “…”

Then, she said, “How about a drink tonight, Nora? We’ll drink till we dro—”

Beep… beep… beep…

Tanya, “???”

As Tanya listened to the disconnected tone on the phone, she couldn’t help but feel that she and Nora must be fair-weather friends for sure!

Nora tossed her cell phone aside casually after she hung up, and drove to the New York University School of Medicine. The guards had already been notified beforehand, so they let her in immediately when she reached the gates.

She drove one round around the campus. Then, she followed the GPS navigator and arrived in front of the office building. After she parked the car, she entered the building.

As soon as she entered, she saw Director Shaw, who was nearly fifty years old, standing at the entrance. He looked at her respectfully and said, “You’re here!”

Nora nodded slightly.

The few people behind Director Shaw were shocked.

One must know that Director Shaw was hailed as a master neurosurgeon in the school! Not only was he the head of the Department of Neurosurgery, but he was also a director in the New York Hospital, and held an important position in the field of medicine.

Why would someone like him be so respectful and deferential toward a girl who looked like she was only about twenty years old?

While everyone was hesitating, held his hand out and guided her toward the front. He said, “This way, please.”

Nora followed Director Shaw to his office.

Director Shaw said to his assistants, “Hurry and make some coffee. Use the premium beans in my collection. Remember to make it stronger, so that it’s more refreshing!”

The assistants were dumbfounded.

Director Shaw usually treated those premium beans like they were his baby, yet he was actually taking them out today and serving them to a girl who looked like she was much younger than he was?

Director Shaw ignored his assistants’ questioning gazes, entered the room, and closed the door.

When he looked behind him, he saw that the big boss had already taken a seat on the sofa and was leaning back against it.

The girl wore a pair of black skinny jeans that made her legs look long and slender. She leaned against the sofa lazily with her cat-like eyes raised, but there was no warmth within them. She asked, “Why did you ask me over so urgently, Mr. Shaw?”

Director Shaw immediately waved and said, “How am I worthy of having you use honorifics for me? Anti, I asked you over because there’s an operation that requires your expertise.”

Nora raised her eyebrows. “What kind of operation is it?”

Director Shaw sighed and replied, “It’s a five-year-old child with a tumor in his brain. The tumor’s location is very tricky, and there’s a high likelihood that it’s in contact with neural nerves. If one isn’t careful, it’ll affect the child’s future intelligence development, so I’m thinking of asking you to do it.”

Director Shaw looked at her and said, “I know you only take on two operations a month and this month is already fully booked. But that child is really very pitiful, so I decided to ask you for help. Anti, I—”

Director Shaw was about to appeal to her through emotions and reason when Nora raised her eyebrows and asked, “Is that all?”

Director Shaw, “?”

Nora stood up, yawned, and said, “Couldn’t you have just called? Instead, you made me come down here specially… You can just send me the time and location of the operation.”

Then, she waved dismissively and walked out. “I’m going.”

Director Shaw, “??”

It was notoriously difficult to make surgery appointments with Anti. There were countless wealthy and powerful people begging for her help, yet they couldn’t even find her.

The Hunts and the Smiths had gone to a lot of effort to search for her, and even promised to pay astronomical consultation fees, but even so, she hadn’t agreed!

He’d thought that it would take a lot of convincing before she would agree!

He hesitated for a moment and said, “Anti, that child doesn’t come from a notable background… But don’t worry. If you take on the operation, you can take it that I owe you a favor.”

Nora responded with an ‘Okay’ and left the room.

The assistants outside didn’t dare to stop her when they saw her and even gave way to her.

Nora went to the car park. When she was about to leave, she suddenly heard someone saying in surprise, “Nora? Why are you here?”

She looked behind her to see Angela Smith and Lisa Black, whom she hadn’t seen for a long time, walking toward her.

Angela looked at her car, and then at the office building. Her brows drew together and she asked in surprise, “Surely you can’t be here to apply for postgraduate studies, right?”

Chapter 147: Are They Really Father And Daughter?

Nora was a little taken aback.

Ever since she came to New York, she hadn’t paid any attention to the ongoings in California anymore.

Although Angela was her half-sister, there was tension between them, so she didn’t want to bother with her at all.

Lisa did mention that they were coming to New York for their postgraduate studies’ entrance exams, though.

She didn’t expect to bump into them here.

She ignored Angela. Instead, she looked at Lisa and asked, “Which professor are you intending to apply for?”

Lisa glanced at Angela timidly and replied, “I’m still thinking about it. I’m planning to apply for someone who’s easier…”

“Heh.” Angela scoffed and said, “How ambitious of you. Well, I’m a completely different story. I came here with a clear goal, and that is Director Shaw!”

She looked at Nora and said, “Do you know who Director Shaw is? He only accepts four to five students every year. A tiny little unorthodox doctor like you probably won’t be able to pass the exams at all though.”

To Angela, Nora had never attended college before. The reason why she had some medical skills was that she had picked up some unorthodox skills abroad.

How would a woman who had never properly attended university before possibly be qualified to apply for postgraduate studies?

Nora, however, ignored her completely. In fact, she didn’t even exist in her eyes. She looked at Lisa instead and asked, “Where are you currently staying?”

“At the hotel next to the school. The lodging there is very cheap… You don’t have to worry about me, Nora.”

Lisa glanced at Angela after she answered. She quickly said, “You can just go, Nora. We have to go in and ask around to find out what the professors’ preferences are like anyway…”

“Go? What nonsense. Tell me what exactly you’re here for, Nora.” Angela demanded persistently, her voice as noisy as a frog’s croaking.

Nora, however, continued to ignore her. She said, “Okay. Give me a call if anything comes up, or if you run out of money.”

She got in the car.

Angela went in front of the car and blocked her path. She said, “Get out here, Nora. Didn’t you hear me? You—”

Nora stepped on the gas pedal and raced toward her!

The car suddenly sped up, causing Angela to shudder all over in fright, and she screamed.

Screeeeech!

The car stopped barely one centimeter away from her. Angela could even feel the car’s momentum!

She turned pale with fright. The woman rested an arm on the car window, poked her head out, and said coolly, “Get out of my way.”

A badly frightened Angela stepped aside in a daze.

She had only just taken a couple of steps when the car started again and sped past her with a whoosh.

Its speed was as if Nora was driving a sports car!

Angela swallowed hard. It was only when the car disappeared into the distance that she finally regained her senses. She cursed angrily, “She wanted to run me over! That little b***h! Fatty! Ugly woman! How dare she think of running me over! She must be jealous that I got engaged to Anthony!”

After Nora left California, the Gray's and the Smith's were embroiled with each other for some time. In the end, Anthony had still become engaged with Angela.

Lisa couldn’t bring herself to listen anymore. She said, “Nora doesn’t even know that you’re engaged, Angela. None of us even told her about it.”

“Shut up!”

Angela glared at her viciously. “From what I see, all you care about is Nora, right? Why don’t you stay with her instead of sticking to me, then?”

Lisa bit her lip. “In that case, give me back the money that Uncle Henry lent me.”

Their family had used up all of their savings on her mother’s illness.

Her mother had borrowed money from Angela’s father, Henry Smith, for all her travel and accommodation expenses during her trip to New York for her postgraduate studies application. However, Henry had transferred all the money to Angela, causing Lisa to be bullied by her the whole way here.

Angela pursed her lips and said, “You’re borrowing money from Dad, which makes you borrowing money from me, Lisa. Considering that you’re indebted to me, I hope you know what you should be saying!”

She frowned again after saying that. “Nora was driving a jeep just now, right? I didn’t expect the Anderson's to treat her so well… Do you think that she was here because the Anderson's are intending to let her pursue postgraduate studies?”

Angela’s eyes lit up at the thought, and she picked up her cell phone and called Henry, who was in California. She said, “Dad, I think Nora definitely has a way to get Director Shaw to do what she wants! Can you ask her to help me?”

Henry replied, “Okay!”

_

When Nora was about to reach home, her cell phone suddenly rang.

It was an unregistered number.

She wasn’t planning to answer, but because she was driving, she pressed the wrong button and accidentally picked up the call. Henry’s voice immediately reached her from the other end of the call.

“Nora, I’m your father. I was the one who raised you, so you’re obligated to support me during old age! We’ll put aside the issue about your mother’s company’s profits for now, so get the Andersons to use their connections to get your younger sister acquainted with Director Shaw at once!”

Nora, “?”

How had she set that mad dog free?

She was about to hang up when her stepmother Wendy’s voice also reached her. She said “Nora, I know you don’t want to come back anymore because you’re now living in the lap of luxury after you went to the Anderson's. You’ve also taken away your mother’s company and are not intending to give it to us, but we’re still family, at any rate. Blood is thicker than water; Angela is your sister after all. Help her out; if she becomes a famous surgeon and makes money in the future, we won’t have to pester you when we’re old, either, right? Don’t you agree?”

Nora suddenly smiled. “Blood is thicker than water?”

Wendy replied, “Yes, that’s right. You and your younger sister share the same father, so the same blood flows through your veins. You mustn’t forget your roots after you’ve climbed up the social ladder!”

The same father…

If they hadn’t reminded her, she would have almost slept herself into a daze and forgotten that she had a father.

That father of hers was a really weird one though. One couldn’t say that he didn’t treat his daughter well, because he took care of all of Angela’s needs properly. Yet at the same time, he was cold and frosty toward Nora.

It was as if it would do as long as she didn’t starve to death.

Nora cast her eyes down and suddenly raised her eyebrows. “I see.”

“Huh? What do you mean by ‘I see’? Nora, you—”

Before Wendy could finish, Nora had already hung up.

She called Lisa. “Where are you?”

A surprised Lisa replied, “I’m still at the school.”

“Okay. I’m coming to you now.”

Lisa was dumbfounded. “Why are you looking for me, Nora?”

Nora’s eyes narrowed and the corners of her lips curled upward a little. She replied, “Oh. I want to see if blood is indeed thicker than water between Angela and me.”

Lisa, “?”

She hung up on an utterly confused Lisa.

The car turned around at the intersection and went straight to the New York University School of Medicine.

Ten minutes later, the jeep stopped in front of the office building.

Nora hopped off the car slickly and walked straight over to Angela and Lisa.

Angela smiled triumphantly and said, “Hah, did Dad call you? Nora, I’ll tell you this…”

Before she could finish, however, Nora suddenly grabbed her hair. She felt a jolt of pain at once. The next moment, she saw that Nora had plucked out a few strands of her hair.

Her voice was lazy as she said, “Let me borrow this for a sec.”