Book 1: She Becomes Glamorous After the Engagement Annulment

Chapter 13

Chapter 37: We’ve Been Discovered!

Nora wasn’t listening to what he was babbling on and on about at all. However, when she heard what he said at the end, she looked up in surprise. “What?”

Anthony, who looked a little bashful, said, “While I can forgive you, your reputation is already a mess. If I marry you, it’ll embarrass the Grays. But I can buy you a mansion elsewhere and take care of you for the rest of your life.”

Nora found him hilarious. Her voice dispassionate, she said sarcastically, “You want me to be your mistress? I’m afraid you can’t afford it.”

Anthony hurriedly said, “I’m rich! I can give you $15,000 as living expenses every month. You can buy whatever you want with it.”

$15,000 wasn’t even enough for her to buy Cherry’s clothes.

Nora found him annoying and went around him from the left as she said, “I’m not interested in being someone’s mistress.”

Anthony also stopped her from the left. “You want to marry me? That’s not impossible, either!”

He gritted his teeth and went on. “Grandpa keeps forcing me to take you as my wife anyway. Besides, you only have a daughter, so we can just give her some money and marry her off somewhere in the future. As long as she’s

obedient and refrains from fighting or arguing with her younger siblings in the future, the Grays can take her in, even if we’re reluctant.”

He felt that his conditions were lenient enough. Any woman would probably be grateful to him, right?

Unexpectedly, a look of displeasure appeared in Nora’s eyes and a chilly aura formed all around her. “I will not let my daughter suffer any injustice.”

Anthony frowned and said, “Don’t push your luck, Nora! You can’t possibly want us to let your daughter take our last name and enjoy the same treatment as our children? That’s impossible!”

At this moment, a sharp voice suddenly reached them. “Nora! You’re trying to seduce Anthony again!”

Together with the voice, Angela also rushed over. Her arms flailed in the air as she rushed toward Nora. “I’m going to kill you!”

Anthony stopped her and shouted angrily, “What are you doing?!”

In the private room, Henry, Wendy, and Anthony’s father heard the commotion and came out. Upon seeing the three of them, Henry yelled, “Nora, are you bullying your sister again? Apologize to her!”

Wendy also spoke up. “Nora, your sister and Anthony are discussing their engagement today. I know you’re unhappy about it, but that doesn’t mean you can come over and make trouble… You were the one that did something wrong to the

Gray's by getting pregnant before your marriage and damaging both familie's reputation!”

Anthony stepped forward. “Uncle Henry, Aunt Wendy. Nora isn’t to be blamed for that. The two of us are truly in love with each other. I’m willing to accept her.”

Angela’s eyes widened. Hurt and sad, she took a step back.

Henry was shocked. “Anthony, my daughter has been stubborn and contrary since she was a child. Don’t be fooled by her! She got herself pregnant before marriage. It’ll sully your name if you marry her!”

Wendy also nodded and said, “Besides, her maternal grandparent's family is also very poor. They live in the mountains and even begged us for money today. These relatives are trouble!”

After speaking, when she saw how Anthony was still looking at Nora like a young man in love, Wendy turned to Anthony’s father and said, “Mr. Gray, you have to think carefully about this! We don’t want the Gray's to be implicated.”

Anthony’s father’s gaze fell on Nora when he heard what she said.

She was leaning against the wall, her posture lazy and sloppy. Her cat-like eyes were slightly downcast, and she seemed to have a half-amused smile on her lips. She looked as if she was being entertained by what was going on. That sense of detachment was as if the dispute here had nothing to do with her.

Anthony’s father was someone who had been immersed in the world of commerce for many years. His deep and unfathomable eyes darkened and he suddenly said, “Marriage is a lifelong commitment. Let’s have the children make their own decisions

instead. Miss Smith, do you really want to be Anthony’s wife?”

His words caused everyone to shift their gazes to Nora.

Tsk, they were finally willing to listen to her.

Nora lifted her head, raised her eyebrows, and her lips curled up in a smile. She replied, “No, I don’t.”

“…”

Everyone was dumbfounded.

Anthony was the first to react. Furious, he demanded, “What do you mean by that, Nora?”

Nora straightened her back and said clearly, “It means I’m not interested in you.”

Anthony looked at her incredulously as if he still didn’t understand what she was saying.

Angela, however, shouted, “What makes you think you can be disinterested in Anthony, Nora? You make it sound like he’s beneath you. Not only do you come with baggage, but your daughter is even a little bastard. Is a woman like you even worthy of being picky?!”

Anthony finally came back to his senses. In his anger, his choice of words was also very malicious. He said, “Nora, who are you interested in, if not me? The entire California knows that you got yourself pregnant before marriage.Apart from me, who else

would marry a wanton woman like you whose reputation is in shambles?!”

Wendy sighed and said, “How can you say that, Nora? You shouldn’t reach for something beyond your grasp. Do you really think you can do the same thing as your mom? It was sheer dumb luck that someone like her, who came from the mountains,could marry your father. Even if you’re a little prettier than most, anyone with a decent family background will never take you as their wife.”

Wendy then changed the subject again and asked, “By the way, are you here for dinner with your aunt? Where is she? Your uncle needs money for his hospitalization fees, right? Are you short of money?”

Sure enough, Anthony’s father frowned when he heard her.

At this moment, a gentle voice reached them: “Who says we don’t have enough money for medical expenses?”

The few of them looked into the distance and saw the approaching Melissa. The smile on her face didn’t reach her eyes. She said, “Mr. Smith, Mrs. Smith. You don’t have to worry about the hospitalization fees. Also, you don’t need to bother yourselves with matters regarding Nora’s marriage in the future, either. The

yourselves with matters regarding Nora’s marriage in the future, either. The Andersons will take care of it!”

Shocked, Anthony’s father asked, “The Andersons? Which Andersons?”

Melissa’s lips curled up into a smile. Her voice was gentle, but what she said ringed like a thunderclap: “The Andersons from New York.”

Anthony’s father’s eyes widened immediately!

Even Henry and Wendy were so astounded that they couldn’t say anything!

The Andersons from New York… Were they really the ones they were thinking of?

While they were hesitating, Melissa looked at Anthony again. After looking him up and down, she shook her head and said, “Let’s go back to the private room, Nora. Don’t keep your blind date waiting. ”

She deliberately emphasized the words “blind date”.

Nora knew that her aunt was trying to back her up, so she went along with her wishes and nodded. “Okay.”

The two finally turned around, only to immediately see Justin standing behind them. His deep-set eyes were raised and even the mole at the corner of his eye seemed to be smiling. With an emphasis on each syllable, he repeated, “Blind date?”

_

While the few of them were arguing, Cherry dragged Pete with her and sneaked into the stairwell.

She took off the scarf to reveal her delicate and adorable face, panting heavily as she said, “That was so suffocating! It’s a good thing that we weren’t found out, Pete!”

Then, she saw her brother pause and slowly lift his head.

Cherry turned around and also slowly lifted her head. At once, she saw Chester standing there in disbelief with his eyes wide.

Chapter 38: Nora Is Pete’s Mother!

The hallway outside was bustling with all kinds of noise.

However, the three in the stairwell were silent.

At last, after a full half a minute, Chester pointed at Cherry as if he had seen a ghost and stammered, “Y-you… You…”

Pete pressed his lips together and sighed. “Since you’ve seen us, then I won’t keep it a secret anymore.”

He said solemnly, “Actually, I have a superpower—I can create clones. If you don’t believe me, close your eyes. I’ll withdraw my clone.”

Chester was perplexed.

The corners of his lips spasmed. “Do you really think I’m that stupid, Pete? I’m not going to believe that!”

Cherry cupped her hands around her mouth and leaned toward her brother. She looked like she wanted to whisper, but her voice was in no way soft as she asked, “So, Uncle Chester does have a brain after all?”

Pete was also puzzled. “I’ll look it up when I get back. Can single-celled organisms think?”

Chester was speechless. He felt humiliated!

But right after that, he said triumphantly, “There are too many loopholes in your superpower. Can you really make a little girl version of yourself just because you can make a clone of yourself? Are you a hermaphrodite?”

That child wearing the Spider-Man outfit might look like a little boy, but she was Nora Smith’s daughter!

Cherry was confused.

Pete was perplexed.

As expected, single-celled organisms really do think differently!

The two little cuties looked at each other. Cherry tilted her head and asked, “What do we do, Pete? Do we silence him?”

Pete hesitated. “He’s my uncle. We shouldn’t do that.”

“Oh.” Cherry was a little disappointed.

The corners of Chester’s lips spasmed again. He said, “I’m going to tell Justin that apart from a son, he also has a daughter!”

He ran out after saying that.

Pete hurriedly called out, “Uncle Chester!”

However, Chester didn’t stop.

Cherry panicked. She placed her hands on her hips and yelled, “Don’t you dare move, Chesty!”

Chester’s instinct to obey instructions whenever he played games made him freeze instantly, and he even remained in a running stance.

“Come back here!”

Chester obediently returned to the stairwell. He squatted down like a silly puppy and exclaimed, “So, you’re my leader!”

Cherry held her cheeks and tilted her head. “Yes, that’s right! I’m sweetcherry!”

As it turned out, not only was his leader a five-year-old, but she was also a little girl!

Chester felt very deceived.

Pete said, “You mustn’t tell Daddy what happened today, Uncle Chester!”

Chester was puzzled. “Why is that?”

Pete was silent for a moment. Then, he said, “Think about it. If Daddy knew Cherry’s mom was the one who gave birth to me, what will he do?”

Chester felt as if his brain cells weren’t working. He said, “Her mom? The one who gave birth to you… Sh*t! You mean Nora Smith is that damned biological mother of yours?”

“…”

Chester finally understood why the two children didn’t want him to tell the truth.

Five years ago, Justin had suddenly brought a baby back and said that it was his son. When everyone asked who the child’s mother was, he had flown into a rage and strictly forbidden everyone at home from ever mentioning the child’s mother.

At that time, the few of them were even secretly wondering what exactly the woman, who had given birth to Pete, had done. Justin had looked as if he wanted to rip that woman into pieces…

Cherry said adorably, “Chesty, I want a father and a brother, but I also want Mommy. So, I want them to fall in love first before we acknowledge each other. This way, our family of four can be together. Can you keep this a secret?”

Chester shook his head. “No, I can’t keep this a secret from Justin.”

Cherry instantly transformed into a grumpy little ogre. “If you tell Daddy, I won’t bring you along in our raids anymore!”

Chester was speechless. That was a rather serious threat!

_

Meanwhile, in the VVIP room.

The three people who had returned sat there quietly. Melissa looked a little embarrassed as she explained: “I don’t mean anything by that, Justin. I was just forced by the circumstances to say that just now. Please don’t misunderstand.”

Although the Hunts were family friends with the Andersons, Justin’s identity wasn’t as simple as just the head of the Hunts.

Moreover, he hated being involved with women the most. Melissa didn’t want to offend him with what she said just now.

Justin was staring at Nora.

The woman’s eyes were downcast as she stirred the water in the glass in boredom. Her dazzling features and the icy aura around her made one unable to dislike her.

Not only was he not angry, but there was even a smile at the corner of his eyes. “It’s alright.”

Melissa and Justin chatted politely. When she realized that Nora was going to New York with him the day after tomorrow, Melissa smiled and said, “Nora, your uncle and I were also thinking of having you stay with us in New York.”

Her eyes reddened as she went on. “Your grandmother has been crying so much ever since your mother’s disappearance that she has gone blind. She has been talking about your mother all these years. She’ll definitely be overjoyed to see you.”

Nora had originally intended to refuse the offer. She was already an adult; she didn’t need to stay with them. But when she heard that, she paused and said, “…Okay.”

Food was served after that, and the three of them began to eat.

Justin observed the woman in front of him. He realized that the way she ate was very interesting. She liked stuffing large pieces of meat into her mouth and chewing on them, yet her casual movements didn’t appear crude.

Most women that Justin had met chewed slowly, but she finished the steak on the plate in just a few bites in an extremely efficient manner.

How would he possibly know that Nora just didn’t want to waste time on anything apart from spending time with Cherry?

Melissa had only just taken four bites when Nora placed her cutlery down. “Aunt Melissa, I have something on in a while, so I’ll go first.”

Melissa was dumbfounded.

Nora left the private room after saying that. When she saw Mrs. Lewis’s text message saying that Cherry had already returned, she didn’t bother going upstairs. She hailed a cab and went out instead.

Although she knew that it wasn’t appropriate to leave the meal midway, she really did have something on. Two days ago, she had already made an appointment with Wayne Myers, the acting director of Idealian Pharmaceuticals. Back then, her mother had

entrusted him with the company, and he had managed it for over 20 years now.

When Nora arrived at the cafe, Wayne was already there.

He stood up excitedly and said, “You’ve returned to the States, Nora! You must be 24 years old by now? If your mother could see you now, she would definitely be very happy.”

Wayne managed the company wholeheartedly. Despite so many years passing, he hadn’t developed any thoughts that he shouldn’t have.

Nora nodded slightly. Then, she took a seat and asked, “Wayne, I asked you out today because I wanted to ask you if my mother has left me anything apart from the company? Or whether she left me anything in the company?”

She had already looked into it.

Idealian Pharmaceuticals really was just a small company with an annual income of $5,000,000. Over the years, they even moved and changed their company address a few times.

She didn’t quite understand why the Gray's and the Smith's were so hung up over such a small company?

Wayne solemnly nodded and answered, “Yes, she did!”

Nora looked up at him. “What did she leave me?”

So, the company really was hiding something?

Chapter 39: Sharing The Same Room

Just as she thought so, Wayne answered, “Love and company.”

Nora was rendered speechless.

Wayne went on. “Although she left us early, she has paved the way for you. She may not be around anymore, but her heart has always been with you.”

“…”

After listening to Wayne blabber on and on about maternal love for over an hour, Nora, who had just eaten, couldn’t help but yawn.

It was only then that Wayne realized that he was being too long-winded. He said, “You’re already a grown-up now, Nora. When do you plan to take over the company?”

Although he had already come to care for and developed a sense of belonging to the company, the business was Nora’s. He had to return it to her.

Nora replied detachedly, “You’re taking care of it pretty well, so just continue with it.”

A small company didn’t have the usual few departments. The owner had to basically see to everything themselves. This took up too much time that she could spend sleeping!

Wayne was confused.

Nora asked, “Have the Gray's shown any interest in buying over the company?”

If what the Gray's were interested in was really the company’s development potential, then there was no need to use Anthony’s marital bliss as a bargaining chip. They could just buy over the company at a high price. It wasn’t like they didn’t have the money.

However, Wayne shook his head. “No, they haven’t.”

Nora frowned. However, since she couldn’t figure it out, she decided that she won’t think about it anymore. “If you ever think of anything that my mom instructed you to hand over to me, give me a call.”

“Sure.” Then, Wayne said, “Can I get your bank account number, Nora? I’ll transfer all the company dividends directly to you in the future.”

Back then, Nora was still a child. But when she grew up, she had gone abroad. That was why Wayne had paid the dividends to her guardian instead.

It was just five million dollars. While it was nothing to Nora, why should she give it to the Smiths?

She gave him her bank account number and left.

On the top floor of Hotel Finest.

Howard Hunt sat on the sofa arrogantly and watched Pete, who was in the study, contemptuously.

By this generation, the only direct descendants of the Hunts left were Justin’s immediate family, as well as Howard’s immediate family in New York.

As the head of the family’s direct descendant and the eldest son, Justin had also inherited the position. However, his second uncle refused to accept this and ended up causing a lot of incidents.

The Hunts living in the family home didn’t participate in the family’s business disputes.

They were only responsible for presiding over family issues. As for Howard, he was obsessed with martial arts.

He despised his family’s ways and also admired Justin from the bottom of his heart. However, he simply disliked that child of unknown origin. It was him who brought shame to Justin’s glorious life!

Moreover, not only was he mentally ill, but he was so small and weak. How could a child like that be worthy of becoming Justin’s successor?

Howard snorted and withdrew his gaze disdainfully.

The door opened at this point—Justin was back.

As the man entered the room, his almost-solid presence rushed toward Howard, causing him to sit up in a hurry. He greeted him respectfully. “Justin.”

Justin made a sound of acknowledgment and asked, “What are you doing here?”

Howard touched his hooked nose nervously and replied, “Grandpa heard that you’re going to New York to have your grandma’s condition treated, so he wants me to go with you and act as a witness. At the same time, I also thought I

would see if the old Mr. Quinn would be willing to take me in and teach me some traditional martial arts techniques.

It might seem like traditional martial arts were falling into decline as time went by, but in fact, there were still mysterious masters of the art among regular folks.

The Quinn School of Martial Arts and the Irvin School of Martial Arts ranked top in traditional martial arts. It was Howard’s dream to become their apprentice.

Justin glanced at him. He knew that the part about him wanting to join the school was true, but not so much the part about him being a witness. But joining the Quinn School of Martial Arts and learning martial arts there?

His deep-set eyes looked toward the study. Dim light flickered in his eyes and he said, “Take Pete with you. Mr. Quinn is strict when it comes to enrollment, though. You may not meet his requirements. Pete, on the other hand, has a chance."

He had already checked Pete’s body when he was a toddler. Pete was very suitable to learn martial arts. However, he was reluctant to have his son go through hardship at that time, so he hadn’t taught him any martial arts.

His son was behaving rather ‘uniquely’ lately, so it would be good to send him to the Quinn School of Martial Arts to pick up some martial arts. This way, he could ‘straighten’ him out!

Howard curled his lip disdainfully. “Him?”

However, when he made eye contact with Justin’s sharp eyes, he shut up and swallowed whatever he wanted to say next.

Deep down, he was scoffing, though. With that small and weak body of his, why would Mr. Quinn ever pick him?

Nora returned to the hotel at this time.

Her cell phone started to ring. After she changed into slippers, leaned on the sofa, and picked up lazily, she heard an angry shout from the other end. “You little rascal, have you been slacking off again?! And skipping practice?!”

Nora rubbed her ears that were stinging from his volume. “I have to sleep, Quinn. I don’t have time.”

“Send me Cherry, then! She’s your daughter, so her body must be even more suitable than yours. I’ll take her as my apprentice and have her succeed me! Have you found your son yet? Our style ultimately still suits boys better. Bring them both if you’ve found him!”

Nora replied lazily, “Has the Quinn School of Martial Arts become that destitute that they have to rely on a five-year-old to breathe new life into the school?”

Quinn yelled, “…And who’s to blame for that? It’s all because I was blind enough to take someone as lazy as you as my apprentice! That Irvin fellow keeps showing off his apprentices to me. My apprentices can’t fall behind, either!Come to New York and have a showdown with his apprentices if you’re free!”

Quinn and Irvin were lifetime rivals.

Nora replied unhurriedly, “I’m not free.”

Then, before Quinn got mad, she added, “But I am indeed coming to New York. I’ll bring Cherry over and visit you.”

“When, and what time? I’ll send someone to pick you up!”

After Quinn eagerly said that, he immediately heard Nora’s soft chuckle. The elderly man then said awkwardly, “The one I miss is Cherry, not you!”

Nora chuckled again. Then, she hung up after informing him about her arrival date and time.

She picked up a glass of water from the coffee table, took a couple of sips, and then went to take a bath.

Outside the house.

When Cherry, who was holding her cell phone, saw all this through the gap at the door, she said into the voice chat, “Chesty, Mommy’s back!”

Pete said, “Hide, Cherry. Daddy’s gone downstairs to look for Mommy!”

Cherry darted into the stairwell. Sure enough, she spotted her handsome Daddy coming out of the elevator. When he reached their suite and saw that the door was open, he went straight in.

As soon as he entered, Chester dashed over and locked the doors with a huge metal padlock.

After that, he sneaked into the stairwell and asked, “Did you make them drink what I gave you?”

Cherry replied, “Yes, she drank it! I put it in her glass of water!”

Pete also replied, “The tyrant also drank it.”

Chester then said, “Perfect! Cherry, your mission now is to prevent Mrs. Lewis from coming back. Things will definitely heat up between your dad and mom tonight!”

Cherry asked suspiciously, “What kind of drug did you give to Mommy?”

Chester grinned. “Children shouldn’t ask about things like that!”

It was that type of drug, of course! Additionally, because he knew that Justin had good self-control, he had given them a luxurious, upgraded version!

Inside the room.

Nora was taking a bath when she suddenly heard a sound outside. She walked out in a bath towel and asked lazily, “Cherry, Mrs. Lewis, are you back?”

As she spoke, she noticed the man sitting on the sofa.

“…”