Book 2 : She Becomes Glamorous After the Engagement

Chapter 63

Chapter 799: I Don’t Need The Account

Cherry’s mouth was stuffed, so her cheeks were bulging. Her big eyes were full of anticipation as she said, “My live-streams are really fun!”

Ian: “…”

Cherry went on. “Plus, I have a Sponsor Grandpa in my live-stream who’s my number one fan. Will you come and tip me?”

Ian swallowed a piece of meat and coughed. As Nora and Joel looked over with knowing looks, he coughed again and said, “Sure, I’ll come to cheer you on tonight!”

“Yay! I knew Grandpa loves me the most! It’s just a pity that Daddy is not at home, otherwise, he would also have come. Sigh!”

Speaking of Justin, Cherry couldn’t help but look at Nora. “When is Daddy coming back?”

The table instantly fell silent.

None of the Smith's dared to say anything, seemingly afraid that they would make Nora sad.

On the contrary, it was Nora who suddenly raised her head and looked at everyone in confusion, not quite sure what was wrong. Then, she lowered her head again and resumed eating

Everyone was speechless.

After everyone finished eating, Tanya looked at Nora hesitantly and said, “Nora, um… My condolences.”

Nora: “?”

She was a little confused. “Huh?”

Tanya spoke again. “Um, about Justin…”

Only then did Nora suddenly realize something. “Oh, I forgot that Justin is dead.”

No wonder they had all looked at her when Cherry mentioned her father just now. She forgot that Justin had faked his death.

A slightly chagrined Nora smacked her forehead.

In novels, they never let the heroine know about fake death plots. Why was Justin so unreliable even for something as simple as this? She had to constantly keep in mind that he was “dead”.

Nora sighed silently. “I’m so sad.”

After saying that, she speared a piece of steak and put it into her mouth. Then, she speared another piece and put it on Cherry’s plate. “Here, have more!”

Everyone was speechless.

Wasn’t she sad?

Why was she eating so heartily?!

They then looked at the three children and Nora again, only to see the four of them exchanging looks with one another and then digging into their food happily.

Nora had already instructed the three little fellows that they mustn’t say in front of outsiders that their father was still alive.

Everyone: “…”

After the meal, Nora went upstairs with the four children. Tanya, who had stayed behind to direct the servants in cleaning up, couldn’t help but look at Joel. She said, “I heard that some people stop feeling sad when they become too sad. Nora probably hasn’t recovered yet! She may not know what death really means, sigh! Some people suffer a whole year before they truly recover.”

Joel also frowned. He asked, “Should we get Nora a therapist?”

“Will that be too much fanfare?”

Tanya was a little hesitant. “Besides, Nora is a doctor herself, and an all-around one at that.”

Joel became a little troubled.

Ian, who was listening from the side, said, “No, it’s not necessary. I think this is pretty good. If she can’t live just because her lover died, then she’s not worthy of being my, Ian Smith’s, daughter!”

Tanya and Joel: “?”

Both of them had question marks all around their heads. Then, they looked at him in unison.

Who was the one who wanted to die all the time back then?! Just because Yvette was dead?!

Ian didn’t get the look in the couple’s eyes at all. He merely said, “Alright, Joel, come on, let’s take care of our business.”

Joel nodded. When the three of them went upstairs, Tanya was still thinking to herself that Nora must be thoroughly heartbroken.

Nora had always been like that. When they were living abroad, among the group of parents searching for their missing children, she had seemed to be the one in the best mental condition.

In truth, though, she was awfully broken deep down. Once she set her mind on something, she stuck with it for a lifetime.

It seemed that Tanya would have to find an opportunity to have a chat with her.

With that in mind, Tanya entered Nora’s bedroom. The four children were playing, so the place was very lively. Tanya said, “Nora, Dad and Joel want you to meet them in the study. They said they have something to talk to you about.”

Nora nodded, left the four children to Tanya, and headed to the study.

As soon as she entered, she saw Joel and Ian sitting upright on the sofa with serious expressions on their faces. They looked at her. After she entered, Joel got up to confirm that no one was outside. It was only after he got someone to stand guard at the door that he finally closed it.

It went to show just how important this matter was that the two of them were about to bring up.

Even Nora couldn’t help but straighten her back. She felt as if what Ian and Joel were going to talk about might be a matter of life and death for the Smith's!

Otherwise, why would they be so secretive about it?

While she was thinking about it, Ian said, “Nora, it’s like this. In order to guarantee that Joel has absolute control in the company, I’ve given 51% of my shares to him, so there’s only less than 20% left for you and the children. Joel feels that you are getting too little.”

The bland topic made Nora yawn, and she felt a little sleepy. “It’s already a lot. It’s not like I do any work there.”

Her words made Ian choke and he looked at Joel.

Joel said with a smile, “In addition to the shares, the Smith's have another important inheritance. Since Dad has shown partiality toward me in the shares, then let’s give the account to you instead!”

Nora was taken aback. “What account are you talking about?”

Joel lowered his voice and said mysteriously, “You heard us talking about the Imperial League the other time, right?”

Nora: “??!”

Joel went on. “Dad also mentioned it the other time, he had spent a lot of effort back then to join the Imperial League group. In the group, people share business information with one another and you can get information there earlier than anywhere else in the market. You should understand the significance of the account, right?”

“Yeah, I do.”

Joel nodded and looked at Ian. “So, Dad’s account will be handed over to you. Now, I’m going to tell you the Imperial League’s rules and regulations.”

Ian nodded and took out his cell phone with a very grave look on his face.

His behavior made Nora feel like they might be performing some kind of sacrificial ceremony.

Nora’s lip corners spasmed. “It’s fine.”

Ian sighed. “I know, you don’t want to take advantage of Joel, either. This account is indeed more valuable than any amount of shares. Just share the really important information with him in the future and it’ll do.”

Joel also nodded. “Nora, you don’t need to feel awkward about this.”

Nora replied, “… I’m not feeling awkward. I just don’t need the account.”

Chapter 800: I Have An Account Too

She didn’t need it?

Joel sighed. “I know that your focus is all on medical research and that you have never thought about doing business, so this account may just be something that’s nice to have but not a necessity for you, but in the future…”

Nora pressed her lips together.

To be honest, they were not allowed to reveal anything about the account to outsiders.

It was an Imperial League rule that no one, except for the successor, was allowed to be privy to its existence.

Therefore, those few subordinates of Joel’s were only aware that an incredible commercial account existed, but they didn’t know what kind of account it really was, or what organization it was part of.

Additionally, their family’s situation was also a special one-Joel and Nora were both Ian’s successors. That was why they were laying out everything and talking about it.

Even Tanya was not qualified to be a part of this meeting.

Thus, Nora hadn’t immediately explained everything clearly in the beginning.

But judging from what Joel and Ian were saying, if she didn’t make things clear, then she would have to accept the account?

Nora held her forehead.

She didn’t want it.

By then, she had also figured out why Mindy wanted to take action against her. As it turned out, it was precisely for the account!

She interrupted Joel and said, “I also have an account there.”

The room suddenly fell silent.

Ian and Joel looked at her, both stunned and puzzled.

A brief moment later, Joel finally coughed and said, “Nora, you don’t have to make things up and say that you have an account just to reject me…”

Ian was also taken aback, but he seemed to understand something and asked, “Is Justin also in the group? Did he leave his account to you? That shouldn’t be, though. If he was in there, why didn’t he say anything when King was selling his shares the other time??”

Seeing that the two of them were so flabbergasted, Nora had no choice but to tell the truth. “Cough, what I mean is… I have one of my own.”

This time, the two men became even quieter.

A short while later, Ian took out his cell phone, opened up the group chat, and asked, “Who are you?”

“Cat.”

Ian: “…”

Joel: “…”

The two men were stunned.

They looked at Nora in unison. After a while, Ian asked, “How did you join the group?”

“King added me.”

Nora didn’t understand either. “So I became part of the group just like that.”

Ian couldn’t believe it at all. “That’s it? So simple?”

“Yeah.”

Ian: “…”

He felt like his worldview had been severely impacted!

Back then, in order to join the group, he had fought and struggled abroad for so many years. On top of that, it was only after he developed the Smith Corporation so well in the country that he finally qualified for an evaluation.

Additionally, one needed at least two referrals to join the group… One shouldn’t be fooled by the seemingly small number. There weren’t even that many people in the world who knew of the Imperial League’s existence, let alone know who was in it?

It was only by a stroke of serendipity, as well as his own capabilities, that Ian managed to get two people to recognize his worth. After the referrals, he had gone through another three years of probation before he finally joined the group!

Yet Nora had been directly invited into the group by King?

The corners of his lips spasmed and he could only sigh silently. “You outdo even me, Nora.”

Joel also nodded. “That’s amazing, Nora.”

Nora smiled and said, “Therefore, I don’t need the account. Let’s just return it to Joel!”

Ian had actually given Joel the account long ago. It was just that when Ian regained motivation to live on for Nora’s sake after her return to the family, Joel had returned the account to him.

Ian handed over the account to him once more. “Since your sister already has one, then I will give this back to you! The password is still the same.”

The password was still the same.

Whenever Joel needed to, he could log in to check the news in the group at any time.

When Joel heard this, a touch of tenderness flashed across his bottomless eyes again.

Ian genuinely loved his adopted son.

He didn’t stand on ceremony anymore, he nodded and said, “Got it.”

After the matter about the account was settled, Ian looked at Nora. After thinking for a while, he finally asked, “Nora, what are your plans for the future?”

Nora raised her eyebrows. “What?”

Ian hesitated for a moment before he finally said, “The Hunt's were in a stormy situation some time ago, so I didn’t bring it up then. But you and Justin are only engaged, not married. To put it bluntly, he is just your lover…”

“He’s my fiancé.” For some reason, Nora didn’t want Ian to call him her lover, so she corrected him.

Ian paused for a moment and then spoke again. “He’s ultimately just your fiancé. You have to look forward in life… If you want to find another…”

“No, it’s fine.” Nora interrupted him and said, “I don’t have time for that.”

She then said, “If there’s nothing else, then I’ll get going.”

“Okay, you can go first if you have something up.”

By the time Ian finished, Nora had already left.

After she left, Joel mused for a moment before he finally said, “Dad, I think Nora really has feelings for Justin.”

Ian sighed. “Yeah.”

After a short silence, he said, “Everyone in our family is very devoted when it comes to love. You and Tanya have reunited as lovers, so I won’t say anything about that, but Nora… I wish she would be more fickle and avoid going down the same path I did.”

Yvette was the only one in Ian’s eyes all his life, but he had only really spent two short years with her.

For the twenty-six years, eight months, and three days that came after, he had been all alone.

He’d also thought about looking for another woman, but none of them could compare to her. Even if they were better than her in a certain aspect, in his eyes and in his heart, they still weren’t as good as her.

He’d also thought about making concessions, but in the end, he simply couldn’t.

He had already tasted the pain, loneliness, and reclusiveness of being devoted to love. Thus, when he initially found out that Nora might have another lover, despite his surprise, Ian had been relieved.

He’d rather his daughter be a little more fickle in love than have her be like him and suffer the pain of love because of someone.

At first, he had been disapproving of Nora’s relationship with Justin because the elderly Mrs. Hunt didn’t like his daughter, so he didn’t want her to suffer any grievances. Later, it was because he was afraid that his daughter would sink too deeply into the relationship.

The deeper one loved, the more painful it would be when they got hurt.

However, Justin was simply too outstanding. He visited the Smith's, again and again, proving to Ian his love for Nora. Toward the end-in fact, when they got engaged—Ian had already accepted him deep down.

Who knew that he would suddenly die at such a young age, though?

He’d deliberately used the word “lover” to mislead himself and Nora so that the latter wouldn’t be overly concerned. So what even if the children were also part of the Hunt's?

Nora and Justin were not married!

She still had the freedom to look for another man.

But judging from Nora’s stance, it looked like she didn’t plan on looking anymore…

While Ian was feeling troubled over his daughter’s future, the door suddenly opened and Cherry came in. She said, “Grandpa, I’ve started my live-stream! Come on in!”

Chapter 801: Biological Grandpa!

Ian: “?”

Cherry was already standing in front of him and took out her phone. “Grandpa, I’m livestreaming. You have to download the app first… Eh? You already have this app. Don’t tell me you watch other people’s livestream too?”

Cherry immediately felt aggrieved. “Then why don’t you look at mine?!”

Ian: “!”

Cherry was furious. “You must have gone to watch someone else’s livestream. You actually don’t like me. I’m angry!”

Ian: “…”

Cherry sounded angry as she opened his app with a stern expression. “I want to see who Grandpa looks at every day. Is she cuter than me?”

Ian: “…As cute as you.”

Cherry’s fingers froze as she pursed her lips. “Grandpa, you’re really biased. You think those wild flowers outside are cuter than me! Boohoo, you must have been seduced by some little vixen!”

Ian touched his forehead. “Who did you learn to speak like this from?”

Cherry: “Xander! He said that all the boys find the wild flowers outside more alluring! That’s why Pete keeps mentioning Mia. However, I’ve already corrected Xander. Mia isn’t a wild flower, she’s a family flower. She’s our family!”

Cherry was very loyal.

Mia had long been included in the family.

Ian: “…”

Cherry opened the live-stream app. When she logged in, she was still asking, “Grandpa, then who’s cuter, Mommy or the streamer you like?”

Ian: “…”

How could he compare his niece and daughter?

He was stumped by Cherry’s question. He was about to say something when he heard Cherry say angrily, “Don’t say they’re equally cute!”

Ian: “…”

He touched his forehead. “Look at the streamer I’m following first.”

“No, no, no!” Cherry whined deliberately. “Answer my question first. I’ll look at it later!”

Ian secretly looked outside for Nora and then whispered, “I think this girl is cuter than your Mommy!”

Cherry: “!!”

Her eyes were wide open like dark grapes as she shouted, “Grandpa, you’re so bad! How can there be anyone more adorable than Mommy?”

She shouted angrily, “I want to see who it is!”

With that, she logged in to the app. She glanced at the ID and saw the words “Sponsor Grandpa”.

Cherry: “?”

Her first reaction was: “Grandpa, your name is the same as my number one supporter!”

Then, she saw that Ian had hundreds of thousands of fans too. They were all famous for tipping Cherry. After all, people who could tip millions at once were very famous on the live-stream app.

However, Ian only followed one person.

Cherry opened it and was stunned when she saw her photo.

She suddenly looked up. “Sponsor Grandpa?”

Ian nodded helplessly.

Cherry: “!!”

She blinked and suddenly understood. Her face immediately blossomed with joy. “So you’re my Sponsor Grandpa! Grandpa, you’re too good to me!”

Ian was about to be smug when he heard her say with a stern face, “But! How can you say that I’m cuter than Mommy? Of course Mommy is the cutest and most beautiful! No one can compare to Mommy, not even me!”

Ian: “??!”

The child’s praise for her mother had really reached the peak!

Ever since she learned that Ian was her Sponsor Grandpa, Cherry called him even more affectionately in the live-stream.

“Grandpa, another plane! I want to see a plane!”

A plane floated past the live-stream.

Cherry continued to play her game. “Grandpa, if I kill all four of them, spam a row of 666s for me!”

After the fourth kill, hundreds of comments with 666 rewards flew past Cherry’s game screen.

Everyone in the live-stream realized.

In the past, sweetcherry did not really want gifts. Even when her Sponsor Grandpa gave her too many gifts, she would stop him. But now, sweetcherry had changed!

Someone below said:

“For some reason, I don’t like this attitude of wanting gifts. I can give it to you, but if you ask me for it, I’d like you less and less. I wonder if Sponsor Grandpa feels the same?”

“Same here. I keep feeling that sweetcherry doesn’t treat us as outsiders today. Besides, isn’t that Sponsor Grandpa’s temper too good?”

“Is sweetcherry short of money? She actually took the initiative to ask for tips today?”

“What a wonder! Isn’t asking for a gift too straightforward? Other streamers are very vague. Sweetcherry is too blatant!”

There was a flurry of discussions below. Cherry occasionally saw it and pursed her lips. She replied, “He’s my grandfather. What’s wrong with me wanting gifts from him?”

Everyone began to mock her.

“Is he your biological grandfather? He’s only called a grandfather if it’s biological. Do you really think that calling him Grandpa a few times will make you the granddaughter of a wealthy family? Will he acknowledge you?” “That’s right. The child is so young. She probably can’t tell the difference! Her parents don’t care either.”

Of course, not everyone spoke against sweetcherry. Among the many comments, there were not many discordant ones, so Cherry did not notice.

However, this matter reached the old madam’s ears.

After Mrs. Hunt learned that Cherry was live-streaming and that Justin did not mind, she did not care either. It was fine as long as her child was pampered. At this moment, no one knew that Mrs. Hunt was also in Cherry’s live-stream.

Cherry had seen too many of those bad comments and did not care about them. However, Mrs. Hunt did not understand them. Especially when Cherry called him ‘Grandpa’ so affectionately, it made Mrs. Hunt angry. She simply walked over to the villa.

At this moment, Nora was considering what kind of excuse to make to go to Switzerland and look for the V16. She planned to set off within two days. She had taken care of the mess Justin had left in the country. Even without her, the company could still operate fine.

She could not delay finding the gene serum for Xander.

At this moment, Mrs. Hunt entered. When she saw that Nora was lying on the bed, she immediately felt angry and said, “Nora! Why are you lying on the bed again?”

Nora: “?”

She raised her eyebrows and got up. “What’s wrong?”

Seeing that she still had not stopped being lazy, Mrs. Hunt was so angry that she did not know what to say. However, she still said, “Hurry up and control Cherry! It’s bad enough that she keeps calling an outsider ‘Grandpa’ in the live-stream, but she also keeps asking for gifts! Our family doesn’t lack money! Why is she making a fool of herself in front of outsiders? I’ll give her whatever she needs!”

Nora: “??”