Hearing Madeline’s soothing words, Derek relaxed a little. “Thank you, Madeline. I’ll try to convince my grandma to accept you. She’ll come to appreciate you.”
Madeline modestly averted her gaze. “That doesn’t matter. Being by your side is all I ask. I won’t hate your grandma or mother, even if they treat me this way.”
Sharon exploded, “What exactly are you implying? You bitch! How dare you talk about me like this in front of Derek? Is this how you repay our hospitality?”
Exhausted by the tension, Derek soothed both Madeline and Sharon before heading to the study.
Quietly settling beside Juliana, Derek hesitated before speaking. “Grandma, Madeline is the woman I want to spend my life with. Also, the Powell family and the Carter family share similar backgrounds. Why are you so against her?”
Juliana fixed him with a stern gaze, standing firm. “You were with Norah for two years, yet I’ve never seen you this committed to her. Why shouldn’t I have reservations about Madeline? Must I remind you of her past actions?”
Derek responded with a touch of indifference. “The marriage between the Carter and Wilson families was nothing more than a strategic alliance. The Wilsons sought financial gain, while the Carters hoped for a devoted daughter-in-law. Everyone in Glophia knows the disgrace. Norah, a lesser-known daughter of the Wilson family, managed to secure her place and remained unproblematic as Mrs. Carter for two years. The reasoning behind it escapes me.”
Juliana’s voice was calm but measured. “When you were bedridden, I vividly remembered the seer’s words that once foretold your destiny when you were just a child. He warned of grave challenges ahead and mentioned that marrying a guardian angel would be crucial for your recovery. Yet, who among Glophia’s esteemed young ladies would have looked your way back then? Norah stepped forward, courageously joining our family and dedicating two years to caring for you with unwavering devotion. Have these efforts slipped your mind? Norah’s presence marked the beginning of your miraculous recovery. Her contribution was vital.”
Derek cast his gaze downward, his expression shadowed and complex. “All of this was beyond my knowledge. I’ll ensure Norah is fairly compensated for her dedication over these two years.”
“Is monetary compensation enough to replace two lost years of youth?” Juliana sighed, her concern growing as she looked at her usually sensible grandson, now inexplicably stubborn on this matter. “How can you overlook Norah’s merits?”
Reflecting on her recent conversation with Norah, Juliana concluded, “I’ve made my point clear. That woman out there is not qualified to be your wife. You need to give this serious thought.”
Derek remained silent, a statue, not uttering a word for quite some time.
Meanwhile, oblivious to the discussions unfolding at Carter Manor, Norah enjoyed a peaceful rest, followed by her skincare routine and a leisurely lunch. Afterward, she reached out to Derek with a message.
“Carter, do you have any free time today? Could you meet me at the court at 2 p.m. to go through the divorce formalities?”
Since she had slept in, Norah scheduled the appointment for the afternoon.
Derek’s prompt response caught Norah off guard, as she was accustomed to waiting for his replies, sometimes up to an hour.
Derek’s message was brief: “Today’s not good for me.”
Norah texted back, “When might you have some time? I can adjust my schedule accordingly.”
“My schedule has been packed recently,” Derek replied. After that exchange, he ceased responding, despite Norah’s further messages.
Norah gazed at her phone, puzzled. She couldn’t understand why Derek, who had been eager to rush things with Madeline yesterday, pressing her for a quick divorce, was now unavailable. Norah believed Derek had wanted to propose to Madeline earlier.
Joanna joined Norah, wearing a facial mask and holding a Coke. “Norah, Bryson was wondering if you’d be interested in giving a talk at Bexlyn University. You are, after all, a distinguished alumna. What’s your take? You could share insights into your career journey with the students.”
Norah accepted the Coke, the fizz pleasantly tickling her taste buds, her eyes narrowing in contentment. “Nah, I prefer to skip it. I want to clinch first place at the Krusa Mountain Racing in four days, so I need all the time to practice and get to know the track better.”
Setting down her drink, Norah continued, “Bexlyn University tends to engage in such ceremonial activities.”
They like having honorary alumni speak as a form of prestige. Bryson is welcome to participate, but it’s not for me.
Joanna responded, “Alright, I’ll turn it down on your behalf. Bryson does enjoy these grand gestures to increase his popularity. You might not be aware, but he has gathered over a million followers on Stellar Social.”
Stellar Social, a social media platform renowned for its vast user base and focus on video sharing, boasted millions of daily active users, marking its significant influence. Bryson’s following of over a million on Stellar Social underscored his remarkable presence.
Norah recalled her seldom-used social media account offhandedly and said, “That’s quite an achievement.” Norah always viewed Bryson as the epitome of a disciplined business elite, embodying perfection in all aspects.
These days, Norah had sent Aaron a couple of design proposals, attended one of Bryson’s lectures at Bexlyn, and devoted the rest of her time to driving practice and car familiarization.
Returning to racing after a two-year hiatus brought a mix of excitement and nervousness for Norah.
On race day, Joanna drove Norah to Krusa Mountain. Participating under the code name “Noxah,” Norah embraced the anonymity required by the event’s organizers, with only select officials aware of the racers’ true identities behind their masks.
With the race over and an hour away, Norah and Joanna settled into their seats among the spectators for a chat.
“Derek, heard Nocturne’s entering this race,” Joanna remarked.
“Wouldn’t it be amazing to meet him? I imagine he’s quite handsome!” Kathy’s voice was easily recognizable, and Norah couldn’t help but frown.
“Are you sure about that? Aren’t the Carter family members part of the race’s shareholders?” Norah replied, her tone edged with concern. “Even though the Carter family isn’t on the same level as the Scott family, they are major shareholders, so it should be pretty easy to get a car driver’s contact details.”
Madeline, gripping Derek’s arm, asked sweetly, “Derek, am I correct?”
Madeline had never been involved in racing and naturally didn’t know much about the racetrack. Kathy, eager to see her favorite racer in action, had convinced Madeline and Derek to join her. Derek, not particularly fond of risky, exciting activities like racing, casually responded, “I’ll have someone check it out.”
Kathy’s excitement soared, confident in the advantages of Derek’s presence. But as she began sharing stories of Nocturne, she unexpectedly spotted someone familiar.
“Is that Norah over there? What’s she doing here? And is that a member of the Andrews family with her?” Kathy’s voice, initially loud, quickly softened as she stepped behind Madeline, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
Norah removed the black-framed glasses she had been wearing for the past two years. Her long hair was pulled back into a high ponytail, and she had applied a touch of lipstick, giving her a subtle glow in the sunlight. Dressed simply in a white t-shirt and jeans, she exuded an unmistakable charm.
Madeline couldn’t help but notice Derek’s expression, seeing a hint of admiration in his eyes. She bit her lip and clasped her hands tightly together.
Derek masked his feelings, turning to Norah with a controlled tone. “What brings you here? This isn’t a place for you.”
He believed that a kind and thoughtful woman like Norah had no place amidst the excitement of the racecourse.
Joanna sarcastically retorted, “Oh, Mr. Carter, that’s quite arrogant. Do you think you own the Krusa Mountain Racing? Well, I suppose it’s only fair that if scumbags like you two can be here, someone like me seems out of place.”
Madeline’s expression shifted subtly, and she softly responded, “Miss Andrews, do you have any misunderstandings about Derek and me? The Carter family holds a stake in this venue, and Kathy’s interest in racing brought us here. Encountering Norah was unexpected…”
Madeline then turned to Norah and said, “Norah, isn’t it time to leave the past behind with Derek? Now that you two are divorced, what purpose does it serve for you to be here in front of him? Resorting to such tactics won’t benefit you.”
With every sentence, Madeline made Norah feel small. First, she insinuated that Norah was following them, and then she suggested that Norah was desperately trying to repair things with Derek after the divorce. She even accused Norah of using underhanded tactics.
Only the best of Glophia could join the Krusa Mountain Racing. Everyone knew about the Carter family.
Although people didn’t know much about Norah, they remembered Derek and Madeline very well. Given Derek’s lack of defense for Norah since his awakening and his hasty move to divorce her after Madeline’s return, it was widely assumed that Norah meant little to him.
“What the hell are you even saying? Have you lost your senses?” Before Joanna could launch another counterattack, Norah quickly covered her mouth and turned to address Madeline.
“Let me be clear, Miss Powell. Your self-centeredness is unwarranted. I’m here to enjoy the race, and Mr. Carter hardly has the right to send me away. Please, mind your own business.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.