Without insisting further, Norah turned to leave.
“Norah, did you really come here after me?”
Hearing this, Norah glanced back, noticing the immediate shift in Derek’s expression from pleasant to stern as he approached her.
Derek approached steadily, his gaze fixed directly on Norah.
Derek flattered himself and got the wrong idea. Despite all Norah’s talk about divorce and even threatening him with a court summons for the divorce, the moment she found out he was at Solo Mio Restaurant, she quietly followed him.
What a hypocritical woman. Solo Mio Restaurant requires prior booking. It’s not a place you can just walk into.
Derek approached Norah with a taunt. “You stormed off so confidently this morning, and now you’re back by my side in a rush. Playing hard to get?”
“Derek, have you so quickly forgotten our conversation this morning?” Norah stood her ground, arms crossed, and said, “Don’t flatter yourself.”
“Bumping into you is hardly my idea of good luck,” Derek clenched his jaw. “You…”
Madeline emerged, unaware of Norah’s presence, and said, “Derek, is our bill settled?” She hadn’t noticed Norah beside Derek due to her angle of approach.
Upon walking into the hall with her parents, Madeline finally spotted Norah and felt a wave of irritation. Letting go of her mother’s hand, Madeline moved closer to Derek, eyeing Norah with suspicion, and said, “Miss Wilson, did you come here to steal Derek from me? Please…” Before she could finish, tears began to form in Madeline’s eyes. “I understand, Miss Wilson, you still have feelings for Derek, but you two never shared a real connection… Why keep haunting him and resorting to such low actions?”
Rhoda approached, and her tone was firm as she studied the tearful Madeline, then turned her attention to Norah, saying, “Miss Wilson, Madeline has been quite clear. You and Derek are divorced. Technically, you and he are strangers now. Can’t you part on good terms?”
Rhoda’s opinion of Norah was tainted by Madeline’s twisted description of her as an illegitimate child of the Wilson family. Without prior knowledge of Norah, Rhoda’s attitude was dismissively arrogant.
“Madeline and Derek are in love. After the divorce, you should recognize what’s appropriate. Is there a need to disrupt their lives by acting like a mistress?” Rhoda was accustomed to asserting herself, and when dealing with someone like Norah, who seemingly lacked a powerful background, her argument shone even brighter. “Miss Wilson, let me be blunt. If you act sensibly, all is well.”
“If not, neither the Powell family nor the Carter family will stand idly by.”
Rhoda scoffed, wanting to badger the future son-in-law of the Powell family. Madeline’s future husband? Norah needed to check if she agreed first.
Norah raised an eyebrow, realizing it was a classic meet-the-parents scenario. She finally grasped Madeline’s attitude, as arrogant as her mother’s. It was clear as day to anyone paying attention.
Rhoda donned an elegantly tight dress, failing to soften her severe demeanor. Instead, she gave off a more imposing air as she scrutinized Norah, assessing her worth.
Coen, generally more measured, remarked, “Miss Wilson, part on good terms. We acknowledge your past efforts for Derek. Why degrade yourself with this situation after the divorce?”
Madeline, portraying the victim, quivered. Tears streamed down as she tightly clutched her emotions. Derek’s heart sank as he delicately wiped away her tears, soothingly saying, “Madeline, don’t cry. It’s just a coincidence that Norah is here.”
Madeline glanced up to catch Norah’s somewhat amused expression and her look of disdain before Norah looked away.
“But one needs to book in advance to dine at Solo Mio Restaurant. Did Miss Wilson arrange a reservation a month in advance?”
Derek’s face tensed as Madeline echoed the question he had intended for Norah. Before the divorce, Derek and Madeline had hooked up, and making a reservation at Solo Mio Restaurant was Madeline’s idea to celebrate her parents’ return.
Norah chose to remain silent amidst Rhoda’s groundless accusations and Madeline’s probing questions. She deemed engaging with these people, fixed in their perspectives, pointless.
Her eyes shifted from Rhoda to Coen, and then lingered on Madeline and Derek, marveling at the intricate web of fate that had entangled her with Derek. She had simply walked into Solo Mio Restaurant on a whim and happened to bump into Derek, who was with his in-laws. The situation struck her as absurd. Indeed, there was a profound, unwanted bond between her and Derek.
Derek, with a hint of impatience, stated, “Norah, only you know if this is a mere coincidence or not. Seeing me at the racetrack was unexpected, but today? We just went our separate ways after the unpleasant talk this morning, and now you’re already tailing me. I don’t know how you got hold of my whereabouts, but I’ve already made it crystal clear this morning. Until the investigation wraps up, you’d better behave, or you might end up with nothing.”
“Threatening me?” Norah’s smile was frosty. “Threats are the least of my concerns.”
Madeline, through her tears, pleaded, “Miss Wilson, I’m sorry for my words. Can you please leave Derek alone?”
Rhoda, unable to hide her disdain, suggested, “The Carter family is notable in Glophia. Perhaps Miss Wilson is reluctant to sever ties with Derek and her Carter status. Madeline, stop crying. Derek is devoted to you, and with our support, you have nothing to fear from Norah.”
Norah listened to their nonsense, thinking she could have endured longer if hunger hadn’t taken over. Preparing to leave, Norah lifted her bag and turned, ready to exit.
Just then, a voice exclaimed, “Oh, is that Miss Wilson? Are you here to dine? Please, come this way.”
The manager of Solo Mio Restaurant approached Norah with a welcoming demeanor, offering his greetings with respect. The crowd in the hall was momentarily taken aback. Derek observed Norah, his face clouded with curiosity, wondering how she had come to be on such good terms with the manager of Solo Mio Restaurant. Could it be that she had formed a bond with the owner after the recent race?
Rhoda and Coen appeared confused. They understood that the owner of Solo Mio Restaurant was a prominent figure who enforced strict reservation policies that no one dared to break. Given Madeline’s account of Norah’s status as an illegitimate child of the Wilson family, how had she managed to establish such a connection with the owner?
“Listen up, folks!” the manager said, smiling kindly. “Our boss has made it clear that Miss Wilson doesn’t need a reservation to dine here. She’s welcome anytime!” He gently addressed the receptionists, “Remember, any oversight with Miss Wilson, and you’ll no longer be needed here.” The receptionists nodded, stealing intrigued glances at Norah.
Madeline, stepping away from Derek, asked with a voice tinged with tears, “Miss Wilson, are you acquainted with the Solo Mio Restaurant owner?”
Under Norah’s steady gaze, Madeline hesitated, then added, “I heard that only those close to the owner can bypass the reservation requirement.”
Norah stayed quiet.
The manager, beaming with pride, announced, “Miss Wilson is a VIP guest here, as per the owner’s instructions to ensure she’s always well taken care of. Please, Miss Wilson, this way.”
Norah, with a slight smile and glancing at the four faces showing various degrees of displeasure, felt a surge of gratification. “I appreciate it,” she said.
As Norah passed Derek, she murmured, “This Sunday.” Derek’s puzzled look only made her smile more freely, her laughter echoing vibrantly.
The manager escorted Norah to an exclusive chamber upstairs, dedicating himself to her service and providing her with unparalleled hospitality.
Derek couldn’t shake the image of Norah’s graceful presence from his thoughts. He recalled the woman’s once tender actions, contrasting with her current aloofness. Was it truly that simple for her to let go of her feelings for him? No, that couldn’t be possible. Norah must still harbor feelings for him.
Madeline asked softly, “Derek, how is it that Miss Wilson is considered a VIP by the Solo Mio Restaurant owner? Does she have influential connections?”
Derek let out a sigh and said, “She’s chosen her path. It’s none of my business.”
He tenderly dried the tears on Madeline’s cheeks, comforting her. “Madeline, please stop crying. It pains me to see you this way.”
With a tear-stained smile, Madeline responded, “Alright, I understand. Go and settle the bill.”
She nudged Derek gently, urging him toward the cashier.
Curiosity getting the better of her, Rhoda moved closer to Madeline and asked, “Madeline, I’ve never heard of this Norah having any significant standing in Glophia. How did she come to know the owner of Solo Mio Restaurant?”
“I’ve explained this already. She’s the type to lure in men. Maybe she’s got some shady link with the owner of Solo Mio and is after Derek. She left Derek alone this morning. Luckily, I got wind of it and timely intervened,” Madeline said with bitterness.
Making Derek meet Norah was Madeline’s idea. If not, Derek would have kept Norah waiting for the finalization of the divorce, and her schemes couldn’t proceed. Whenever Madeline spotted Norah, jealousy inevitably bubbled up inside her. Despite Norah’s allegedly uncertain parentage, her beauty and poise overshadowed Madeline, the Powell family heiress. Norah’s presence around Derek fueled Madeline’s insecurity.
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.