Chapter 7

Nora White POV

Who sent the photos and an invoice?

I thought Liam had deleted the document before, but those photos were still saved on his phone. He could use them however he wanted.

And the letter was sent to my hometown.

Only Liam knew my hometown address.

My hands were shaking, but I still dialed Liam's number.

It rang for a long time before he answered.

"You're the one who sent it, aren't you."

There were two seconds of silence on the other end, then Liam's unhurried voice.

"Come to your senses? Then come to the office tomorrow."

He hung up.

I gripped my phone, standing in the cramped living room of my rental apartment. Outside the window were the lights of this city that would never go out.

Three hundred thousand dollars.

My bank account held less than twenty thousand.

With my representation authority suspended, I had no income.

I still owed sixty thousand dollars in student loans and had maxed out eight thousand dollars on my credit card last month.

Three hundred thousand dollars, where could I possibly get it?

Early the next morning, Nora White appeared at Kingsley Law Firm.

Liam was waiting for me in his office.

Vivian sat on the sofa holding a cup of coffee. When she saw me come in, she even smiled slightly.

A document lay on the desk.

"Sign this voluntary project credit transfer statement, apologize, and I'll handle the money."

Liam's tone was like he was discussing an insignificant business deal.

I stood in place, looking at that document.

The DuRay case was something I'd poured six months of my heart into.

This case was my entire proof of existence at Kingsley.

If I signed, I'd be completely erasing myself from this case, as if I'd never participated at all.

But my father was lying in a hospital.

"Lend me three hundred thousand dollars. I'll sign."

Liam's expression shifted.

"Three hundred thousand dollars?"

He laughed lightly.

"Nora White, bow and apologize to Vivian, and I'll give you five hundred thousand."

The air fell silent for a second.

Vivian sat on the sofa holding her coffee, the curve of her mouth unchanged.

I stared into Liam's eyes.

When he said these words, his expression showed no fluctuation whatsoever.

Thinking of my father's condition, I couldn't wait any longer.

I bent at the waist.

"I'm sorry."

I looked at Vivian.

Vivian lowered her head and sighed softly, looking full of pity.

"Nora, why go this far? Get up."

I didn't move.

I took the document from the desk, flipped directly to the last page, and signed my name.

Then I stood up.

I stood very straight.

"When will the money arrive?"

Liam looked at me. His gaze grew complex for an instant, then returned to coldness. He picked up his phone and operated it for a moment.

"The five hundred thousand is transferred."

My phone vibrated.

I didn't look at it. I turned and walked toward the door.

When I reached the doorway, Vivian's soft voice came from behind me.

"Liam, thank you. Actually, I've been too embarrassed to say this, but the DuRay case really was a project I put a lot of effort into following up on."

Liam's cold voice interrupted her.

"You don't need to explain to me. I've seen your hard work. As for Nora-"

He paused.

"Someone who can sell anything doesn't deserve your concern."

The door closed behind me.

I thought my heart had already died last night when I received Mike's call.

I didn't expect it could be stabbed again.

Walking out of the law firm building, I pulled out my phone.

Five hundred thousand had arrived.

I transferred three hundred thousand to Mike with a message.

"Use this money for my dad's surgery. Please."

The remaining two hundred thousand, along with all the previous medical bills, I transferred down to the last cent to the Hunter family's corporate account.

Then I bought a ticket on the earliest train back to my hometown.

Four and a half hours later, I stood outside the ICU door at the hospital.

Mike leaned against the hallway wall, his hair seeming to have turned white overnight.

When he saw me arrive, he opened his mouth and his eyes immediately reddened.

"Nora... your dad... he didn't make it."

My body swayed. I barely managed to stay standing.

I was still too late!

I didn't cry.

It was just that all sounds disappeared in that instant.

The world became silent.

I spent one day handling my father's funeral arrangements.

I buried my father next to my mother.

I stayed in front of the tombstone for a long time.

When the sun had half-set, I cried.

"Dad, I'm sorry."

"I couldn't give you a good life."

"I have to go now. I'll come back to see you."

Mike stood not far away. After hesitating for a long time, he walked over.

"Nora, I burned all the stuff your dad received for you. I'll explain things to the townspeople. Don't take it to heart."

I nodded at him and said thank you.

My voice was already hoarse.

That evening, I returned to my rental apartment.

I canceled my phone number.

I canceled my bank card.

I deleted all my social media accounts.

Finally, I opened my closet and packed all the things Liam had given me, a windbreaker, two scarves, a pair of headphones, into a cardboard box, wrote the Hunter family address on it, and placed it by the door.

I'd have it picked up by courier tomorrow.

Then I picked up my luggage and called a car to the airport.

My flight was in the early morning hours, heading to London.

After arriving at the airport, I had no nostalgia whatsoever. I smoothly passed through security and boarded the plane.

I sat by the window. As the plane took off, the city lights grew smaller and smaller, finally becoming a blur of light.

I turned my face toward the window, my forehead pressed against the cold porthole.

From this moment on, all that remained between Liam Hunter and me was hatred and enmity.