Chapter 115 The Mark of a Henpecked Husband
They became the center of gossip as soon as they arrived.
Edric and Jenny approached them.
"Nora, you look stunning!" Jenny exclaimed, clasping Nora's hand and taking her in, her face a picture of amazement.
Nora laughed. "Well, didn't you say if two hours of makeup couldn't beautify me, it would be a tough transformation?"
Jenny let out a giggle at Nora’s words.
Edric grinned mischievously. "No wonder Aaron wanted to bring you to the gala."
Nora bit her lip, feeling slightly uncomfortable.
Aaron cast a sidelong glance at him. "I brought her to make sure I stay away from alcohol."
"So that's it!" Edric leaned in slightly, speaking to Aaron, "Aaron, it sounds like you might end up a henpecked husband."
Aaron remained silent.
People gradually approached Aaron to greet him, their gazes sliding toward Nora in a seemingly casual but intentional manner.
They were all subtly trying to figure out the nature of Nora and Aaron's relationship.
Just as Aaron was about to introduce Nora, a man's voice cut through the conversation unexpectedly.
"Aaron, this beauty must be your new secretary, Nora, right? She's quite a looker. No wonder you've been keeping her out of the office. What's the plan, Aaron? Keeping her as your little secret? That's not cool, man. Suzy’s gonna be jealous!"
In one sentence, Nora was insinuated to be a woman kept by Aaron.
The surrounding people looked at Nora with a glance that carried a hint of condescending understanding.
Aaron's expression grew cold.
Before he could respond, Edric let out a scoff.
"Jackson, what does Nora's relationship with Aaron have to do with you? Are you jealous? Maybe you should look in the mirror; you could use some improvement in yourself."
"Mr. Hawk."
"Don't talk to me; I don't engage with trolls."
"You!"
Jackson’s face turned dark with anger.
Aaron smiled slightly, turning to Nora. "Nora, enjoy the party with Jenny. I'm aware that my leg's not yet fully healed, so I won't be drinking."
With that, Aaron made Nora's role clear. She was his doctor, and she was here to keep an eye on him.
"Yeah, Nora, go and have fun," Edric added with a wink. "Don't worry, I’ll keep an eye on Aaron for you. If he sneaks a drink, I'll tattle to you, and you can have him come back with an apology."
Nora remained quiet.
The first part was OK, but why did it sound flirtatious toward the end?
"Nora, let's go," Jenny urged, pulling her away.
They found a quiet corner where Nora asked, "Was that the man who couldn't respond to Edric, Aaron's cousin?"
"Yeah, that's Jackson. He and Aaron probably don’t get along well."
Jenny answered and handed Nora a cocktail.
Nora took the glass, understanding the dynamics.
Aristocratic family dramas are intense as always.
"Nora, I haven't had a chance to ask you how Aaron ended up bringing you to the reception. Does he have a thing for you?" Jenny probed.
Nora chuckled, "How could that be? A couple of days ago, I accompanied him on a business trip. We managed to win back a key deal, and he rewarded me handsomely. He's a businessman, after all. That kind of money doesn't come without a twinge of pain, so he asked me to join him for another gala."
Is that so? Aaron's net worth must be in the billions! Could he really be pinchpenny?
Jenny was skeptical but kept it to herself.
"Well, it's no secret that Aaron's fiancée is rumored to be Suzy. No doubt he has no shortage of women in his life."
Jenny glanced around, her gaze settling to the southwest. "Nora, look over there, the woman in the blush-colored evening gown. That's Sunny, a drama student still in college. She's currently filming a TV drama, playing the female lead's best friend. To snag such a role right out of the gate is impressive. Rumor has it Aaron, her patron, is the one pushing her career forward."
Nora followed Jenny's gaze, her grip on her glass tightening as her eyes landed on Sunny. She could only see Sunny's profile from her angle, but the woman's figure seemed slim, and her facial contours delicate.
So Aaron is just like any other man, always yearning for beauty.
Nora's mood soured.
At that moment, Sunny, engaged in conversation with someone else, turned her head and caught Nora's eye.
Their eyes met, and Sunny curled her lips into a smile.
Nora, slightly startled, politely returned the smile.
"This is strange," Jenny commented, puzzled. "Nora, did she just smile at you? Do you know her?"
"No," Nora replied, exhaling lightly. "But I might as well have been on show like a gorilla just now. I don't know her, but she most likely recognizes me."
"Right."
Jenny nodded, steering her toward the buffet. "Nora, the appetizers here are top-notch. Let's enjoy the spread before we head out."
"Sure."
Nora smiled, pushing away her unease as she browsed the dishes with her plate in hand.
Having a friend around was a relief; otherwise, she'd be bored today.
After a cocktail and a generous helping of snacks, Nora felt full.
"Jenny, I’m going to the ladies' room."
"Sure, it's right over there," Jenny directed her.
Nora grabbed her purse and headed toward the restroom.
Around the corner, someone blocked her path.
"Nora?"
Jackson smirked, eyeing her from head to toe.
'Aaron's one lucky man,' he thought. 'This woman outshines Suzy by miles!'
"Excuse me, please step aside," Nora said coolly, attempting to walk past him.
But Jackson blocked her again.
"Nora, I heard you've been treating Aaron's leg and even landed him a big deal. There's this saying that pretty faces are just for show, but who would've thought you're not only gorgeous but also bright. It’s truly captivating," he said.
Jackson closed the distance between them, inch by inch, causing Nora to step back instinctively.
Her back hit the wall, and Jackson propped an arm against it. "I've been feeling a bit under the weather these past few days. Is there any chance you could take a look? Heal me up, and I’ll give you anything you want!"
His tone was laced with innuendo, a hint of seduction in his voice.
Without a trace of emotion, Nora asked, "Jackson, do you ever see yourself as the jester?"
The smile on Jackson's face faltered slightly. "Are you calling me a fool?"
"Yes, you're quite self-aware," she replied, her expression cool and placid. Jackson watched her, then suddenly chuckled.
"Interesting, you've got quite the wit! I like that!"
As he spoke, he reached out to lift her chin, leaning in for a kiss.
But the moment he made his move, a sharp pain shot through his arm.
Then, his hand, previously poised on her chin, dropped helplessly to his side.
Nora pushed him away and said sharply, "Jackson, you really should see a psychiatrist. You're a human being, not a tomcat in heat!"
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