Chapter 262 Time Reveals a Person's Heart
"Why would I be unable to eat?" Nora queried, the remnants of her pastry disappearing with a swallow, followed by a sip of her coffee. "The presence or absence of our father has never affected my appetite, has it?"
Across the table, Becky studied Nora's refined features, her mind drifting back to the years of torment she and her mother had inflicted upon Nora in their shared home. A flicker of something unidentifiable danced in her eyes.
After a moment of silence, she finally spoke. "What would it take for you to forgive him? Despite his faults, he remains our father, doesn't he?" The words were difficult to say, a confession of guilt she wasn't ready to fully admit.
After all, she had been the apple of her mother's eye her entire life.
However, her recent experiences performing menial tasks on a film set had begun to shift her perspective.
The young Becky had been sheltered excessively, leading to a narrow-mindedness and a lack of understanding of personal boundaries.
Now, though, she felt a renewed connection to Nora, a shared bloodline that couldn't be denied.
Of course, she kept these feelings hidden.
She wouldn't give Nora the satisfaction of knowing.
"In the days of old, princes were held to the same standards as commoners when it came to punishment for their crimes. If our father has done wrong, he should face the consequences," Nora responded, her voice steady as she took another sip of her coffee.
Becky was jolted back to the present. "So, you're choosing justice over family?"
Nora didn't reply, but her silence was answer enough.
Becky sighed, taking a sip of her own coffee. "Well, I've fulfilled my duty as a daughter. Our father can't blame me now."
At this, Nora raised her eyes to study Becky more closely. She was slightly taken aback; Becky seemed to have undergone a significant transformation.
Her demeanor, her speech, everything was different from the petulant, spiteful girl she used to be.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Becky questioned, a strand of hair tucked behind her ear as a sardonic smile played on her lips. "I asked you here to intercede for our father because he is my father. As his daughter, I felt obligated to do something for him."
"But I've been on set recently, and he hasn't shown the slightest concern for me. He's been too busy doting on his secretary, and frankly, my heart has grown cold towards him. I've done my part; I've done something for him, and my conscience is clear. I won't be getting involved anymore."
She paused, then sighed, adding, "I've seen the truth now. In this world, it's better to rely on oneself than anyone else. Self-reliance is the only real path."
Nora, hearing this, studied Becky with a more intense gaze, a small approving smile gracing her lips.
"You're absolutely right."
She was astounded that just a few days of working on a movie set had led Becky to such a realization.
It was truly their mother who had spoiled her!
The two women exchanged glances. While it wasn't exactly a shared smile of understanding, the tension that had once hung between them had dissipated.
Instead, they fell into the comfortable chatter of sisters.
That's when a man's voice echoed from a short distance away.
"Nora?"
Nora turned towards the voice, her eyes landing on Lucas approaching with a woman by his side.
She recognized the woman as the same one she had encountered in the hotel previously.
What a coincidence to run into her ex-husband here.
Nora glanced at Becky and found her gaze also fixed on Lucas.
As Lucas and the woman neared them, his previously cheerful expression darkened at the sight of Becky.
Becky's face initially brightened at the sight of him, but quickly fell as she registered his grim expression and the woman accompanying him.
Throughout her recent toil on the set, he hadn’t shown any concern for her, instead choosing to flaunt his new girlfriend around town.
The man was truly heartless!
Becky felt a surge of emotion welling up within her, ready to confront him, but then she felt a comforting warmth as Nora took her hand.
Turning back, she saw Nora looking at her calmly, her eyes clear, as if signaling her to remain composed.
Becky's inner turmoil subsided instantly.
The words she had been about to speak were swallowed back down.
With a smile as sweet as sugar, she tenderly spoke, "Sis, duty calls. We'll have to continue this another time."
Her swift shift in demeanor was remarkable.
Perhaps there was hope for her after all.
Nora's eyes sparkled with approval as she nodded, cautioning, "Mind your step on your way out."
"Goodbye."
Becky gathered her belongings, rose from her seat without sparing Lucas another glance, and strode away with an air of confidence, her back ramrod straight.
Such a performance!
Nora took a leisurely sip of her coffee, musing to herself that Becky's time on the set had not been wasted. Her acting skills were truly coming to fruition.
Lucas was evidently getting on Nora's nerves, yet she maintained an air of nonchalance, as if she hadn't a worry in the world.
In times past, she would have already begun to spew expletives.
Nora cast another glance at Lucas, finding him staring blankly in the direction Becky had disappeared, lost in his thoughts, oblivious to his surroundings.
Men could be such insufferable creatures, looking down on you when you show them affection. Yet, the moment you start to ignore them, they become intrigued.
"Nora, is she causing trouble for you again?" Lucas's question broke the silence, pulling him back to reality.
Nora took a bite of her pastry, retorting, "Didn't you hear her call me 'sis'? A sister inviting another for coffee, is that trouble?"
Lucas was taken aback, never having imagined these two sisters could sit together peacefully over coffee.
He chuckled awkwardly, "What has she been up to lately? I haven't seen her around."
Nora shot him a look, "She's busy working. After all, it's only work that won't betray her."
Lucas was taken aback for a moment, then let out a sarcastic laugh, "Busy working? What can a rich girl who knows nothing do?"
Nora was growing weary of this man. She pulled out a tissue, dabbed at her mouth, and rose from her seat. "Lucas, ever heard the phrase, 'Should view them with a fresh eye after three days'? Just wait and see."
With that, she gathered her belongings and made her exit.
At a nearby table, Emma sipped her coffee leisurely, watching Nora's departure with an inscrutable expression.
This Nora did bear some resemblance to her younger self.
She was clearly no innocent maiden.
So, how could she convince her not to join the Hamilton family?
Johnson Group...
Baldwin received a call from his agent, instructing him to head to the Johnson Group to sign a contract.
The receptionist at the front desk requested him to wait in the lounge.
He thanked her and waited patiently, but no one came to finalize the contract with him.
His brow furrowed, he decided to make a quick trip to the restroom.
As he passed the secretarial office, he overheard the secretaries conversing.
"Has Manager Mr. Frodo not emerged from the CEO's office yet? It's been twenty minutes already, do you think they could have had a disagreement?"
"That's unlikely, right? But for Ms. Quinn, a woman managing such a large company is genuinely no easy feat."
"Isn't that the truth? Mr. Frodo, acting all high and mighty because he's the only offspring from the second branch of the Johnson family, always throwing his weight around. Finally, Ms. Quinn's got something on him, planning to ship him overseas. He's definitely not going to take it lying down. Just hope he doesn't do something drastic."
Baldwin, overhearing the whispers, felt his brows furrow deeper.
After a moment, he turned and headed towards the CEO's office door.
The secretary at the door signaled that he should not enter.
He stayed silent, only to hear a man's shout from within.
"You shameless woman, don't think just because you got that seat you can keep it! A woman who spreads her legs for everyone to get where she is, aren't you embarrassed?"
Baldwin's dark eyes narrowed, and his expression grew darker.
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