Chapter 29 Nora's child looks like you.
Puzzled, Charles went to his study to access the website.
His face turned ashen as he was met with those photos—photos of Martha in a passionate kiss with another man, young enough to be her son.
Had his wife really been unfaithful to him? And with such a young lover?
Who could have posted these photos on the company website?
Nora's promise to send him a "gift" echoed in his mind.
It had to be her doing!
With a grim expression, Charles strode out of the study and hurried downstairs.
Martha was headed upstairs to check on her daughter when Charles stormed toward her, his face twisted with rage.
"Charles, what's—"
Before she could finish, the sharp sound of a slap rang out. Martha stumbled, unprepared for the blow.
She barely had time to regain her bearings when Charles yanked her hair viciously. "Martha, are you out of your freaking mind?"
Dazed by the strike, Martha's face was a canvas of shock. "Charles, have you lost it? Why are you hitting me?"
With veins bulging in his eyes and fury uncontained, Charles hit her again, not once, but twice. "Why? Oh, you've gotten bold, haven't you? How dare you spend my money on that pretty boy?"
At his accusation, Martha's complexion shifted drastically.
She averted her eyes momentarily but retorted in defiance, "I did no such thing. Who fed you that lie?"
Charles's foot met her abdomen with a thud. “Deny it? Nora plastered your little affair with the pretty boy all over the company's website!” he exclaimed.
A sharp pain radiated through her chest. Holding her face and stomach, she felt a mix of guilt and resentment.
Was it Nora who uncovered her affair?
How did that little wretch find out?
Charles, looking at the mess he'd made of Martha, was still seething. He stepped forward, grabbed her hair once more, and continued his assault.
"Have I made life too easy for you, Martha? I plucked you from the country and introduced you to high society. And this is how you repay me?"
Feeling his manhood trampled upon, his anger grew with every thought, and he unleashed it upon her without mercy.
Martha's cries filled the air.
Becky, freshly groomed and ready for bed, rushed downstairs at the commotion.
"What's going on, Daddy? Why are you hurting Mom?"
Exhausted, Charles released his grip on Martha, panting. "Why? Ask your shameless mother! Martha, get out of here. I want a divorce!"
The very word silenced Martha's cries. She watched as Charles turned to leave and scrambled to cling to his leg.
"Charles, please, no! After all the years I've devoted to you, all the business I've brought in, forgive me."
His anger not yet subsided, he kicked her away. "Get off, stop disgusting me!"
She recoiled but grasped his leg again. "Think about it, Charles. What about my godfather? If we divorce, will he still stand behind you?"
Hearing the words, Charles's seething rage began to simmer down.
The godfather of Martha was none other than Houston's notorious Mr. Wyatt.
In his youth, he wielded influence over both the lawful and the lawless.
Now in his sixties, Mr. Wyatt still held considerable sway in Houston.
When Martha was fresh from the country and started working as a nanny, she met Mr. Wyatt.
She worked in his household for a time.
Martha was a charmer, and she managed to catch Mr. Wyatt's fancy, leading to an illicit affair.
Eventually, Mr. Wyatt's wife caught on and kicked Martha to the curb with a tongue-lashing to remember.
That's when Martha had her chance to embed herself with the Smith family and started her liaison with him.
Over the years, Martha stayed in touch with Mr. Wyatt.
And he had a hand in nurturing Charles’s business, all thanks to Martha.
He turned a blind eye to Mr. Wyatt and Martha's secret romance.
After all, business comes first.
His company needed to grow, and that meant tolerating a few imperfections.
But that didn't mean he could stomach Martha entertaining some Pretty Boy!
Charles's face darkened with a stormy look.
He yanked Martha's hair viciously and barked, "Listen Martha, I'm letting this slide but mark my words, if I catch you spending my dough on that Pretty Boy again, I'll end you!"
With that, he let go of Martha and stormed upstairs, dialing his assistant to handle this unexpected debacle as he went.
"Mom, are you okay? What the heck happened?" asked Becky, helping Martha to her feet, still in shock.
Martha wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and touched her swollen cheek, her eyes ablaze with malice.
"It's all because of that little tramp, Nora. I'll make her pay!"
Grabbing her phone, Martha dialed a number.
Tears began to flow as soon as the call connected.
"Godfather, you have to stand up for me," she wept.
An aged male voice came through, "Why the tears? Who's given you trouble?"
Choking back sobs, Martha began, "It's like this..." but was interrupted by a loud bang over the line.
Startled, Martha listened to the dial tone, heart skipping a beat.
"Godfather, what happened to you?"
Nightfall came as scheduled.
Noe, familiar with the place, pushed open the door on the first floor of the suburban home.
"Mr. Gordon, your instructions have been carried out. Edric managed to get that bizarre rule at the preschool canceled."
Aaron hummed in acknowledgment, "I'm already aware."
Noe continued, "Edric kept bugging me to find out where you were staying. I couldn't fend him off, so I told him you were here."
Aaron's lips curved into a slight smile. "It's fine, no harm in him knowing."
"He'll probably come to look for you within the next few days. I've informed him you don't want Nora to know who you are just yet."
"Edric knows his limits."
Aaron paused before turning to Noe. "Who did Nora go to see this afternoon?"
Noe hesitated for a moment, then pulled out his phone and showed a video.
"Mr. Gordon, she went to see Lucas. This is the footage sent by her bodyguard."
Nora visited her ex-husband?
A shadow flickered across Aaron's dark eyes as he took the phone to watch the video.
In it, Nora was pummeling Becky, pouring her heart out to the onlookers in tears.
Aaron heard Nora shouting 'Husband' again and again, stirring an inexplicable irritation within him.
She still hadn't forgotten such a scumbag?
"Mr. Gordon, should we give Nora a hand with this?"
Noe ventured to ask.
Aaron retorted, "Are you that idle? Have you been slacking off in my absence?"
Startled, Noe quickly replied, "Certainly not."
"I think you have. Otherwise, why would you be meddling in someone else’s personal affairs?"
Aaron tossed the phone back to him.
Noe caught it deftly, his face was filled with grievance.
Wasn't his interference just because he felt Nora was important to their CEO?
Only if Nora was happy would she put in the effort to heal their CEO.
Why wasn't the CEO pleased?
It was as though something precious had been snatched away from him.
"Go back," Aaron said coldly.
"Yes, sir."
Noe made a hasty retreat.
The room fell back into silence.
Aaron stared at the ceiling, closed his eyes, but sleep eluded him for a long while.
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