Chapter 385

Paul’s eyes were bloodshot. He was upset earlier and cried. He murmured, “It’s not a big deal. I feel like I’ve failed as a father. I wanted you to study hard, and you wouldn’t listen.

“I wanted you to learn management seriously, but you ignored me. You think hanging out with your girlfriends is what life is all about and what you should be doing. Well, I’ll make sure you can do just that.

“You think Jennifer is capable? Then, go stick with her. You’ll probably have a better life with her than with us.”

After speaking, Paul turned to the maid behind him and said, “Come in and help her pack up her things. In ten minutes, I want her out of here, and she’s not to come back.”

Nora was stunned. Her sheltered world had crumbled. She didn’t understand. She asked, “Dad, even if you want me out, shouldn’t you give me a reason? Are you basing your decision on this video to kick me out?

“Have you ever truly seen me as your daughter? I’m speaking the truth. Did I say anything wrong? Defending my friends, is that not the right thing to do?”

Paul replied, “Of course, it’s justified. After all, your friends must be more important than your parents. Because of what you did, many business partners have canceled their contracts with me.

“The company collapsed in just two hours because I raised a daughter who badmouthed others just for her friends. Well, that’s completely justified. I was at the party last night too.

“I saw Maris confronting the mistress. What were you trying to prove by getting involved? Go find your friends and live that flashy life with them.”

Paul spoke while crying. He had worked hard for 20 years to achieve the company’s current success. With just one action from Nora, everything was ruined.

Nora was stunned. Not long ago, she was thrilled about securing an investment for Paul, but now, her family’s business is in ruins.

She shook her head in disbelief. She said, “It’s impossible, Dad. Our family business is a small to medium enterprise, and we’ve been expanding over the past couple of years. How could we go bankrupt so quickly?”

Nora couldn’t believe anyone had bankrupted their company in just two hours.

Paul was troubled. He seemed deflated as if he had aged ten years in an instant. He said, “I also find it absurd. My 20 years of hard work were wiped out in two hours. Easton and the Spencer family have made their move, too.”

He looked at Nora and asked, “Are you satisfied with this outcome?”

Nora was in shock, trembling as she looked at the tears on his face, unsure what to do.

At that moment, Nora’s mother, Mia, rushed in and slapped Nora hard across the face.

Nora was jolted back to reality by the slap. She looked at tearful Mia and shouted in disbelief, “Mom, you hit me. You’ve never hit me before.”

Mia was very beautiful, and even as she got older, she retained her charm. Her slim and fragile figure seemed even weaker as she stood there angrily.

She laughed and cried as she said, “Nora, does Jennifer treat you so well that you’d clear her name and lead to the downfall of our Lewis family?

“All these years, how have your father and I let you down that you would listen to Jennifer to slander Natalie? Jennifer’s mother is a mistress. Natalie was abandoned by her own father.

“Jennifer is eager for you to vouch for her and clear her name, using you like a tool. Don’t you understand? She’s just trying to repair her reputation by defaming Natalie.

“How can you be so clueless? The family is bankrupt now, and we even have to mortgage this house to pay off debts. How can you be so foolish?”

Mia sobbed, leaning on Paul. She said to Paul, “Honey, let’s pack our things for now. As for Nora, let’s send her abroad. If she doesn’t want to go, I won’t care about her anymore.

“She’s just bad to the core. How did I end up with such a terrible daughter? I’ve discovered some of the things she did with Jennifer in secret. Having a daughter like this is terrifying!”

Mia felt a mix of regret and guilt but mostly anger because she couldn’t keep Nora from being led astray by bad influences.

Mia and Paul went back to their room to pack their things.

Nora slumped to the ground, feeling like her world had collapsed. She thought, ‘How does my family suddenly go bankrupt? What’s so special about Natalie?’

Her phone suddenly buzzed. She picked it up and saw it was a text from an unknown number.

The message said: [Since you’ve chosen to be Jennifer’s lackey, you’d better have the courage to face the consequences.] Nora shouted, “No, that’s impossible.” She quickly stood up but was so nervous that her legs gave out, and she fell back down. She needed to find Jennifer to ask about Natalie and Murray’s relationship. Why would Murray target her family? Her hands trembled as she picked up her phone to call Jennifer.

“What’s up, Nora?” Jennifer asked with a laugh.

With a shaky voice, Nora said, “Jennifer, I need to ask you something. Is it true that Natalie bullied and schemed against you?”

“Yeah, that’s right. Why do you ask?” Jennifer replied, pretending to be innocent.

Hearing Jennifer’s confident tone, Nora still felt lost. She said, “Jennifer, help me. I need to see Murray and Easton. How could they crush my family’s company because of Natalie and leave us bankrupt?

“I liked Murray so much and even suggested to my parents that we join our families. Why would he crush my family for Natalie, making us bankrupt? Jennifer, I ruined my family to help you. Did you know that?”

Jennifer was shocked. She asked, “Did your family go bankrupt?”

Nora cried, “Yes, we went bankrupt. We have to mortgage our house. My parents think I’m malicious, blaming me for the bankruptcy because I tried to clear your name.

“Jennifer, present the evidence to prove Natalie wrong and clear your name. Show that I wasn’t mistaken so our family can recover, Jennifer.”

Jennifer scoffed, “Nora, since it’s the Spencer family that’s intervened, just accept it because I can’t help you. Natalie and Murray have always been on good terms. There’s nothing I can do to help you.”

Nora was startled, her eyes widening. She said, “Jennifer, have you been using me all along, treating me like a tool?”

Jennifer was at a loss for words. She replied, “Nora, I never used you. I just shared my grievances with you, and you voluntarily decided to clear my name. Plus, I’ve never done those things; it was all Natalie. I’m not to blame.”

Nora suddenly snapped out of it. Jennifer was utterly shameless.

She now realized that Jennifer never asked her to do anything; it was her wishful thinking to help clear Jennifer’s name. She had gotten herself involved by her own decision.

When things went wrong, Jennifer could walk away unscathed, while she would be the one to suffer the consequences.

Nora couldn’t hear what Jennifer was saying as her body fell to the ground, unmoving.