Chapter 8 Facing the Past

While the three people stared at each other in shock, Asher frowned in confusion. "Do you all know each other?"

Asher's question shifted everyone's focus.

Laura looked slightly awkward. "Ah... yes, I—"

Before Laura could finish answering, Nora quickly interjected, "We're old acquaintances!" She looked at Laura and gave a meaningful look. "Laura is a former employee of my family's company."

Nora's statement successfully made Laura and Noah frown. Old acquaintances? They were sisters!

Where he stood, Noah looked at Nora with a troubled expression. "Nora, you—"

"Noah…" Nora called out in a low voice. Her gaze seemed to emphasize something as she spoke in a tone only Noah could hear. "Don't complicate things."

Nora's words silenced Noah, understanding Nora was warning him that Laura's situation was already complicated enough. Simon had disowned her, so no one should bring up Laura's background as Laura Hartley!

Laura, meanwhile, just offered a bitter smile, especially seeing the closeness between Nora and Noah.

Asher looked suspicious but decided to dismiss it, not wanting to care too much about his employee's past. "Is that so?"

Nora smiled. "If you don't mind, I'd like to talk to her for a moment."

For some reason, Nora's actions annoyed Asher slightly. She had just walked in without even introducing herself and was already daring to borrow his secretary. However, considering she was Noah Myers's future wife, he nodded his head.

"Fifteen minutes," Asher commanded coldly before walking over and sitting on the sofa across from where Noah had been sitting earlier.

Nora then pulled Laura's hand after Asher gave permission.

Once outside, Nora ensured no one was around them. Nora immediately hugged Laura.

"Laura, how are you...?" Nora released her. "I was so worried about you!"

Seeing the sad and remorseful look on Nora's face, Laura felt awkward. After all, she still harbored resentment over the incident that had befallen her due to her sister's negligence.

Besides, if Nora was truly worried, why hadn't Laura received a single call from her since the incident until now?

"I'm fine..." Laura replied briefly.

There were many questions Laura wanted to ask Nora, but now it felt pointless. She didn't want to know anymore because there was no use.

Since Laura wasn't talking, Nora's eyes welled up with tears. She covered her face with both hands and started crying.

"You must hate me after everything that happened..." Nora said, surprising Laura and making her feel even more awkward. "I'm sorry, Laura. I'm so sorry..."

Nora's crying made several people passing by glance at her and Laura. They didn't hesitate to give Laura disapproving looks, assuming the woman had made someone cry.

With a forced smile, Laura said, "Nora... I don't hate you."

Laura's heart ached slightly saying that, because deep down, she did harbor resentment towards Nora for the disaster that had struck her. However, she had to accept the reality that the incident that night was also due to her own carelessness.

"Really?" Nora lifted her head and looked at Laura. Seeing her sister nod, Nora smiled. "That's good then. I thought you would blame me for ending up replacing you to marry Noah. But that was Dad's and the Myers family's decision! Since Noah also agreed, there was nothing I could do!"

Nora's explanation made Laura's chest tighten. 'Ah... so... Noah agreed too.'

The sadness on Laura's face made Nora smile. 'Look at her face... truly satisfying,' she thought, seeing Laura tormented.

With a smile that was increasingly forced, Laura said, "I don't mind. I hope everything goes smoothly until the wedding."

Hearing that, Nora offered a grateful smile. Then, Nora asked the question she was dying to know the answer to. "Why are you here?"

Laura answered with a faint smile, "Working. I am Mr. Smith's secretary."

A second after answering Nora's question, Laura saw her sister's face turn slightly troubled mixed with worry.

"Laura, I don't think it's good for you to work here. What if you meet other members of the Myers family and they scold you?"

Nora's question confused Laura. "What do you mean?"

Nora's eyes widened. "You don't know? Asher Smith is Noah's uncle."

Laura's eyes widened on the spot. "What?"

-

"So, what will you use as the base material for that jewelry design?" Asher asked Noah, who was sitting in front of him.

One second, two seconds, five seconds. There was no answer.

Asher lifted his gaze from the design in his hand and realized Noah's eyes were fixed on the closed door. This made Asher narrow his eyes.

From the moment Noah met Laura, He seemed unable to fully focus on the work at hand. Especially since Laura left the room with Nora, Noah had glanced at the door ten times!

Realizing something was wrong, Asher closed the document in his hand and called, "Noah." Still no answer. "Noah!"

Asher's sharp tone startled Noah, and he shifted his gaze to his uncle. "Y-yes, Uncle Asher?"

"What's wrong with you?"

Aware that he was spacing out, Noah immediately straightened his sitting position. "I-I'm sorry, I think I'm a little tired."

Noah's words made Asher scoff. "Don't lie to me. Besides your mother, I'm the second person who knows you best," he stated firmly. Leaning back and staring straight into Noah's eyes, Asher asked, "Why do you look so troubled?"

Noah let out a rough sigh from being pressed by his uncle. He ran a hand through his hair and said with frustration, "How can I not be troubled?" Noah explained with a bitter expression. "Meeting my ex-fiancée who betrayed me two weeks before the wedding, how could I possibly be calm?"

Instantly, Asher's face darkened. "What did you say?"

Noah's gaze was directed at Asher, confused because he seemed unaware of his and Laura's relationship. "Uncle Asher... your secretary is my ex-fiancée, Laura Hartley!"