Revenge amnesia upgraded to his brother (Norah and Lucien) novel Chapter 197

Chapter 197

Lucien’s POV:

The deal was done.

ས 71%

Finished

I looked at Norah’s face–no victorious grin, just that worn–out look you get after a tough negotiation.

She packed up her stuff, didn’t even glance my way, and just turned and walked off.

The sharp click of her heels on the floor echoed loud and clear, like a message: from now on, we’re just business.

The door shut behind her.

The whole conference room was empty–just me left.

I leaned back in my chair, tugged at my tie, and lit a cigar.

The nicotine hit my nerves, numbing the mess in my head for a moment.

But it couldn’t kill that feeling inside–the itch, the discomfort that came from her being so far away.

Fifty–five percent profit.

I actually agreed to such a ridiculous deal.

But when I watched her calmly break down the market, saw her slowly lay out her strengths, and caught that queen’s look in her eyes telling me she deserved to stand toe–to–toe with me-

That’s when I knew, I was hooked again.

Once more, I was drawn in by the light she gave off.

Hell, I even felt a twinge of jealousy–jealous of that brand she’d rather show weakness to protect.

I thought she’d cry, throw a fit, use tears like weapons like she used to.”

But she didn’t.

She just calmly beat me at my own game.

I crushed out the cigar in frustration and got up.

Paris at night was cold.

I didn’t go back to my apartment or the manor. Instead told the driver to take me to the Seine.

The river reflected the lights from both banks, like a flowing galaxy.

I rolled down the window, letting the icy night air rush, trying to blow away the chaos inside me.

My

ne lit up–it was a message from my assistant.

“Boss, you ordered, all pressure on Nightingale has been lifted.”

>

1/5

15.30 Thu, Jan 15 D D G.

Chapter 197

“Miss Hawthorne left the group and went straight back to the Thornbird Studio. She hasn’t come out since”

I stared at the message, silent for a long time.

In the end, I told the driver to start the car.

Even if it’s just a quick look.

Just one look–that’s all I needed.

Late at night. Thornbird Studio was still lit up bright.

I parked in the shadows around the corner, like a lousy talker.

I saw Irina and Katarina leave one after the other. Finally, only the window of her office was still glowing.

She was still working.

She always did this–once she got into work, she forgotime, forgot to eat, forgot about her own body.

I remembered she used to have stomach problems.

Every time the pain hit, her face would turn ghostly pale, and she’d curl up into a ball.

Just thinking about it stabbed my heart like a needle–sharp and painful.

I grabbed my phone, ready to ask my assistant to order some food and send it over.

But my finger hovered over the screen for a long time, and in the end, I dialed a different number–my private chef.

“Prepare a sandwich that’s easy on the stomach and some hot milk. Send it to the studio downstairs at Thornbird.”

After hanging up, I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes.

All I could see in my mind was her just now in the meeting room–calm, strong, and damn captivating.

And then the way she turned and walked away, that cold determined silhouette.

Norah, what the hell do you want from me?

Just as my mind was spinning, my phone rang.

Norah!

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice steady, and hit the answer button.

“Irina…”

Her voice came through weak and strained, soaked in pin.

O

15.30 Thu, Jan 15 DD G.

Chapter 197

“I don’t feel well… my stomach…”

Stomach?

Her stomach was acting up again!

My brain went blank. All the calm and fake cool I’d been holding onto vanished in an instant.

“Are you okay?” Even I could hear the tremble in my voice.

There was a brief silence on the other end.

Then, mercilessly, the call was cut off.

I stared at the dark screen, completely losing it.

She dialed the wrong number.

She was trying to reach Irina, not me.

Right now, she was alone in the studio, her stomach flaring up, with no one around.

I jumped out of the car and rushed inside.

When I kicked open the door to the studio’s lounge, this is what I saw-

43.71%

Finishat

She was curled up on the cold carpet, trembling softly from the pain. That stubborn, proud face of hers now showed nothing but misery and helplessness.

My heart felt like it was being crushed by a fist, the pain so sharp I could barely breathe.

I hurried over, scooped her up off the floor, and laid her down on the couch.

Her body was light and cold.

“Eat this.” I shoved the sandwich and hot milk the chef had just delivered into her hands, ordering her.

She opened her eyes, surprised and resistant when she saw it was me.

“What are you doing here? I don’t need-”

“Shut up!” I practically yelled. “Don’t tough it out when your stomach hurts! You’re not made of steel!”

My anger shocked her into silence, and then her eyes welled up with tears.

Damn it.

I didn’t want to yell at her.

I was just scared.

I looked away, too awkward to meet her eyes, and awkwardly nudged the sandwich closer to her mouth.

She stared at me quictly for a moment, then finally took it, nibbling at it like a hurt little kitten, slowly

eating.

111

O

1/5

15:30 Thu, Jan 15 DD G.

Chapter 197

71%

Finished

I watched her force down a little food, and finally, some color returned to her face. Only then did the fire inside me start to die down.

I walked over to the locker in the corner of the lounge and, like I’d done a hundred times before, grabbed the stomach medicine she always used from the top shelf of the first aid kit.

I poured a glass of water and handed both the pills and the glass to her.

She didn’t take them right away–just stared at me quietly.

Neither of us said a word.

All the hurt, the schemes, the betrayals–it all seemed to fade into the background for a moment.

All I could see was how worried I was about her.

Finally, she took the medicine.

After swallowing it, she curled up on the couch like she used up every last bit of strength and quickly fell asleep.

Her breathing was light, but her brows were still furrowed, like even in her dreams she wasn’t at peace.

I grabbed a cashmere blanket from the coat rack nearby and gently draped it over her.

Suddenly, she twitched and muttered something so soft I barely caught it.

“…Don’t be scared, baby, Mommy’s here…”

My hand froze mid–air.

Mommy?

I snapped my eyes wide open and stared hard at her pale sleeping face.

I remembered those faint silver–white lines on her lower belly I’d seen earlier…

The way she cared for Daisy, like someone who’d been through it before, so familiar and tender….

And that day, the call from “My Little Stars” on her phone screen…

All these little clues snapped together in my head like a puzzle.

A blurry but shocking guess hit me like lightning, exploding through my messy thoughts.

I stood there stiff as a board, eyes locked on her, unable o believe it–but somehow, it all made sense.

I didn’t wake her up.

I was scared that truth would be too much for me to handle.

Slowly, I crouched down on the carpet in front of the couch and reached out to touch her furrowed brow.

I stepped out of the lounge, closed the door behind me and sat outside all night.

Tough the crack in the door, I watched that woman on the couch–the one I both loved and hated, and

O

4/5

15:30 Thu, Jan 15 DD G

Chapter 197

71%

Finished

who now might be hiding a huge secret–and I dialed the private detective’s number.

“It’s me.”

“Look into Norah Hawthorne. I want every single medical record she’s had since she moved from Paris to Washington three years ago.”

“Don’t miss a single hospital or clinic. Especially check.. obstetrics and gynecology.”

There was silence on the other end for a few seconds.

“And,” I added, “check any marriage records between her and Mateo Vega, in any country or region.”

“Get me the results as fast as you can. Don’t worry about the cost.”

464

Send Gifts

652

|||