Revenge amnesia upgraded to his brother novel Chapter 39

Chapter 39

Norah’s Perspective

The sharp sound of the gavel echoed through the room, signaling the end of the auction. The crowd began to stir, but my attention was fixed on the moment.

Eleanor approached me with a slow, deliberate grace, each step dripping with an unmistakable air of superiority. Her smile was razor-sharp, a weapon disguised as charm.

“Norah, darling,” she said, her tone dripping with condescension, “don’t get too excited just yet. Philanthropy isn’t a game for novices—especially those from… modest backgrounds like yours.”

Her gaze swept over me, then lingered on Lucien standing by my side. “And men? They’re all so dreadfully unreliable, aren’t they?”

I returned a smile, saccharine sweet, the kind that could rot teeth. “Mrs. Constantine, your advice is most appreciated.”

Her impeccably arched eyebrow twitched in surprise. Grace was the last thing she expected from me.

“You were remarkably generous tonight,” I added lightly. “Such a sizable donation must be your way of atoning for Damian, still unconscious in the hospital? I truly hope God notices your charity and grants mercy. It would be tragic if he never woke up to face… the judgment he truly deserves.”

My words were coated in sweetness but laced with venom beneath. Lucien chuckled softly at my side, a low sound of approval.

Eleanor’s composure faltered, her fury leaving her momentarily speechless.

I linked my arm with Lucien’s, batting my eyelashes innocently. “We’ll be on our way now. Please do send our best wishes to Damian. We’re all hoping for… good news.”

Turning away from her livid expression, I left her standing frozen in her rage.

The drive home was quiet, the city lights blurring past the windows like streaks of color in the night.

“How did you figure it out?” Lucien finally broke the silence.

His voice cut through the stillness, curious and sharp.

“About the recorder,” I said, turning from the window to meet his gaze. “Serena said it was in the jewelry box, but it wasn’t. It was hidden in the incense burner.”

I recalled the moment Serena mentioned the box—her eyes had flickered away for just a brief second.

“When I was a child, I was curious. I took apart all my mother’s jewelry boxes, including an antique red sandalwood one, just like the one tonight. Its design was simple—no secret compartments.”

Lucien raised an eyebrow. “So you suspected a trap from the beginning?”

“Yes,” I nodded. “Then I remembered the jade incense burner. It was my mother’s favorite. When I was little, I used to hide candies in a secret compartment in its base—a trick I once foolishly admitted to Serena.”

A bitter taste filled my mouth as I continued. “When I sent her photos of both items and she still insisted on the box, I knew for certain.”

“She was testing you,” Lucien said, his voice dark.

“She needed to be sure,” I explained. “Sure that I wasn’t the same naive fool. She was risking everything—her life and her child’s future—on me. If I couldn’t see through such an obvious lie, I wasn’t strong enough to be her ally. I would have led us both to ruin.”

Damian continued his tirade, spewing vile insults about Lucien’s mother.

“That woman, Kathy… a hopeless romantic, just like Norah! So pathetically stupid!”

“She caught Dad red-handed, forgave him, begged him to stay, even handed over her assets! Who knows why she ran? Probably got herself raped and killed in some ditch! Serves her right!”

The air in the room grew icy. Waves of rage and fury radiated from Lucien in palpable waves.

“Enough.”

I couldn’t bear it any longer. My hand shot out, pressing the pause button.

Silence crashed down between us—thick, suffocating.

Lucien’s fists clenched tightly, knuckles white, the tendons in his neck standing out sharply.

“Lucien,” I whispered, voice trembling. “I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve to hear that.”

He stared at the darkened screen, voice low and strained.

“Give me the recorder.”