The Captain I Married by Chance novel Chapter 208

The threat was brutally effective.

A cold, cynical smile touched Nora's lips. When the phone rang for the twelfth time, she hit accept.

"Nora Hayes, you are getting entirely too bold!" Leonard barked.

"If I weren't bold when dealing with you, I would have died in the streets years ago," Nora shot back flawlessly.

If her mother hadn't been brave, she would have been terrified to death by the violent, crime-ridden slums they were thrown into after being kicked out. If Nora hadn't been bold, she never would have clawed her way through medical school to become a forensic doctor—only to become useful enough for Leonard to leverage her mother's life to control her.

Leonard choked on her response. A long, heavy silence stretched over the line before he sighed. His voice took on a weary, heartbroken tone that completely contradicted his true nature. "Nora, do you really hate me that much?"

"Give me my mother back, and I'll stop hating you."

Leonard answered with silence, effectively denying the request.

Nora let out a dark laugh. "You really know how to put on a show, Leonard."

Playing the devoted husband, the loving father, the innocent victim. Nora often suspected the only reason Leonard had managed to grow the Hayes Group was through his masterful public relations and fake personas.

In a way, Leonard and Aaron were cut from the exact same cloth. Grabbing every opportunity to climb the ladder, tossing away their dignity, and operating with a moral compass permanently pointing to zero.

"I don't have time for your games," Nora snapped, losing patience. "What do you want?"

"The Devereaux Group still hasn't signed the contract."

"I found out they are hosting a charity gala tomorrow night. You are coming with me. Your job is to track down Mr. Devereaux and find out exactly where the bottleneck is so I can prepare a counter-strategy."

Knowing Nora had no leverage to refuse, Leonard didn't wait for her answer. "The stylists and your gown will be sent to you tomorrow. Don't embarrass me."

The line went dead.

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