The Divorce That Brought Us Back novel Chapter 410

She would always maintain a veneer of polite social grace, but if he pushed even slightly past that boundary, she would instantly turn into an impenetrable fortress.

It meant she wasn't even willing to be his close friend.

"Also, why the hell did you take her to an opera? She's not a vocal major. You'd have better luck taking her camping in the mountains to stargaze."

"Once you're done looking at the stars, you just casually mention that it's too dangerous to drive down the mountain roads at night, so you have to camp out."

"I'm telling you, if you make it about her convenience, she'll reject you. But if you make it about your own safety, she won't be able to say no. It's the ultimate weakness of a kind heart."

"Did you catch all that?"

Even though Maloney was the one who asked Lee for advice on how to manipulate the situation.

Once he actually understood the psychology behind it, he was entirely repulsed by the idea of using it on Nora.

Cheap tricks were no foundation for a lasting empire.

Besides, Nora was incredibly gentle, deeply empathetic, and fiercely considerate of others—traits that had already caused her immense suffering.

Maloney simply couldn't bear to put her in an uncomfortable position.

Ultimately, she just wasn't ready for a relationship right now.

He could wait. He would keep waiting.

He could wait another two years.

She was only a freshman. She was still so young; rushing it would ruin everything.

Maloney continued to have his team monitor her daily routine.

Just to make absolutely sure no one else swooped in and stole her away.

Months passed.

Nora entered The Golden Needle Awards, secured the gold medal, and was scheduled to fly overseas for the award ceremony.

Maloney secretly booked a flight and followed her out of the country.

His primary concern was that she might run into trouble in an unfamiliar place.

Being on the ground meant he could instantly neutralize any threats.

And as it turned out, trouble did find her.

Her victory sparked massive online controversy.

She was a law student who merely minored in fashion design; critics argued it was impossible for her to achieve such a prestigious honor.

People despise acknowledging the brilliance of others.

Jealousy and prejudice quickly mutated into weapons designed to destroy.

Terrified that the immense public pressure would break her, Maloney rushed to her hotel, only to discover she had already been escorted away by the international committee's professors.

No one knew where she had been taken.

He was on foreign soil, operating without his usual network of power, making it impossible to track her down immediately.

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