The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 1046

Nora didn’t say a word. She just looked at him, calm and silent.

“Alright.” Franco pressed his lips together. He stood up, clearly not happy about it. He glanced at Samantha, then at Nora, placed the apple down without a word, and walked out of the room.

As he closed the door, he caught sight of Samantha throwing herself into Nora’s arms, hugging her like she never wanted to let go.

Franco took a deep breath, trying to hold back his frustration, and shut the door behind him.

He turned around and nearly collided with Kevin, who was standing in the hallway looking just as upset.

The two men exchanged a look. Neither said anything. They both gave a half-hearted, helpless smile, then stood side by side, staring at the closed door. They looked completely out of place, just waiting there, not moving, not speaking, like they knew they didn’t belong in that moment.

Inside, Samantha was a mess. She was crying so hard she could barely catch her breath, her makeup smeared all over her face.

Nora felt a wave of sadness hit her, tears stinging her own eyes. But the second she saw Samantha’s face, she burst out laughing.

Samantha stopped crying at once.

“I’m sorry, Samantha, really. I tried not to laugh, but I just can’t help it,” Nora said, wiping the tears from her laughter.

“You’re unbelievable! I thought you were dead! I cried for you for years and you’re over here laughing?” Samantha sounded like a little kid, fists clenched, ready to punch Nora. But then she saw how pale Nora looked and forced herself to stop.

“Where were you all these years? Why didn’t you come back?” The more Samantha talked, the harder she cried.

Samantha had always been older than Nora. She grew up in a well-off family, spoiled like a princess. Her mom passed away early and her dad was always busy, barely around. She’d never really seen the harsh side of life. She was kind, maybe a little too kind, and in high school, some classmates bullied her and spread nasty rumors. Nora transferred in during all that, caught the bullies in the act, and beat them up so badly they never bothered Samantha again.

Nora couldn’t help but laugh.

“Oh, right. Since you’re back, this is for you.” Samantha hurried off, came back with a beautiful box, and opened it up.

Inside were bank cards, property deeds, and certificates for jewelry locked away in a vault.

“These are all the wedding gifts I prepared for Lottie, just in case you couldn’t.” Samantha took her time explaining each one, totally serious. “But now that you’re here, you should be the one to do it.”

Nora did a quick calculation. It was almost half the value of The Charles Group. Samantha really did love Lottie like her own.

If Nora really hadn’t made it back, at least Lottie would have felt a mother’s love from Samantha.