Trash Husband, I'm the Top novel Chapter 404

Mrs. Chambers frowned but didn’t object.

She, too, thought Daniel needed to learn how to make amends with women.

Daniel, of course, had no idea.

He lay on his bed, scrolling through the photos on his phone.

The first was of a wrinkly newborn, wailing at the top of her lungs—a healthy pair of lungs, by the look of it.

The next photo showed Betty at a year old, just learning to walk, her steps wobbly, tears glistening on her cheeks after a tumble.

His phone was full of pictures of Betty, all collected secretly through others.

Late at night, when the world was quiet, Daniel would look through these snapshots just to dull the ache of missing them.

He wished for nothing more than to have Betty and her mother back by his side.

But he couldn’t rush things.

He couldn’t risk scaring her away again.

Pressing his phone to his chest, he drifted off to sleep.

Since Nora returned, her life had become a whirlwind. Her small studio had expanded, so she started her own company, set up a production line, and spent her days negotiating with major suppliers.

Thankfully, with Hans overseeing everything, the business flourished, earning a reputation faster than she could have dreamed.

After one particularly long evening of networking, Nora was tipsy.

Carol kept a steady arm around her. “Nora, the car will be here any minute. Just hang in there.”

Nora, half-slumped against her, managed a murmur of reassurance. “I’m fine.”

The car pulled up outside.

Carol helped Nora into the back seat and reminded the driver, “Please drive slowly—Nora’s not feeling well.”

The driver only gave a curt nod.

Carol closed the door, meaning to say more, but the car sped off before she could get another word in.

Wait—something was off. Carol froze.

That wasn’t Nora’s usual driver.

Suddenly sober, Carol realized the car was identical to Nora’s, and she hadn’t thought to double-check.

Damn.

She hurriedly fished out her phone to call Nora.

She dozed off in the back seat.

Eventually, the car pulled over on a quiet street.

Daniel took off his cap, turning around to study the familiar face beside him.

Three years had passed. In person, she was even more beautiful and poised than in the photos.

Earlier at the hotel, he’d been sitting in the private room next door. Someone at his table—a friend of his—had secretly filmed a short video for him.

Turns out, the people at Nora’s table, though careful not to cross the Cooper family openly, still resorted to their usual tricks. Nora couldn’t avoid it.

Like forcing her to drink.

They’d plied her with liquor behind the scenes.

Someone even had the nerve to jeer that she should pick a man from their group to take home for the night.

The calm Daniel kept so carefully in check snapped in an instant.

He could handle Nora keeping her distance from him, but he couldn’t stand other men making those kinds of jokes about her.

So, he took her away.