Chapter 6

**Nora's POV**

For that one "not half bad," I had gladly spent three years of my youth in the kitchen.

But now, he would rather eat the toxic meals Chloe brought him than take another sip of my soup.

My eyes stung. Taking a deep breath, I carefully lifted Ethan’s head, laid him back onto the pillow, and pulled my numb arm away.

Just then, my phone screen lit up in my pocket.

It was a text from Chloe.

Several photos popped up, all of them candid shots of Ethan eating the spicy Thai soup she brought him.

In the photos, even though Ethan was slightly frowning, his eyes were full of absolute indulgence.

Then came a long text message:

*Nora, see this? Ethan has always loved me. Even if I feed him poison, he’ll eat it with a smile. Did you really think taking care of him for three years would change anything? In his eyes, you're just a glorified, expensive maid he hired—a little clown to keep him amused while I was gone. Wake up and stop clinging to him like a desperate loser.*

I stared at the screen, feeling nothing but a ridiculous, hollow sadness.

I didn't reply. I just locked the screen.

But the moment the screen went black, the phone buzzed again.

It was an unregistered landline number, but I recognized it instantly. It was the Carter estate.

I stepped out of the room and answered it in the quiet hallway.

"Nora," Victoria Carter's cold, aristocratic voice echoed from the receiver, carrying the typical snobbery of a billionaire's wife.

"Ethan’s eyes are fully healed, and he’ll officially take over Carter Enterprises next month. As the head of the company, his wife must be someone whose family background and education can support his career—someone like Chloe."

Victoria paused, her tone turning patronizing. "Not someone from the bottom of the ladder like you, who can do nothing but cook soup and hand him medicine. You’ve worked hard these past three years, and the Carters won't treat you unfairly. I’ve had ten million dollars wired to your account. This money is enough for you to live comfortably for the rest of your life. Take it, leave with some dignity, and don't make things difficult for everyone."

Silence hung over the line.

I could picture Victoria sitting on her luxurious designer sofa, confidently waiting for me to cry, beg, or scream about how unfair this was after everything I had sacrificed.

She had probably prepared all her arguments to shut me down.

But on my end, there was only ten seconds of absolute silence.

Just as her breathing started to sound impatient, I finally spoke.

No tears, no anger, no resentment. My voice was as calm as still water.

"Okay, I understand. I'll take the money. Thank you, Mrs. Carter."

With that, I hung up.

I turned around and took one last look at Ethan through the glass of the VIP room.

The cold hallway draft rustled my thin jacket. I pulled my hair back and walked toward the elevator without looking back.

That recipe book with over a hundred dishes was finally ready for the trash.

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