Nora quickly shook her head.
âNo, no, Iâm swearing off snacks from now on!â
Her adamant refusal brought a smile to my face, though I felt sorry for her.
I said worriedly, âIt looks like whoever is after me isnât backing down.
They tried poison this time, who knows what theyâll try next.
There might be more threats lurking.
Are you sure you want to stay? If youâre scared, I can find you a different job.
â
But Nora was resolute.
She shook her head with determination.
âI want to stay by your side.
No matter the risk, Iâll look after Abby.
You focus on handling those out to harm you, and leave Abby in my care.
â
The resolve in Noraâs eyes made me pause.
I sensed something off.
Her gratitude to me for saving her life and her love for Abby was clear, but her eagerness to remain by my side despite the danger felt unusual.
We werenât that close, after all.
Regaining my composure, I fixed her with a searching gaze and asked pointedly, âWhy?â
Nora seemed taken aback by my question.
âWhat?â
I pressed on, âYou know the risks, yet youâre still here with me.
Why is that?â
Noraâs eyes darted away as she fumbled over her words.
There was a hint of guilt in her voice.
âBecause⦠I know youâre a good person.
I canât stand to see you hurt by those bad people.
â
My voice suddenly turned cold.
âNora, I need you to tell me the real reason.
â
Debraâs POV:
Upon hearing my words, Nora appeared hesitant, her uncertainty clouding her expression.
Feeling a tinge of disappointment, I sighed and said, âItâs alright if youâd rather not talk about it.
However, you wonât need to look after Abby anymore.
Iâll have the housekeeper find you other tasks.
â
At that, Noraâs anxiety flared instantly.
She clasped my hand, her voice tinged with desperation.
âPlease, donât send me away.
â
I remained silent, merely observing her with a steady gaze.
After a moment of indecision, she clenched her jaw and revealed, âActually, I believe it was Shirley and her mother who orchestrated the attempt on your life.
â
Her words caught me off guard.
I hadnât shared the intricacies of my issues with Shirley with Nora.
How could she be so certain? Was there a possibility she was involved somehow?
Undeterred, Nora pressed on, âTheyâre enemies of mine as well.
Shirley used to bully me when I was too weak to retaliate.
Now that theyâre targeting you, I want to lend you my support, however modest it might be.
This is my way of seeking vengeance.
â
Observing the tears brimming in Noraâs eyes, my resolve wavered.
I remembered our first encounter.
Nora had been cornered and beaten by Shirley on the roadside.
Back then, her eyes were also brimming with tears, yet she was determined not to let them fall.
Understanding her desire for revenge, I realized why she felt compelled to act.
Shirley had nearly ended Noraâs life after all.
I softened my approach and led Nora to a stone table where we both sat down.