.
Since he hadnât expected Noraâs senses to be sharp enough to say that, Caleb was stunned. Then, unconsciously, he looked around.
âDonât worry,â Nora said, âI havenât informed Captain Ford or the others.â
Caleb was even more surprised to hear that. Then he finally came to his senses and let out a wry laugh. âHow much did you deduct?â
Nora leaned back in her chair. âI donât know why my mother especially chose to go to California after leaving New York. Later, I learned that the Grays had already started making a living in California at that time. So, is it correct to think that she went to California to propose a partnership-or rather, seek asylum-with the Grays?â
ï½ððï½ ï½ðï½ðï½ï½ ï½ ðï½ É¢ðï½ððï½ðï½ð.ððð Caleb nodded. âYour mother was a bright person. No, the asylum-seeking thing isnât true. It could only be taken as the two families cooperating with each other.â
Nora hadnât expected Caleb to respect her mother enough to explain.
She nodded her head. âAfter my mother passed away, it was because I had a marriage settlement with the Grays that Henry didnât starve me to death.â
She had actually figured out a lot of things when she was a child.
When she was three years old, there was one time when she was simply too hungry. When she went downstairs to get food, she had heard what Henry had said at the time. He had said, âShe has a marriage settlement with the Grays after all. The Grays have also approached me several times to tell me to take care of her, so whatever happens, we must not let her die.â
Arguably, her marriage arrangement with the Grays was what had protected her during her childhood. However, Quinn had already gone looking for her at that point, so even if Henry had really been determined to starve her to death, Quinn wouldnât have let her die anyway.
âYes, this was an agreement with your mother. We were to make sure you survived until you came of age.â
Caleb held nothing back. After saying this, he pulled out a handkerchief, put it over his mouth and began coughing violently. The coughing fit this time seemed a little difficult to stifle. It wasnât until he took a sip of water that he finally managed to stifle it.
Nora was silent for a moment at this point in the conversation.
In the past, she hadnât had a great impression of her mother. After all, she had passed away when she was still a child. The only impression she had was the audio message she had left him, and even then, the message had warned her not to be too flashy and to be average. Otherwise, she would be in danger.
Next came the audio recording his mother had left that Caleb had let him listen to the other time. It was a conversation between her and Henry when they were making the deal. What she had said at the time was that âeverything would be fine as long as he didnât starve to deathâ.
Her words were obviously those of an irresponsible mother.
But when she thought about it in that instantâ¦. Quinn, the Grays , and perhaps also some other things she was not yet aware of, had all been arranged by her mother to protect her!
When she thought of it that way, the image of Yvette in her heart suddenly became a reality.
Nora steadied herself and asked, âWas that why the Grays had steadfastly refused to break off the engagement even when I accidentally got pregnant? Was that why they had continued to insist that Anthony marry me?â
Caleb nodded. âYes. Weâd already promised your mother, so we couldnât break the agreement just because of that.â
Nora frowned.
Then she asked, âSo, how did I get pregnant?
When Caleb heard this, he sighed. âI really donât know. Your pregnancy was something I didnât expect at all. Otherwise, Anthony would never dare to go against my orders and abandon the marriage agreement, resulting in the current awkward situation.â
Nora was a little puzzled. âSo the agreement between my mother and the Grays was that I would marry the Grays? And then she would give you something?â
Caleb nodded.
Nora finally understood. âNo wonder Anthony only asked for the company my mother had left after breaking off our engagement. But Iâve already checked the company: thereâs nothing there! Iâve also asked some of the old-timers there. None of them know anything about what my mother might have left. So what exactly are they looking for?â
Caleb was a little surprised to hear this. âShe didnât leave anything?â
Nora nodded. âOr at least, I havenât found anything so far.â
This was a fair conversation. Since Caleb had told her about the past, Nora had to be honest with him as well.
Caleb frowned. Then, he let out a huge sigh. âIâm afraid sheâs not going to believe that.â
âTrueman?â asked Nora.
âYes.â
Then Nora asked aggressively, âWhat the hell does he want?â
After hesitating for a while, Caleb shook his head. âI donât know either. I just know itâs very important.â
Nora frowned.
What was it that was so important to Caleb and the mysterious organization?
She looked at Caleb doubtfully. Suddenly, something occurred to her. âMom said that if I glowed too brightly, it would attract lethal danger to me. She must be talking about the mysterious organization, right? Was it because of you that I wasnât discovered during all those years I was in California?â
Caleb nodded. âYes, but from the moment you returned to New York, the mysterious organization had discovered your existence. My protection for over twenty years has become meaningless.â
Nora was taken aback. âWhy did you help hide my identity?â
Caleb was a member of the mysterious organization. If the members of the mysterious organization were looking for her, why was Caleb helping to hide her?
Calebâs jaw tensed at hearing this. He suddenly said, âBecauseâ¦I promised your mother. Besides, I donât agree with some of the organizationâs practices. Cough, cough, cough, cough, coughâ¦â
At that point he started coughing again.
Nora looked at him.
After the coughing fit, Caleb finally said, âIâm sorry.â
His eyebrows closed in a deep frown as if he was repressing something. âI donât really know much. Iâm just an outsider in the organization.â
An outsider⦠And yet he could still talk directly to Trueman?
Since Trueman was known as the young master, he must have had a high status within the mysterious organization!
Despite that, for some reason, Nora felt that Calebâs words were very trustworthy. She nodded and said, âOkay, I believe you.â
She stood up. âI have one last question for you.â
Caleb nodded. âGo ahead.â
Nora asked, âMy mother? Was she a good person or a bad person?â
Caleb was taken aback for a moment.
A mysterious organization that conducted experiments on humans was certainly no good, and yet Noraâs mother had been involved with them all along.
Subsequently, she was even persecuted by the mysterious organizationâ¦.
Something must have happened.
After a long silence, Caleb finally sighed and said, âIâm sorry, I donât know. When your mother left the organization, I was still very young.â
Still very young⦠And he was still able to make a deal with his mother?
Now that she thought about it, Caleb must have been only four or five years old when her mother gave birth to her, right?
Nora began to hesitate. She was about to ask something when Caleb suddenly asked, âIfâ¦and I mean ifâ¦if your fiancé back then had been me, would our relationship be any different now?â
Nora was taken aback by his words.
She didnât see that the cafeteria doors had opened and Justin was already heading their way.
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