Love on the Fast Track

Chapter 34:

Back when Derek and Norah got married, Derek was unconscious in a hospital bed after the car accident. The two families did not conform to traditional wedding customs. The Carter family did not negotiate with the Wilson family regarding the wedding date or the specifics of the ceremony.

After settling on a date, Norah moved into the Carter Villa, beginning her journey of taking care of Derek. The marriage certificate was secured by Juliana using her connections, despite Derek’s unconscious condition. As for the wedding photos, there were originally none, but Juliana insisted on Norah taking one.

That photo ended up on the wall of the master bedroom in the Carter villa, where it remained since Derek seldom visited there after he woke up, and it was never removed. Upon returning, Madeline discarded that wedding photo. Derek found himself recalling these events with surprising clarity.

“Mom, dad, Derek’s been wonderful to me,” Madeline declared, nestling closer to Derek with a cheerful demeanor.

Norah stayed up until well after midnight, her hunger growing. It was time to eat. She glanced around and recognized the place. It was Solo Mio Restaurant, where the race organizers had hosted a meal for the racers just a few days ago.

Parking her car, Norah entered Solo Mio Restaurant with a casual stride. “I’d like a table, please,” she said.noveldrama

“Sorry, miss, but may I see your reservation? We need to record it,” the receptionist requested politely.

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“Ah, I didn’t book ahead. Is it still possible to get a table?” The thought of making a reservation hadn’t crossed Norah’s mind, given her unplanned visit.

The receptionist responded with a sympathetic smile, “Sorry, but we have to stick to our policy. Thank you for understanding.”

Without insisting further, Norah turned to leave.

“Norah, did you really come here after me?”

Hearing this, Norah glanced back, noticing the immediate shift in Derek’s expression from pleasant to stern as he approached her.

Derek approached steadily, his gaze fixed directly on Norah.

Derek flattered himself and got the wrong idea. Despite all Norah’s talk about divorce and even threatening him with a court summons for the divorce, the moment she found out he was at Solo Mio Restaurant, she quietly followed him.

What a hypocritical woman. Solo Mio Restaurant requires prior booking. It’s not a place you can just walk into.

Derek approached Norah with a taunt. “You stormed off so confidently this morning, and now you’re back by my side in a rush. Playing hard to get?”

“Derek, have you so quickly forgotten our conversation this morning?” Norah stood her ground, arms crossed, and said, “Don’t flatter yourself.”

“Bumping into you is hardly my idea of good luck,” Derek clenched his jaw. “You…”

Madeline emerged, unaware of Norah’s presence, and said, “Derek, is our bill settled?” She hadn’t noticed Norah beside Derek due to her angle of approach.

Upon walking into the hall with her parents, Madeline finally spotted Norah and felt a wave of irritation. Letting go of her mother’s hand, Madeline moved closer to Derek, eyeing Norah with suspicion, and said, “Miss Wilson, did you come here to steal Derek from me? Please…” Before she could finish, tears began to form in Madeline’s eyes. “I understand, Miss Wilson, you still have feelings for Derek, but you two never shared a real connection… Why keep haunting him and resorting to such low actions?”

Rhoda approached, and her tone was firm as she studied the tearful Madeline, then turned her attention to Norah, saying, “Miss Wilson, Madeline has been quite clear. You and Derek are divorced. Technically, you and he are strangers now. Can’t you part on good terms?”

Rhoda’s opinion of Norah was tainted by Madeline’s twisted description of her as an illegitimate child of the Wilson family. Without prior knowledge of Norah, Rhoda’s attitude was dismissively arrogant.

“Madeline and Derek are in love. After the divorce, you should recognize what’s appropriate. Is there a need to disrupt their lives by acting like a mistress?” Rhoda was accustomed to asserting herself, and when dealing with someone like Norah, who seemingly lacked a powerful background, her argument shone even brighter. “Miss Wilson, let me be blunt. If you act sensibly, all is well.”

“If not, neither the Powell family nor the Carter family will stand idly by.”

Rhoda scoffed, wanting to badger the future son-in-law of the Powell family. Madeline’s future husband? Norah needed to check if she agreed first.

Norah raised an eyebrow, realizing it was a classic meet-the-parents scenario. She finally grasped Madeline’s attitude, as arrogant as her mother’s. It was clear as day to anyone paying attention.

Rhoda donned an elegantly tight dress, failing to soften her severe demeanor. Instead, she gave off a more imposing air as she scrutinized Norah, assessing her worth.

Coen, generally more measured, remarked, “Miss Wilson, part on good terms. We acknowledge your past efforts for Derek. Why degrade yourself with this situation after the divorce?”

Madeline, portraying the victim, quivered. Tears streamed down as she tightly clutched her emotions. Derek’s heart sank as he delicately wiped away her tears, soothingly saying, “Madeline, don’t cry. It’s just a coincidence that Norah is here.”

Madeline glanced up to catch Norah’s somewhat amused expression and her look of disdain before Norah looked away.

“But one needs to book in advance to dine at Solo Mio Restaurant. Did Miss Wilson arrange a reservation a month in advance?”

Derek’s face tensed as Madeline echoed the question he had intended for Norah. Before the divorce, Derek and Madeline had hooked up, and making a reservation at Solo Mio Restaurant was Madeline’s idea to celebrate her parents’ return.

Norah chose to remain silent amidst Rhoda’s groundless accusations and Madeline’s probing questions. She deemed engaging with these people, fixed in their perspectives, pointless.

Her eyes shifted from Rhoda to Coen, and then lingered on Madeline and Derek, marveling at the intricate web of fate that had entangled her with Derek. She had simply walked into Solo Mio Restaurant on a whim and happened to bump into Derek, who was with his in-laws. The situation struck her as absurd. Indeed, there was a profound, unwanted bond between her and Derek.

Derek, with a hint of impatience, stated, “Norah, only you know if this is a mere coincidence or not. Seeing me at the racetrack was unexpected, but today? We just went our separate ways after the unpleasant talk this morning, and now you’re already tailing me. I don’t know how you got hold of my whereabouts, but I’ve already made it crystal clear this morning. Until the investigation wraps up, you’d better behave, or you might end up with nothing.”

“Threatening me?” Norah’s smile was frosty. “Threats are the least of my concerns.”

Madeline, through her tears, pleaded, “Miss Wilson, I’m sorry for my words. Can you please leave Derek alone?”

Rhoda, unable to hide her disdain, suggested, “The Carter family is notable in Glophia. Perhaps Miss Wilson is reluctant to sever ties with Derek and her Carter status. Madeline, stop crying. Derek is devoted to you, and with our support, you have nothing to fear from Norah.”

Norah listened to their nonsense, thinking she could have endured longer if hunger hadn’t taken over. Preparing to leave, Norah lifted her bag and turned, ready to exit.

Just then, a voice exclaimed, “Oh, is that Miss Wilson? Are you here to dine? Please, come this way.”

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