Chapter 7
“Y–You…” Delilah stammered, her voice shaky, as everyone turned toward Nora in surprise.
The sketch depicted a simple yet elegant necklace design, with intricate lines that showcased the sapphire’s natural beauty to its fullest. Even Caleb and Zoe, who had no expertise in jewelry design, could immediately see that Nora’s creation was on a different level.
Though skeptical, Wendy stepped forward to examine the design closely. As she took in the details, her heart sank, leaving her wondering how Nora had created something so exceptional.
Feigning concern, Wendy plastered on a smile. “Nora, your design is really well done, but doesn’t it look… familiar?” She paused for effect, her voice soft but dripping with subtle accusation. “You may have drawn inspiration from other pieces, but you know how serious it can be if people think it’s copied.”
Wendy practically accused Nora of plagiarism, carefully cloaking her words in false worry. She awaited Nora’s reaction, hoping to corner her into an embarrassing defense.
Before Nora could respond, Delilah’s expression shifted dramatically.
Her hands trembled as she clutched the paper, her eyes wide with recognition. “No, she couldn’t have copied this,” Delilah choked out, her voice thick with emotion. Tears welled up in her eyes, catching everyone off guard.
The room fell into a stunned silence as Delilah’s reaction startled them all.
Without warning, Delilah dropped to her knees before Nora, her voice trembling with emotion. “I’ve finally found you! My savior!” she exclaimed, her eyes brimming with tears.
Delilah’s trembling fingers pointed to the small and unique’symbol etched in the bottom right corner of the design. It was subtle but unmistakable, as it was a mark that changed her life.
Nora let out a quiet sigh, realizing her mistake. She had a habit of leaving that signature mark on every design she created, a habit that had followed her for as long as she could remember. She had forgotten to leave it off in her haste today, and that tiny symbol had given her away.
The symbol was the same one she had used years ago when she anonymously sent Delilah a design that had helped save her struggling business.
“I’ve finally found you after all these years,” Delilah exclaimed, her voice quivering with emotion. “You are Cora!”
Upon hearing that name, Nora’s lips twitched as she fought back a laugh.
“Cora” was an online username she had casually used in middle school, a forgotten relic of her teenage years. She never imagined it would come back to haunt her, let alone in this moment.
“Get up, please,” Nora said, but Delilah remained stubbornly on the floor.
With no other choice, Nora stepped forward and gently pulled her up. At this point, denying her identity seemed pointless, but she wasn’t comfortable with such dramatic displays of gratitude.
Zoe looked at Nora, her brow furrowed in confusion. “Nora, what’s going on?” she asked, genuinely perplexed.
Equally taken aback, Julian said, “You two know each other?”
As Delilah wiped her tears away, she recounted how Nora had saved her from despair, her voice trembling with emotion.
1/3
3:37 am
Chapter 7
“So, you mean my sister designed your company’s classic piece, Heart of Grace?” Julian asked, his eyes wide with surprise
Delilah nodded emphatically, her gratitude evident.
Meanwhile, Wendy clenched her fists, jealousy seething within her. She couldn’t believe Nora possessed any real talent. convinced it was merely a stroke of luck.
Once again, the spotlight shifted to Nora, overshadowing Wendy’s contributions.
“Nora, have you studied design?” Julian inquired, genuinely curious.
Nora shook her head. Although she lacked formal training, she was more than qualified to teach design. Despite not holding a diploma, her consistent five–year winning streak in the Global Design Competition was proof of her exceptional talent.
Julian was amazed that Nora had produced such exceptional work without any formal training.
‘It’s pure talent!‘ he marveled internally. To think Nora designed the Heart of Grace in middle school, she must be a natural- born jewelry designer!”
With genuine warmth in his voice, Julian extended an offer. “Nora, how would you feel about joining Kayson Designs? Since Ms. Cooper is so taken with your work, you could oversee our future collaborations with Cooper Jewelry”
Nora hesitated. She wasn’t particularly excited about working for someone else, but dealing with Wendy daily was far less appealing.
“Alright, I’ll accept the offer,” Nora replied after weighing her options and deciding that Kayson Designs was better.
Delilah’s face lit up at the news, and she was delighted that her life savior would be part of their future collaborations. At nearly fifty, she was entirely captivated by Nora, practically becoming her biggest fan.
After Delilah left, Zoe turned to Julian with a stern look. “It’s fine for Nora to work at your company, but if anyone there dares to bully her, I’ll tear your business apart myself!”
Even Caleb flinched at his wife’s fierce tone, prompting Julian to nod quickly. “Mom, I get it. I promise.”
Nora remained calm and composed, her expression unwavering. After all, she had never met anyone capable of bullying
her.
Though she didn’t need anyone’s protection, Zoe’s fierce care stirred a fuzzy and unfamiliar warmth within her. So this is what it feels like to have someone looking out for you?‘ she wondered.
The Harper family estate sprawled across a vast expanse of land, exuding luxury and opulence at every turn. Zoe took Nora by the hand and led her to her living space.
They arrived at the estate’s only independent two–story villa with a breathtaking view. It overlooked a vibrant sea of flowers and was located far from the main road, creating an atmosphere of serene tranquility
“Nora, do you like it? If not, I can have it redesigned and redecorated as soon as tomorrow,” Zoe offered, her voice warm and inviting.
“I like it…” Nora paused, still unable to call Zoe “Mom.”
Behind them, Wendy’s eyes narrowed with envy. The Harpers had always reserved that villa for the day they reunited with their biological daughter. She had begged to move in many times, only to be met with constant rejection.
2/3
3:37 am 60 DAD.
Chapter 7
Wendy had lived with the Harpers for two decades, and all her efforts to get close to the family had evaporated since Nora’s
return.
Why didn’t she just die out there? Wendy thought ruthlessly,
Though Wendy’s thoughts were vicious, her voice remained sweet. “Nora, if you ever get scared or worried about living alone, you can always come to find me.”
Zoe clasped their hands together with a smile. “From today onward, you two are good sisters. You must support each other.”
“I understand, Mom,” Wendy replied, her smile masking the malice simmering beneath the surface.
“I’m tired. I’m going to bed. Goodnight.” Nora said outwardly and shut the door firmly behind her.
“Mom, does Nora not like me?” Wendy asked, her voice dripping with a soft, pitiful tone.
“Of course not. Nora’s just not used to being back with the family yet. Give her time,” Zoe reassured her, showing no anger toward Nora’s behavior.
Wendy finally realized that the Harpers would stand by Nora no matter what.
As that realization sank in, her thoughts turned to her engagement with the Sinclair family,
Andrew was her childhood love and the man she had always envisioned marrying. But now, with Nora back in the picture, everything became uncertain. The threat to her future felt real, stirring a deep sense of dread in her.
Her jealousy quickly flared into anger, and she clenched her fists, her resentment toward Nora boiling over.
Lying in bed after a bath, Nora picked up her private phone and saw nearly 200 missed calls from Nathan Diaz.
With a sigh, she dialed him back.
Nathan’s exasperated voice filled the line as soon as the call connected. “You really went back to that dump of a mountain village? Why put yourself through that? You could make millions with just a snap of your fingers, and you’re wasting time in some backwater?”
Nora rolled her eyes and replied calmly, “My birth father is Caleb Harper.”
Nathan’s rant came to an abrupt halt. “I don’t care who–wait, what? Caleb Harper?”
There was a stunned silence on the other end before Nathan’s voice shot up. “Caleb Harper? As in the Caleb Harper? The rising tycoon and the richest man in town?”
3/3
AD
Comment
