Mrs. Donovan's eyes grew red, and she nodded with a bittersweet smile. "Don't work yourself too hard. If worse comes to worst, we'll just let them demolish it. It's okay. Conner used to send us money every month anyway. We won't starve."
Xavier gave a slight nod. He didn't say anything more as he led Norah away.
Once they were on the mountain road, Norah vented her frustration. "That Leila really knows how to spin a lie. The evidence was irrefutable. Anyone could hear she didn't want us stopping the demolition! She's definitely the one behind all this!"
Xavier kept his eyes on the road. "You didn't tell the truth either. Why should anyone believe you?"
"When did I lie?" Norah looked at him, her almond eyes wide and innocent.
He shot her a sideways glance. "You rent an apartment? And you plan on renting after we're married?"
Norah blinked, her cheeks flushing bright red. She pressed her lips together and nodded earnestly. "If... if we get married, renting is perfectly fine."
Xavier scoffed. "I thought you'd matured a little. Turns out you're just as childish as ever."
She arched an eyebrow defensively. "Why?"
"Have you ever lived without money?" he asked plainly. "Do you even know what it feels like to be broke?"
Norah looked at him, her gaze crystal clear and entirely serious. "I have plenty of properties under my name right now. Whether I marry you or not, that won't change. If you want to rent, I'll rent with you. If you don't, we can just live in one of my houses!"
Xavier was momentarily speechless.
Norah leaned in, pressing the issue. "So tell me, are we renting or living in my house?"
Xavier suddenly snapped out of it. "Who said anything about marrying you?"
Norah let out a mischievous laugh. She turned to gaze out the window, looking immensely pleased with herself.
Suddenly, two cars appeared ahead, parked sideways across the road and completely blocking the narrow mountain pass.
The moment Xavier slammed on the brakes, over a dozen men poured out of the vehicles. Every single one of them was armed with a metal pipe or a machete.
Norah gasped, tension spiking in her chest. "Xavier!"
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