Chapter 176: Ch 176: A Dinner Outing - Part 1
Nora chuckled, tilting her head slightly.
"It feels good hearing you worry about
after all this ti. I was almost beginning to think that you did not care about
at all."
She mused, her voice light but her expression unreadable.
Selene’s lips pressed into a thin line, a flicker of agitation crossing her face. There was sorrow there too—buried deep, but unmistakable.
Nora looked like a younger sister in that mont and it almost made Selene reach out to hug her.
The only reason she did not do it was because she did not want anyone to notice what was going on.
Words were easier to hide but actions were much harder.
"Of course, I worry about you. You’re my younger sister. There likely will never be a point in ti where I will not worry about you."
She muttered, looking away for a mont before eting Nora’s gaze again.
For a brief mont, the sincerity in her words took Nora by surprise.
A flicker of sothing warm and vulnerable passed through her sharp eyes before she quickly masked it with another soft chuckle.
But even as she laughed, her fingers fidgeted slightly against her sleeve—a nervous tick that Selene recognized all too well.
She was happy. Genuinely happy.
Selene sighed internally.
’So things never change. It’s nice to see Nora laugh so happily after a long ti. I was beginning to feel worried for her.’
Nora, seemingly unfazed now, turned and gestured for Selene to follow her inside.
The entrance to the high-end hotel was still pristine despite the state of the world outside, a lingering symbol of the Vale family’s wealth and influence.
As soon as they stepped inside, the hotel owner imdiately recognized Nora and bowed slightly in greeting.
"Miss Vale! Welco back. What would you like to have today/"
He said smoothly, his tone professional yet reverent.
His eyes flickered toward Selene, and his polite expression wavered slightly, as if he wasn’t sure if she was allowed to be there.
Selene felt his gaze hesitate, almost as if he was debating whether to stop her from entering.
But before he could even open his mouth, Nora simply looked at him.
No words were spoken.
No threats were made.
Yet the sheer authority in Nora’s expression was enough to make the hotel owner swallow his doubts and step aside without protest.
"Set up a table for
in the V.I.P section. I do not want to get disturbed by anyone today. Also, make sure you serve your best today. I have a very special guest with
today."
Nora’s words made the staff tense up before they quickly went to work.
Selene noted the exchange with mild amusent. Even as a younger sibling, Nora carried herself with a presence that demanded obedience.
Once inside, they were imdiately escorted to a private table in a secluded part of the restaurant, away from the eyes and ears of any potential eavesdroppers.
The lighting was dim, the atmosphere elegant but tense.
Nora leaned back slightly in her chair, her sharp gaze never leaving Selene as she spoke.
"Order whatever you want. It’s my treat."
She offered casually, motioning toward the nu.
Selene raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a faint smirk.
"Shouldn’t it be the other way around? I’m the older one here."
Nora shrugged.
"You should take the offer while you can. I’m paying with Vale money anyway."
She said with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Selene humd, tilting her head slightly as realization dawned on her.
Ah.
So this was her way of making
feel better.
It wasn’t much, and it certainly wasn’t an apology. But it was sothing.
Selene recognized the effort, even if it was small, and decided to humor her younger sister. With a slight nod, she reached for the nu and skimd through it.
"Fine. But let’s get to business."
She conceded, setting the nu down.
Nora waved a dismissive hand.
"There’s no rush. We just t. Let’s enjoy the al and have so fun ti..."
Selene narrowed her eyes.
"Nora."
The younger Vale sighed dramatically, as if Selene was the one being unreasonable for wanting to get straight to the point. But after a brief mont, she relented.
"Alright. If you want
to take responsibility for sending Rize Spencer your way, I’ll compensate you."
Nora said, resting her chin on her palm.
Selene didn’t react imdiately. Instead, she studied Nora carefully, her expression neutral.
Then, in a calm, asured tone, she finally spoke.
"That’s not what I want."
Nora’s eyebrows arched slightly, intrigued.
"Oh?"
Selene leaned forward slightly, resting her elbows on the table.
"Instead of compensation, I want to buy Rize Spencer’s debt from the Vale family."
Silence.
The air between them shifted, becoming heavier, more charged.
Nora’s playful expression dimd, her sharp blue eyes scanning Selene’s face as if trying to decipher her true intentions.
"You want to buy her debt?"
She repeated slowly, almost as if tasting the words on her tongue.
Selene nodded, her gaze unwavering.
"That’s right."
For a long mont, Nora said nothing. She rely sat there, her fingers lightly tapping against the table in thought.
Then, with a slow, deliberate smile, she finally spoke.
"You really haven’t changed, have you? You’re still sticking your nose into things you have no need to."
Selene remained silent, not rising to the bait.
Nora chuckled softly, shaking her head.
"Fine. I’ll humor you. But tell
sothing first—why Rize?"
She said, lacing her fingers together.
Selene’s expression didn’t falter.
"She’s useful."
"Hmm. You don’t usually waste ti on lost causes."
Nora humd, unconvinced.
Selene’s fingers curled slightly against the table, but her face remained composed.
"I’m offering a fair deal. Take it or leave it."
She said instead.
Nora smirked, as if delighted by the exchange.
"And if I say no?"
"You won’t."
Selene’s confidence made Nora laugh.
"Fine. Let’s negotiate."
Selene knew this wasn’t going to be easy.
But she was prepared.
Because if there was one thing she understood about the Vale family—it was that everything had a price.
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