Chapter 8: Your Father's Illegitimate Children Outnumber the Men I've Slept With in My Lifetime

Nora Hart left Andrew Locke's law firm and returned to the Hart Family residence.

Before the car even got close, she saw someone kneeling at the door, wailing loudly.

The rural mourning rituals were being performed with such fervor and authenticity by them.

"Miss Hart...," Andrew Locke's secretary, Lucas Holmes, glanced at Nora Hart as he parked the car.

He seemed unsure whether to drive in or not.

"Wait a moment, I'll make a call."

In no time, Lucas Holmes heard from the back seat, Nora Hart asking the property manager if she still wanted her to pay the fees.

Ten minutes later...the property manager arrived with a large group of people.

Lucas Holmes felt for the first time that a mansion was indeed a mansion! If all property managements were like this, how many fewer lawsuits would there be!

As soon as Nora Hart entered, she saw her mother sitting on the sofa in a plain white Chinese tea dress, wearing nude lipstick, looking very much like someone in mourning.

This morning, when Andrew Locke asked if the old guy was dead, Nora Hart didn't think much of it; however, seeing Ms. Young dressed like this now... it indeed seemed like it.

"How did it go?"

"Didn't work out."

Grace Young: ... "Are you planning to leave a chance for Jordan Hart?"

"You don't know how hard Andrew Locke is to deal with, do you? Such a sophisticated egotistical introvert, sleeping with him doesn't mean anything. Even if you are now pregnant with his child and trying to negotiate with him, he would pull out the law book to explain the difference between nonsense and extortion."

Nora Hart had a headache... a serious headache.

"Nora, do you think a broken bowl for $9.99 on Pinduoduo is expensive?" Grace Young said as she skillfully opened the app, typing "broken bowl" in the search box.

Nora Hart: ....

"Without your dad's inheritance, neither of us can even afford a broken bowl." Ms. Young had pinned her hopes on her husband in the first half of her life, and now her hopes in the latter half were pinned on Nora Hart.

Such a hands-off approach... truly enviable.

"I'm going to change clothes to attend an event."

In the evening, Nora had a film forum to attend at the Continental Hotel in Capital Port. Life was hard, life was tiring, life could make one cry! Others might have a chicken in one hand and a duck in the other; she had Andrew Locke in one hand and was engaged in a battle of wits and guts with those demons and monsters on the other.

"There's no problem on Matthew Summers' side, don't worry."

Nora Hart sat in the car, letting the makeup artist do her makeup.

"What about the driver? Was he caught?"

"It was quite a coincidence, the driver kept insisting he's family with you," Sheila Wendy swiped a few times on the tablet, showing her the surveillance footage sent from the police station.

Nora Hart brushed aside the makeup artist's hand and took the tablet: "Last name Hart?"

"Not sure," Sheila Wendy shrugged.

"Now I see everyone as my father's illegitimate child."

"Besides you legitimate children, how many illegitimate ones does your dad have?" Sheila Wendy was curious. Sir Hart was listed on the wealth rankings, having a few extra children to share some money shouldn't require an heiress like Nora Hart to personally step in, right?

Nora Hart gestured.

Sheila Wendy: "One or two?"

"Twelve."

"Shit! Your dad's got more illegitimate kids than the number of men I've slept with in my life."

Nora Hart sighed and took out her phone to try and find Andrew Locke on WeChat, but couldn't find him after searching for quite a while.

"...."

Then, she found Sean Shaw: "Mr. Shaw, could you please send me Andrew Locke's WeChat?"

Sean Shaw wasn't ambiguous but perhaps was better off being vague: "Don't dare."

Nora Hart: "Your mother seems to be in the same spa as me, should I ask her next time? And maybe chat about your recent escapades?"

Over there, Sean Shaw cursed under his breath: "Nora Hart, do you know why people find you annoying?"

Nora Hart: "Because you're not as good-looking as me and have less money?"

Sean Shaw: "... Here you go, now leave."

Andrew Locke was right, the face was something Nora Hart never cared for since she was young, and these proper grown-ups couldn't compete with her.

Nora Hart clicked on Andrew Locke's contact card, his profile picture was the logo of their law firm, the account looked like a work account.

Never mind that, just add it first.

Seeing her busy, Sheila Wendy asked: "What about the police station issue?"

"Let them call Andrew Locke."

"Did you settle him?" That fast? Andrew Locke the schemer was that easy to deal with?

Nora Hart sighed: "No."

"Then you..."

"Just using it for now."

Eventually, it would all be hers; she was merely exercising her rights in advance, which were rightfully hers.

"Get me a schedule of Andrew Locke's engagements," she refused to believe she couldn't track down Andrew Locke.

The chauffeured car stopped at the Continental Hotel, Nora Hart straightened her dress, got out of the car, and with the hotel's security escorting her to the lobby, the fans went wild as soon as she exited the elevator.

Nora Hart greeted the fans as she walked onto the stage, and when she took the microphone from Brooke North, she was met with a sarcastic remark: "Quite busy, huh? Morning at the police station for a rendezvous, afternoon for an event."

"What's this? I'll still have time to hook up tonight, interested? We could do an np together!"

Brooke North's face turned pale, unable to stand Nora Hart's arrogant demeanor.

And yet, her own verbal skills weren't as quick as Nora's.

"Pretty in appearance, wild in actions."

Nora Hart: ... You're questioning my flawless, 360-degree good looks?

"Nora Hart, what was your biggest takeaway from playing the second female lead in this film?" The host started asking questions once the microphone was in Nora's hand.

Nora Hart fashioned a slight smile, projecting an image of innocence: "Purity and kindness, unlike traditional films, this movie's backdrop is very uplifting, with women supporting each other to rise together, aligning with the modern woman's workplace environment."

"What are your expectations for this film?"

Nora Hart tilted her head slightly and grinned: "Of course, a big hit!"

The fans on the scene saw Nora Hart's playful manner and went into a frenzy, screaming wildly.

As Nora Hart came out of the hotel and got into the car, Sheila Wendy handed over the tablet: "Andrew Locke, unless entertaining, consistently plays golf every evening."

"Tonight?"

"Entertaining."

Nora Hart: ...

Seeing Nora Hart deflated, Sheila Wendy kindly reminded: "Want to check who he's entertaining? The shareholders from Harbor Ring Logistics Park..."

Nora Hart: ... Jordan Hart? WTF!

Capital Port's Ring River was divided into a new city sector with high-rise buildings and an old city sector with many ancient structures.

Andrew Locke's dinner with the Harbor Ring Logistics Park's representatives was set at a riverside private dining restaurant, where opening the traditional Chinese-style window revealed a full view of the mighty river.

When Nora Hart found the place, it seemed they were about halfway through the dinner.

Sheila Wendy noticed Nora Hart sitting in the car, fiddling with her phone, not in a hurry to go inside, and found it a bit strange: "Not going in?"

"What's the rush? If I go in and interrupt Andrew Locke's business talk, he could very well throw a fit right there."

"So?" Sometimes Sheila Wendy couldn't help but admire Nora Hart's skill in manipulating men, planning every step.

"Let the waiter send two bottles of wine in, saying they're from me. Also, remind Jordan Hart I'm nearby, give him a hint not to mess around."

Sheila Wendy: ... This is why Nora Hart is who she is!