Taken By My Fiancé's Uncle - Chapter 137: Chapter 137

Eugene cradled the delicate woman in his strong arms, shielding Lorraine with utmost care as they stood before everyone.
Norah staggered slightly, still too young to fully conceal her emotions as her composure slipped. "Eugene?" she whimpered plaintively.
After traveling all this way, enduring the grueling climb under the blazing sun, and putting up with Sheila's provocations, she thought bitterly, 'This is definitely not what I came here to see.'
Eugene gave her a cool glance, sweeping past everyone as he strode steadily through the courtyard. Each step was measured and unhurried.
Then he gently placed Lorraine on the lounge chair beneath the tree.
"Would you like some water?" Eugene asked softly.
Lorraine wasn't feeling well. She drowsily glanced over at Eugene and murmured, "No, I don't think I need any."
'His fiancée is standing right here. Isn't it inappropriate for him to act like this?' Lorraine thought uneasily. 'And his fiancée is so pretty and cute, dressed in those designer clothes.
'One look and you can tell she's from a completely different world than me.'
Lorraine instinctively curled in on herself, wishing she could just disappear.
Eugene gave her a silent glance, then turned to the kitchen and poured a glass of water. "You'll drink some whether you like it or not. Clear?"
To Eugene, everyone else might as well have been invisible. Sheila and Lorenzo were already accustomed to it, but the Pedler family members could barely contain their irritation.
After a moment's thought, Briana stepped forward, reaching for the glass in Eugene's hand. "Mr. Moore, allow me to attend to Ms. Shaw."
'Ms. Shaw?' he wondered. Eugene's deep eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flashing through them.
"No need," Eugene said, sidestepping Briana. He crouched down beside Lorraine, gently blew on the water to cool it, and patiently helped her take small sips.
Briana's face paled in shock. This was nothing short of slapping the Pedler family across the face right in front of everyone.
Briana wondered, 'Since when has Ms. Pedler ever suffered such humiliation? In Jonalesburg, the line of suitors chasing after her could stretch all the way to the moon, yet she's head-over-heels for Eugene.
'And yet Eugene showed not an ounce of gratitude or appreciation, publicly humiliating Ms. Pedler like this.'
Norah forced a smile, stepped forward, and gently held Briana back. "Eugene, I'll wait right here for you. Just call me when you're free. I brought your favorite desserts from Jonalesburg."
Eugene gave her a sidelong glance and remained silent.
Briana turned around and seemingly accidentally bumped into Eugene's hand—harder than expected.
Caught completely off guard, Eugene lost his grip on the glass, sending the entire cup of water splashing all over Lorraine.
"Does it burn?" Eugene's expression darkened. Finding no towel nearby, he immediately stripped off his shirt to dry her.
Lorraine shook her head. "I'm fine," she murmured.
'Eugene had already cooled the water. How could it still be hot?' Lorraine thought.
Sheila rushed over. "Lorraine, let me take you to change," she said urgently.
She and Lorenzo helped Lorraine inside, while Eugene made to follow them.
Norah blocked his path, her voice trembling as she pleaded, "Eugene, won't you keep me company? I've come all the way from Jonalesburg to Auretian, and then here. It's been such a long journey."
Eugene shot an icy glare at Briana, who was standing behind Norah.
"I didn't mean to, Mr. Moore," Briana murmured, lowering her head. "At my age, mistakes happen. I'm truly sorry."
Norah tentatively reached for Eugene's hand and pleaded softly, "Her clothes got wet. I can replace them for her. Briana raised me since I was little, so won't you please forgive her?"
Having just stripped off his shirt, Eugene was left in a form-fitting black tank top that showcased his sculpted torso—a sight that made onlookers' pulses quicken.
Without a word, Eugene glanced around, deliberately evading Norah's outstretched hand, then strode toward the grove by the fishpond.
Norah hurried after him. "Eugene, Briana is such a wonderful cook. Why don't we have her prepare dinner for us later?" she said sweetly.
She'd barely arrived, yet she was already trying to orchestrate their lives. The Pedler family was never one to sit back and let others take control.
Eugene stood by the edge of the fishpond, hands thrust into his pockets, his gaze fixed on the shimmering water below.
Standing behind him, Norah took a deep breath before speaking in her most saccharine tone, "She seems quite lovely. The water wasn't hot, and she didn't blame Briana.
"Clearly, she's a very magnanimous person. By the way, Eugene, what's her name?"
Eugene's jaw tensed as he turned to face her, fixing her with an icy stare. "Haven't you already investigated her? How could you not know her name? Briana clearly just called her Ms. Shaw."
Norah's heart skipped a beat as she clenched her hands. "You must be joking. Maybe my subordinates looked into her, but I truly don't know anything.
"You know what I'm like. I just spend my days playing piano, tending to flowers, and learning pastry-making. I never involve myself in such matters."
Eugene remained impassive, his handsome face unreadable. He simply stared at her, his gaze dark and heavy, oppressive in its silence.
Norah couldn't decipher her swirling thoughts. Waves of cold sweat broke out on her palms as her heart hammered so violently, she feared it might leap from her throat.
"Norah," Eugene's voice cut through the air as he called her.
Norah exhaled in quiet relief, flashing a sweet smile. "I'm here, Eugene."
Eugene lifted his chin and gestured toward her. "Some of these bodyguards you brought have a shady past. They've killed people abroad before. What exactly are you up to?"
Norah was rendered speechless. 'How could he possibly know so much about my people?' she wondered.
She shook her head, her sweet smile never faltering. "They were all arranged by my father. I really had no idea."
"Is that so?" Eugene gave a cold smile. "Whatever tricks the Pedler family has up their sleeve, the Moore family is no stranger to them. Families like ours—none are truly clean. But Norah, if anything happens to her, I'll have nothing left to lose."
His words cut colder than mountain frost, sending a chill through Norah's entire being. Even her heart felt numb with cold. 'Has he really gone this far for her?' Norah thought in shock.
Norah tried to compose herself, but her whole body was already trembling. "Eugene, have you forgotten our engagement? There's still someone waiting for you back in Jonalesburg."
Of course, this person was Queenie's husband.
"Since you're aware that this engagement is meant to keep me in check through him, you must also know," he paused, then continued, "Even if I do marry you as promised, it won't be because I love you, right?"
Norah's face drained of color. He was intent on saving Queenie's husband, while all she longed for was love.
Back when there was no place for her in his heart, Norah could accept that without a second thought.
Because back then, there was no one special in his heart, and she still had a chance. Norah could fight for him if she tried hard enough. But now Lorraine was by his side.
If Lorraine were just some ordinary woman, someone Eugene kept around for his physical needs, Norah could've made her disappear without a trace. But Eugene loved Lorraine deeply.
Eugene shot them a cold look. "Nothing more to say? Then leave." He sidestepped her and headed toward the room.
As they brushed past each other, Norah desperately seized Eugene's arm. "I was wrong, Eugene. I shouldn't have brought these people, and I shouldn't have entertained those thoughts about her.
"It's all my fault. I just can't bear to see another woman by your side."
Eugene stopped in his tracks, fixing her with an icy stare. "At least I'm not your husband yet." So whoever he chose to be with right now was none of her business.
Norah trembled under Eugene's piercing gaze, terrified he might send her away again. She pleaded, her voice shaking, "I swear, I won't lay a finger on Lorraine again."
At least for now, under his watchful eyes, Norah wouldn't dare make a move.
Eugene eyed her skeptically. "So, you're staying?"
"Of course. Wherever you are, I'll be there," Norah declared.
"Then go apologize to her." That was his only condition.
Norah staggered in disbelief. 'Apologize? He actually wants me to apologize to that worthless nobody, a woman even her parents don't care about?' she seethed inwardly. 'But I'm the noble heiress of the Pedler family.'
Eugene's expression remained frigid. "Refusing?"
Norah stammered, "I-I won't apologize to anyone except you, Eugene." She thought saying this would soften him.
Eugene gave a faint, mocking smirk, wrenched his hand free from hers, and strode away without looking back.
"Eugene—" Norah instinctively rushed after him. "Ah." Behind her came startled screams as someone plunged into the water, followed by the panicked shouts of bodyguards and Briana rushing over.
Eugene's lips pressed into a hard, thin line. His gaze was icy as he watched Norah flounder in the water behind him.
He did it on purpose, deliberately guiding her to the unstable edge of the pond, just to watch her fall in.
'Low, I knew it. But so what?' Eugene thought coldly. He remembered that glass of water they'd thrown on Lorraine.
One of the bodyguards immediately jumped into the water and hauled Norah out, while Briana rushed over with a blanket and wrapped it tightly around her shivering form.
Shivering uncontrollably as she passed Eugene, Norah finally dropped all pretense. "Eugene, the more you act like this, the more determined I am to marry you.
"As for Lorraine? I'll make her believe the only person you could ever love is me, just me. Don't you doubt it for a second."
Eugene shot her an icy glare, then, ignoring the bodyguards poised to intervene, yanked her sharply in front of him.
Eugene leaned in, his lips nearly brushing Lorraine's ear as he whispered in a voice only she could hear. "I believe you. You have your ways. But let me make this clear.
"If anything happens to her, I may not be able to retaliate against you directly. Not with all your people around, and the Pedler family's considerable power."
"As long as you understand," Norah said, drenched yet still carrying an air of dignity. "Even if I harmed her, and even if you had evidence, you can't touch me right now. And in the end, you'll still have to marry me, right?"
Eugene took a small step back, seemingly ignoring her question entirely. Locking eyes with her, he demanded, "Norah, do you love me?"
She hadn't expected him to ask her that out of the blue. Her heart melted with a sweet thrill, a delicate blush coloring her cheeks, yet she nodded with unwavering determination.
'If I didn't love you, would I really be holding on this tight?' she wondered. 'I loved you—achingly, to the marrow, with a desperate longing to become one flesh with you, our very beings inseparable.'
Eugene's lips curved in a cold smile, clearly satisfied with her answer. "Good that you do. Because if you dare harm her in any way, even if I can't make you pay for it, I'll turn every ounce of that vengeance upon myself."