In the overly quiet environment, combined with the tense atmosphere, the sudden sound startled Thelma, causing her to shiver instinctively. She saw Sam Noah suddenly turn his head to look in her direction, his gaze sharp and cold, completely different from the gentle Sam Noah she knew.
There was really nothing to be afraid of, but Thelma hurriedly shrank back, her heart racing. She heard footsteps approaching, knowing that Sam Noah was coming over.
Thelma quickly adjusted her breathing, preparing to go out, but just then, the restroom door was suddenly pulled open, and Sam Noah’s tall figure stood outside.
At that moment, he was in an aggressive stance, his expression cold, his gaze icy, as if he was about to grab her by the neck. However, upon seeing her, he froze for a moment, and then that aggressive demeanor seemed to vanish in an instant, his expression warming as if a gentle breeze had blown in, melting the ice and snow.
“What are you doing here?”
He asked, and the man before her was once again the familiar Sam Noah, gentle, indulgent, and charming.
Thelma let out a sigh of relief and said, “I was going to give you a surprise, but it seems I didn’t manage to surprise you. Instead, you mistook me for a burglar.”
“Sorry, did I scare you?”
He seemed to relax, his hands casually tucked into his pants pockets, but his fingers slowly tightened.
“Not really.”
The warm, smiling gaze fell on her, but he didn’t miss a single expression on her face. “Did you hear everything I said to Wade just now?”
“I heard.”
“Disappointed?”
“……”
It was as if he was casually asking, or perhaps just joking, but his hands in his pockets were tightening more and more.
“Did you find out that I’m not as upright as I seem, and that I engage in these underhanded dealings? Are you disappointed in your husband?”
He still spoke in a joking tone, and his face bore a smile, but Thelma vaguely sensed a tension in his voice. She glanced at his pants pocket and noticed some unusual creases forming in the otherwise smooth fabric.
Instinctively, she reached out her hand. As soon as she touched his tightly clenched fist, she was startled. He seemed to be taken aback by her sudden grasp, almost instinctively wanting to pull his hand back, but after a moment of stiffness, he relaxed.
Thelma looked up at him, but his expression hadn’t changed much; he still smiled gently, waiting for her answer.
Was he afraid she would be disappointed in him? He seemed calm, yet he was anxious for her response.
To be honest, she was indeed surprised to see that side of Sam Noah earlier, and she was even a bit scared. But when he appeared before her, facing her, she knew he was her Sam Noah, the one she loved.
Thelma took his hand out of his pocket and held it in hers, smiling at him, “Not at all. In the business world, it’s like a battlefield. In such a complex place, who can remain untainted? Moreover, there are no absolutely upright people in this world. To me, Mr. Sam is a responsible husband and a good father. You have always cared for Josie’s family because of your guilt over his death due to your mistake, which shows you are a straightforward and responsible person. So as long as you don’t do anything illegal like murder or arson, you will still be a good man in my eyes.”
Sam Noah’s expression seemed a bit dazed. He stared blankly at the woman before him, not reacting for a while. It turned out she didn’t mind, she didn’t despise his dirty and dark side.
Norah had once told him that he and Thelma were from different worlds. Although he had ignored her, he knew in his heart that they were indeed different. He had struggled in a world of schemes and power struggles since he was young, knowing that only by being strong and cunning could he survive. But she, she lived in a beautiful world, and she was a good person in that beautiful world. When he met her, he realized that there were still such places and people in this world.
She was his faith, his spiritual support. Even if she later became prickly, she could not erase the beauty she brought him.
Although he appeared confident and strong, many times he felt inferior in front of her, afraid she would despise him, afraid that once she understood what kind of person he was, she would leave him, afraid she would think that her world was different from his.
But now she was telling him that she didn’t mind. She said he was a good husband and a good father.
Just a moment ago, he was worried that she would hold a grudge, planting a seed of doubt in his heart, becoming guarded against her, distancing himself from her. Yet unexpectedly, she said she didn’t care, and she was still holding his hand.
