At this point, she had reached the kitchen door, and with a change of tone, she shouted at the people inside, “Taking money but not doing your job well, just mumbling inside. If I hear you mumbling again, I’ll have you pack your things and get out. I am still a part of this family, and I still have the power to drive people away!”
After Norah’s words, the kitchen immediately fell silent.
Norah turned back and coldly laughed at Thelma, as if to show off.
However, Thelma appeared indifferent and said, “You don’t need to say this to me; I don’t care. I don’t enjoy flattery, so I also don’t care whether others look down on me.”
Norah narrowed her eyes and said, “From what you said, are you mocking me for enjoying flattery?”
Norah was indeed sensitive. Thelma opened her mouth to explain but then felt there was nothing to explain. She smiled helplessly and instinctively reached up to tuck her hair behind her ear.
But she didn’t expect Norah to suddenly take a step back, her face filled with terror, exclaiming, “What are you doing?”
Thelma: “…”
Thelma stared at Norah’s terrified expression, confused. Why was her reaction so extreme? She glanced at her hand that had just tucked her hair; she had merely tucked her hair…
Norah seemed to realize her reaction was too exaggerated. She quickly cleared her throat, adjusted her expression, and huffed heavily before heading to the restroom.
Thelma: “???”
Thelma looked at her hand that had just tucked her hair, deep in thought. Could it be that Norah had been hit by her before? Did she think she was going to hit her when she raised her hand?
She had actually hit Norah? That spoiled girl?
Impressive!
After dinner, Sam Noah and several liquor factory managers went to the study to discuss business. Ruth organized a few younger ones to play cards. Thelma initially didn’t want to play, but as Ruth was an elder, she couldn’t refuse her face, so she planned to play a couple of rounds half-heartedly.
Since everyone was tired of playing card, they decided to play something new called “Intercept.” Thelma didn’t know how to play, so they played a couple of rounds to teach her.
It was actually quite simple. Each player had seven cards, and whoever could finish first would win. Single cards, double cards, and triple cards were all worth two, and four cards were a bomb, with the biggest bomb being two kings. The first player plays a card, and the next player must play a card that can connect. For example, if you play three, the next player must play four. If they can’t connect, the last player to play must draw a card and play again. It wasn’t too difficult; it was just a casual game to pass the time.
Norah had good luck today, drawing three twos. Several times, Thelma could have connected but was blocked by her. Unsurprisingly, Norah finished her cards first, while Thelma had the most cards left, making her the biggest loser. Norah could ask her for any bet.
She could ask for money or for Thelma to do something for her.
Norah tapped her chin with her finger, squinting her eyes as she smiled at Thelma, “We play openly here; I just wonder if Thelma can adapt.”
Thelma replied, “If I decide to play, then of course I will accept the outcome.”
Norah said, “That’s straightforward! Since you say so, I won’t be polite.”
Thelma shrugged, making a gesture as if to say, “Go ahead.”
Norah tilted her head, pretending to think, then smiled sweetly, “How about Thelma does a striptease to liven things up?”
A striptease?
As soon as this was said, Ruth’s expression turned sour. No matter what, Thelma was Sam Noah’s wife, his daughter-in-law. Asking her to do a striptease was simply rubbing her and Sam Noah’s faces in the dirt.
Generally speaking, everyone knew the limits when it came to bets, and Norah was being too inconsiderate.
“Are you sure you want me to do a striptease?” Thelma asked.
“Of course, do you want to back out?”
Norah was unwilling to back down at all, clearly determined that Thelma would not escape doing a striptease.
Thelma knew very well that Norah was deliberately trying to embarrass her.
The atmosphere became tense, and Josie, sitting next to Thelma, smiled and said, “Thelma is here for the first time; don’t scare her. How about I do a dance to liven things up?”
