Overprotected By My Tsundere CEO-Chapter 685 - 429: Oliver Scott Is Falsely Accused [Part 2]

"Sis, Marshall Ferreira is hospitalized."

Nora Scott and Marcus Shaw paused in their movements.

Nora Scott: "Congratulations, terminal illness?"

Marcus Shaw: "How many days left to live?"

Oliver Scott: "..."

For a moment, Oliver Scott was speechless. He took off his headphones, wrapped them around his hand a few times, and put them in his pocket. Then he lifted his eyelids, staring steadily at Nora Scott.

Nora picked up a can of Coke, pulled the tab to open it, took a sip, rested her palm on the edge of the dining table, and said nonchalantly, "I didn’t touch him."

Relieved by Nora’s answer, Oliver let out a breath.

Feeling at ease, Oliver came over, his tone more relaxed, "After school tonight, he was stopped and beaten by several masked men outside the school. His limbs were fractured, and he was severely injured. He’ll probably be bedridden for about half a year."

Such familiar circumstances made Nora unconsciously think of another group—those who protected Sophie Scott.

For a high school junior, such a beating was akin to a fatal blow. Whether he chose to take a year off and redo the school year, or participate in the college entrance exam as usual, it was a loss for him. The former meant wasting a year, the latter poor performance.

Nevertheless, evil begets evil; he deserved it.

"Who were you on the phone with just now?" Nora asked.

"My mom."

Oliver’s eyes flashed lightly with some inexplicable emotion, his lips pressed into a straight line, saying nothing more.

Digging in the paper bag for a bottle of orange juice, he threw it to him. Nora leaned against the dining table, took another sip of Coke, and asked casually, "Marshall Ferreira got beaten up and hospitalized, and your mom calls you for such a long chat. Is she worried you’ll be beaten again?"

Holding the orange juice, Oliver hesitated, furrowing his brow lightly. After a brief pause, he responded, "Yeah."

Nora asked again, "Did she mention your grades?"

"Uh," Oliver blinked, seeming to realize, "No."

On a normal day, a zero score would drive Alma Ferreira crazy.

Marcus and Nora exchanged a doubtful glance.

No one knew what Alma discussed with Oliver, but during the late-night snack, Oliver was quite distracted. After eating, he washed up and went to bed, an hour or two earlier than usual.

Oliver and Marcus didn’t follow Nora’s habits. If Nora had any problem, she liked to ask for help to solve it, avoiding doing it herself if possible. Oliver and Marcus were different; they bottled things up inside and seemed uncomfortable seeking help. So, both Nora and Marcus noticed the clues but didn’t ask a word.

It was summer break the next day, and Oliver and Marcus planned to meet Glenn Flynn at school. But surprisingly, Oliver received a call early in the morning and said something came up, leaving after that.

Marcus rubbed his ears, knocked on the door, and told Nora about it.

"It should be about Marshall Ferreira," Nora said, playing with a bamboo flute in her hand, "I told his dad, and he rushed back immediately. Alma Ferreira loves her son dearly and won’t let anything happen to him."

Seeing Nora understood the situation, Marcus nodded without saying more. He turned into the kitchen, dutifully preparing breakfast for Nora.

Nora reminded him that she didn’t want noodles today, preferred instant noodles for the better taste. There were two tubs left at home, and they decided to finish them while Oliver was out.

Marcus rubbed his brow, put the noodles back, looked up at the cupboard, opened it, and took out two tubs of instant noodles.

—Indeed, Nora clearly remembered how many tubs of instant noodles were at home.

*

It wasn’t until the next day that Nora and Marcus got the news—Marshall Ferreira, while hospitalized, forcibly shifted the blame, claiming upon waking that the attacker mentioned Oliver, pretending innocence and giving the police only this single lead.

Having no choice, the police started with Oliver, considering the possibility that "Oliver suspected Marshall Ferreira of doing something to him a month ago and now sought revenge."

Oliver was good with people, and in the past, the Ferreira family would have defended him. But since he supported Alma Ferreira and Ernesto Woods’ divorce, offending Sir Ferreira and many elders, no one stood by him anymore, their loyalty swaying toward their family, Marshall.

Regardless of the police finding evidence, due to Marshall’s vague statements, his father and Sir Ferreira were furious, summoning Oliver back early the next morning for a harsh scolding and cold treatment.

Oliver insisted it had nothing to do with him, unaware of any past incident related to Marshall a month ago, enduring their rebuke and anger, then accompanying them for a police visit.

Until Ernesto Scott returned home and had a fierce argument with the Ferreira family, subsequently taking Oliver forcibly away.

...

Scott family villa.

Returning here after a long time, Nora heard her bedroom renovation was complete and ready for her to move in, so she went to have a look, quite satisfied with it at first sight.