Chapter 75
The question sounded simple, but something about it unsettled her.
She exhaled quietly, shaking her head. “No.”
Her voice was even, controlled. “You don’t have to invite me just because of Grandmother. I’ll tell her myself that I chose not to go.”
Arnold didn’t reply immediately. Instead, he stood there, staring at her with those deep, unreadable eyes.
The silence stretched between them, heavy and unspoken.
Even though they had been married for years, Nora often felt as though she didn’t truly know him. He had always been distant, guarded–an enigma she had once tried to solve.
But not anymore.
She no longer searched his eyes for hidden emotions, no longer tried to understand the thoughts that he kept locked away.
Arnold remained still for a moment longer, then, without another word, he turned and left.
Downstairs, the party continued, but the mood had shifted slightly. The guests watched Arnold descend the staircase, their expressions curious, expectant.
They had assumed Nora would be following him.
But she wasn’t there.
The realization settled in quickly–Nora had refused him.
It was unheard of
Linda, who had been watching Arnold closely, felt a strange satisfaction at first. But as the moments passed, an unfamiliar tension crept into her.
Nora had said no.
Arnold had gone to get her, and she had still refused.
That wasn’t how things were supposed to go.
Upstairs, Nora continued working late into the night. The soft hum of voices donatin
Chapter 75
background as she focused on the meeting displayed on her screen. The video conference stretched on. filled with discussions of contracts, designs, and deadlines.
She was so focused that she didn’t hear the door open.
It wasn’t until she noticed a shift on her laptop screen–movement in the background of the video call–that she realized someone had entered the room.
Her head snapped up.
Standing in the doorway, framed by the soft glow of the hall light, was Arnold.
He didn’t speak.
Nora’s heartbeat stuttered for a second.
The laptop camera had captured his entrance perfectly, and now, on the other end of the call, her business partners had seen him too.
A few seconds cleared their throat.
passed in silence before someone on the call awkwardly
“Uh, is this a bad time?”
Nora hurriedly turned her laptop camera away, ensuring that no one on the video call got a clear view of the man who had just entered.
However, it was impossible to hide his imposing figure and commanding aura.
The broad shoulders, the confident posture, the effortless dominance he exuded–it was enough to make an impression even through a blurry screen.
A few voices on the call murmured with curiosity.
“Wait, was that…?”
“Who was
that just now?”
Someone chuckled. “Nora, your husband is ridiculously handsome. That presence… absolutely stunning.”
Another voice hesitated before adding, “I always thought you and Leo were together.”
A pause stretched between them, thick with unspoken implications.
Nora kept her expression calm, even though her fingers instinctively tightened around the mouse.
The misunderstanding had always been there. Her colleagues had long assumed that she and Leo–the
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sharp, charismatic businessman she often worked with–were a couple.
It was easier that way. At least, it had been easier when Arnold never appeared in her world.
But now, with Arnold walking into her private space, everything suddenly felt exposed.
She didn’t want to continue the conversation.
The meeting was almost finished anyway, so she wrapped it up quickly.
As she shut the laptop, she exhaled softly, relieved. But that relief didn’t last long.
That’s when she noticed Alex in the room, whispering to Arnold.
“I want to sleep with Aunt Linda tonight,” Alex murmured, looking up at his father with bright eyes.
Nora’s body stiffened slightly, though she forced herself not to react.
Near the doorway, Linda was already there, crouching down to Alex’s level, hugging him affectionately. “Of course, sweetheart,” she cooed. Then she lifted her gaze to Arnold, her smile soft, expectant. “Is that okay?”
Arnold said nothing at first. His expression was unreadable, but he nodded once.
Nora didn’t want to hear
any more. She turned away, walking into the bathroom.
The sound of running water filled the space as she washed up for the night. She scrubbed her face harder than necessary, as if trying to erase the lingering discomfort in her chest. It wasn’t jealousy–no, she refused to let it be jealousy. It was just exhaustion..
By the time she returned, the room was quiet.
Arnold was lying on the bed.
Nora hesitated for a second before carefully settling on the other half, making sure to keep a safe distance between them.
The mattress barely shifted under her weight, and she positioned herself rigidly, determined not to let their bodies brush even by accident.
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