Chapter 99
Chapter 99
There was no softness in the way she touched Alex’s hair, no lingering affection in her gaze. She was still a mother, still present–but something within her had closed off.
Charles noticed it too. His eyes darted between them, his lips pressing into a thin line.
This wasn’t the Nora they knew.
She wasn’t trying to make conversation with Arnold. She wasn’t glancing his way like she used to, hoping for a moment of connection. And she certainly wasn’t trying to mend things with Charles or Cole, who had once been like family to her.
She was distant.
Almost as if she was already gone.
Charles suddenly felt uneasy.
He had assumed that her coldness was a trick–some kind of strategy to make Arnold chase after her.
But what if it wasn’t?
What if Nora wasn’t playing a game?
What if she had truly… given up?
For the first time, Arnold felt something he hadn’t expected to feel at all.
A strange, unfamiliar sensation curled in his chest.
It wasn’t anger.
It wasn’t guilt.
It was fear.
The dining hall was quiet except for the soft clinking of cutlery against porcelain.
The old lady’s sharp eyes darted between Nora and Arnold, her brows knitting together in disapproval. She had watched for years as Nora poured her heart into this marriage, reaching out time and time again, only to receive indifference in return.
Now, the shift in Nora’s attitude was as clear as day.
Chapter 99
“Nora,” she finally spoke, placing her spoon down. “You’re unusually quiet tonight.”
Nora didn’t look up, simply cutting her meat into small, precise pieces. “Am I?” she asked mildly.
The old lady turned her gaze to Arnold, who had barely spoken throughout the meal. “And you,” she said, her voice carrying a hint of reproach, “you let her become like this.”
Arnold continued eating as if he hadn’t heard her.
“She used to speak to you with warmth,” the old lady continued. “She used to care. But now, look at her. You’ve driven her to this.”
Nora still didn’t react. She lifted her glass, took a sip of water, and placed it back down with an air of indifference.
Arnold, too, remained silent. His expression was unreadable, but the way he held his fork–a little too tightly–suggested he wasn’t as unaffected as he wanted to seem.
The old lady let out a sigh and shook her head. “Foolish boy.”
The atmosphere was thick with unspoken words, but Nora refused to break the silence. She had nothing left to say.
Just as dinner was winding down, Arnold’s phone vibrated on the table. He glanced at the screen before picking up.
His voice was curt. “what is it?”
A pause. Then, his expression shifted ever so slightly. “Alright, I’ll be there soon.”
Nora didn’t need to ask. She already knew.
It was Linda.
She watched as Arnold stood up, grabbing his jacket. “Something came up,” he announced, not bothering to explain further.
Before he could leave, Alex’s fork clattered against his plate. “Dad, wait! I want to come with you!”
Arnold hesitated for a second, then nodded. “Get your coat.”
Alex scrambled out of his chair.
The old lady looked at the father and son, and suddenly suggested, “It just so happens that tomorrow is the weekend, why don’t the three of you go back together, and go out together for the weekend.”
Chapter 99
Nora saw the flicker of hesitation on Alex’s face. He was worried she would come along.
She gave a small, reassuring smile. “I can’t. I have plans with a friend.”
Alex visibly relaxed. “Oh, okay.”
Arnold gave her a glance, but said nothing.
With that, he left with Alex, and the old lady watched them go, her expression unreadable.
As soon as she left the estate, Nora pulled out her phone and dialed Leo’s number.
It rang only once before he picked up.
“Nora? What’s up?”
She exhaled softly. “I’m going through with the divorce.”
There was silence for half a second–then a burst of energy from the other end.
“Finally!” Leo’s voice carried an unmistakable note of triumph. “T’ll get you the best attorney immediately. No loopholes, no nonsense. You deserve this.”
Nora smiled faintly at his enthusiasm. “Thank you, Leo.”
“You don’t have to thank me,” Leo said firmly. “Just promise me one thing.”
“What?”
“Don’t look back. No matter what he does.“.
Nora’s grip on her phone tightened slightly.
“He won’t do anything….. And I won’t look back.”
Meanwhile, at the hospital, as Arnold and Alex sat with Linda, Charles stepped out into the hallway, phone in hand.
He dialed a number, and soon, Cole’s voice came through.
“What is it?”
Chapter 100
