I Was His Wife, Then His Widow, Then No One's But My Own novel Chapter 128

The assistant scrambled to keep up, stealing a quick glance back in the direction Nora had driven off. He couldn't help but marvel internally: Mr. Harrison's paranoia was truly on another level.

By this time, Nora had already exited the airport highway and was heading straight for The Fletcher Manor.

Ever since she decided to sever ties with her past, she had actively avoided coming back here. The old estate certainly held a few warm memories, but looking back now, every single one of them had morphed into a dagger twisting in her heart.

She wasn't returning tonight just to torture herself. It was simply time to clear the air, and a family dinner with everyone present was the perfect opportunity.

She slowly pulled up outside the grand villa, cut the engine, and stepped out of the car. Even before she reached the front doors, the loud clinking of glasses and booming laughter drifted out into the night air.

Her steps faltered slightly. They hadn't waited for her.

Alastair loathed tardiness more than anything. It was entirely expected that he wouldn't wait. Besides, Nora knew full well that even if she had been on time, they wouldn't have genuinely cared about her presence anyway.

They had never respected her.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed the heavy doors open. The hinges didn't make much noise, but the entire dining room turned to look at the source of the movement in unison.

The moment they saw her, the smiles on everyone's faces instantly dimmed.

Alastair's expression turned thunderous. He slammed his wine glass down onto the table and let out a cold scoff from his nose. "So you finally remembered to show up?"

He waved a hand, his tone still sharp with residual anger, though he finally relented. "Enough. Since you're here, eat. Have the kitchen heat up your soup."

"Thank you, Alastair," Nora replied.

Just as she prepared to settle in, a sickeningly gentle voice drifted over from the side.

"Nora, you're back so late. What exactly delayed you on the road? What was so important? Is it something you can share with us?"

Seraphina wore a flawlessly polite smile, as if she were genuinely thinking of the patriarch's peace of mind. "After all, this is a highly important family gathering. If you don't explain yourself clearly, everyone might still be harboring concerns."