I Was His Wife, Then His Widow, Then No One's But My Own novel Chapter 14

Nora walked into the banquet hall. The crystal chandeliers overhead were blindingly bright, casting a magnificent, golden glow over the entire space.

Standing at the entrance, her gaze quickly swept across the room.

There were too many people. Nora recognized a few faces, noting representatives from top-tier domestic pharmaceutical companies and an academic titan she had only seen in journal photos during her doctoral studies.

She normally wouldn't have any chance to interact with these people, and now they were all packed into this one room, yet the bitter reality was that she still couldn't get anywhere near them.

Besides, her objective for coming here was clear: to find Xander Harrison.

But the CEO of Harrison Group wasn't exactly easy to track down. At an event like this, someone of Xander's status would either be holed up in a VIP room discussing high-level business or completely mobbed by a crowd. He absolutely wouldn't be casually wandering through the public areas.

Nora circled the hall once, failing to catch even a glimpse of him.

She walked and pondered, feeling increasingly uncertain.

Last time at the police station, Xander had told her to come to him if she ever needed help, but she had assumed he was just being polite. It was standard protocol for someone of his status to throw out some pleasantries in that kind of situation.

She never expected she would actually seek him out, let alone this quickly.

Especially since Cassie had pushed Bonnie that day. Even though she had apologized on the spot, she clearly remembered the dark look on Xander's face as he scooped up his daughter and left without a backward glance.

Would he still help her? Nora had no idea.

But she had no other path to take. The Institute's funding had been entirely cut, her mentor was lying in a hospital bed, and their research could be permanently shut down at any second.

In the circles she knew, the only person capable of pulling out that kind of investment was Xander; she simply couldn't think of anyone else.

Nora was so deep in thought as she walked, she completely failed to notice what was in front of her.

"Ouch!"

A childish gasp sounded right by her feet.

Bonnie giggled again. "Security is super tight here! Normal people can't even get in. Plus, there are cameras absolutely everywhere, so there won't be any emergencies."

Suddenly remembering something, she leaned in close to Nora, whispering secretively. "And I snuck out while Dad wasn't looking. Nora, you absolutely cannot tell on me!"

Amused by her guilty expression, Nora chuckled and bent down to pick her up. Bonnie eagerly wrapped her arms around Nora's neck, dangling her little legs as she happily latched onto her.

Looking at her, Nora said seriously, "If you want to come out and play, you can just ask your dad to bring you. Sneaking out on your own will only make him worry."

Bonnie pouted. "But Dad is busy entertaining guests in his office, he doesn't have time to play with me."

Looking at her aggrieved little face, Nora felt a gentle bump in her heart.

She thought of Cassie. When Cassie was younger, she used to be exactly like this—nestling securely in her arms, clinging tightly to her neck. But at some point, Cassie just stopped doing it entirely.

She suppressed the thought, offering Bonnie a warm smile. "Then how about I play with you?"