I Was His Wife, Then His Widow, Then No One's But My Own novel Chapter 141

That evening, the rain arrived abruptly. Just as Nora Newman prepared for bed, a flash of lightning bleached her bedroom white, followed by a low rumble of thunder that rattled the windowpanes.

She froze mid-turn, suddenly remembering that Cassie was terrified of thunderstorms.

In the past, whenever the weather turned like this, Cassie would always run barefoot out of her room.

Clutching her small pillow, she would push open Nora's door and dive straight under the covers, pressing her freezing little feet against Nora's legs for warmth.

Nora would wrap Cassie entirely in her arms, resting her chin on the girl's soft hair while murmuring fairy tales until Cassie's breathing grew deep and even, her tiny body relaxing completely as she fell sound asleep in her embrace.

Back then, Cassie relied on her for everything, tipping her chubby face up to call her "Mom" in that sweet, childish voice.

Recalling that image, and then thinking of the impatient glare Cassie gave her nowadays, a sharp pang tightened Nora's chest.

She took a deep breath, forcing the surge of emotion back down.

Speak of the devil. Just as she was about to head to the kitchen for a glass of water, her phone rang, the screen flashing with Cassie's name.

After a moment of hesitation, Nora answered, and Cassie's tearful voice immediately came through the speaker.

"Mom, where are you? It's raining outside, and I'm so scared. No one is home."

Nora didn't have to think hard to guess the situation. Finnegan was injured, and Seraphina Shaw was busy taking care of him, leaving Cassie completely alone. That was the only reason the girl had settled for calling her.

If it were the past, she would have rushed out the door without even grabbing a coat. But things were different now. She had packed away her endless indulgence for Cassie; all that remained was her basic legal obligation until the girl came of age.

From start to finish, Cassie hadn't asked if the storm was bad where Nora was, nor had she told her to be careful. If she had shown even a fraction of concern, Nora might have wavered.

But thankfully, she knew her daughter all too well.

Cassie only cared about whether her mother would come back to keep her company. She didn't spare a single thought for her mother's safety.

In fact, if Nora were to get into a fatal accident on the road, the girl probably wouldn't shed a single tear.

Knowing that, there was no reason to be soft-hearted. Nora's voice was perfectly flat, completely devoid of emotion.

"I can't go back tonight. Go find the housekeeper, otherwise you'll just have to sleep alone. Be a good girl. I'll visit you next time I'm free."