I Was His Wife, Then His Widow, Then No One's But My Own novel Chapter 152

"I'm in the hospital," Nora said.

Cassie paused for a second, then carried on as if she hadn't heard a word. "I don't care! You already made me mad yesterday. If you keep this up, I'm never talking to you again!"

A sharp pang of betrayal struck Nora. She had explicitly said she was in the hospital, yet Cassie didn't ask a single question. If Seraphina or literally anyone else had said that, Cassie would have frantically changed the subject and demanded details, not stopping until she confirmed they were okay.

But because it was her mother, she wasn't worth a single second of concern.

The last shred of hope she held for her daughter completely died in that moment.

Nora closed her eyes. When she opened them again, the emotional turbulence in her gaze had vanished entirely.

Her voice was eerily calm, devoid of any warmth. "From now on, go to Lewis or Martha for your needs. I'm very busy these days. I don't have time."

With that, she hung up cleanly.

Staring at the disconnected call screen, Cassie's face flushed bright red. She stomped her feet twice in anger and turned to yell for the housekeeper.

"Martha! Where is my mom? She keeps rejecting me lately, and I'm really mad! I'm going to find her!"

Martha, who was wiping down the kitchen counters, popped her head out with a helpless look.

She had watched Cassie grow up and knew how stubborn the child could be. Cassie was used to being treated like a princess by Nora. Now that Nora wasn't catering to her every whim, Cassie felt like the sky was falling.

Holding her storybook, Bonnie peeked at her and called out softly, "Nora."

Nora turned her head, a gentle smile already back in place. "It's nothing. I was just on a call."

Bonnie didn't press further. She slid off the chair, tiptoed to the edge of the bed, and placed her storybook near Nora's hand. In her sweet, soft voice, she offered, "Nora, let me read you a story. It'll help you fall asleep faster. Once you're asleep, your injury won't hurt anymore."

Nora watched as the little girl opened the book, tracing the words line by line with her tiny finger as she read earnestly.

Lying against her pillows, Nora listened. The corner of her heart that had just been frozen solid by Cassie was slowly warmed by Bonnie's innocent voice. A single tear slipped silently from the corner of her eye. At the same time, it felt as though a piece of her heart had permanently hollowed out.