I Was His Wife, Then His Widow, Then No One's But My Own novel Chapter 162

Cassie's sweet, childish voice filtered through the earpiece, carrying an awkward hint of concern. "Mom, are you hurt?"

Nora's heart gave a slight tug. This was the first time Cassie had proactively asked about it since their last phone call when Nora mentioned being in the hospital.

Her tone, however, remained flat. "Yes. What's wrong, Cassie?"

"Are you badly hurt, Mom?"

"I'm alright."

Cassie went silent for two seconds before her voice suddenly softened, drawing out into a pitiful, pleading whine. "Mom, I miss you. I want to see you. Can you come pick me up from school today?"

Nora paused. So this was it—she needed her for something.

Her heart sank. Her feelings for Cassie had shifted from unconditional indulgence to mere responsibility and obligation. But even if it was just an obligation, it was one she had to bear until the girl became an adult.

She couldn't completely abandon her just because her heart had been broken. Those were two different things.

She said plainly, "Alright. I'll pick you up after school tonight."

Cassie cheered on the other end of the line. She then added a sweet, "Mom, I'll be waiting for you," before hanging up the phone.

Nora stared at the 'Call Ended' screen on her phone, lost in thought.

She never thought the day would come when Cassie would cheer just because she agreed to pick her up.

The moment she turned around, she saw Seraphina already standing right behind her, wearing that standard, gentle smile.

"What's wrong, Nora? Is there anything I can help you with?" Seraphina asked, her tone dripping with sincerity.

Nora figured that although she disliked Seraphina, the woman did have solid foundational knowledge in their field. This data bug wasn't a minor issue. Having an extra set of eyes to verify it might help pinpoint the root cause faster.

She flipped open the report, slid it in front of Seraphina, and tapped the anomalous data set she had just discovered. Her tone was strictly professional. "There's a bug here. Do you see it?"

Seraphina took the report and looked down at it. Her brow creased slightly as if she were thinking deeply. After looking at it for quite a while, she looked up and gave a regretful shake of her head.

"I don't see anything wrong with it. These parameters are all within the normal range. Nora, could it be that you're just tired and seeing things because you haven't fully recovered from the hospital? After all, you rested at home for so long, and facing so much data all at once, it's normal for your brain to be a little slow to catch up."