I Was His Wife, Then His Widow, Then No One's But My Own novel Chapter 18

The gala ended much earlier than Nora had anticipated.

As she followed the crowd out, her fingers were wrapped tightly around the contract, a profound sense of relief settling over her.

Just as Nora stepped down the stairs, she spotted Finnegan and Seraphina walking out of the revolving doors ahead of her.

Seraphina was clinging to Finnegan's arm, leaning heavily against his shoulder. They were chatting, and Seraphina had a bright smile on her face.

Finnegan looked down at her with a soft expression, reaching up to gently tuck away a stray strand of hair blown by the wind.

Then he looked up, and his gaze accidentally swept over, catching sight of Nora. The warmth in his eyes vanished in an instant, dropping below freezing. His eyes lingered on her for a mere second before snapping away, exactly as if he were looking at an entirely irrelevant stranger.

Despite herself, Nora felt a faint tremor in her heart.

She had devoted ten years to him and spent five of them mourning him as a widow, only to end up not even deserving a single passing glance in his eyes.

Nora exhaled deeply, forcing that bitter sting out of her chest.

Whatever. It had nothing to do with her anymore.

She would be gone in a month. Finnegan, Seraphina—none of it mattered.

She was just about to walk toward the street when a black Maybach slowly glided to a stop right in front of her.

The rear window rolled down smoothly, revealing Bonnie's radiant little face.

She was sitting in the back, her eyes curving into happy crescents as she called out in her sweet, melodic voice.

"Nora! Get in, my dad will give you a ride home!"

Nora paused, instinctively glancing inside the luxury vehicle.

Xander sat elegantly on the other side of the backseat, wearing his gold-rimmed glasses. The warm, ambient lighting of the interior softened his sharp features, but his eyes retained an unfathomable depth that made him impossible to read.

Hearing Bonnie's voice, he turned his head to look at Nora, making no move to object.

Nora quickly waved her hands in refusal. "No need, Bonnie. I can get back on my own. It's very easy to grab a cab from here."

Bonnie's bright expression instantly fell. "No way! I have important things to tell you, please get in?"

As she pleaded, her tiny hand reached out the window, trying to grab onto Nora's fingers.

Nora hesitated for a moment before finally opening the car door and slipping inside.

The moment she was settled, Bonnie eagerly scooted over, squeezing herself perfectly into the space between Nora and Xander.

"Okay, let's go!" Bonnie announced cheerfully to the front.

The Maybach pulled away smoothly, merging onto the main road.

The interior was remarkably quiet. Bonnie looked up at Nora, her big eyes blinking rapidly. "Nora, I heard my dad say you're going to come keep me company every week, is it true?"

Nora gently helped Bonnie sit up properly. "Bonnie, I'm going to get out now."

Bonnie sat up reluctantly, clutching onto Nora's hand refusing to let go. "When will you come see me?"

Nora thought for a moment. "Very soon, in just a couple of days."

Only then did Bonnie loosen her grip, though she quickly added, "You have to promise."

"I promise." Nora held out her pinky finger, and Bonnie eagerly wrapped her own tiny pinky around it, shaking their hands to seal the deal.

Nora pushed the door open and stepped out, bending down to wave at the window.

Bonnie pressed her face against the glass, yelling out, "Bye-bye!"

Inside, Xander gave a faint nod in farewell, his demeanor as aloof and inscrutable as always.

The tinted window rolled up, and the Maybach pulled away into the night.

Nora stood there, watching the taillights vanish around the corner before turning toward the residential complex. After taking just two steps, she stopped in her tracks.

She looked up at the warmly lit window on the upper floor. Mrs. Vance was definitely still awake, likely waiting anxiously for her news.

Nora stared at it for a few seconds before slowly withdrawing her gaze.