I Was His Wife, Then His Widow, Then No One's But My Own novel Chapter 253

Seeing the empty space behind Zelda, Nora hesitated for a moment before finally asking, "Mrs. Vance, is Professor Vance not coming?"

Zelda smiled helplessly, as if she had already seen right through her thoughts.

"You know how your professor is. The reason things got so tense between you two back then was entirely because of them—the Fletcher family. Even if he doesn't say it out loud, he still has a grudge against them. He definitely doesn't want to see their faces.

"But he is genuinely happy for you, from the bottom of his heart, and for the entire Institute. When I left the house this morning, he specifically asked me to tell you not to be nervous. Just negotiate the way you always do."

Hearing this, a wave of sourness welled up in Nora's chest. It felt like something heavy had lodged in her throat.

She lowered her head, her voice tight. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Vance. Everything back then was my fault. If I hadn't been so stubborn, I wouldn't have disappointed him so much, and I wouldn't have delayed the whole project for so long."

Zelda reached out and patted her shoulder, shaking her head. Her tone was full of affection. "How could we blame you? You were tricked. We only felt heartbroken for you. We would never blame you."

Felix chimed in, "Yeah, how could it be your fault? Someone set up a deliberate scam specifically targeting you. There was no way you could have seen it coming.

"But the good news is that everything is moving in the right direction now. Look, the phase two trials are about to start, the partner hospitals are finalized, and Professor Vance has forgiven you. The hardest part is over."

Nora nodded, tears shimmering in her eyes. She took the tissue Zelda handed her and gently dabbed at the corners of her eyes.

She reigned in her emotions. By the time she looked up again, her face had returned to its usual steady composure.

The three of them headed to the venue together.

When they arrived at the entrance, Bonnie and Xander were already there.

Nora spotted them from a distance. Bonnie was wearing a red overall dress with her hair styled in two little space buns, standing on her tiptoes and scanning the crowd eagerly.

He stood two steps away, not stepping forward to interrupt her affectionate moment with Bonnie, simply waiting in silence.

Nora stood up and gave him a slight nod, a natural smile touching her lips. "Hello, Mr. Harrison."

Xander nodded back, raising a hand to push up his glasses. He looked at the woman behind her and said, "Hello, Academician Vance."

Zelda smiled and nodded in return.

Felix stood to the side, his hands stuffed into his jacket pockets, his tone displeased. "Did you not see me?"

Xander turned to look at him, his thin lips curving upward ever so slowly. "My apologies. I just noticed you."

An indescribable, subtle tension began to spread quietly between the two men.