I Was His Wife, Then His Widow, Then No One's But My Own novel Chapter 30

By the time Nora walked back into the Institute's lobby, the dynamic in the hallway had entirely shifted. Seraphina was standing in the center of a group of researchers, laughing and chatting effortlessly.

The male researchers swarming around her had a distinct gleam in their eyes.

Seraphina was charismatic, gorgeous, and held a doctorate in pharmacy with undeniable professional prowess. A woman like that would be the center of attention anywhere she went; it was impossible not to be drawn to her.

Nora silently acknowledged that fact, but it didn't mean she was going to pretend to be friendly.

Seraphina had sharp eyes, catching sight of Nora the second she walked in. She immediately broke away from the crowd and approached with a bright smile, reaching out to grab Nora's hand in a display of aggressive intimacy. "Nora! I just found out you were working here."

Feigning casual innocence, Seraphina continued, "Are you just doing data entry for the Institute? You can always be my assistant from now on, so you don't have to work so hard."

Nora scoffed internally.

She knew exactly what this was—a blatant power play meant to assert dominance while simultaneously fishing for information about her actual role, all delivered with an infuriating air of superiority.

Seraphina was a doctor of pharmacy, but so was Nora. Seraphina had parachuted her way in, but Nora had earned her spot. They were both relying on their own merits, and Nora didn't consider herself inferior to Seraphina in the slightest.

Refusing to take the bait, Nora smoothly pulled her hand back, slipping it into her trench coat pocket. She looked at Seraphina with a remarkably flat tone. "Someone as accomplished as you should have no problem organizing your own data, Dr. Shaw. I highly doubt you'll be needing my help."

Seraphina's hand hung awkwardly in mid-air, her smile freezing for a split second before she seamlessly recovered. She pulled her hand back with a gentle chuckle. "You're always so fiercely independent, Nora."

Ignoring her entirely, Nora turned to head back to her office. Just then, a flurry of footsteps echoed from the stairwell.

Pierce Sterling came hurrying down. He was a veteran at the Institute, having joined two years prior, and constantly paraded himself as Xavier Vance's prized protégé. In reality, the quality and quantity of his published papers were painfully mediocre—he was the textbook definition of someone whose ambition far outweighed his actual talent.

He usually treated the other researchers with icy disdain, acting as if speaking to them was beneath him.

But the second Pierce locked eyes with Seraphina, his face lit up, his voice practically vibrating with excitement. "Dr. Shaw! You're here!"

Seraphina offered a modest smile. "Yes, I came specifically to work with Professor Vance."

Pierce was absolutely ecstatic, his posture instantly morphing into an almost sickening display of sycophancy. "Having you join the Institute is an absolute honor for us, Dr. Shaw! I've read your latest paper more times than I can count—it's incredibly enlightening!"

Standing off to the side, Nora watched the pathetic display without a shred of emotion.

Everyone in the industry knew who Seraphina was. A prominent family background, stunning looks, solid skills, and the immense backing of the Fletcher family's resources made her an unstoppable force.

More importantly, a rumor had been circulating in the industry that the secret founder behind the new cancer drug project had never revealed their identity, and many suspected it was Seraphina.

Pierce frowned, his gaze dropping to the hand clamped firmly around Seraphina's waist. The possessive intensity radiating from Finnegan's eyes made his stomach twist with sudden apprehension.

He took a step back, refusing to act completely subservient. "So you're Mr. Fletcher. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

He didn't think he was any lesser than Finnegan; the man had simply won the genetic lottery. If Pierce had been born into that kind of wealth, he would have done a far better job, and Seraphina would undoubtedly look at him differently.

Finnegan ignored him, looking down at Seraphina with a tenderness that completely contradicted his previous demeanor. "Are you finished chatting? We need to go."

Seraphina nodded. "Just about."

She looked back at Pierce with a perfectly polite smile. "Let's catch up another time, Dr. Sterling."

Pierce nodded eagerly. "Absolutely. Take care, Dr. Shaw."

Standing just a few feet away, Nora absorbed every single detail. The way Finnegan had pulled Seraphina into his arms was so incredibly gentle, as if he were holding something infinitely precious.

Despite her best efforts, her heart still gave an unavoidable, painful sting.