I Was His Wife, Then His Widow, Then No One's But My Own novel Chapter 37

When Cassie finally woke up, the sky outside was pitch black.

She sat up, rubbing her eyes, and sleepily peered across the room.

A silhouette was sitting on the sofa. In the dim light, she couldn't make out the face. Assuming it was Seraphina, she happily called out, "Seraphina!"

Nora slowly turned her head.

Realizing it was her mother, Cassie's voice dripped with unfiltered disappointment. "Oh. It's just you, Mom."

Nora stood up, walking over to feel the girl's forehead. Her temperature was back to normal.

"Are you hungry?" Nora asked coolly. "What do you want to eat?"

Cassie pouted, hesitating.

She hadn't wanted to spend the evening with her mother, but she was still obsessing over the meatballs Nora had denied her earlier. The more she thought about them, the more her mouth watered.

After a brief internal debate, she caved. "I want meatballs."

Nora assessed her. Cassie's condition had stabilized, and some color had returned to her cheeks. She wasn't as lethargic as she had been that afternoon.

Deciding it wouldn't hurt, Nora didn't refuse this time.

"Fine. Go watch cartoons for a bit. I'll make them."

Cassie nodded, scrambling out of bed and following Nora downstairs.

She climbed onto the sofa, grabbed her tablet, and obediently started an episode of her favorite cartoon.

Nora headed into the kitchen to prep the food. Glancing back, she saw Cassie sitting perfectly still, engrossed in the screen.

Cassie quickly turned the volume down. Confirming Nora was nowhere near, she pressed the microphone icon and whispered sweetly, "I feel so much better! Thank you, Seraphina."

A few seconds later, Seraphina replied with a voice note. "I'm so sorry, sweetie. This is all my fault. I never should have taken you out for heavy food."

Cassie replied with absolute earnestness. "No it's not! I love you so much. I love eating anything with you."

Hitting send, she kicked her legs happily.

As Nora emerged from the kitchen holding the plate, she caught Cassie slamming the tablet face-down, her little hands pressing against the back of the case as if trying to hide contraband.

The movement was lightning-fast, but the sheer defensiveness of it was impossible to miss.

Nora paused mid-step, her heart sinking fractionally.

Cassie looked up, guilt flashing across her eyes. She forced a bright, plastic smile and aggressively shoved the tablet deep into the sofa cushions.