I Was His Wife, Then His Widow, Then No One's But My Own novel Chapter 440

Nora glanced at him, drawing comfort from his presence, before they walked through the front doors together.

Benedict Newman was already waiting for them in the main living room. When Nora called out, "Dad," he didn't so much as blink in acknowledgment.

Xander offered a polite, respectful greeting as well. Benedict merely raised his eyes for a split second, let out a gruff grunt of acknowledgment, allowed his gaze to linger on Xander momentarily, and then looked away without saying a word.

The lunch that followed was suffocatingly quiet. After the staff set the dishes on the table, they discreetly retreated. Despite the heavy silence, Nora noticed that every dish served was a childhood favorite of hers.

Nora barely spoke throughout the entire meal. Xander effortlessly steered the meager conversation, bridging the gap while Benedict occasionally offered a clipped response or asked a brief question about business. Their dynamic was utterly devoid of warmth.

Through it all, Xander remained perfectly composed—impeccably polite, respectful, yet entirely unyielding in his quiet authority.

Nora sat quietly, pushing her food around her plate, unable to taste a thing. She desperately wanted to say something, but every time she looked up and saw her father's stony, unreadable face, the words died in her throat.

She was far too used to this dynamic. No fighting, but no reconciliation either.

As soon as lunch concluded, Benedict stood up and headed straight for his study. The message was loud and clear: they were not invited to stay the night.

Taking the hint, Nora and Xander stood up, ready to take their leave. Just as they reached the grand entryway, the sound of slow footsteps echoed behind them.

They turned to see Benedict walking toward them, holding a small wooden box in his hands.

It was a vintage cedar box, its intricate carvings worn smooth by time. It was undeniably an antique that had been handled for years.

Nora froze, entirely unsure of what to say as her father approached.

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