I Was His Wife, Then His Widow, Then No One's But My Own novel Chapter 83

Finnegan's outstretched hand hovered awkwardly in the air for a second before he slowly pulled it back.

He straightened up, swallowing the bitter pill of public humiliation, and forced a polished smile back onto his face. "Then I'll be sure to offer my apologies another day."

Giving Nora one last glance, he took Seraphina's hand and guided her toward their table.

Seraphina walked by his side, but her mind was spinning far faster than her composed exterior suggested.

How on earth did Nora cross paths with someone like Arthur Caldwell? Judging by Finnegan's subservient tone, the old man carried massive weight in the academic world. For Nora to secure a meeting with someone even Finnegan had to bow to—it had to be pure, dumb luck.

She analyzed the situation from every angle before finally letting out a quiet breath of relief.

Whatever the case, as long as Nora wasn't here pining over Finnegan, it was fine. The fact that she was actually waiting for someone, and not throwing a pathetic anniversary dinner, meant her obsession with him was finally starting to crack.

The realization instantly lifted Seraphina's spirits. She looked up, ready to dive back into their romantic evening, only to find Finnegan utterly lost in thought.

He sat across from her, one arm resting on the edge of the table, his fingers absentmindedly tapping the surface. His brows were furrowed, and his unfocused gaze was fixed on empty space.

He wasn't even looking at the breathtaking night view of the river outside the window.

Seraphina's heart sank.

She had known him long enough to recognize that specific look. What was he thinking about? Was he thinking about Nora? Was he still not over her?

She quickly managed her expression, offering a soft, tender smile, and gently waved a hand in front of his face. "Finn?"

Finnegan snapped back to reality. When he looked at her, there was a split second of dazed confusion in his eyes, almost as if he expected Nora to be sitting across from him.

Seraphina caught the slip. Her stomach plummeted.

"What exactly is going through that head of yours? It's our anniversary. Why would I be thinking about anyone else? Seraphina, stop overthinking."

Hearing those words finally allowed the tension to drain from her shoulders.

Her signature gentle smile returned. Reaching across the table, she covered his hand with hers. "Alright, Finn. Let's not think about anything else tonight. We'll deal with apologizing to Professor Caldwell another day."

Finnegan squeezed her hand warmly. "Whatever you say."

Meanwhile, across the restaurant.

Nora led Arthur and Felix into a luxurious private room.

The room was spacious, boasting massive floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the river. The curtains were only drawn halfway, keeping the harsh city glare from flooding the space.