Chapter 76

She had assumed Arnold would leave. That he would go to Linda.

But she was tired. Too tired to stay awake and see it happen.

So she closed her eyes and let sleep take her.

What she didn’t realize was that, when morning came, Arnold was still there.

The weekend passed in a blur. By Sunday afternoon, they were driving back from the hot spring resort.

The ride was mostly quiet, the steady hum of the car filling the silence.

Then, from the backseat, Alex leaned closer to Arnold, whispering, “Aunt Linda wasn’t in a good mood last night.”

Nora, who had been absentmindedly gazing out the window, glanced toward them but said nothing.

Alex continued, his voice slightly troubled. “She came to look for you in the middle of the night. But when she came back, she looked like she was about to cry.”

Nora waited for Arnold’s response.

But he only said, in his usual low, detached tone, “It’s nothing.”

That was iL

Nora turned her gaze back to the window.

She did. She didn’t want

ask. to ask.

Whatever had happened between Arnold and Linda last night wasn’t her concern. It wasn’t supposed to

matter.

When they arrived back in the city, Nora excused herself, saying she had things to take care of

Alex clung to her arm, reluctant to let go. “Come home early, okay?”

Home. The word

tousling Alex’s hair.

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Chapter 76

Then she left.

Nora kept herself

interacted with Arnold, barely gave herself a moment to dwell on things that

she flipped through her planner, her

Her grandmother’s birthday.

inhaled softly, tapping her fingers against

to find something appropriate. Something special.

Clara, one of her friends, called.

two tickets to the auction this weekend,” Clara said excitedly. “The guest list is

that level meant there would be rare items–perhaps something valuable enough to gift her grandmother.

she agreed. “I’ll go.”

venue was grand, an opulent hall filled with well–dressed

the back, observing

sharp scent of expensive perfume–everything about the event screamed

just as the auction was about to begin,

figures entered the hall, instantly

and a

Arnold and Linda.

shifting uncomfortably in her seat. “This is ridiculous,” she murmured. “Arnold bringing Linda here, parading her

1911

Chapter 76

her gaze fixed

churned. It wasn’t jealousy gnawing at her–it was frustration. Linda was relentless, and with Arnold by her side, she had access

bid just to spite her,

been looking forward to this auction for

just about the prestige or the rare collectibles–it was about finding the perfect gift

grandmother had always been her pillar of support, the one person who had

her something truly special, something meaningful.

of guests discussing the upcoming bids filled the space. She scanned the display cases, admiring

them. I just want something timeless,” Nora mused, running her fingers

and expensive,

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