Chapter 164: Nora

Lying on the most luxurious bed of his life, Isaac couldn’t help but reflect on how he had ended up here. It was clear that Eleanor held his mother in high regard. Over the years, he had met several of his mother’s former students from childminders and families she had worked for as a nanny... but none had shown her the level of respect Eleanor did.

His mind drifted to events nearly thirty years ago. Back then, he was a college student, and his father had just passed away. The cost of his father’s treatment had nearly drained all their savings. All they had left was the house... no funds to support his education, no income to rely on.

His mother had left her job as a childminder to care for her bedridden husband. After his death, she found there were no job openings left. With no source of income and two mouths to feed, she began cleaning houses and washing cars in the neighbourhood, desperately searching for a proper job.

Then, a neighbour mentioned that Lady Langford was looking for a full-time nanny. Though she lived in Manchester, she was hiring someone from Birmingham. The Langford family had a good reputation there. They were not arrogant like other nobles, and were known for helping the poor.

His mother decided to contact Lady Langford. But what she received was the most unusual job offer in history... she was to serve as a nanny in Manchester for thirty years, and all her wages would be paid in advance, even before the child was born.

Isaac vividly remembered the night his mother pondered the proposal. Ultimately, the advance payment meant he could attend a boarding school for better education while she worked in Manchester. With the house empty, they could also rent it out for additional income.

The next day, when his mother accepted the job, Lady Langford sent a man to their house... with a full thirty years of salary in hand. The man also informed her of the expected birth date of the child. From that moment, her employment will start.

His mother joined her post exactly on the scheduled date of childbirth. But the child had been born prematurely, and Lady Langford had already passed away. That was when his mother understood... the Lady had foreseen her own death and arranged for someone trustworthy to raise her daughter.

Though her heart was heavy, she fulfilled her duty.

But a few years later, she returned to Birmingham. The child’s father and stepmother no longer wanted her around... and the child herself had rejected her. Even then, she never looked for another job. Having already been paid, she felt employed still, waiting in quiet hope for the day she might be needed again.

That day eventually came... but under very different circumstances.

Eleanor herself came to Birmingham, stood at their door, and brought his mother to Manchester for treatment.

Just days ago, when his mother called to say she was in Manchester, and that Eleanor had insisted on bringing her... Isaac hadn’t believed her. He thought she was saying it just to ease his anxiety. After all, they had been arguing for days about selling the house to fund her treatment, which his mother refused.

But when he rushed to Manchester, he found his mother already admitted into one of the best hospitals, and settled in a luxurious private cabin. That was when he felt the real influence of the Langford family.

And today, having seen it with his own eyes, he truly understood what it meant to be born into nobility.

A flicker of envy stirred within him.

But when he thought of the bodyguards, the fortified compound, and the constant need for surveillance, a cold realization struck him. The wealthy lived in golden cages. Constantly watched. Always wary. He knew he could never live like that... he’d die of anxiety.

heart, he felt grateful to this Lady. Because of

tugged at his

gentle knock on the door. "Who

voice responded, "Sir, we’ve prepared some afternoon snacks. Please come downstairs

be there

heard the soft sound of footsteps

he noticed he was still in his suit. He quickly changed

waiting for him. She led him to the dining room where a light spread of snacks and tea

replied, "Please wait a moment. I’ll inform the

stepped out

his tea, a guard entered. "You may walk around, sir... but

and followed

seemed like a cluster of five independent villas, though they were clearly part of one secured estate. The entire area was surrounded by high boundary walls. From the guard, Isaac

and a shared courtyard. He respected the rules and

brought any appropriate clothes. Instead, he sat

dinner, Isaac lay on the softest, most luxurious bed he’d ever known... and

breakfast, he asked the maid to inform his mother that he wished to begin their return journey to London. This time, a new maid answered. She smiled politely and asked him to remain in his room... she would inform him when it

decision. She agreed to return from London after a month, having been persuaded by Eleanor to stay. She understood that, in her current state, she had little strength left to assist Eleanor directly. But when she learned that Eleanor would have to travel frequently in the coming weeks, leaving Freya home alone, Isabella agreed to

Freya company. The staff would handle the cooking and cleaning, the drivers would take care of transport, and Ethan would also be around to support Freya. In her

had much deeper plans for her... just as her mother had once entrusted Isabella with Eleanor’s care, Eleanor now intended to leave Freya in

had first-hand experience of Isabella’s loyalty, gentleness, and diligence. She knew that once Isabella began taking care of Freya,

a caretaker... she was one of the critical pieces Eleanor was putting into place to ensure Freya’s future was protected. If every piece was ready before the Trial of Yggdrasil began, Eleanor would feel more at ease... no matter

and Isaac, Eleanor headed straight to Heimdall.

Teresa. Her focus now was entirely on the lab...

But time had shifted.

The Trial was coming.

of machines, blinking lights, and the rhythmic beeping of

raced across the screen. Eleanor stared, her expression unreadable, but her clenched fists

she heard a burst of static noise. The sound crackled like a broken speaker struggling to work. Eleanor didn’t move. The air felt

sweet, melodic, and almost similar to Eleanor’s own... began to speak. One after another, a flood of languages filled the room. Mandarin Chinese, English, Spanish, Hindi,

silence covered

this

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