I Was His Wife, Then His Widow, Then No One's But My Own novel Chapter 223

Finnegan stepped out of the room, immediately locking eyes with Nora. Subconsciously rubbing his nose, he spoke with forced casualness. "Cassie isn't feeling too well today. You should get going. I'll put the strawberry cake in the fridge for her to eat when she feels better."

Nora didn't bother exposing his lie, merely fixing him with an apathetic stare.

Whenever Finnegan lied, he always rubbed his nose. It was a nervous tell he hadn't broken in years. He probably didn't even realize he did it, but she remembered.

With a faint smile, she bent down to set the cake box on the hallway console table. Straightening up, she raised her voice slightly toward the closed door. "Cassie, are you absolutely sure you want me to leave?"

Silence stretched from inside the room for two seconds. Cassie was about to yell yes, but a sudden realization hit her—if her mom left, she would definitely go dote on that little girl named Bonnie.

Just the memory of her mom holding Bonnie's hand and smiling warmly while wiping the girl's mouth at The Willow Academy Spring Fair made her blood boil.

The door was suddenly yanked open from the inside. Cassie stood barefoot in the doorway, glaring up at Nora. "You can leave! But you have to promise me you won't go coddle any other kids! You're not allowed to play with them, cook for them, or teach them how to make lanterns!"

Nora looked down at her daughter's fiercely entitled double standards, the last shred of warmth in her heart extinguishing completely.

Cassie demanded that she never spend time with any other child. She was supposed to be Cassie's mother alone, reserving all her patience exclusively for her.

Yet Cassie was entirely free to choose whoever she wanted to be with. That wasn't attachment; that was pure selfishness.

Crouching down to meet Cassie at eye level, Nora spoke with quiet indifference. "I can't promise you that. I have my own plans. Since you have yours today, I won't disrupt your schedule. I'll be going now."

Panic flared in Cassie's eyes. Her bare feet slapped against the hardwood as she scrambled forward, throwing her arms out to block Nora's path.

Her little face flushed crimson. "You can't do that! Why won't you promise me? You're not allowed to play with other kids! You're my mom, nobody else's!"

Nora stood back up, staring down at her with an icy gaze.

Feeling like she had just won a war, she wiped her face and turned to shout at Finnegan. "Dad, hurry up and put the strawberry cake in the fridge! I'm going to eat it as soon as Seraphina and I get back from camping!"

Finnegan scooped her into his arms, kissing her cheek with a fond agreement before carrying the cake box into the kitchen and sliding it into the refrigerator.

Cassie slid out of his grasp and dashed back to her room to change into her outdoor clothes, practically vibrating with excitement.

Not long after, the doorbell rang.

Finnegan had just transferred the final dish from the pan to the dining table, not even having the chance to untie his apron.

He walked to the foyer and pulled the door open, finding Seraphina on the porch.

She was dressed in a sleek cream tracksuit, her hair pulled back into a high ponytail, radiating a fresh, vibrant energy. The heavy bandages from the burn on her right hand were gone, replaced by two discreet flesh-colored bandaids.