I Was His Wife, Then His Widow, Then No One's But My Own novel Chapter 26

Nora couldn't help but laugh at her dramatically wronged expression. She reached out and gave Bonnie's cheek a fond squeeze. "Of course not. I love spending time with you too, so keeping you company for a few extra days is absolutely no problem."

Bonnie's eyes instantly lit up. "Really? You're the best, Nora!"

Smiling, Nora pulled the insulated lunchbox from her bag. "I made some breakfast for you. You can eat it in the car. I figured Mr. Harrison would be too busy with work this morning to make you anything."

Bonnie took the box and hugged it tightly, her voice practically vibrating with excitement. "You made this just for me, Nora?"

Nora's heart melted. "I sure did. Open it up and see if you like it."

Bonnie carefully popped the lid, revealing two fluffy, bear-shaped pancakes resting inside. They were undeniably adorable.

"Nora, these are so pretty! I love them!"

She immediately picked one up and took a massive bite. "So good! You cook way better than our chef at home!"

Watching her eat with such unfiltered joy sent a wave of warmth through Nora.

"I'm glad you like it."

Nora's smile faltered for a fraction of a second. She thought of Cassie—how every time Cassie ate her cooking, the disdain in her eyes was agonizingly clear, and how it always took endless coaxing just to get her to take a bite. A faint trace of bitterness flickered in Nora's eyes.

Mid-chew, Bonnie seemed to sense the shift and looked up. "What's wrong, Nora? Are you tired?"

Nora snapped out of it, smiling as she shook her head. "No, I'm not tired."

Bonnie stared at her seriously for two seconds before declaring, "I wish you could make me breakfast every single day."

Nora gently stroked her hair. "I wish I could too."

But if she actually started cooking for Bonnie every day, Xander Harrison would undoubtedly suspect she had ulterior motives.

A single woman cooking for a billionaire's daughter daily just didn't look right, no matter how you spun it.

The car eventually pulled up to the gates of The Willow Academy.

Nora helped Bonnie put on her little backpack, crouched down to straighten her skirt, and let Bonnie cling to her neck in a reluctant embrace.

Seraphina stepped out of the passenger side and crouched down in front of Cassie. Cassie threw her arms around her neck and asked sweetly, "Can you pick me up for lunch today, Seraphina? I don't want to eat Mom's cooking."

Seraphina chuckled and stroked her hair. "Of course I can. Just tell me what you want to eat for lunch."

Cassie flashed a radiant smile. "As long as I'm with you, I'll eat anything!"

She turned and waved at Finnegan, who was still in the car, before hiking her backpack up and heading toward the school gates.

After a few steps, she abruptly stopped.

*Was that Mom? No, I must have imagined it! Why would she be here?*

Cassie's face tightened with sudden panic. Without a second thought, she broke into a sprint, practically charging through the school's front doors.

She absolutely did not want to run into her mother right now.

If Nora saw her getting out of her dad's car, she'd start asking questions and nagging her to death. And if Nora insisted on crashing her lunch, her highly anticipated, perfect meal with Seraphina would be completely ruined.