I Was His Wife, Then His Widow, Then No One's But My Own novel Chapter 28

Nora didn't bother exposing her lies or arguing; she just looked at Seraphina with a perfectly indifferent expression.

"A person ultimately has to rely on themselves."

Seraphina smiled and stayed quiet, though a flash of coldness darted through her eyes.

Finnegan stood off to the side, his gaze fixed on Nora, his brow slightly furrowed and his expression icy.

He glanced at Seraphina, remained silent for a few seconds, and then spoke slowly to Nora.

"Nora, come with me for a minute."

It was his usual commanding tone, completely different from the way he spoke to Seraphina.

Nora's heart sank as Finnegan turned and strode out the door.

Taking a deep breath, Nora turned to Zelda. "I need to step out for a second, Zelda," she murmured, before following him outside.

Outside the Institute, Finnegan stood with his back to the doors; hearing Nora's approaching footsteps, he turned to level a frigid glare at her.

Nora stopped in front of him, her face devoid of emotion. "Do you need something, Frederick? If not, I have to get back to work."

Finnegan crushed his cigarette, tossing it into a nearby trash can; his brow was pulled tight, a faint hint of anger darkening his handsome features as he spoke with clear displeasure.

"Why didn't you tell me about something this important?"

Nora froze.

She suddenly found the situation entirely absurd. Had he forgotten his current identity? He was "Frederick," her brother-in-law, not her husband. Why on earth would she need to report her career choices to him?

"This is my personal business," Nora replied calmly. "Why would I need to discuss it with you, Frederick?"

Finnegan choked on his words.

She lowered her gaze, her eyelashes fluttering to mask the fleeting self-mockery in her eyes.

She had once believed he truly loved her. She thought that when he took her away from the Newman Estate and married her despite the family's objections, it was because he genuinely cared.

Now, she finally understood. He had never viewed her as an independent human being. To him, she was merely an accessory, a convenient tool to fill a void—a perfectly programmed domestic appliance meant to cook and nurture.

But that was in the past.

When Nora raised her head again, her eyes were wiped clean of any residual emotion.

"This is my decision, and I don't need anyone's permission."

She paused, lifting her chin slightly, her gaze turning frosty. "Are you trying to make my decisions for me, Frederick? Aren't you worried Seraphina might get the wrong idea?"

Finnegan's face changed in an instant. Why was she suddenly covered in defensive thorns?