I Was His Wife, Then His Widow, Then No One's But My Own novel Chapter 38

Slapping on a bright smile, she looked at Nora. "Mom, are the meatballs ready?"

Nora stared at her for two seconds before replying evenly, "Yes. Come eat."

She set the plate on the dining table, then turned back to the kitchen to grab a fork and a small dish.

Cassie hopped off the sofa and scrambled onto her dining chair, gulping eagerly at the sight of the food.

Then she looked up. "Mom, feed me."

In the past, Nora had never refused that demand. No matter how busy she was, she would drop everything to hand-feed her daughter.

But this time, Nora simply stood there, looking down at her with utterly hollow eyes.

"Feed yourself. I have things to do."

Without another word, she turned and walked upstairs, leaving the girl at the table.

Cassie's lip trembled. She slammed her fork down, puffing her cheeks in outrage.

Why wouldn't her mom feed her? It had never been like this before.

Scoffing, she angrily stabbed a meatball and shoved it into her mouth, chewing defiantly.

*Fine. I don't care anyway,* she thought. *Seraphina will feed me. She's way nicer than Mom.*

Nora had only made a small batch, so Cassie finished them quickly. She stared at the empty plate, wanting more, but remembering the agonizing stomach cramps from that afternoon, she bit her tongue.

Wiping her mouth, she returned to the sofa and pulled out her tablet. Just as she unlocked it, a video call from Seraphina lit up the screen.

"Yes, I am. Why?" Nora replied flatly.

Cassie's face visibly crumbled. She tried to hide it, but a five-year-old was terrible at masking her emotions.

"Nothing," she mumbled, turning and rushing back downstairs, clearly desperate to end the conversation.

Standing in the doorway, Nora exhaled a long, heavy breath before stepping back into the study and shutting the door.

Cassie scrambled onto the couch and immediately called Seraphina back.

Seraphina answered on the first ring, frowning slightly at the girl's despondent expression. "What's wrong, sweetie?"

Cassie's bottom lip quivered. "Mom is staying home tonight. I can't go with you. She's definitely going to force me to take my medicine, and I don't want to!"