I Was His Wife, Then His Widow, Then No One's But My Own novel Chapter 42

Nora felt a nagging sense that something was off, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was.

She and Sienna had been best friends since high school. With over a decade of history, Nora knew her personality inside and out. Sienna was bold, fiercely loyal, and warm-hearted, even if she could be a little reckless at times.

Her mind drifted back to a gym class during their high school years.

Nora had gotten her period that day. The cramps were so agonizing she was crouched on the ground, unable to stand, and blood had leaked onto her pants.

Before she even realized it, a boy nearby saw it and pointed at her, laughing. "Nora, your pants are dirty!"

A few girls joined in, their whispering filled with the kind of mocking cruelty that cut deep.

She huddled on the ground, burying her face in her arms. In that moment, it felt like her whole world had collapsed.

The laughter rained down on her like needles. She couldn't stand up, nor did she want to lift her head. The humiliation was paralyzing.

And then Sienna appeared.

Nora had no idea where she came charging from, but Sienna shielded her, looking just like a guardian angel bathed in sunlight.

"If women didn't get periods, none of you would even exist! What's so funny? You're all a bunch of uneducated idiots!"

The laughter died instantly.

Sienna crouched down, gripping Nora's arm with a worried expression. "Are you okay? Let me help you to the nurse's office."

Nora's face was deathly pale from the pain, her forehead slick with sweat. She shook her head. "I can't. I haven't asked the gym teacher to be excused yet."

Sienna waved a hand dismissively. "Who cares? I'll tell him for you. You're in so much pain, you can't stay out here."

With that, she hauled Nora up and practically carried her all the way to the nurse's office.

Later, Sienna went to excuse them and got an earful from the teacher. She didn't care at all. When she came back, she was grinning, shoving a packet of cramp relief powder into Nora's hands. "Drink this. My mom says it works wonders."

The cab pulled up to the entrance of the Institute. Nora paid the fare, pushed the door open, and had barely stepped into the lobby when someone called her name.

"Nora!" Zelda waved at her from the end of the hallway. "Come here, come to my office."

Nora set her bag down, a little confused, and followed Zelda inside. Zelda closed the door, turned around, and pulled a box out of her drawer, pressing it into Nora's hands.

"Open it," Zelda said with a warm smile.

Nora looked down at the deep red velvet box. The edges were worn, showing its age. She flipped the lid open and immediately froze.

Nestled inside was a solid emerald bracelet. It was crystal clear, the green vibrant and perfectly even, catching the light like a shimmering pool of water.

Nora knew enough about jewelry to recognize that an emerald of this caliber wasn't something you could just walk into a store and buy.

"Mrs. Vance, isn't this..." Nora frowned.