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Novel Catalog
Chapter 4
Norah gritted her teeth silently, her resentment toward Nicole growing even more.
Sean, always busy, went back to his office right afterward.
Gloria led Nicole into a room on the second floor that faced east.
Nicole couldn’t help but twitch her mouth when she saw that everything in the room was in soft rose pink—a very girly design.
“We weren’t sure what you’d like, but since you’re a girl too, we asked Norah for advice, and she chose many things for you,” Gloria explained, her eyes full of affection as she spoke about Norah.
Daniel, worried that Nicole might misunderstand, quickly signaled to Gloria.
Gloria snapped back to reality and became more cautious.
“Do you like it?” Nicole was never particular about such things.
Though the room felt a bit over the top, she still accepted their kindness.
“Thank you,” she said.
Gloria breathed a sigh of relief, happy that her daughter liked it.
“Those gifts on the table are from your other brothers.
They’ve gone to work and school today and don’t come back often, so they left the gifts here for you.” Nicole felt warmth spread through her chest, knowing that her brothers still cared about her.
Gloria, concerned that Nicole might not know how to use the room’s facilities, showed her the ropes.
Once that was done, she sat Nicole down on the bed with a warm, almost avuncular look.
“This is your home now, so please feel at ease.
If you need anything, just let me know, okay?” Nicole, holding her mother’s hand, felt the closeness of the mother-daughter bond once again.
It felt a bit awkward but also heartwarming.
She nodded, a little shy.
“Thank you, Mom.
Thank you, Dad.” Daniel didn’t speak much, but when Nicole called him “Dad,” he broke into a broad smile.
After chatting for a while, they left Nicole alone to rest.
Nicole felt particularly relaxed while lying in the bathtub.
She had always wanted to install a bathtub at her grandmother’s house but had been worried her grandmother would suspect the money came from unknown sources.
She never had the chance to do so, even though she could afford it.
Now, in San Joto, she didn’t need to hide her identity anymore.
After her bath, it wasn’t yet dinner time, so Nicole decided to take a walk outside to get familiar with her surroundings and ease into her new life.
Before she could leave, a maid approached and invited her to the living room.
As soon as she stepped downstairs, she saw an elderly man sitting on the sofa.
Daniel saw Nicole and immediately waved for her to sit down.
“Nicole, this is your grandpa.” Nicole had spent most of her life in a small town but had encountered many people from higher social classes.
The old man seemed to be over seventy, yet his health appeared good, and he had an authoritative presence typical of a family patriarch.
Nicole bowed slightly as she greeted him with respect.
“Hello, Grandpa.” “Hmm,” Mr.
Riddle Sr.
responded, studying Nicole carefully before averting his gaze.
“She really looks like Sean and the other brothers,” he said, his tone revealing his earlier suspicions.
“I asked you to do a DNA test before, but you didn’t listen.” Though he didn’t mention Norah’s name directly, it was clear who he was talking about.
But Mr.
Riddle Sr.
didn’t seem concerned about being direct.
“Since the real one is back now, when are you going to send the fake one away?” Nicole was slightly startled, realizing that Mr.
Riddle Sr.
didn’t seem fond of Norah.
“Dad, please.
What you’re saying will hurt Norah deeply,” Gloria protested, unable to hold back.
Mr.
Riddle Sr.
didn’t even glance at her.
“If it weren’t for her, my granddaughter wouldn’t have suffered all these years.
Our family has raised her for all this time, and we’ve never asked anything in return.
How could it hurt her?” Mr.
Riddle Sr.
spoke with sharp conviction.
