Chapter 5
Half an hour later, Nora stood before the elegantly designed and heavily guarded Harmony Chateau, a wave of relief washing over her. She was glad that Gabriel had fabricated and spread stories about the Harper family being poor and rundown. If the cunning Martin family had known how prestigious her birth family was, they never would have let her go so easily.
Nora didn’t care to investigate whether the Harpers deliberately falsified the information the Martins had uncovered. To her, fewer complications meant less stress,
Seeing that Nora showed no signs of anger, Julian sighed in relief. He quickly grabbed her luggage as if afraid she might change her mind. “Mom and Dad are waiting for you in the main hall. I…”
Before he could finish, two figures hurried toward them.
Caleb Harper, the head of the Harper family, wore a light gray suit. Though streaks of white threaded through his hair, they only added to his refined and gentle demeanor. Walking closely beside him was Zoe Harper, who had maintained a graceful elegance despite being in her fifties. She exuded warmth and sophistication.
Their gazes immediately fell on Nora. Although they had seen her photo before, seeing their daughter in person overwhelmed them emotionally, and tears rose.
Zoe’s tears began to fall as she rushed forward, pulling Nora into a tight embrace. “My daughter! My sweet Nora, Mommy has finally found you,” she cried, her voice thick with emotion.
The Harper family had risen to immense wealth and was involved in numerous industries. Though they had searched for their lost daughter for years, Nora’s sudden appearance naturally raised suspicions.
But holding Nora in her arms now, Zoe felt only overwhelming guilt and the joy of reunion. All her concerns melted away, and she was ready to offer the world to her daughter.
Compared to Zoe’s excitement, Nora felt a wave of discomfort. She had never been embraced like this before, and her first instinct was to pull away.
However, her resistance softened as her hand brushed against Zoe’s trembling shoulder. Instead of pushing her mother away, Nora awkwardly patted her back. Words of comfort were stuck in her throat, so she let Zoe continue hugging her, silently accepting the overwhelming affection.
After a long moment, Zoe finally regained her composure, though tears still clung to her lashes.
“Nora, it’s all our fault. We didn’t protect you, and you suffered all those years…” Zoe’s voice trembled with guilt.
Though the Martin family had hidden their misdeeds well, the Harpers had pieced together enough to know their daughter’s hardship. The thought of it brought fresh tears to Zoe’s eyes.
Nora, never one for comforting others, saw the anguish in her mother’s gaze. Suppressing her own emotions, she replied calmly, “I didn’t suffer. I’m fine.”
Her quiet strength only deepened Zoe’s sorrow. The more composed Nora was, the harder Zoe cried. Caleb stepped forward, gently placing his arm around his wife, though his eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
“Alright, our daughter just came home. If you keep crying like this, you’ll make her feel uncomfortable,” Caleb said softly, his voice laced with warmth and restraint.
Zoe quickly wiped her tears and took off a diamond bracelet from her wrist without a second thought. With trembling fingers, she placed it into Nora’s hands.
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Chapter 5
“Nora, this belonged to your grandmother. It’s the Harper family’s heirloom. I want you to have it now to celebrate your return,” she said, her voice still thick with emotion.
Standing nearby, Wendy Harper smiled politely throughout the reunion, but her expression faltered when Zoe handed over the bracelet. Biting her lip hard, she tried to keep her composure, but resentment flickered in her eyes.
Wendy had long desired that bracelet, planning to request it as part of her dowry when her engagement to the Sinclair family was confirmed.
Just like that? She handed it over to Nora that easily? Wendy thought bitterly, glaring at her newfound sister. ‘Blood ties really do make all the difference.
Sensing Wendy’s burning gaze, Nora glanced at her, a sharp glint briefly flashing in her eyes before she turned her attention back to Zoe.
Noticing the tension, Zoe quickly explained, “Nora, after we lost you, we were heartbroken. That same year, we adopted Wendy for comfort. She’s older than you by three days. You also have three older brothers. They’re not home yet but on their way to Hofport after hearing you’re back. From now on, you’ll have your mother’s love, the care of your brothers, and a sister to share secrets with. No matter what you need, I’ll do everything possible to give it to you.”
Nora knew nothing about her brothers yet, but she could already sense that Wendy had no intention of welcoming her, much less sharing secrets.
Despite Zoe’s hopeful words, Nora nodded in acknowledgment but remained silent.
Wendy’s eyes welled up with tears as she clung to Nora’s arm, her expression a perfect picture of sorrow,
“Nora, it’s alright if you don’t see me as part of the Harper family. I was only adopted, after all. It’s already a blessing that I’ve been loved these past few years. I won’t compete with you for anything, but please, don’t push me out,” Wendy said, her voice trembling with a pitiful vulnerability.
Nora rolled her eyes inwardly, thinking, ‘Another Aria Martin, it seems.
With a faint smile, she replied, “You don’t need to worry.”
Wholly focused on Nora, Zoe missed the subtext in Wendy’s words. Smiling through her tears, she grabbed both of their
ands and pulled them toward the living room. “You’re both my dear daughters. Nora, I’ve prepared a lot of your favorite
- ds. You must be starving after your long journey,” she said, her voice brimming with affection.
fine,” Nora answered, her tone neutral.
he dining table was laden with an extravagant array of dishes, practically a feast. Usually accustomed to being pampered by her husband, Zoe rolled her sleeves up as she peeled shrimp and carefully filled Nora’s plate.
Caleb and Julian exchanged knowing glances, silently agreeing to stay out of it. Throughout the meal, Caleb chatted with Nora intermittently. While her answers were brief, they were thoughtful and respectful.
On the other hand, Wendy barely had the chance to speak. Watching the entire family’s attention centered on Nora only fueled her jealousy.
Trying to maintain her elegant facade, she stopped eating and dabbed at her mouth with a napkin. Seizing a brief pause in the conversation, she spoke up, “Nora, my university is currently accepting adult education enrollments. If you’re interested in continuing your studies, I could help you apply.”
As soon as she said it, Wendy’s face shifted into a look of mock regret, as if realizing she had made a mistake. “Oh, I didn’t mean to imply that you lack education,” she added quickly, her voice full of false concern. “It’s just that university helps refine a person’s temperament and enriches their character.”
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Chapter 5
The table fell silent for a moment, the atmosphere thick with tension. Zoe paused briefly at peeling the prawns, her brow slightly furrowed.
A glimmer of amusement danced in Nora’s eyes. ‘So, she’s trying to say I’m unrefined and lack class?” she thought.
However, what Wendy didn’t know was that after Liam prevented her from attending university, Nora had taken matters into her own hands. She had self–studied every course, earned her master’s degree in three years, and was now just one thesis away from completing her doctorate. So, going back to college was the last thing on her mind.
The others interpreted Nora’s silence as reluctance. Their hearts, especially Zoe’s, ached even more for her.
Zoe gently placed the peeled shrimp on Nora’s plate, her warm smile filled with affection. “Sweetheart, you’ve just come home. For now, just stay with me and take it easy. There’s no need to rush into making any plans. Let your father and brothers handle the responsibility of earning money. If they can’t even take care of us, we might as well live without them,” she said with a soft laugh, trying to lighten the moment.
Caleb was about to discuss furthering Nora’s education but immediately thought better after hearing his wife’s words. He didn’t mind whether Nora pursued higher education or not. With the Harper family’s backing, she wouldn’t need to worry about her livelihood or position.
However, Caleb knew that the elite circles they navigated were rife with judgment, and lack of formal education would make Nora a target for whispers and sneers.
But seeing how fiercely protective Zoe was of Nora, Caleb held his tongue. Instead, he nudged Julian under the table, silently cautioning him to stay quiet.
Julian shifted his foot away, understanding the unspoken message. He knew well enough how much his mother cherished Nora. If he dared speak up now, there’d be no escaping her wrath.
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