Chapter 7

Lily gave a small, mocking laugh at Nora’s confidence, clearly thinking she was bluffing just to protect her pride.

“Oh, Nora… you really are something.”

She let the words hang in the air, waiting to see how Nora would react.

But Nora stayed completely composed, watching her like she was nothing more than background noise. After a few seconds of silence, Lily’s smug expression faltered. She quickly pivoted.

“This bag has a gorgeous design. It’s exclusive to this boutique in Wellford City. I thought it’d make the perfect gift for Mrs. Luther. Don’t you think?”

Nora answered lazily, “Not impressed.”

Lily’s eyes flickered. She saw an opening and jumped on it.

“You’re being too surface-level,” she said in a polished, condescending tone. “This design was inspired by the works of last year’s Global Gold Design Award winner, Master Sophie. And that subtle patterning? It’s based on a Starfield layout. Pulling off that kind of precision requires real technical mastery—only the best designers could execute something like this.”

Nora’s face stayed neutral, but something shifted briefly in her eyes.

Lily mistook it for a reaction and went all in—dropping more design jargon, flexing her supposed fashion knowledge, piling on explanation after explanation.

It was so over-the-top that it actually made Nora cringe.

“You’re overthinking it,” she cut in flatly. “The designer wasn’t going for all that. She just wanted something clean and straightforward. Something that highlights quality and lets people see their own value more clearly.”

Lily gave her a pitying smile.

“Nora, I get that you’re trying to prove you’re not just some clueless housewife. But throwing out random guesses about a designer’s intent? That just makes you look uninformed. If anyone overheard, they’d think you had no idea what you were talking about.”

Just then, the boutique owner returned with a smile, handing Nora a receipt.

“Sorry for the wait. Our finance team just confirmed the transfer. Feel free to double-check.”

Nora smiled, accepted the receipt, and thanked her. She was about to leave when—

“Wait!”

Lily called out, clearly alarmed that Nora had taken the payment so calmly.

“Why did she give you money? Don’t tell me you’re pawning off Travis’s gifts! Those were from the heart—how could you treat him like that?”

Nora paused, gave her a sidelong glance, and said coolly, “Delulu is a disease. You should get it checked.”

Then she walked out.

Lily moved to follow her, but the boutique owner gently stopped her.

“Are you a relative of Ms. Yates? Please don’t misunderstand—she’s not selling anything. That payment was for her work.”

“What?” Lily looked stunned. “Your store sells her designs?”

“Yes! Ms. Yates is one of our top freelance designers. Our bestselling Starry Night Collection and Deep Sea Series? All hers.”

Lily’s face drained of color.

The Starry Night Collection? The one she adored?

That was Nora’s design?

No way.

—

Outside, Nora scoffed at herself.

Buying a birthday gift for Mrs. Luther? What a joke.

If Quinton treated her like a servant and Travis just stood by, then Susan Chancer was the one who orchestrated it all.

The Luther family never accepted her. But Quinton, their only grandson, had been taken to the Luther estate for monthly visits since he was three.

Whatever bond she had built with her son over six years was worn away—eroded with every visit until there was nothing left.

And now? She was divorcing from that family.

Why should she waste her hard-earned money trying to please people who never saw her as one of their own?

—

Susan’s birthday arrived quickly.

It wasn’t a major milestone, so only close relatives and family friends were invited—but the crowd was still sizable. The grand hall shimmered with light and warmth, filled with laughter and polite chatter.

Susan, dressed in an elegant ivory silk gown, sat at the head table beside her husband, Calvin Luther, smiling as she chatted with the guests.

“Oh, speak of the devil! I was just saying I hadn’t seen Travis and Quinton—and here they are!”

“Quinton looks more mature now. Travis really raised him well.”

“Travis has always been such a good son. Every year, he brings the most thoughtful birthday gifts. I wonder what he picked this time?”

“Yes, I’m curious too.”

Now that Travis was running the Luther family business, all the compliments and attention naturally gravitated toward him and his son.

But… no gift appeared.

As time passed, curiosity gave way to awkward silence.

All eyes turned to Travis and Quinton.

With nothing in hand, they could only offer a dry, “Happy birthday, Mom.”

In years past, this was always something Nora handled. Travis had never developed the habit of planning gifts on his own.

He’d even sent her a text this time—fully assuming she’d take care of it like always.

He never imagined she wouldn’t show.

Susan sensed something was wrong in their expressions. She quickly stepped in to smooth it over.

“Oh? Was Nora delayed? Maybe she’s on the way with the gift?”

“Nana, no—” Quinton started, still reeling from recent events.

But Travis cut him off quickly.

“She’s coming. Quinton wanted to come early, so I brought him first. I’ll give Nora a call—”

“No need. I’m here.”

Travis turned just in time to see Nora walk through the entrance.

She wore a plain white T-shirt and loose slacks. Her hands were empty.

She hadn’t brought a thing.