Chapter 9

Nora glanced at her phone, assuming the message was from Travis. But when she looked again, she noticed the last there digits were all sevens—a number Susan had especially chosen.

Her first instinct was to ignore it. But then she hesitated. Susan had always looked down on her, never believing she was good enough for Travis. Was this finally her way of setting Nora free?

So she deleted her drafted rejection and typed a single word: “Sure.”

Ten minutes later, Nora stepped into the café, dressed in a sleek black dress with her hair elegantly pinned up.

Back when she was with Travis and Quinton, she’d always put them first. Everyone just assumed she was some frumpy housewife. So when she walked in looking radiant and composed, not a single person recognized her. Instead, they all whispered, wondering who this stunning woman was.

Susan paused mid-sip when she saw her.

Nora offered a warm smile and slid into the seat across from her. “Mrs. Luther.”

Susan eyed her closely. “Nora, do you know why I asked to meet?”

Nora’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Is it about the divorce?”

Susan gently set her cup down, her posture poised. “Back then, you did everything you could to marry my son. Now Quinton is growing up, and Travis is finally settling in Wellford after returning from abroad. You’re just about to enjoy the life you wanted. I don’t understand—why leave now?”

Her voice was calm, her words soft. But the condescension was unmistakable.

“No particular reason,” Nora said. “I’m just tired. Thought we could both use a reset.”

Susan blinked, clearly thrown. “Is this about Lily?”

After Quinton’s outburst last night, Susan had someone look into Travis’s recent activity. As expected, he and Lily were getting a little too close.

Nora looked up but said nothing.

Susan, unfazed, smiled like she knew exactly how things would go. “You really don’t have to let this bother you. I’ve never been thrilled with you as a daughter-in-law, but not just anyone gets through the Luther family’s door.”

She continued, tone almost like a lecture. “Travis is young, brilliant, and attractive. Of course women throw themselves at him. But I know my son—he doesn’t toss people aside so easily. If you just keep taking good care of him and Quinton, we’ll make sure you’re not left out in the cold.”

So that was it. Susan had no intention of letting her divorce Travis.

Nora’s voice was calm. “Mrs. Luther, people have different dreams. Forcing two people with nothing in common to stay together only ends in disaster.”

Susan’s face hardened. “You’re still young. You don’t realize how many women would kill to have your life. But if you insist on throwing it all away, then don’t expect to take anything with you.”

Nora smiled faintly. “I’ve made up my mind. I just hope you can help convince your son.”

Susan left without another word, her expression icy.

Just as Nora was getting ready to leave, a familiar voice chirped from behind.

“Nora? Is that really you?”

She turned, expression flat, and eyed Lily in her stiff office suit. “What—your eyes don’t work now?”

The jab left Lily flushed with embarrassment.

She’d rushed down from upstairs the moment she heard Susan was here. But she hadn’t expected to run into Nora instead.

At first, she couldn’t believe it. The poised, elegant woman in front of her… was the same Nora she used to mock as a nobody from the slums?

Now standing face-to-face, Lily had no choice but to believe it.

Her manicured fingers clenched into her palms.

“Quinton called me last night,” Lily began. “He said you and Travis were…”

She caught herself, aware of all the eyes around them, and softened her tone. “...having some issues. I was just about to check in on you. What a coincidence running into you here.”

Nora smiled, calm as ever. “Wow. I didn’t know you cared so much about me.”

Lily frowned, unsure if she was being sincere or sarcastic. Still, she slid into the seat beside her, pretending to be the concerned sister.

“Quinton told me everything,” Lily said gently. “I scolded him for the things he said, and he’s promised to apologize today. You know how kids are—he didn’t mean it.”

Nora could see right through her act. She smiled and turned the tables. “No need to apologize. Honestly, I think he was right.”

That caught Lily off guard.

“You see,” Nora continued, voice light, “you stayed up all night taking care of him when he was sick. Of course he sees you as his mom now. And Travis—he’s always trusted Quinton’s judgment. That’s probably why he’s been so kind to you lately.”

Lily arched a brow. She didn’t expect Nora to admit all this.

Nora leaned in, her tone playful. “But it’s a shame, really. No matter how close you are to Quinton, I’m still his mother. I’m also Travis’s wife. And you? You’ve worked so hard all year and still have nothing to show for it. If you want to take my place, you’d better hurry up and get him to sign those divorce papers.”

Lily’s face darkened.

Everything she’d done—playing the perfect aunt, earning Quinton’s affection—had been part of a long game. She wanted to be Mrs. Luther.

She couldn’t let all that go to waste now.

She opened her mouth to retort, but when she looked up, Nora was already gone.

Lily’s eyes darted to the door. Sure enough, Nora was striding out of the café without a care in the world.

Lily scoffed under her breath. Fine—let her act smug. That Mrs. Luther title would be hers soon enough.

“Excuse me, miss,” a staff member called. “You’ll need to pay at the counter.”

“I didn’t order anything,” Lily snapped.

“But you sat at that table. The previous guest ordered an iced Americano for you, and she also had a blood orange latte. She said you were family, so the bill’s on you.”

Lily’s face froze.

She gritted her teeth and forced herself to smile as she paid the bill. Once paid, she placed an order for another iced Americano—this one to go.

Then she marched into Travis’s office, takeaway cup in hand, pretending to casually mention that Nora had just met with his mother.

Her goal was simple: make it look like Nora didn’t even respect his family.

But in Travis’s eyes, it backfired.

To him, Nora’s sudden makeover and surprise meeting with his mother were her way of playing hard to get. Trying to prove she’d changed. Trying to make him regret.

He smirked.

He knew it—there was no way she’d really leave him.

So, just to push her further, he brought Lily along everywhere that day. Even had lunch with her in the second-floor dining lounge, right in front of the entire company.

The office buzzed with gossip.

Meanwhile, Nora waited calmly at home for the drama to unfold—only to receive another unexpected call from Horizon Corp.