Chapter 155 Choosing Sides
In the quiet confines of Aaron's villa, he sat at the dining table, his gaze lost in the emptiness of the house. His lips were drawn into a thin line, the silence around him echoing with a maddening intensity.
He found himself longing for the days when the house was filled with life.
At this hour, the children would usually be stirring. Samantha, with her soft voice, would be descending the stairs, asking him to braid her hair.
"Mr. Gordon, aren't you eating?" Noe's voice broke through Aaron's reverie, unable to ignore the distant look in his eyes.
Snapping back to reality, Aaron's gaze fell on the elaborate spread before him, yet he found himself devoid of any appetite.
"I'm not hungry," he replied curtly.
Observing the listlessness in his eyes, Noe ventured a suggestion. "Perhaps you could have breakfast at Nora's place?"
The mention of Nora's name sparked a flicker of interest in Aaron's eyes, almost compelling him to his feet. But the thought was fleeting.
"No, let's wait on that," he murmured. He had no intention of pressuring Nora. She needed her space.
Noe couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for his boss. How had he managed to fall for a single mother and face such cold rejection?
"Mr. Gordon, what about your leg injury? Will you still seek Nora's treatment?" Noe inquired, his voice laced with concern.
Aaron took a slow sip of his coffee, replying calmly.
Noe hesitated before asking, "But what if Nora refuses to treat you? She's returned your money."
Setting down his coffee cup, Aaron's deep eyes were filled with certainty. "She'll agree," he stated confidently.
"And the plagiarism issue?" Noe remembered the accusations of academic fraud against Nora and inquired.
Aaron's dark eyes narrowed with intensity, "We'll wait on that, too."
Nora was silent. He'd watch and wait.
---
Meanwhile, at Nora's villa, Alex had just finished listening to Jenny's account of the situation.
"Okay, I'll take it from here," he declared, his young face set in determination, eager to act.
How dare anyone bully his mom! He was going to make things right for her.
With a newfound resolve, Alex retreated to his bedroom, fired up his computer, and infiltrated the fan groups of both Suzy and Sunny. Disguised as a devoted fan, he gained insider access to enemy territory, biding his time silently, plotting to stoke the fires between the two factions when the moment was right.
"Alex, are you done? Come downstairs for breakfast," Nora called, her voice laced with worry at his delay.
"I'm on my way!" Alex replied, shutting down his computer and stepping out of his room.
"Let's go, breakfast time," Nora gently tousled his hair, her voice soft and comforting.
Looking up at her, Alex spoke, "Mom, I'm sorry we took matters into our own hands."
Despite their fondness for Mr. Gordon, they knew they shouldn't go against their mother's wishes and make decisions on her behalf.
Nora hugged the understanding child, her heart filled with regret. "I should be the one apologizing for not being able to give you a complete family," she said.
"Mom, we don't need a father. We just want you to be happy," Alex replied.
A warm feeling settled in Nora's heart as she patted his head. "Let's not talk about it anymore. Come on, let's have breakfast downstairs."
Together, they made their way downstairs into the dining room for breakfast.
That's when Edric arrived.
Jenny's eyebrows furrowed at the sight of him. "What are you doing here again?" she asked, her voice laced with irritation.
Edric flashed a roguish smile, "I'm here to pick up my girlfriend for work."
Jenny rolled her eyes, too drained to comment.
Edric nonchalantly entered the dining room, greeted Nora and the others, and sat down to join them for breakfast.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang again, causing a collective pause.
"Who could it be this early? I'll get it," Jenny said, curiosity painting her face as she got up to open the door.
"Mom, could it be Mr. Gordon?" Samantha asked, her big eyes blinking with anticipation.
The brothers exchanged complex glances, torn between wanting and not wanting to see him.
A spark of intrigue flickered in Nora's eyes as well, wondering if Aaron might be the visitor.
When Jenny opened the door, it was Jack!
Nora glanced at the three children, noticing a flicker of disappointment in their eyes.
At the doorstep, Jack entered with a smile.
Although the kids were disappointed, they greeted Jack with courtesy.
Jack's smile was warm and graceful.
Pulling him inside, Jenny said, "Jack, this is Nora's grandmother."
"Nice to meet you, ma'am," Jack said politely.
Grandma Carter looked him up and down with a beaming smile. "You're Jenny's brother? Quite the looker, too!"
"Yeah, not only is he handsome, but he's also a really great guy," Jenny chimed in with a girly pride.
Grandma Carter grinned affectionately. "Got a girlfriend yet?"
"Not yet. Despite his looks, he's a bit of a stiff, and some other guy always beats him to the punch with the girls he likes," Jenny said, casting a meaningful glance toward Nora.
Nora didn't catch her look since she was getting up to grab some utensils from the kitchen.
Edric seemed to pick up on the hint.
He stood up with a smile, reaching out to greet Jack. "Good to meet you, Dr. Parker. I'm Edric." He thought, 'This is my future sister-in-law's brother. I need to make a good impression.' But he also sensed Jack might be interested in Nora. How was he going to handle this?
"Hi, Edric." Jack nodded slightly, his demeanor somewhat cool.
He had heard about Edric's pursuit of Jenny. Known for his flirtatious ways, Jack did not want Jenny to end up with that kind of man.
"Jack, what brings you here? Haven't had breakfast, have you? Come join us," Nora invited, setting a new place for him at the table as she returned from the kitchen.
"I just dropped off some things for Jenny and thought I'd check if she was being any trouble for you," Jack said with a smile.
Jenny knew this was just an excuse for her brother to get close to Nora. She reassured me, "I've been no trouble at all."
Nora couldn't help but laugh.
Turning to Jack, Nora said, "Try the fried eggs Grandma made early this morning."
"They're Grandma's? They look delicious."
"They really are."
"Indeed, they taste incredible."
Edric felt restless as he watched the table surrounded by cheerful conversation. 'What was Aaron thinking?' he wondered. 'He had a date with Nora yesterday. Why isn't he pursuing his advantage today?'
Jack, on the other hand, had shown up. He appeared to be a formidable rival. When two tigers fight, one is bound to get hurt. Which side should he take?
Hesitating for a moment, Edric picked up the phone from the table and shot a short video, contemplating whether to send it to Aaron to shake him up a bit.
His arm was nudged, and a woman's whisper reached his ear. "What are you doing?"
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