Chapter 20 She Played Him
“Mom, has Mick called yet?” Becky inquired.
Martha soothed her, “Don’t worry, the longer he takes to call, the more likely it is that he’s succeeded.”
Restless, Becky said, “Mom, maybe we should call to see if he’s pulled it off?”
If Mick had succeeded, Nora would have no choice but to divorce.
“All right, I’ll make the call.”
Martha pulled out her phone and dialed Mick's number.
"Mr. Mick, still wrapped up in dreamland?" she teased.
"Mrs. Smith, you have no idea how close to the edge you've pushed me. Listen up, our families' latest deal is off, and I'm done doing business with the Smiths!" Mick's voice crackled through the line.
Martha's smile faltered upon hearing these words.
"Mr. Mick, what on earth are you talking about? How have I wronged you?"
"Hmph, think about what you've done. That's it; don't bother me with your calls anymore." With that, Mick hung up.
A look of confusion washed over Martha's face.
Becky, who had overheard, asked anxiously, "Mom, what's up with Mick? Why is he so mad?"
"Seems like things didn't work out," Martha furrowed her brow, then suggested, "Becky, honey, give Nora a call. Let's see what she has to say."
"Okay," Becky said, dialing the number they had gotten from Mick.
As soon as Nora picked up, Becky blurted out, "Nora, where are you? What did you say to Mick? Why's he so furious, canceling the deal with our family?"
Nora was in Jenny's car, a smirk on her face. "Becky, did you and your mom really think playing Mick as the father of my kids was smart? You'll regret this."
"Norah, what are you doing, running back to your old flame all of a sudden?" Becky fired back angrily.
"My kids need to start school, and Houston's top private preschool has one rule—a complete family is required."
Nora continued indifferently, "Since you're not being honest with me, I have no choice but to enroll my children under the Gordon name."
What! If her children were enrolled, what about her own?
"Norah, you wouldn't dare!"
"What's stopping me? I tried to let you off easy, Becky. This is on you." With that, Nora ended the call.
"Hey, Nora!" Becky, fuming and frustrated, redialed Nora's number, but it went unanswered.
"Becky, honey, calm down, have a seat, and let's talk this through," Martha urged upon seeing her daughter's outrage.
"Mom, what do we do? Nora, she..."
Just then Lucas walked in, his demeanor calm. "Mom, I'm here to get Becky."
"Lucas, your timing couldn't be better," Martha was quick to loop him in. "That Nora, she's trying to steal our son's spot at school!"
Becky grabbed Lucas by the arm, her rage bubbling to the surface.
Lucas, confused, furrowed his brow. "What are you talking about?"
"Nora refuses to sign the divorce papers because she wants her kids to use the Gordon name to get into the top private preschool in Houston!" Becky spat out, barely containing her anger.
Lucas was taken aback. The Mont International Kindergarten in Houston was indeed prestigious with some rather peculiar admission policies. Was Nora playing this game?
"Lucas, what do we do now? If Nora's kids take the spots, our son will be left in the dust, branded as a bastard! He'll be a laughingstock, and won’t even get into that school," Becky was practically livid.
Noticing Lucas's nonchalant demeanor, she yelled, "Lucas, are you even listening to me?"
Lucas could feel his aversion to Becky growing. The yelling, the lack of decorum, why had he ever been drawn to such a woman?
"Becky, for heaven's sake, you're heiress to a fortune. Can't you speak more softly?" he said, trying to calm her.
Becky, stunned at first, snapped back, "What’s that supposed to mean, Lucas? Are you getting tired of me? Do you think I'm inferior to that... to Nora?”
“Watch your mouth! She may be estranged, but she's still your sister!"
"I am my mother’s only daughter. I don't have a sister!"
Frustrated, Lucas was about to argue when—
“Enough, both of you!" Martha pleaded, foreseeing another quarrel.
"Mom, look at him!" Becky was on the verge of tears, both angry and hurt.
Martha gave her a look suggesting she keep her cool.
"Lucas, there are things you need to remember," Martha said solemnly. "You haven't been officially recognized by the Gordon family for long and aren't exactly the favored son. We've been your backbone. Without our support, have you considered where you’d be?"
She was reminding him of his place. Four years earlier, when Lucas first returned to the Gordon family, he lacked influence and needed the Smiths' backing.
That’s why he chose Becky. Nora hardly mattered in their family, while Charles had always adored Becky, his youngest.
But now...
"Mom, I know. Leave it to me," he replied, concealing his inner calculations.
"And how exactly will you 'solve' this?" Becky challenged, emboldened as she saw Lucas concede.
"Why the rush? I'll talk to Nora. Our son won't be an outcast," Lucas assured her.
Becky could sense the change in his demeanor, no longer as warm as it used to be, and snapped, "Lucas, what's with the attitude?"
"What about it?" he replied.
"You tell me!"
"Becky, could you just ease up a bit?"
Martha, observing the spat from the sidelines, quickly tugged at Becky's arm. She thought to herself how spoilt the girl was. How could she be so tactless?
Turning to Lucas with a smile, Martha said, "Lucas, try to be a little understanding of Becky, she gets pushy because she cares about you."
Lucas didn't object. "I get it, Mom. We should be going now."
"Yeah, think about how to settle things with Nora and get that divorce handled quickly," Martha reminded him.
Lucas acknowledged with a hum, but his mind was already wandering elsewhere.
When Nora opened the door to their suburban home, she called out, "Babies, Mommy's back!"
"Mommy!"
The Children dashed out from the living room, their bright eyes making her heart melt.
"Have you all had dinner?" she asked.
"Yes, Mommy, we ate already," Alex answered.
"Oh? Who cooked?"
"Billy."
Figuring as much, Nora smiled warmly and tousled Billy's hair. "You did great, Billy."
Beaming with pride, Billy stood a little taller.
She then ruffled Alex's hair. "And Alex, great job calling your godmother."
At the mention of the call, Alex glanced at Aaron, remembering the day's panic until Mr. Thomas reminded him.
"Mommy, it was Mr. Thomas who reminded brother to call Godmother," Samantha interjected eagerly.
Nora's eyebrows lifted as she turned toward Aaron. "Thomas, I won't thank you because you're going to owe me one."
Aaron cleared his throat, "Indeed, can you tend to me now?"
He had been waiting all afternoon to use the restroom and urgently needed to relieve his bladder. He just couldn't manage without her.
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