Chapter 255 In This Lifetime, No One But You
The proposition of returning to the family estate was met with a firm shake of Nora's head. "I'm not going," she declared.
"Why not?" Aaron inquired, his curiosity piqued.
"Because the time isn't right," Nora responded, her tone resolute.
Aaron studied her for a moment before asking, "And when will it be the right time?"
Nora returned his gaze, a challenge in her eyes. "What do you think?"
She had previously stated that she would only openly be with Aaron once Gordon's family fully accepted her. Until Aaron could sway his family, she refused to endure the cold, disapproving stares of the Gordons.
She was no masochist; one glance at their disdainful faces was more than enough. More importantly, she wouldn't allow a man to take advantage of her. If she conceded now, even if she were to marry Aaron in the future, she would forever be regarded with contempt by the Gordons.
"I get it, you're waiting for my family to accept you, right?" Aaron deduced, his tone a mixture of amusement and frustration.
Nora, pulled back from her thoughts, remained silent. Aaron chuckled, gently holding her hand. "Quite the proud princess, aren't you? Aren't you afraid Mr. Ebenezer is discussing my marriage with grandpa today?"
At his words, Nora pursed her lips. "I've said it before: if it's mine, it will be mine. If not, I can't force it."
Aaron had hoped for a softer response, but she remained unbowed. He sighed, a hint of helplessness in his tone. "You're really tough! Don't worry, my heart is set; in this lifetime, no one but you."
Nora caught his gaze, those deep, resigned eyes, and her lips involuntarily curved up. Her heart filled with a sweet warmth.
Returning to the lab, she spent the afternoon engrossed in her work, planning to visit Hollis in the evening. Suddenly remembering something, she dialed Aaron's number.
"Thomas, is Noe picking up the kids today?" she asked. On the other end, Aaron was busy in his CEO office. He had just gotten off the phone with Noe, discussing the kids.
"No, the kids were picked up by old Gordon again." His grandpa had been taking the three little ones to the old family house for several days straight for some playtime. Tonight, the old house was bound to be lively. Ebenezer was going to be there, and so were the kids. The only uncertainty was whether Ebenezer knew that the three little ones were Nora's children.
"The kids have been over at Old Gordon's again? Thomas, should I pop over sometime and say hi? It just doesn't sit right with me, them bothering folks so often without us giving a proper greeting," Nora said.
Aaron snapped back to reality and spun a little white lie, "No rush, Noe already said his hellos to Old Gordon. Old Gordon mentioned he's quite fond of the three little ones; told us not to be strangers."
Hearing this, Nora felt a wave of relief wash over her. "Oh, well, that's good then." She couldn't imagine that Aaron would deceive her; all she cared about was that her kids weren't being a nuisance to others.
After hanging up the phone, Nora made her way to the Brown family home. Meanwhile, an uninvited guest had arrived at the Brown's mansion.
Hollis hadn't expected Quinn to just waltz into her home. Watching Quinn peruse the mansion as if she owned the place, Hollis's eyes bulged in shock. "Who let you in? Get out!" she demanded.
After Quinn had finished her self-guided tour, she said with a smile, "Why, are you afraid that Nora might see me here? But I'm very good friends with Nora, you know."
Hollis's expression shifted, "You know Nora?"
"Absolutely, I know Nora, and I'm also quite close to Aaron," Quinn replied, stepping closer to Hollis and looking her straight in the eyes.
"Auntie, I've actually done a little digging on you!"
Hollis's face changed color again, "You've been investigating me?"
"Yes, of course, I had to know everything there is about my future mother-in-law."
Future mother-in-law! She certainly had some nerve.
Hollis glared at her, setting aside that last comment for the moment, "And what did you find?"
Quinn leaned in, "I found out that when you were younger, you were left by Aaron's father, Caden Gordon. You had his son, but due to his cold-heartedness, your son passed away young, and you ended up in a car accident. So, you harbor a deep-seated hatred for the Gordon family, isn't that right?"
Upon hearing these words, a shadow seemed to cast itself across the visage of Hollis. "What else have you discovered?" she inquired, her voice barely above a whisper.
Quinn responded with a faint smile, "I also learned that Aaron was involved in a car accident..."
Suddenly, a soft noise echoed from behind her. Quinn subtly tilted her head and caught sight of Mary, brandishing a wooden stick, poised to strike her.
With a swift reflex, Quinn intercepted Mary's hand, forcefully pushing her away.
"An attempted ambush, I see? Trying to eliminate the witness? Isn't that a bit drastic?" she retorted.
She stood there, an embodiment of frosty elegance, the atmosphere around her pulsating with the imminent tempest.
Mary glared at her with a fierce intensity, her grip on the wooden stick unyielding, her silence as impenetrable as stone.
"Mary, stand down," commanded Hollis, her voice slicing through the tension. Mary, after shooting a defiant look at Hollis, reluctantly tossed the stick aside.
Hollis then turned her attention to Quinn, "Now that it's come to this, let's get to the point. What exactly do you want?"
Quinn adjusted her attire before responding, "Mrs. Brown, you claim that Baldwin has feelings for Nora, but wasn't it you who manipulated him into this situation? Primarily as a form of revenge against the Gordon family, am I right?"
Hollis met her gaze, her face a stoic mask.
Undeterred, Quinn continued, "Aaron's father, Caden Gordon, wronged you, so you want him to experience the torment of losing a child in his middle age, correct?"
At this accusation, a wave of hatred flashed in Hollis's eyes.
"Yes, I loathe that man, Caden Gordon! I want him to regret everything he and his son did to me and my child!" Her features contorted with the intensity of her hatred.
Quinn shook her head at the sight and said, "Mrs. Brown, when will this cycle of vengeance end? Have you ever considered that it was Aaron's father who wronged you, not Aaron himself? How innocent he is."
Hollis retorted icily, "The sins of the father are to be laid upon the children. If he didn't want to pay for his father's deeds, he shouldn't have had such a father."
Quinn chuckled lightly, "Mrs. Brown, what era are you living in, still believing in collective punishment? If someone were to follow your logic, if you made a mistake, should your son bear the consequences? What would you think then?"
Hollis pursed her lips, remaining silent.
Quinn crouched down, taking her hand, "Mrs. Brown, let go of the hate. Even though your own son is gone, you've got a devoted adopted son! After I marry him, we will take care of you together, and you'll have a peaceful and comfortable sunset years. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
Hearing this, Hollis glared at her, "Are you threatening me?"
Quinn arched an eyebrow, "You can take it that way if you like. Mrs. Brown, if you still harbor thoughts of revenge, I wouldn't mind giving Aaron a little reminder to check out your identity."
Hollis yanked her hand away from Quinn's grip, seething, "Quinn, who do you think you are to threaten me? Be careful, or you might not be able to walk out that door today."
With that, she pressed down on the armrest of her wheelchair.
Suddenly, a sharp blade emerged from within the armrest.
A hidden weapon within the wheelchair!
Impressive indeed.
Quinn mentally scoffed, but asked Hollis, "Mrs. Brown, why can't you let go of your hatred?"
Hollis's expression darkened, "Why? The son I carried for ten months is gone, my legs are broken, and for many years, it is hatred that has kept me alive. You ask me to let it go, isn't that asking me to die?"
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