Chapter 269 How About I Make You My Goddaughter?
"Nora, you should call me Dad," Ebenezer proposed, his gaze softening as it met Nora's, a cocktail of regret and affection swirling within his eyes.
Nora, taken aback, struggled to comprehend the gravity of his words.
Ebenezer, sensing her confusion, pressed on. "Allow me to introduce you to my wife, Emma. You may refer to her as Aunt Emma."
Emma acknowledged Nora with a subtle nod, which Nora reciproEvellad with a courteous smile. Her eyes, however, were locked onto Ebenezer, silently questioning his intentions.
Perceiving her silent query, Ebenezer slid the DNA test report across the table. "Take a moment to peruse this," he suggested.
Nora complied, her eyes scanning the document. Despite bracing herself for a surprise, the revelation left her reeling. Could it be that she and Ebenezer were bound by blood, as father and daughter? Did this imply that Charles Manson was not her biological father? The thought was inconceivable.
Ebenezer's sudden dinner invitation now made sense. She had initially presumed it was a ploy to defend Suzy, but the reality was far more complex. What was truly transpiring here?
"Nora, I can see the confusion etched on your face," Ebenezer began, his voice laced with a profound sadness. "This tale dates back over two decades..."
As Ebenezer unveiled the sordid actions of Charles Manson, Nora listened, her lips pressed into a tight line, her heart a tempest of righteous anger and sympathy for her mother. Her mother, a woman of such virtue, had been entangled with a man as despicable as Charles Manson, squandering countless years of her life.
In the wake of her mother's death, Nora's lack of paternal affection from Charles Manson was now explainable. Since he was aware that she was not his biological offspring, it was only natural that he withheld any semblance of fatherly love.
Nora's grip on the paper tightened. Recalling Charles Manson's release on bail, she raised her eyes to meet Ebenezer's. "Did you arrange for Charles Manson's bail?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
The pieces of the puzzle were beginning to fall into place. Charles Manson must have blackmailed Ebenezer into securing his release. After all, Ebenezer's illicit affair with a married woman had resulted in a living testament to his indiscretion.
"Yes," Ebenezer admitted, a hint of guilt shadowing his features.
Nora's expression hardened. "Charles Manson is culpable for my mother's demise. I cannot let him evade justice."
Ebenezer studied her, a flicker of resolve igniting in his eyes. "Nora, I share your sentiment. I wish I could tear him apart."
"But he cannot," a voice interjected.
Emma, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.
Nora's lips thinned as she turned her attention to Emma, awaiting her explanation.
Emma's voice was steady as she addressed Nora. "The Hamilton family is a lineage held in high esteem. Our reputation is paramount. We cannot allow an inadvertent error on your father's part to tarnish the legacy we have painstakingly built over the years."
"If word of this scandal were to leak, it would wreak havoc akin to an earthquake. Both the Hamilton family and your father would face dire consequences. Nora, as a bearer of the Ebenezer bloodline, you must shoulder the corresponding responsibility."
Nora's brows furrowed at this. "So we just let Charles Manson walk free?"
"Absolutely not. I cannot tolerate a ticking time bomb in our midst," Emma declared, taking a sip of her tea, her eyes gleaming with an icy resolve.
Nora observed her, somewhat taken aback by her determination.
Emma, the matriarch of the Hamilton family, was not a woman to be underestimated.
Upon catching Nora's gaze, Emma's countenance softened.
"Nora," she began, her voice laced with understanding, "you are a Ebenezer by birth, and both your father and I are well aware of your circumstances. You have three children to care for, a fact your father cannot ignore."
Her words hung in the air for a moment before she continued. "Our plan is to find you a suitable match in Lindwood City, arrange a marriage, and ensure you have someone to protect you."
A marriage? Nora's lips tightened in disbelief. They had just acknowledged her as their kin, and now they were orchestrating a marriage for her? She pushed aside other thoughts, her mind fixating on one glaring omission. Were they unaware of her relationship with Aaron? Was this arranged marriage a veiled attempt to separate them?
"Emma..." Ebenezer began, but a glance from Emma silenced him.
"Ebenezer," she interjected, "didn't you agree that I would handle this?"
Ebenezer's lips moved, but no words came out. He was caught in a moment of hesitation.
Nora, on the other hand, could only laugh at the absurdity of it all. She leveled a cool gaze at Emma. "I'm sorry, but I have no intention of marrying."
Emma met her gaze, unflinching. "Nora, you're not getting any younger. You must consider marriage at some point."
"Age does not dictate my need to marry," Nora retorted, a hint of self-deprecation in her voice. "I'm well aware that the men of the city may not find a 'second-hand' woman like me appealing."
Ebenezer couldn't help but interject, "Nora, don't belittle yourself. My daughter deserves the best man in the world."
Nora turned to look at the man who was her biological father. She had only met him twice and had yet to form any deep emotional bond. Yet, the protective look in his eyes stirred something warm within her. Was this what familial affection felt like?
"Nora, are you unhappy with my decision? Is it Aaron you wish to marry?" Emma asked, her gaze flicking to Ebenezer, her displeasure barely concealed.
Nora remained silent.
Emma continued, "Nora, let's be clear. Even though you are a Ebenezer, we cannot publicly acknowledge your identity."
She proposed a compromise. "How about we accept you as our goddaughter? We can then negotiate with the Gordon family to see if they would accept you."
"But you must understand," she added, "you have three children of uncertain parentage. The Gordons are a powerful family, and they may not welcome you with open arms."
Nora understood the subtext of Emma's words. She was being told not to publicly acknowledge her ancestry and that the family was hesitant about her marrying into the Gordon family.
"Emma," Ebenezer interjected, "Nora is my daughter. We can't just make her our goddaughter. Tomorrow, I will announce her true identity as a Ebenezer."
Emma's face darkened, her voice rising in protest. "How dare you, Ebenezer! Did my earlier words mean nothing to you? Your reputation is at stake. If you acknowledge Nora, there will be repercussions. The Hamilton family will be shamed and become a target for our enemies. Can you justify that to your late father-in-law who entrusted you with his family?"
Ebenezer's brows furrowed in conflict. "But how can we abandon our own child? I've already failed her for over twenty years."
Emma's expression turned stormy. "She may be your daughter, but what about your other children? If you persist in this, Ebenezer, we should divorce!"
"Emma, you..."
As the couple teetered on the brink of an argument, Nora remained surprisingly composed. Perhaps it was because she had no expectations, and therefore, no disappointments.
Even though she had found her relatives, she had no desire to formally join her ancestral family or marry into the Gordon family due to this newfound identity. She was content with her life as it was. She may not have parents, but she had three adorable children and a grandmother. Even if the grandmother wasn’t related by blood, she was as good as her own.
"Stop arguing over me," Nora interjected, her voice steady. "I don't need you to worry about my affairs."
"I'll be 26 at the next holiday, not three. I can support myself, and I can live well. I don't need the family's blessing; knowing my origins is enough. I only had one mother, and she has passed away. Mr. Ebenezer, let's pretend we've never met."
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