Chapter 305 Pressuring to Marry
A dry cough echoed from off-screen, breaking the silence. "Samantha," Jacob rasped, "Your great-grandfather is going to blush at your words."
Samantha's laughter tinkled through the room. "Great-grandpa isn't the one who's blushing, it's everyone else who's turning beet red."
Jacob's response was a heavy silence.
Nora, caught between laughter and mortification, didn't know how to react. She was the one who was truly embarrassed, her cheeks burning with a mix of amusement and discomfort.
On the screen, the brothers could barely containing their snickers. They were secretly anticipating the prospect of Uncle Gordon and their mother having a new sibling. It would mean their mother would have to marry Uncle Gordon without delay.
Aaron, wrapping his arm around Nora, smirked into the camera. "Don't worry, Samantha," he reassured, "I'll do my best. Just you wait and see."
Nora shot him a glare. "Are you the same age as Samantha?"
"No," he replied simply,"But we should respect the old and cherish the young, right?"
Aaron continued, looking at her. "So, I must listen to what Grandpa and Samantha say."
Nora was left speechless. Some people truly had a knack for twisting logic to their advantage!
"Alright," Jacob interjected, his face briefly shaking the camera as he asserted his authority, "When you guys come back, let's have the wedding."
Aaron's eyebrows shot up and he straightened in his seat. "Yes." He had been eagerly waiting for those words.
Samantha's giggle filled the room again. "When Mommy and Daddy get married, I can call Daddy openly and without any worries!" Her excitement was palpable.
The brothers remained silent, but their joy was evident in their expressions. Nora was both amused and touched by their enthusiasm. Still, weren't they forgetting to ask her, the person directly involved, for her opinion? She hadn't agreed to marry anyone yet, had she?
Aaron, as if reading her thoughts, teased, "Why are you not saying anything? Don't you want to marry me?"
Nora shot him an annoyed glance and extriEvellad herself from his grasp, attempting to change the subject. "Samantha, did anything funny happen at kindergarten today?"
Samantha giggled again. "Mommy, don't change the subject. You haven't answered Daddy's question yet."
Nora found herself at a loss for words. Typically, Samantha's focus was as fleeting as a butterfly, easily drawn to the next shiny thing, but today, it was as if the child had developed an uncharacteristic tenacity.
"Oh, it appears we've run out of funny stories," Nora feigned a move to rise, her voice laced with feigned disappointment. "I suppose I'll just have to hang up then."
"Mommy, there are funny stories!" Samantha's words tumbled out in a hurried rush. "In class, Fabio had an accident during nap time and cried buckets. And Nana, she gave Alex a mountain of chocolate and cake, saying she wants to marry him someday. And..."
As Samantha's childish chatter filled the room, Nora's lips curved into a relieved smile. The dreaded conversation about marriage had been successfully diverted.
A warm hand enveloped hers, pulling her attention away from their daughter's tales.
Glancing at Aaron, she wondered if he had something to say, but he seemed engrossed in Samantha's stories, his hand idly teasing hers beneath the table. A single word flashed in Nora's mind: hypocrite!
Feeling his hand grow bolder in its exploration, she retaliated with a sharp pinch, her humor evaporating.
Aaron's brow furrowed in confusion. "Nora, why did you pinch me?"
His innocent expression caught her off guard, and she had to resist the urge to smack him. Before she could respond, Aaron nodded knowingly. "Ah, I see. A pinch is a symbol of love, isn't it? Nora, I know you love me. There's no need to declare it constantly."
Once again, Nora was rendered speechless.
As the children giggled through the video call, she gave Aaron a firm smack and rose to her feet. "Enough of this nonsense. It's late, you children should get some rest."
Leaning toward the camera, Aaron bid them goodnight. "Behave yourselves. Go to sleep. Your mother and I are going to make a brother or sister for you."
Nora was left speechless yet again.
How was she supposed to get this man out of her house?
The thought was fleeting, however. That night, Aaron took full advantage of their earlier conversation, leaving her utterly spent. So much so that she overslept the following morning.
Awakening to find it was nearly nine o'clock, she noticed missed calls from her advisor and Sandy. Her phone had been on silent, and she hadn't heard a thing. That infuriating man had tampered with her phone again!
Cursing Aaron under her breath, she hurriedly climbed out of bed.
In the third-floor living room, Aaron was working in front of the floor-to-ceiling window. The morning sunlight streamed through the glass, casting a warm glow on his handsome features. Despite his good looks, he was infuriating beyond measure!
After a quick wash, Nora glared at Aaron, determined to avoid any interaction. However, as she descended the stairs, Aaron rose to his feet and intercepted her.
"Sunny, are you giving me the cold shoulder this early in the morning? It's not very nice to hit it and quit it after breakfast, you know?"
Nora's expression hardened. "Enough with the charade. Why did you put my phone on silent? Don't you understand I'm in the middle of an experiment? This could ruin everything."
Aaron didn't see the big deal, but he hid his indifference well. "Understood. I'll be more mindful next time."
Nora didn't have time for further discussion. "Let go, I really need to leave."
"I'll drive you," Aaron offered, releasing her without resistance.
As they continued down the stairs, Nora shot back, "And how do you plan to do that?"
He didn't even own a car in the city.
"I'll drive you myself," Aaron replied nonchalantly, trailing behind her.
Nora didn't bother responding and quickened her pace towards the ground floor.
In that particular moment, Quinn was ensconced in the living room on the first floor, engrossed in her work on a sleek tablet.
Meanwhile, Baldwin and Mary were outside, basking in the garden's sunlit tranquility. They were engaged in a leisurely conversation with Hollis, the warmth of their laughter echoing through the verdant surroundings.
"Quinn," Nora called out tentatively, a blush of embarrassment coloring her cheeks.
Quinn, setting her tablet aside, responded with a playful smile that danced in her eyes. "Rise and shine, huh? Did you sleep well last night?"
"Fine, fine," Nora replied, her gaze darting towards the source of her discomfiture.
Aaron, in stark contrast, was the epitome of calmness, his demeanor unperturbed.
"Are you heading out? Will you be having breakfast before you depart, or would you prefer to take it with you?" Quinn queried, rising from her seat.
"I've already eaten," Aaron announced.
"On the go," Nora added simultaneously.
Their words overlapped, prompting Nora to shoot Aaron a reproachful glance. "You don’t get a say," she retorted.
Aaron responded with a look of feigned innocence. "Alright, alright, we'll do it your way."
Quinn's laughter tinkled through the room as she sauntered towards the kitchen. "I anticipated your rush, so hold on. I've prepared breakfast for you already."
Nora was touched by the gesture. After accepting the breakfast, she offered her heartfelt thanks to Quinn.
Quinn then excused herself from her conversation with Baldwin and Mary. She slipped into the driver's seat, ready to chauffeur Nora to the lab. Aaron followed suit, joining Nora in the backseat.
“Quinn, I’m sorry to trouble you like this. I could’ve taken a cab,” Nora voiced her gratitude, guilt tingeing her words.
Quinn started the car with a hearty laugh. "No need to thank me. Isn't that what you do for family? When you guys get married, you know I'm going to be front and center."
Marriage again.
The word hung in the air, a reminder of societal expectations. Why did it feel like everyone around her was in a rush to see people walk down the aisle? Nora chuckled, deftly steering the conversation in a different direction.
After a bout of casual conversation, Quinn turned her attention to Aaron. "Aaron, where's Frederic? I haven't seen him around."
"His mom's not well; he took leave to go back home," Aaron replied.
Quinn raised an eyebrow in surprise. "No wonder I didn't see him tagging along with Nora. Aaron, you need to keep an eye on her. Nora's a catch, and it only takes a moment of distraction for someone to take notice."
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
