Chapter 314 A Fine Opportunity to Strike
"Mom, how are you feeling now? Are you still in a lot of pain? If you're in a lot of pain, I'll call our family doctor to come and check on you," Suzy said, purposefully squeezing past Nora, feigning concern.
Her words implied that Nora, a Traditional Medicine Practitioner, was inadequate.
Emma replied, "No need, my wound isn't hurting that much anymore."
Suzy's eyes flickered with a trace of disbelief at the quick recovery, and with reddened eyes, she adopted an apologetic tone, "Mom, I'm sorry, it's all my fault that you're suffering."
Emma sighed, "Enough, everyone gets irritable sometimes, I’m fine."
The deep mother-daughter bond was evident; Emma visibly doted on Suzy. Nora felt a tinge of envy for Suzy. Even though she wasn't Emma's biological child, she still received abundant maternal love from her.
Suddenly, Nora found herself missing her own mother, imagining if she were alive, she'd surely dote on her just as much.
Sandy tugged at her clothing, giving her a reassuring look.
Nora snapped back to the present, gave Sandy's hand a squeeze and a smile, then stood by waiting for the acupuncture session to end.
When the time was right, she helped Emma remove the needles, then she and Sandy left the room.
As the door closed, Emma turned to Suzy and said, "All right, Suzy, go ahead and have your meal. With me around, I won't let anyone mistreat you."
Inwardly, Suzy thought that if her mother truly didn’t want her to be mistreated, she should hasten to break up Nora and Aaron so that she could marry Aaron. Of course, those were thoughts she dared only keep to herself.
Emma had just taken a stand, and if Suzy continued to manipulate her to advoEvella for herself, it would likely cause her mother's displeasure.
Therefore, she put on a moved expression and hugged her mother, "Mom, you are so good to me."
Emma chuckled, "Silly girl, you are my rock. Now go on, have your lunch, I'm going to change my clothes."
Suzy agreed, "Okay."
As Emma walked away, the mask of sentiment on Suzy's face turned to one of dark brooding.
Nora, she thought, they were irreconcilable enemies!
The image of Sunny sprang to mind, and with a chilled expression, she rang her agent.
"You keep a close eye on Sunny for me," she instructed coldly, "I want you to dig up everything about the endorsement deals she's negotiating!"
She couldn't deal with Nora just yet, but she could surely handle a small fry.
‘How dare Remington aspire to jump her way to the top of the entertainment industry?’ Suzy thought.
She was determined not to stop until she had crushed Wendel.
Downstairs, after dinner, three gentlemen were discussing business.
When Nora and Sandy came down, Ebenezer asked, "Nora, how is she doing?"
"Mrs. Hamilton is fine, just a few superficial injuries, I've treated her already," Nora replied.
Ebenezer shook his head, "Suzy is spoiled by her mother, makes mistakes without remorse, and throws temper tantrums. I'm utterly disappointed."
Nora did not offer additional comments. She glanced at the time, "It's late, I need to go back to see a patient, so I won't stay longer. Aaron, let's leave."
Aaron, aware she had to return for Hollis's acupuncture appointment, nodded and stood up.
Ebenezer's eyes were filled with reluctance, "Nora, I'll make sure to bring you back into the family soon."
That way, she could live at home without any reservation.
Nora didn't care much about formal recognition from the family.
"Mr. Ebenezer..." she began.
He interrupted her, instructing, "Call me Dad." Ebenezer found the formal address grating.
Nora looked at him but remained silent.
Truth be told, she wanted to call him that but found it difficult to say it out loud. It just didn't feel right.
Seeing this, Ebenezer's expression dimmed. His daughter still wouldn't call him Dad!
"Aaron, Nora is just stubborn, don't rush it. Once everything is settled, she can call you Dad anytime," Aaron chimed in to ease the tension.
Ebenezer nodded, sighing softly, "All right. Nora, remember that this place is always your home. Come back and visit when you can."
At that moment, Nora was genuinely touched.
She nodded, "We're leaving now."
"Kenneth, Sandy, see your sister out," Ebenezer said.
"Okay."
Kenneth and Sandy complied, escorting the pair out of the foyer.
After they had left, Ebenezer went upstairs to find Emma. In their room, Emma had just changed into a loungewear.
Ebenezer went over to check her injuries, frowning deeply at the sight.
"Suzy has such a temper, I feel like I don't even know her," he lamented as he carefully tucked in his shirt.
Emma, adjusting her clothing, came to Suzy's defense, "Suzy is acting out because Nora and Aaron provoked her. How can you blame her?"
Ebenezer, with a grave tone, retorted, "So, being provoked gives her the right to behave inappropriately? Is she that narrow-minded?"
Hearing this, Emma grew impatient.
"That's enough. You found your biological daughter, and all of a sudden, your adopted one means nothing?" she snapped.
Ebenezer glanced at her, feeling a stirring of displeasure but still managed to keep his temper in check.
"There's something I need to discuss with you..." He relayed Aaron's suggestion to Emma.
Emma's face shifted through a series of expressions, "You want me to lie and claim that Nora is my deceased daughter? I won't agree with that! If you dare do such a thing, we're getting a divorce!"
How could he ask Nora to impersonate her unfortunate daughter? Did Ebenezer even consider her feelings?
Just the thought of her lost daughter still pained her deeply. Yet he was insisting Nora take her place. As if he was asking her to be constantly reminded of that tragedy.
How could he rub salt in her wound like that?
"Emma, don't bring up divorce at the drop of a hat! Nora is my daughter, and I can't let her be destitute. Next month, at my dad's 80th birthday party, I'm going to make the announcement. If you're dead set against it, then yes, we can divorce!" he declared.
Out of respect for their marriage and his usual decorum, he had always let her have her way in domestic matters.
Could this have led her to believe he'd always yield to her wishes unconditionally?
When it came to matters of principle, he wouldn't be swayed by anyone.
"You..." Emma watched as Ebenezer spoke firmly and then turned on his heel and left, the anger causing her chest to heave.
He would dare tp consider divorce so easily!
All their years of relationship, and he was willing to throw it all away for a daughter he'd just met a few days ago!
Her eyes uncontrollably reddened with tears. She always knew her husband had a deep-seated first love.
He had chosen her for her family background, which matched his, but even more so because her face resembled his first love.
For years, this had been a thorn in her heart. Her husband was respectful, but not out of love for her.
Once a proud woman surrounded by admirers, she now felt like just a replacement in her husband's life.
By the time Emma reached middle age, she had gradually come to terms with her minor irritations thanks to Ebenezer' good nature.
But then Nora appeared. She resembled her mother very much…
Now, for Nora, her husband seemed to dismiss even Emma's most serious threats!
Did she mean so little to her husband that she could be replaced as the lady of the house at any moment?
Feeling as if a huge stone was lodged in her chest, Emma plopped down on the edge of the bed, tears streaming down her face.
It was all because of Nora, why did she have to suddenly appear out of nowhere? Why did she have to reopen the most painful wound in Emma's heart!
In Quinn's villa, Hollis was in her bedroom when she received a phone call.
"I heard Aaron came to Lindwood City?" the voice on the phone said.
Hollis gripped her phone tightly, "Yes."
"This could be a good opportunity to get rid of him."
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