Chapter 347 Losing Herself
Inside the gymnasium, the performance was already in full swing.
On stage, Anna Scott and her band were in perfect harmony, belting out songs with fiery passion. The pulsating melody was electrifying, and the audience was already whipped into an excited frenzy.
Nora crouched down and made her way to the front row. Aaron followed closely behind her.
Evella Remington's face was lit up with excitement; she barely acknowledged Nora's arrival as she waved her glowing baton incessantly, humming along to the beat of the music.
Nora looked up at Anna Scott on stage.
The woman's long, voluminous waves tumbled over her shoulders, her sequined bodysuit outlining her slender figure. Her demeanor was cool and composed, yet undeniably sultry.
She wielded an electric guitar in her hands, effortlessly in tune with the band behind her.
Listening to her sing, Nora noted the broad range of her voice.
Her melody would soar high, then dip low, and it had to be said, Anna Scott's vocal skills were impressive.
One only had to look at how wild the crowd was reacting to understand her popularity.
Nora's pretty face was aloof; thinking about what she'd seen earlier in the room, she didn't have much of a liking for Anna Scott.
Even though she had never had any interactions with her, her intuition told her that Anna Scott was no innocent fool. And that she was shrewd and calculating.
Barely managing to sit through half the show, Nora used the excuse that it was getting late and the kids needed to rest, preparing to leave.
Aaron was all too eager to agree.
Had it not been for Nora wanting to see the band, he would never see himself in such a chaotic place, inundated with the noise.
Sandy chimed in, "I'm heading back too." She was ready to head home because Zephyr's gaze from the back row was making her squirm in discomfort.
"Aw, Sandy, won't you stay a little longer?" Evella Remington looked disappointed.
Sandy laughed, "I'm not as young as I used to be, and I can't really handle this heavy metal sound anymore, enjoy the rest of the show."
Evella pouted, "Sandy, you're only a few years older than me, right?"
"Even though it's just a few years, I'm a married woman now, and naturally, I don't have the same energy as a young person like you," Sandy replied with a smile.
"Oh, I get it, you're in a rush to get back and spend time with your husband," Evella Remington teased.
Sandy's smile paused momentarily, yet she let her long lashes fall and didn't object.
"Evella, did you get Flynt Cook's autograph?" Nora asked before leaving.
"Yeah, I got it. I even got one for you and put it aside for Alex," Evella Remington said with a hint of excitement.
Nora thought to herself that she didn't really want the band's autograph, but out of respect for Evella Remington, she naturally kept her thoughts to herself.
As the group left the venue, Nora said to Sandy, "Sandy, drive safely on your way home."
"You too," Sandy replied.
The friends went their separate ways.
At the entrance, Zephyr also followed out, getting into his car and trailing not too far behind Sandy's vehicle.
Ahead, Frederic was driving with Aaron in the passenger seat. While Nora sat in the back, listening to the trio of kids chattering about the band's performance, not uttering a word.
"Mommy, are you upset?" Alex asked sharply, noticing something was off with Nora.
Nora's gaze softened a touch as she shrugged it off, "No, I'm fine."
Alex's small brow furrowed, not quite believing her. He glanced at the driver, "Uncle Gordon, did you make Mommy angry?"
Aaron looked back at Nora, and seeing her turn her head away from him, he sighed inwardly. "You could say that happened," he said sadly.
Even though he felt caught in an undeserved situation, it was true that something he said had upset her.
The trio of kids immediately became anxious.
Alex probed, "Uncle Gordon, why did you make Mommy angry?"
Billy chimed in, "Uncle Gordon, please make it up to Mommy."
Samantha coaxed, "Mommy shouldn't be mad, you know. Being angry can make you unattractive."
Hearing the kiddish voices of the trio, most of Nora's irritation melted away. It made her wonder, ‘What was the point of having men in a woman's life? How unreliable could men be? If a woman wanted to live a long and healthy life, she'd have to steer clear of men!’
Nora gently patted the kids' heads, thinking of something to say, when her phone rang. It was Ebenezer calling.
Nora answered the phone, "Hello?"
"Nora, it's your grandpa's 80th birthday tomorrow, you should come to the dinner," he said.
‘Her grandpa's birthday?’ Ebenezer must be referring to the previous head of the Hamilton family.
Nora thought about what Sandy had shared with her, that Ebenezer was planning to reveal her true identity at the grand 80th birthday dinner of old man Ebenezer. She furrowed her brow slightly in concern.
"Mr. Ebenezer, I have told you before, I have no interest in claiming family heritage,” she claimed.
Ebenezer said, "Nora, whether you acknowledge it or not, you are a descendant of the Hamilton family, and it's time to accept your heritage. That's settled then. Jacob will also be there; I've already called him. You and Aaron bring my three grandchildren along tomorrow night."
With that, he hung up the phone, his decision firm and final.
Nora, speechless, stared at her phone screen, feeling somewhat helpless. She couldn't understand why Ebenezer was so insistent on her joining the family heritage.
‘Wasn't life the way it was, just fine as it was?’ she pondered.
"Was that your dad?" Aaron asked.
Nora didn't want to talk, but facing three pairs of curious eyes, she acknowledged him with a nod. She didn't want to worry the little ones.
"Your dad will probably announce your origins at elder Hamilton' big birthday celebration, right?" Aaron questioned.
Nora glanced at him, "How did you know that?"
"Because it was my suggestion."
‘His suggestion?’ Nora's brow creased in annoyance, unable to help herself as she retorted, "Who asked you to meddle?"
Aaron looked back at her softly and said, "I meant well."
Nora was upset, feeling that Aaron always acted without consulting her. Whether it was her business or someone else's, he never discussed it with her.
She pressed down her frustration and pondered for a moment before asking, "If the Hamilton family acknowledges me, won't that ruin my dad's reputation?"
Her birth had not been a matter of pride; she did not want to claim her heritage only to be scorned by most of the Hamilton family.
Instead of gaining recognition, she felt she would become a target.
"It shouldn't," Aaron said, reassuring her. "Your dad will announce that you are his daughter with Emma."
At these words, Nora's frown deepened.
She knew Emma already disliked her. And now she was being forced to accept her as a daughter?
Without a doubt, Emma would be furious.
"Was this ill-conceived idea also yours?" Nora asked, unable to hold back her irritation.
Aaron admitted, "Indeed, it was my suggestion."
Nora wanted to snap back at him, but with the children around, she held back the retort that had reached the tip of her tongue.
Glancing out the window at the rapidly receding streetscape, she suddenly realized she had grown too compliant with Aaron of late, almost losing her sense of self.
A tight feeling surfaced in her heart. It was not a good sign.
With Aaron's status and position, who knew how many women were vying for his attention? Could he be like Edric, always eyeing another dish while eating his current one?
Had she forgotten the lessons from her past experiences? Men were not to be trusted!
In the driver's seat, Aaron didn't hear Nora's rebuttal. He looked back at her briefly. Her face was serious, silent, and his heart hung anxiously.
If she started to dislike him because of Edric, he would surely cut ties with Edric!
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