Chapter 65: I Forgot to Pick Up the Kids
Nora glanced at her phone, her eyes narrowing slightly as she checked the caller ID.
It was Becky on the line.
Turning to Aaron, she said, "Thomas, I need to take this call. No helping allowed. Got it?"
Aaron responded noncommittally. "Whose call is it?"
"It's none of your business." With that, Nora headed upstairs.
Aaron turned to Noe. "Noe, go help Samantha with the bugs."
Noe felt like his whole worldview was being turned upside down today.
The boss had always seemed stern and serious.
But now, was he becoming more compliant?
It was confusing for him.
Meanwhile, Nora answered the call upstairs.
"Hello?"
"Nora, my mom wants to meet you."
Martha wanted to meet her.
Nora's eyes widened in surprise. "Why?"
"If you ever want to know how your mom died, you'd better come."
Was Martha going to reveal the truth?
Nora gripped her phone tighter. "Okay, I'll meet her tomorrow."
She knew that her mother had been murdered, but she lacked evidence.
If Martha could reveal the truth, Nora might finally find closure.
After ending the call, Nora exhaled and walked over to the window, gazing at the full moon in the sky.
The cool moonlight spread like a thin fog over the world.
Her gaze slowly drifted down to the figure busy in the garden.
Was that Noe?
Meanwhile, her daughter, who should have been working, was cozying up to Aaron, whispering something.
The kid sure had found herself a solid rock to lean on.
Nora chuckled to herself and went downstairs to the backyard.
"Samantha, what are you doing?"
Hearing her voice, Samantha promptly stood up straight.
"Mom, Mr. Wilson offered to help me catch bugs."
Nora looked at her. "Is that so?"
Samantha avoided her gaze, guiltily glancing at Aaron.
Aaron cleared his throat. "Nora, I..."
"Shut your mouth!" Nora scolded him.
Aaron glanced at her and obediently stayed silent.
Samantha shivered and confessed.
"Mom, I was too scared, so I asked Mr. Gordon to help."
Nora fixed her gaze on her daughter. "Samantha, you need to be honest and not lie, got it?"
"Yes," Samantha nodded obediently.
Nora wasn't out to punish the kids, but she had to keep her word.
Otherwise, she'd lose all credibility with them.
"Alright, go tell your brothers it's time to rest," she commanded.
Samantha's head, which had been hanging low, perked up. "Okay, Mom," she replied.
After bidding Aaron and Noe goodnight, she went searching for her brothers.
Having just caught a couple of caterpillars, Noe let out an involuntary sigh. Nora was strict with her children.
At the moment, he even thought he might get an earful!
"Thomas, your turn," Nora called out, pushing Aaron's wheelchair toward a room on the first floor.
Aaron arched an eyebrow. "Is it my turn to be punished?"
She meant it was time for his treatment.
Hearing his words, she chuckled. "Yes, I'm sure you'll love the scent of onions," she teased.
Aaron flashed a grin. "Nora, I'll accept any punishment from you. I just worry it might overwhelm you when you're treating me."
Nora snorted in amusement. "Thanks for your concern."
"Don't mention it."
Noe listened to their banter, marveling at the transformation. The usually stern CEO seemed like a completely different person here.
Life in the upper echelons might look shiny and perfect, but it hid its fair share of unseen trials.
Especially for Aaron, who carried the weight of familial expectations; maintaining peace within the clan required constant vigilance.
That's why he was usually so reserved and approachable, a veritable fortress of solitude.
As he laughed and talked with Nora, he seemed more alive.
"This must be the real CEO," Noe thought.
As his thoughts raced, he saw Nora pushing Aaron into the bathroom, preparing to help him undress. Hurrying to offer his assistance, he called out.
"Nora, let me."
She gave him a relieved look. "Sure, you help him with his clothes, and I'll go run the bath."
"Alright."
Noe crouched down to help Aaron with his clothes, feeling a burning gaze.
He looked up and met his boss's gaze, staring intently at him with displeasure.
Noe's heart skipped a beat, confused.
Wasn't he just trying to lighten Nora's load? Why was his boss unhappy?
Could he be meddling too much?
Should he continue with this task or not?
"Noe, sign up for a psychology course tomorrow; you need to brush up," Aaron suggested drily.
Noe gave a wry smile, getting the hint.
"Mr. Gordon, I was just worried Nora might get too tired."
Aaron's gaze was icy. "You seem to care quite a bit about her, don't you?"
Noe shivered slightly. "No, only you I'm concerned about."
Was his boss jealous? He was loyal to him only!
"Mr. Wilson, is he ready? If yes, help him into the bathtub, please."
Nora had prepared the bath and continued Aaron's medicinal soak.
Noe glanced at Aaron's stoic expression and hastily said, "Nora, I can't manage alone. Can you give me a hand?"
"Sure."
Nora moved to Aaron's other side, helping him lift his arm over her shoulder.
A hint of relief washed over Aaron's face.
He put in some effort with his legs and slowly stepped into the bathtub with their support.
"Mr. Wilson, please stay with him for a while. I'm gonna prepare the acupuncture stuff," Nora told Noe before leaving.
Noe felt the chill emanating from their CEO intensify.
He stood his ground, not expecting to be the third wheel again the next night.
Noe left once Aaron had signaled him to after Nora had finished the treatment.
Since Nora's car wasn't there the next morning, Noe drove the children to school.
"Mr. Gordon, will you pick us up today?" Samantha blinked her big eyes at Aaron before leaving.
Before Aaron could reply, Nora chimed in, "Samantha, Mr. Gordon's still on the mend. He can't walk yet."
"Okay."
Aaron cut in, agreeing to come.
Nora was taken aback and shot him a glare. "Thomas, can you stop spoiling her?"
She knew he would leave once he recovered.
This would only make her daughter more upset when he left.
"Girls need to be spoiled," Aaron disagreed nonchalantly.
Samantha was overjoyed and kissed Aaron on the cheek.
"I love Mr. Gordon the most! Bye, Mr. Gordon, don't forget to pick us up!"
"Sure."
Aaron was happy, completely ignoring Nora's disapproving look.
Noe watched the scene, feeling like he was witnessing a warm family moment – with a tender-hearted dad and a strict mom.
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