Chapter 9 Who was the man that night?
Becky shook off her fear and sprinted toward the car.
In the process, she lost a shoe, her dress got torn, and her underwear was exposed; Becky was a mess.
Lucas opened the car door for her, and she finally climbed in.
"Come back!"
Billy whistled again.
The four delighted dogs cheerfully made their way back to the fence, wagging their tails at the few people inside.
The three kids were patting the dogs, beaming with wide smiles.
And there was Nora, wearing a subtle grin.
Look at that, she didn't even have to lift a finger ; her little treasures had already taught the scumbag and his cheap tart a lesson on her behalf.
Inside the car, Becky glared at Nora, seething with rage.
"Lucas, are we seriously just taking off like this?"
Lucas took a deep breath, trying to calm the chaos within him.
"What else can we do? You want to go kneel and apologize to Nora?"
Was this really the Nora he knew?
The once gentle and compliant Nora was nowhere to be seen.
Now, she was like a thorny rose—untouchable and intimidating!
"Apologize to Nora? In your dreams!" Becky spat venomously. As she watched Nora walk back inside with the kids, Becky rolled down the window.
"Nora, you ingrate! Four years away, did you ever think of grandma? After all she did for you, you're just a backstabbing traitor!"
Hearing this, Nora paused in her tracks, turning to look back at her.
"Tell grandma I'll visit her tomorrow."
It wasn't just a visit back home. She had plans to not only see grandma but to also face the Smith family!
"Alright, we'll be waiting at home for you. You better show up!"
The moment Becky rolled up her car window, a glint of fierceness passed through her eyes.
Lucas watched Nora's slender figure retreat.
"Becky, who did Nora really spend that night with?"
For some inexplicable reason, he felt a twinge of jealousy.
He had dated Nora for many years; how come he never got to sleep with her?
Some other guy just got lucky!
"It was either Mr. Lee or Mr. Hall, I can't quite remember," Becky replied indifferently.
From the start, Becky had plotted against Nora to ruin her chances, all to further her own agenda.
So, after the party had ended, Becky had someone summon a random man to enter Nora's room.
After Becky arranged for someone to enter Nora's room, it was unclear which man had actually ended up in her bed.
"Did you set that up?"
Lucas started the car, a trace of displeasure flickered in his eyes.
Becky glanced at him, playing the victim, “Wasn't it all for you? If it wasn't for my love for you, would I have endured being called a mistress for four long years?”
Her entire scheme, her heart's endeavor, was driven by the desire to replace Nora, to marry into wealth and live the high society life.
Though she’d lived comfortably these four years, lacking the title, she was the target of scorn.
It nearly drove her insane!
Lucas responded with a detached acknowledgment, his mind elsewhere.
If he had known Nora would become this stunning, he never would have fallen for Becky's charms.
Back at the Courtyard House.
Nora entered the home with her three little ones in tow and was suddenly struck by a question.
"Did you guys know who they were all along?"
Otherwise, they wouldn't have been so quick to call them 'old witch' and 'big villain.'
"Mommy, my brother told us about them," said Billy.
Nora looked at Alex to see him puffing out his little chest proudly.
A wave of warmth washed over Nora, and she couldn't help but smile as she lovingly ruffled their hair.
With three little conspirators at home, she really didn't have any privacy left.
Aaron had witnessed the entire scene and could hardly contain his applause.
"Sir, we chased away the bad guys who were mean to Mommy!"
Samantha clung to Aaron as soon as she entered, speaking in her sweet, childlike voice.
Aaron raised his eyebrows, feigning ignorance, "Oh? And who might they be?"
"He's a big meanie who abandoned Mommy, and she's a wicked aunt who stole Mommy's husband," Samantha huffed with indignation.
"Samantha, you can't talk about these things with strangers," Alex chided, furrowing his brow in a big-brotherly fashion.
"But he isn't a stranger, he lives with us—he's part of the family," Samantha reasoned, tilting her head in thought. "Plus, he already overheard our conversation just now!"
Alex choked back a reply, casting a glance at Aaron, who seemed quite amused by their exchange and chose to remain silent.
"Samantha, stop sassing your big brother. No swooning over a handsome man," Billy chimed in, coming to Alex's defense.
"I am not! You and Alex are always picking on me," Samantha protested, pouting adorably.
Noticing the siblings on the verge of a quarrel, Nora laughed and intervened, "Alright, you boys better not tease your sister. Go on and play with her."
Obediently, Alex and Billy reached out to take their sister with them.
Samantha snorted haughtily and turned away, looking to Aaron. "I don't want to play with you two, Mr. Thomas when will you be able to stand up and play with me?"
Aaron was naturally aloof and didn't usually enjoy interacting with little ones.
But now, he found this girl quite endearing.
Especially this little one—her speech was soft and sweet, and she smelled delightful. Her laughter was like a little burst of sunshine.
"I'd love to stand up and play right away. I guess it's up to your Mommy's capabilities," he teased.
Samantha blinked and cocked her head, " Mr. Thomas, my Mommy is amazing! She's saved lots of nearly dying animals. You're one of a long list she's saved—"
Counting on her fingers, she soon lost track and frowned in confusion, staring at her digits, utterly adorable.
Aaron couldn't help but laugh and reached out to gently tousle her hair.
"Silly girl, stop embarrassing yourself," Billy said with mock disgust, pulling her away. "Let's go, no more counting; with your smarts, you'll never get it."
Samantha wrenched her hand away, hands on her hips in annoyance. "You're making fun of me again! I'm only four; it's normal not to count perfectly. You two are the weird ones!"
With that, she turned to Aaron for support. "Mr. Thomas, isn’t that right?"
Aaron glanced at the two identical little ones and nodded in agreement, "You're absolutely correct."
Their intelligence far exceeded their peers by miles; they were indeed the odd ones out!
"I like him," Samantha beamed.
Samantha's wide eyes glistened with wholehearted support.
She pondered for a moment and then asked, " Mr. Thomas, are you going to be like that little kitten Mommy saved? The one that ran away and never came back after getting better?"
She had adored that little tabby, but as soon as it had healed, it vanished without a trace.
It had made her sad for quite a while.
Confronted with the little one's hopeful gaze, Aaron felt a soft spot grow deep inside his heart.
"No, not at all."
Sure, he'd leave once he was better, but he'd surely come back to see them.
"Yay! Mommy, please make him better fast."
Samantha tugged at Nora's hand, her voice coated with charm.
Nora hadn't expected her daughter to grow so fond of Aaron.
She stroked her daughter's head, "Understood, sweetie."
Girls were more sensitive than boys after all.
Her daughter was probably yearning for a father's love.
She felt a tinge of guilt.
"Come on, silly sis."
Billy reached out to pull Samantha again.
Samantha huffed prettily, "I'm not talking to you anymore. From now on, I'm only going to be good to Mr. Thomas.”
"What a silly little thing," he teased.
"Mean Billy!"
"Call me big brother!"
"No way!"
Their playful bickering faded as the three kids scampered off to play in Backyard Lane.
Amidst the familiar ruckus, Nora's heart felt tender.
Aaron caught the softness in her eyes and asked, "Was that your ex-husband and your sister just now?"
"Sort of."
Nora snapped back to reality and brushed off the question.
An ex-husband she hadn't divorced yet, and a sister she no longer recognized as such.
"Are the kids his?" he inquired.
"No."
Not wanting to delve any further into that subject, Nora wheeled Aaron into the room, helped him onto the bed, and propped a couple of pillows behind him.
"Time for your medicine. Rest after you take it."
Not that bitter herbal concoction again!
Aaron's brow furrowed, "Isn't there any Western medicine?"
"Nope."
Nora shot back curtly and went to fetch a bowl of the herbal remedy from the kitchen.
Aaron's lips tightened, revealing his reluctance.
He really didn’t want to take that medicine!
Nora couldn’t help but laugh as she blew on the steaming bowl, "Are you seriously afraid of taking medicine? You’re a grown man but acting less brave than a toddler."
Mocking him again!
Irritated, Aaron shot back, "Are you telling me you're not afraid of anything?"
"Not a thing."
Nora replied casually as she passed him the bowl.
Aaron took it and gulped it down with his eyes shut.
The taste of bitterness flooded his mouth, and he took a deep breath. As he faced Nora's teasing grin, his eyes suddenly darted to a corner.
"Look! A mouse!"
"Ah!"
Nora shouted, leaping onto Aaron and clutching him tightly.
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