Chapter 579 The Sister’s Return
Finished
Nathaniel smoothed over the tension with easy politeness, then shot Matteo a look, signaling him to fetch tea. Eliza and Nolan didn’t bother with ceremony; they seated themselves on the sofa as though they owned the place.
“Mr. Nathaniel, there’s no need to be nervous,” Eliza said calmly. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen my sister. I’ve missed her. I came tonight just to see Naomi. Why hasn’t she come out yet?”
At that, Nathaniel’s expression relaxed. “So it’s only that. If you’d let me know in advance, I’d have had her sent over. No need for Ms. Rivers and Mr. Hayes to come in person.”
He glanced toward Nolan’s men stationed outside. For a moment, he had feared Nolan was here to settle some old grudge. But if this was only about seeing Naomi, then the show of force was unnecessary.
Turning to Matteo, who had just entered with the tea, Nathaniel said, “Go and bring Naomi down. Let her see Ms. Rivers.”
“Yes, Father.”
Matteo inclined his head and went upstairs.
Moments later, Naomi appeared at the top of the stairs. Her belly, rounded with four months of pregnancy, was impossible to miss. Eliza’s gaze lingered on her stomach, then lifted to her face –but Naomi didn’t even glance back. She crossed the room and quietly settled beside Nathaniel.
Something about her was off. Eliza couldn’t put her finger on it, but the unease pressed at her chest.
“Greet your sister,” Nathaniel urged. “She came tonight just to see you.”
Naomi gave a soft smile. “Thank you for coming all this
for coming all this way to see me.”
The voice was the same, yet something rang false. Eliza’s memories of Naomi were filled with bitterness, with fire. That Naomi would never have spoken so gently.
“You look about four months along,” Eliza said, her tone deliberate. “How have you been feeling? Any discomfort? And why isn’t Mother here taking care of you?”
She waited, watching closely.
Naomi didn’t flinch. Her answer came smoothly, as if rehearsed. “I’m not sure what happened. I haven’t been able to reach her these past few days. But she can’t have gone far. I’m sure she’ll be
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Chapter 579 The Sister’s Return
back soon.”
“Oh… is that so?”
Finished
Eliza studied her face. Not a flicker of guilt. Naomi hadn’t even tried to explain away Evelyn’s disappearance.
“I actually came tonight to bring you news,” Eliza continued. “At first I thought the police had made a mistake. But it seems it’s true. Something’s happened to Mother.”
For the briefest moment, surprise flickered across Naomi’s features, but it looked staged. Her expression was almost too perfect–wide–eyed, innocent. “Something’s happened to Mother? What do you mean? How could I not know?”
The performance was convincing. Yet to Eliza, it felt hollow. There was nothing of Naomi’s old temper, none of the sharp defiance she remembered.
Nathaniel stepped in smoothly. “Ms. Rivers, may we speak privately?”
“Of course.”
At his glance, Matteo guided Naomi upstairs again.
Only once the door shut did Nathaniel lower his voice. “I already know about Naomi’s mother. I deliberately kept it from her. She’s carrying a child. You understand, don’t you? If she were to hear her mother had died, the shock might harm the baby. I couldn’t risk it.”
Eliza’s eyes narrowed. “Strange. I heard my sister hadn’t even been home for several days.”
Nathaniel waved it off. “Nonsense. She simply wanted to take care of herself. Girls are like that. She went for some treatments, nothing more.”
He seemed utterly convinced. To him, nothing about Naomi was different. In fact, he seemed almost pleased with her change.
The old Naomi would rage if he so much as glanced at another woman. This Naomi was docile, obedient, ready to play the role of a dutiful wife.
Nathaniel actually believed she was better this way.
“So you’re saying she left only for cosmetic treatments?” Eliza pressed.
“Of course.” Nathaniel’s tone was firm. “Her face was ruined. She’s been searching for anyone who could help repair it. At last, through the Foster family’s eldest daughter, she found a channel. She’s had a few sessions already. You must admit, the scars are lighter now. A few more, and she’ll be completely restored.”
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