After dinner, Nora and Payne curled up on the couch, flipping through an old photo album.
Most of the pictures were of her and Aurora.
Grandma Grace and Susan only appeared in the background every now and then.
“Who’s this lady? And this one? What about her?” Payne asked, pointing at the faded faces.
He still remembered which relatives his dad had made him greet formally in the past.
“She looks like you. She even looks a little like me,” he said, studying the resemblance.
“That’s my older sister,” Nora replied softly.
She wanted so badly to tell Payne the whole truth, but she was afraid he wouldn’t understand. His surgery was coming up, and Nora couldn’t risk upsetting him.
Payne nodded, only half-comprehending.
Suddenly, Louis reached over and took the album from Payne’s lap. He began flipping through it himself, lingering on the photos, his gaze full of bittersweet longing.
Feeling a little stifled, Nora slipped out to the balcony.
The night air was gentle, and the heaviness in her chest began to fade. As she looked out into the darkness, her eyes caught a tall figure standing under the streetlight.
Their eyes met.
Nora’s brows knit together. What was he doing here?
Daniel took a step forward, lips parting as if to call out to her.
But before he could speak, Nora had already turned away and gone back inside.
The word “Aurora” caught in his throat, stuck and bitter.
When Nora re-entered the living room, Louis glanced at her. “Something wrong?”
She glanced back at the balcony and didn’t bother to hide the truth. “Daniel’s outside.”
Louis raised an eyebrow. That was quick.
A knock sounded at the door.
Nora knew it was Daniel.
She opened the door, her expression cool and distant. “Why are you here?”
“I’m here to take you home,” Daniel replied.
Payne came bounding over, full of excitement. “Mr. Chambers!” he shouted, throwing himself into Daniel’s arms.
Daniel picked him up, his usually cold eyes softening.
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