Chapter 7
Cora sat in the passenger seat with her eyes half-closed, trying to ignore the cozy atmosphere in the car. In the back, Louise and Axel sat on either side of Nolan.
Ever since Cora had seen the details of Axel’s background, she knew the Jaegers’ influence in Stawford City was overwhelming. Without leveraging her own family’s power, the local police could never hold Louise.
Louise took out a water bottle and gently fed Nolan. “It’s time for some water, sweetheart.”
Nolan gulped it down noisily. “Your apple cranberry juice is the best, Lulu!”
“We owe a huge thanks to you for Nolan’s diet all these years,” Axel said, pinching Nolan’s chubby, fair cheeks.
Blushing, Louise lowered her head and mumbled, “It’s just my job.”
“All the other kids are so jealous that I have you, Lulu. It’d be great if you could be my mommy. “Nolan giggled, snuggling intimately against Louise.
As the scenery outside blurred past, Cora clenched her fists tight and forced herself to breathe.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Ms. Spade!” Louise exclaimed, feigning panic. “I’d never taught him to say such things. It’s just a child speaking nonsense, so please don’t take it to heart.”
It sounded almost like she was Nolan’s rightful mom.
Cora dropped her gaze and stayed silent. She’d soon be gone from this place, anyway.
From the mirror, Axel glanced at her and said, “He’s only had you by his side all these years, so it’s natural he feels this way. Isn’t that right, Cora?”
His smile in the mirror was almost taunting as he locked his eyes on her.
“Yeah, you’re right,” she said, fighting back the nausea and forcing a weak smile. Her unexpected compliance only soured his mood, and his expression darkened.
Sensing the shift in the atmosphere, Louise fell quiet.
The rest of the ride was in silence. Right after they pulled to a stop at the airport, the driver noticed Cora’s pale complexion and was startled. “Are you alright, Mrs. Jaeger? Why do you look so unwell?”
She could barely answer as she fumbled to open the door and doubled over a tree pit, retching.
Frowning, Axel handed her a bottle of water. “Maybe you shouldn’t go if you’re unwell.”
Pale-faced, she shook her head. “It’s just motion sickness.”
Chapter?
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Only now did Axel remember she’d been suffering from severe motion sickness since they met. It would only ease if she lay flat in the back seat.
Clearing his throat to mask his guilt, he reached out to hold her arm, but she subtly pulled away, fighting to hide her disgust.
In the rearview mirror back in the car, she’d seen that the same hand grasp Louise’s, their fingers brushing in a secret, disgusting game.
Unaware, Axel tried to help Cora again when Louise called out from the car, “Mr. Jaeger, it’s time for Nolan’s nap.”
Axel looked at the suitcases by the side of the road and hesitantly said, “Your bags…”
“Ms. Spade.” A man’s clear voice cut in.
It was Aaron. He stepped forward and handed Cora a folder. “We agreed to leave together, didn’t we? This is your medical report and some prescriptions.”
At nearly six-foot-three, with sharp facial features and a tall build, he stood out among the crowd and drew glances from passing strangers.
“Who are you?” Axel rudely snapped.
Aaron barely flicked him a glance. Ignoring the question, he focused entirely on Cora and offered, “Let me get your bags.”
“There’s no need…”
Hearing that, Aaron smiled. “I’m your attending physician, so I should be responsible for you.
His last clear and firm words brushed subtly across her heart.
Axel’s expression darkened, but he held back in public.
To him, it didn’t matter how hard Aaron, a loser, tried. Cora was about to board a flight to Auchendale to suffer and prove her loyalty, so Axel was confident that she could never escape his grasp.
So, he politely said, “Thank you for your help.”
Aaron walked past him with Cora’s suitcase, not bothering to give him a single glance,
Watching Cora disappear into the terminal, ready to board her flight to Auchendale, Axel was flooded with smug satisfaction.
He returned to the car, pulled Louise close, and nuzzled Nolan’s cheek affectionately. “Let’s go, sweetheart. I’ll take you and Lulu out for a fancy meal to celebrate!”
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But to him, Louise could never belong in the spotlight, no matter how well she played her part. When Cora returned, he’d neatly cast Louise off, and the three of them-him, Cora, and Nolan -would live as a proper family.
Lost in his plans, Axel strode back to the car without a backward glance, never noticing Cora’s turn one last time.
Her eyes fixed on Nolan’s small head nestled in Louise’s arms in the back seat. He cheered at
Axel’s promise of a fancy meal and showed no reluctance at her departure.
She closed her eyes, and a relieved smile spread across her lips as she turned to walk away.
