I Was His Wife, Then His Widow, Then No One's But My Own novel Chapter 373

Nora watched Xander's effortless, natural gesture, the corners of her lips curving up involuntarily. "Let's pick up Bonnie first. She should be getting out of school soon."

Xander nodded and opened the car door for her. "Get in."

Nora slid into the passenger seat, and the car merged into the traffic heading toward The Willow Academy.

Sitting beside him, she stared at the scenery blurring past the window, feeling a strange sense of surrealism. Xander had literally just landed. He hadn't even gone home to rest before coming straight to the institute to get her. A completely foreign flutter stirred in her chest.

School had just let out by the time they arrived. A throng of parents crowded the entrance as Bonnie dashed out, her little backpack bouncing against her shoulders.

The moment she bolted out the gates, she spotted Xander's eye-catching car. She sprinted straight toward them and threw herself into Xander's arms. "Daddy! You're back! I missed you so much!"

Xander scooped Bonnie up, the exhaustion radiating off him seemingly melting away at the sound of her bright laughter. He ruffled her hair. "I missed you too. Let's go get some food."

Bonnie rubbed her little stomach. "Yay! I'm starving."

Holding onto both Nora and Xander's hands, Bonnie practically skipped to the car. Xander had already secured a reservation at a highly-rated upscale restaurant.

Once they were seated, Bonnie swung her legs happily beside Nora, her little voice chattering endlessly as she recounted every funny thing that happened at school that day.

Listening to her, Nora couldn't help but laugh, affectionately pinching the little girl's cheek. She was absolutely adorable.

Xander gently interrupted their bonding. "Have a look and see what you want to eat."

Nora smiled warmly. "Let Bonnie pick. I'm good with whatever."

Bonnie ordered a few dishes before pushing the menu toward Nora. "You order too! Daddy's paying today, so we have to eat a ton!"

Xander watched her accept the gift. Seeing the quiet vulnerability and joy in her expression made his Adam's apple bob slightly. He eventually tore his gaze away, focusing intently on the glass in front of him.

At that exact moment, Finnegan and Seraphina, along with Cassie, were sitting at a table not too far away. They had been watching the scene unfold for quite some time.

When Finnegan first walked in, he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. He actually saw Nora and Xander sitting together in such effortless intimacy. The distance was too far to hear their conversation, but the visual alone was maddening.

Even if Nora was trying to make him jealous, she wouldn't go to such extreme lengths to make it look this authentic.

He wanted nothing more than to storm over there and demand to know what the hell she was playing at.

Seraphina gripped his arm with a desperate strength. "Finn, you need to calm down! What good is making a scene going to do right now!"