I Was His Wife, Then His Widow, Then No One's But My Own novel Chapter 408

"Nora, thank you. Thank you for being willing to start this new life with me."

...

The following day, just as Nora finished her breakfast, a knock sounded at the door. Zelda, Xavier, and Felix walked into the room.

The moment Nora saw them, she practically scrambled to sit up. "Professor Vance, Zelda, Felix, what are you all doing here?"

Zelda quickly rushed forward, gently pressing down on Nora's uninjured shoulder. "Lie down, don't move! You silly girl, you went through something this horrific and didn't even tell us? If Mr. Harrison hadn't called, we would still be completely in the dark!"

Zelda's eyes were rimmed red with unshed tears as she looked at Nora in distress. "Your shoulder... what did the doctor say? Is there going to be permanent damage?"

Nora offered a reassuring smile. "Zelda, please don't worry. The surgery was a complete success. I just need time to recover. It won't affect my work at all."

Zelda glared at her affectionately. "Work, work, work. That's all you ever care about! I brought you some iron-rich supplements. Just look at you, your face is completely drained of color."

Xavier sat in a nearby chair, his scowl deep enough to crush a rock. "Stop nagging her. The most important thing is that she's alive."

A warm sensation flooded Nora's heart. She knew Xavier was terrible with words. The deeper he cared, the less he spoke. He kept brushing it off, saying 'the important thing is she's alive,' but Nora could clearly see the raw, frantic worry practically radiating off him.

"I'm really okay," she told them softly. "I'm sorry for scaring you both."

Xavier spoke with a heavy, profound tone. "I'm going to tell you the absolute truth, and you better sear it into your brain. This girl has had a brutal life. Her last marriage dragged her through hell, and she fought tooth and nail as a single mother to get to where she is today. She didn't rely on fate or luck; she survived purely on her own grit. She owes absolutely nothing to anyone in this world, but the universe owes her entirely too much."

Hearing her mentor say those words, Nora's eyes immediately brimmed over. "Professor... I really am okay."

Xavier shot her a stern look. "I wasn't talking to you."

He turned his fierce gaze back to Xander. "She has chosen you, and we respect her choice. But let me make one thing crystal clear right now: if you ever treat her poorly, even if it breaks my old bones, I will fight to the death to bring her back home."

Zelda looked up as well. Her usually gentle face hardened with absolute resolve as she looked at Nora. "Everything he just said goes for me, too. Nora, you remember this: no matter what happens, our home will always be your home."