Reborn to Dodge the Bad Marriage novel Chapter 99

Chapter 99 A Year From Now

Hwas explaining himself to her.

Finished

Food had tasted like nothing to him for ten years, and even with Nora’s needles the only thing that had come back so far was bitterness.

Tasting anything for the first time in a decade, he had eaten more than he meant to.

Nora looked at his clean bowl. “You could taste it? Your sense of taste is back?”

Julian nodded. “It is.”

Constance couldn’t wait to weigh in. “Nora, we have Olivia to thank for this. Her work is remarkable.

“Look at him. She started the new course last night and this morning he can taste his food. There’s hope for him now.”

The joy of it had put more color in Constance’s face than she’d had the day before.

“Congratulations.” Nora raised her brows, unmoved.

That explained why they were all sitting there so cheerful at that hour, since Julian’s treatment had taken a real leap forward.

Julian stood. “I’m finished. Take your time, Nora. I can’t drive you in today. I have an international call at the office.”

Until then, he had driven her to work every morning.

Nora kept her voice even. “Fine.”

“Jules, wait.” Olivia was on her feet in a hurry. “I made you lunch. Let me get it.”

She hurried off toward the kitchen.

Julian tried to wave it off. “Don’t bother. There’s a restaurant at the office.”

Olivia came running back to the front door with an insulated lunch bag. “It isn’t the same. I made this myself.”

By then, the two of them were out of the living room.

Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, Nora could see them talking beside the car.

Julian was buttoning his suit jacket while Olivia waited beside him, patient and attentive.

Once he had it fastened, he smiled and took the lunch bag out of her hands.

Olivia went up on her toes and reached out to straighten his tie.

Julian reacted fast, taking two steps back and putting himself out of her reach.

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15:33 Thu, Oct 1.

Chapter 99 A Year From Now

Finished

The polite warmth went out of his face, and he glanced sharply toward the house and straight into Nora’s cool gaze.

She smiled at him and went back to her breakfast.

Julian frowned, checked his watch, and got into the car. “Let’s go.”

His meeting was about to start.

Back at the table, Constance had watched every second of it.

She turned to Nora. “Olivia came back very early. She went straight into the kitchen and started that broth for him.”

Nora kept her tone flat. “She’s certainly eager. In that early, straight to the stove. She works harder than the staff.

“You should pay her double, Grandma. One salary as the doctor and one as the help.”

Olivia walked back in on the end of that and had herself under control again. “You don’t have to talk about me like that, Nora. Jules and I grew up together and now I’m his doctor. Anything to do with his health is my job, and that’s all this is.”

The message was that she and Julian went back further than anyone, further than a wife whose claim was only legal.

Nora smiled mildly. “It is your responsibility, since you’re being paid for it. Do it well and I’ll add a tip. What he does is his business. This is mine.”

The word tip made Olivia sound like hired help, and the kind who got paid to keep men company.

Some of the color left Olivia’s face, and the smile on it went stiff.

“Grandma, I’ll go back to my room. I have to write up his treatment plan and the report.”

Constance softened at once. “Go on. Tell Bess if you need anything at all.”

Olivia went upstairs.

Nora went on eating her breakfast.

Constance studied her for a long moment. Nora looked perfectly calm and still had her appetite.

“Nora.” Her voice came out low.

Nora looked up. “What is it, Grandma?”

“Olivia can really cure him. Stop treating her like the help. It’s an ugly thing to say, and she’s only let it go because she’s gracious.

“If her grandmother hears about it, she’ll be furious, and she’ll pull Olivia straight out of this house.”

Nora’s appetite went out all at once, and she put down her fork. “All right.”

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15:33 Thu, Oct 1.

Chapter 99 A Year From Now

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