The Divorce That Brought Us Back novel Chapter 314

Nora thought for a moment.

"Why are you suddenly acting like this?" she asked softly. "Is it because of the flowers? Because you think I lied, so you're punishing me, purposely ignoring me, and finding ways to bully me?"

"But I didn't lie. Someone really sent flowers to my studio, and I have no idea who it was."

"I texted you because... I had other things going on and didn't process it right away. My first thought was that you sent them. I only accept flowers from you, is that so wrong? I wasn't overthinking it like you are."

Nora muttered on and on.

Maloney gently stroked her cheek. She had just been crying, the corners of her eyes still tinged with pink. Her voice was soft, yet laced with urgency.

People tended to talk a lot when they were making excuses.

"It's not about the flowers," Maloney said. "I've always wanted to do this."

Nora paused. "What do you mean?"

"Exactly what it sounds like."

She looked at him in confusion.

Something about him felt off.

It had completely derailed her own plans.

She had almost forgotten the advice Cassidy had given her at the hospital.

Seduce, demand, discard.

Right.

Now was the perfect time to seduce him.

Nora shifted, nestling closer into Maloney's embrace. "My lower back aches."

She intentionally brushed the top of her head against his jaw.

"Want me to massage it?"

"Mhm."

Maloney lifted her onto the bed.

Lying on her stomach against the pillows, Nora felt his fingertips press into the muscles along her spine, slowly working their way up.

She let out a soft sigh.

"Maloney, where did you go today?" Nora suddenly struck. "Your clothes smell like fruit."

"Fruit?"

"Yeah. Fresh grass, earth, cedar, and apple," she pressed. "Where did you pick up that scent?"

He fell silent for a moment before answering, "That's the scent of the diffuser in the walk-in closet."

Nora was speechless.

They shared the same closet.

He usually dressed formally, keeping his suits and shirts near the door. The diffuser, filled with a fragrance she loved, sat in the center of the room, usually only imparting a faint scent.

But the trench coat he wore today was a piece he rarely touched. He had pulled it from the very back of the wardrobe, where the fragrance was much stronger.

Maloney's hands reached the small of her back. Leaning close to her ear, he lowered his voice. "Are you doubting me, Nora?"

She let out a muffled gasp, instinctively trying to pull away. As he gripped her waist, preparing to drag her back into his arms, she abruptly rolled over, grabbing his arm. "Yes."

Her tone carried a hint of reckless defiance. "I am doubting you."

Maloney froze.

Immediately after, her bravado crumbled as she asked weakly, "Is that not allowed?"

His lips twitched as if he wanted to say something, but Nora suddenly asked, "Did you even open the gift I gave you yesterday?"

"There was something inside that tote bag."

"Did you look at it? If not, give it back."

He didn't answer whether he had looked or not. Instead, he said deeply, "A gift given is a gift kept. You can't take it back."

Thanking him for helping her.

The later the date, the more the letters read like love confessions.

Not long ago, Nora had told him that she had harbored feelings for him for a very, very long time.

At the time, he hadn't believed her.

He thought the little liar was just sweet-talking him.

But later, he faintly felt there might be some truth to her words.

He simply hadn't dwelled on it.

She had fallen for him long before he had fallen for her.

Which meant...

The elaborate plan he had designed to trap her, the web he thought he was expertly pulling her into...

Had actually been her willingly walking right into his arms.

She had relished every second of it.

He had folded her life into a paper boat, setting it adrift on a river of romance. He had meticulously guided its course, shielding it from storms, completely unaware that even if he had let her sail freely, she would have always navigated her way straight to him.

That was the real reason he had hesitated to open the bag.

The next day.

The morning air was crisp and clear after the torrential rain.

Nora rushed to the hospital bright and early to visit Cassidy.

She needed a refresher course on the tactics she had learned yesterday.

But as soon as she walked into the room, she found Parker already there.

He must have really been subjected to three grueling days of punishment; Parker looked incredibly haggard.