Trash Husband, I'm the Top novel Chapter 402

Noah shrank behind Eleanor, seeking the safety of her shadow.

“Sorry about that. He’s just a bit shy,” Eleanor offered apologetically as she handed Noah off to a waiting maid.

Nora straightened, finally meeting Eleanor’s gaze properly for the first time. “It’s been a while, Eleanor.”

The greeting was almost offhand, but Eleanor’s expression flickered, betraying a momentary discomfort. She hadn’t forgotten what Nora had once told her: that she’d take everything from her. Still, Eleanor quickly composed herself.

“Yes, it has,” she replied coolly.

Shirley called for dinner to be served.

They had only just taken their seats when Mr. Hogan Chambers arrived, arms loaded with gifts—most of them for the children. As he scanned the room, his face fell when he realized the one person he most wanted to see was missing.

“Where’s Betty?” he asked.

Nora pressed her lips together. “Betty will be back the day after tomorrow.”

Disappointment washed over Mr. Chambers. He’d only seen Betty once, right after she was born; ever since, Daniel had kept him away, saying his visits would disrupt Nora’s peace. He’d been patient all this time, but the wait was wearing on him.

Left with nothing to say, Mr. Chambers slid a box across the table toward Nora. “Whether or not you accept me as your grandfather, your child carries Chambers blood. This is her birthright.”

Nora didn’t want to accept it. As far as she was concerned, she had cut all ties with the Chambers family. So what if her child bore their name? Betty was hers alone.

Mrs. Cooper, elderly and dignified, nodded to Shirley to take the box and open it. Inside was an exquisite necklace, its dazzling stones worth a fortune.

Mrs. Cooper nodded her thanks. “Thank you.”

She accepted the gift on Betty’s behalf.

That seemed to lift Mr. Chambers’ spirits, and after enjoying a hearty meal, he finally took his leave.

“Betty needs a father. You have two choices: either you remarry and give her a new father, or you acknowledge Daniel and let him be part of her life.”

Nora recoiled from both options. She was certain she could take care of Betty herself.

But then she remembered—Betty had asked about her father before. Nora had told her he had passed away. She’d never mentioned that to her grandmother.

Seeing Nora’s troubled face, Mrs. Cooper tried to reassure her. “You don’t have to feel burdened. Just keep things civil with Daniel. Children sometimes just want to know they have a father.”

“A mother and father are both irreplaceable in a child’s eyes. It’s better to be honest from the start than to deny her that sense of belonging.”

The pressure was too much. Nora couldn’t hold it in any longer.

“I’ve already told Betty her father died a long time ago,” she confessed.