Tasting Nora-Pleasing Her Stepbrother Mates novel Chapter 164

164–The Defiant Mate 

Nora: 

I sat in my room, nervously biting my nails and staring at the wall in front of me. I wasn’t particularly interested in the wall, but in the words of Lord Atwood that had upset me. I felt so irritated about the whole ball situation. But then, a part of me felt mischievous, wondering how my mates would react to seeing me go to the ball with Brody. They should understand that none of them had been brave enough to accept me and tell their father that we were friends. 

“But would you have done the same?” Akira asked. I knew what she was hinting at. The words of my mother have been engraved in the mind and heart of Lord Atwood. He believed he was supposed to take care of me or else he would be in eternal pain. 

“Don’t forget about the promise Lord Atwood made to your mother,” she teased, and I rolled my eyes. 

“I don’t understand why dying people make such promises and deals,” I sighed, realizing it was out of our hands now. Lord Atwood was convinced that if he didn’t uphold his end of the deal, he would face severe punishment. 

“And what did Lord Atwood get from her in return for this deal?” Akira was on the spot. He never actually told us about that. 

“It doesn’t matter. It is his matter. My mates–they are my problem and they are big problems,” I scoffed. 

“Then let’s not badmouth our mates because we also found ourselves 

agreeing to date Brody,” she snapped at me, and I relaxed a bit in my 

seat. My body felt drained of energy. 

A sigh escaped my lips as I stared into space, wondering what would happen at the ball. 

“Let’s pick out a gown!” she cheered, almost as if she had forgotten we were going with our boyfriend, whom we didn’t even agree to date because of our feelings but to clear our name. 

“Not right now, Akira. I’m so torn. Ryker didn’t ask me how I was feeling. The way he left the room after finding out I was dating Brody made me lose hope in him,” I grunted, shrugging my shoulders. 

“And Cain is such a mystery,” I mumbled, until I remembered I needed to find out what he had done to my painting. Lord Atwood couldn’t find my painting in his studio–did that mean he had sold it? It annoyed and worried me. 

I grabbed a brown sweater and threw it on, rushing out of the room. The evening felt unusually lonely. Lord Atwood and Nash had left the house for some work. Ryker hadn’t returned, and the maids were off duty. 

As I turned the corner, I accidentally bumped into someone, knocking them to the floor. 

“Oh my Goddess! I’m so sorry,” I apologized, feeling guilty for hurting her, and quickly extended my hand to help her up. 

She stared at my hand in silence, unmoving. 

“Um, hello?” I worriedly hunched over, but strong hands suddenly gripped my waist from behind, lifting me effortlessly like a doll. Silas placed me to the side so he could see clearly. 

I froze for a moment. The way he carried me without a word left me 

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wondering. Then, I watched as he reached out his hand to help the lady up. 

“You should go home now,” he spoke softly to her, giving me a slight reason to frown. 

She was probably in her early twenties, with jet–black hair and brown eyes. She nodded obediently and walked downstairs, leaving just the two of us behind. 

“Is that your girlfriend?” I queried in confusion and curiosity. I had never seen him bring a woman home, so she had to be his girlfriend. He studied my face wearily, hands on his waist. 

“Not everyone who comes into this home is someone’s love interest,” he remarked, still guarding her identity. 

“But then who is she, and why was she on the third floor?” I persisted, not letting him walk away until he told me who this stranger was. 

He continued to stare at me, his eyes narrowing, as if weighing whether to answer. Finally, he relented. 

“She’s my patient. Since I have to stay home, I decided to see her here. Any more questions?” he raised his brow, and I shook my head slowly. 

Saying nothing more, he turned around and marched upstairs again. If he said she was his patient, then she must be. She did appear a bit unwell.