Tasting Nora-Pleasing Her Stepbrother Mates novel Chapter 191

191–Silas‘ Patient 

Nora: 

I had been feeling much better but couldn’t bring myself to leave my bedroom to join Lord Atwood and the others for meals. Nash would bring me breakfast, Silas handled lunch, and Mia brought me dinner, but beyond that, I kept to myself. I sensed that Lord Atwood was starting to regret his decision to exclude me. 

I couldn’t help but wonder if he was angry with me. Normally, he would come to eat with me, but it had been three days without a visit. He hadn’t even inquired about why I wasn’t attending school. 

Summoning all my courage, I decided to go and see Lord Atwood. As I ventured out of my room, I noticed Cain’s studio door was open, and I instinctively drew closer. I didn’t intend to peek inside, but it was evident who was there. 

Natalya was wandering around the studio, engaging in awkward conversation with him. 

“And then the teachers said I did an amazing job on the test,” she cheerfully recounted her grades. She was a bright student, so it wasn’t surprising. 

Lately, though, she had been garnering attention from boys, likely due to her association with April and her choice of attire, which left little to the imagination. 

“That’s good,” he replied. I detected a hint of dryness in his voice, though I may have been overanalyzing. 

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He seemed engrossed in his work, but she wouldn’t stop talking. Couldn’t she take a hint that he needed space? 

“And then–,” she continued, reaching for a painting to touch it, and I heard Cain groan. 

“Don’t touch it, it’s still wet,” he sounded exhausted, understandably so. She was intruding on his privacy so much. 

But why did I care? I shouldn’t. 

I stomped my foot and hurriedly made my way downstairs to find Lord. Atwood. Luckily, I found him in his study in the basement. 

“May I come in?” I asked, watching as he slowly lifted his head and smiled at me. 

“You don’t have to ask,” his tone was peculiar, not angry or upset. 

I entered and took a seat across the table. 

“Tell me, how are you?” he inquired politely. 

“I’ve been fine. But you never came to check on me,” I complained, feigning a pout. 

“I wanted to, but then I thought you wouldn’t want to see my face after I failed to protect you,” the sadness in his voice and his choice of words finally made me realize that his absence wasn’t due to anger towards me but guilt over not preventing stress and harm from reaching me. 

“Why do you always feel like you’ve failed to protect me when you’re the only one I can rely on?” I reached for his hand and held it. “You’ve been the father to me that my own father couldn’t be. It breaks my heart every time something happens, and you feel so guilty. Do you think I 

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would have survived all these storms without you standing beside me like a sturdy wall?” I wanted him to understand that whatever I had become, it was because of him. The confidence to stand up for myself, even after being knocked down so many times, came from his support. 

“That helps me feel so much better,” he finally smiled, patting the back of my hand that rested on his. 

“Now come on, we’re going to eat dinner together. No more hiding when we’ve done nothing wrong,” I stood up and took his hand, coaxing him to join me. He chuckled and followed along. Every time I restored a friendship or a relationship, I felt freed. 

I led him to the living room where we would sit and chat while dinner was served. 

“Wow, you’ve brought Dad out of his cocoon,” Nash laughed from his seat in the living room. 

“He’s always done that for me,” I smiled warmly. 

“But there’s something I need to ask,” Nash leaned forward to speak to Dad quietly. 

“What is it?” Lord Atwood inquired. 

“Nora has been accused of causing you harm. They were upsetting her with the idea that she’s the reason you’ve been so low. And you hiding in your shall only confirms that, do you think it is right that you behave. that way?” Nash explained earnestly. I might have tried to diffuse the situation, but sometimes the truth needs to be confronted. I won’t defend those who are now my enemies. 

“That’s ridiculous. Tell me who was saying all those things to her,” Lord Atwood inquired firmly from Nash. I signaled to Nash not to 

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101–Silas Patient 

mention Ryker’s name. He had already been through so much, and hearing that his own son was discussing why he was sad and misjudging his grief would be too much for him.