Chapter 286

Mrs. Winters’s expression tightened. “Aurora is gone, Louis. Why do you keep bringing her up?”
Louis bristled at his mother’s tone.
“She was the woman I loved. She gave me a son. Why shouldn’t I think of her?”
Mrs. Winters fell silent, thrown off by his conviction.
She realized she’d let her emotions get the better of her and took a moment to compose herself. “Are you planning to stay here forever, lost in the past? Is that what you want?”
Louis’s reply was calm, almost unhurried. “And what’s so wrong about that?”
Mrs. Winters nearly swooned in frustration.
This was her only son was he really going to spend the rest of his life faithful to a woman who was gone?
The room was thick with tension.
Just then, Nora pushed open the door, pulling her cardigan tighter around herself. “Please, Mrs. Winters, come in. Don’t catch a chill standing out there.”
Louis looked over at his mother. “Stay for dinner with us.”
Mrs. Winters stepped inside, only to stop short in surprise as she watched her proud, accomplished son slip naturally into an apron and head for the kitchen.
“This… this can’t be
She was utterly stunned.
Nora poured her a cup of hot tea and invited her to sit on the couch. “Mr. Winters is a remarkable man.”
Mrs. Winters cradled the cup, her eyes glistening. “I know,” she whispered.
Looking at Nora, her voice trembled with earnest pleading. “Ms. Cooper, would you please talk to Louis? Convince him to come home.”
Nora understood the ache of a mother’s worry-she had tried to reason with Louis before. But this time, she chose to respect his wishes.
Besides, the Winters family had never truly accepted Aurora as Louis’s wife, nor had they acknowledged Payne as part of the family. Nora couldn’t help but feel a certain distance toward them because of it.
And after all, Aurora had loved Louis and given birth to his son. Why should she simply be forgotten?
“Mrs. Winters,” Nora said gently, “I think, when he’s ready, Louis will come home on his own.”
Mrs. Winters gripped her teacup, words caught in her throat.
Nora said nothing more, instead moving to the other end of the couch to sit beside Payne.
Mrs. Winters watched them in a daze. Nora resembled Aurora-not just in her features, but in her quiet strength. For a fleeting moment, she wondered: if she had accepted that girl back then, would this warmth have belonged to them all along? Would she already have a grandchild to spoil, a family gathered under one roof?
A pang of regret flickered in her chest.
Maybe she shouldn’t have done what she did all those years ago.
Dinner was simple but generous-five dishes and a hearty soup, all prepared by Louis.
Mrs. Winters sat at the table, fighting back tears once again.
Payne glanced up at her between mouthfuls, curiosity furrowing his brow. “Grandma, why are you crying?”
His little head was full of big questions.
Nora dabbed at his mouth with a napkin, her voice gentle. “Maybe Grandma just doesn’t want to say goodbye to you, Payne.”
“She doesn’t have to leave,” Payne replied, bright-eyed. “We have plenty of bedrooms here.”
Mrs. Winters blinked quickly, determined not to let the tears fall.
Nora reached out to ruffle Payne’s hair, but said nothing more.
Once he finished eating, Payne dashed off to play, leaving the adults in a heavy silence around the table.
At last, Louis spoke. “How did you know I was here?”
He’d only told the elderly Mrs. Winters where he’d gone.
Mrs. Winters set down her chopsticks. “Mr. Chambers told me.”
She shot Nora a wounded look. “I suppose Mr. Chambers hoped I could convince you both to come home.”
Nora kept her gaze on her plate, ignoring Mrs. Winters’s searching eyes. She didn’t say a word.
Dinner ended in a hush. Thıs text ıs hosted at ͟.net
Louis cleared the dishes and washed up in the kitchen, while Nora prepared a guest room for Mrs. Winters.
Meanwhile―
Daniel returned to North Manor after a long night of business meetings.
Mrs. Chambers stood at the foot of the stairs, arms crossed, her disapproval clear. “How much did you drink this time?”