Chapter 340
He moved closer to Nora, feeling the warmth of her body-and just as clearly, the
way she tensed beneath the covers.
She wasn’t asleep.
She was only pretending, hoping he’d leave her alone.
Daniel felt a surge of satisfaction. He decided to let it slide for now.
He kept his voice gentle. “Louis has a date lined up. I thought I’d introduce him to Judy. You should come along when they meet.”
Part of him hoped that if Nora saw Louis with another woman, she’d finally let go of her feelings for him. Really let go.
Nora’s eyes snapped open. She turned on her side to face him, fury blazing in her gaze, even in the muted glow of the bedside lamp.
“Daniel, you just can’t stand him, can you?”
As far as she was concerned, Daniel setting up Louis and Judy was nothing but a calculated move. He’d never gotten over the fact that she’d once had feelings for Louis. But the thought of setting Louis up with Judy-it made her stomach turn. With Donna for a mother, how great could the daughter be?
Daniel’s expression darkened. He hadn’t expected her to react like this.
It was true; there was more behind his words than met the eye. But he hadn’t expected her to be so angry, so quick to assume the worst. Chapters fırst released on (.)net
“Aurora, it’s just a suggestion,” he replied, trying to keep his patience. “Besides, he agreed to it.”
Nora gave a bitter laugh. With her and Payne there, how could Louis refuse?
“Daniel, if you can’t stand having him here, just say so. Stop pretending to be generous by letting him stay, and quit with the veiled threats. Don’t you realize how disgusting that is?”
She hated his constant manipulation.
Daniel reached over and flicked on the light.
In the harsh brightness, there was no hiding the contempt on her face.
“I’ve already agreed to get back together with you. What more do you want?”
She hugged the blanket to her chest, sitting up. “It wasn’t enough that you ruined Hans’s life—you have to drag Louis down, too? What, are they only ever allowed to marry your sisters?”
Her words came rapid-fire, leaving Daniel no room to explain.
But he didn’t want to explain anymore.
Her attitude chilled him.
All he’d suggested was a date for Louis, but she made it sound as if he was forcing Louis into marriage at gunpoint.
Was she really upset because she didn’t like his choice for Louis, or was she upset that Louis was being set up at all?
“I’m sleeping in the guest room,” Nora said, throwing off the covers and climbing out of bed.
Daniel caught her wrist and pulled her back.
Her self-control snapped. “Daniel, I don’t want to see you right now.”
His heart twisted, but he kept his voice steady. “I’ll go to the guest room.”
“You”
“You’re pregnant. Is that a good enough reason?” he cut her off, his tone icy. The glare of the light blurred his expression.
Nora didn’t move until she heard the door close behind him. Only then did she unclench her fists, the ache in her chest making it hard to breathe.
It wasn’t enough that Hans had married Eleanor; now even Louis was being pushed into a match by Daniel.
How could Daniel be so narrow-minded? Or was it that he needed to cut off every escape route around her, until she had nowhere left to go but back to him?
In the guest room, Daniel lay awake, staring at the ceiling. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the look of disgust on Nora’s face, heard the sharp edge of her words.
He realized, deep down, that the misunderstandings between them were only piling up. The arguments came quicker and lasted longer.
Whatever this was between them, it hadn’t been healthy for a long time.
And yet, he couldn’t let go. He clung to the hope that, if he just held on tight enough, things would go back to the way they were.
But it seemed that, no matter what he did, Nora always believed he had an ulterior motive.