Chapter 380

“Yes.”
Nora woke to find herself lying in a hospital bed.
For a moment, she stared blankly at the ceiling, lost and confused. Then, as the
fog in her mind cleared, she shot upright, panic surging through her.
Una.
Una was gone.
She had to see Una one last time.
Nora stumbled out of bed and rushed to the door, only to nearly collide with Daniel as he came in.
“Aurora, you’re awake.” Daniel steadied her by the arm.
Nora gripped his sleeve, desperation in her voice. “Where’s Una?”
Daniel gently but firmly guided her to the sofa and eased her down. He crouched before her, voice low and steady. “Una’s already been cremated. The funeral is today.”
“What?” Nora’s eyes went wide. “I haven’t even seen her, I—”
“Aurora, you’ve been unconscious for two days.”
Nora froze.
She’d slept for two whole days?
Daniel kept his tone calm, just stating the facts. “Una was in the water for several days. We couldn’t wait any longer. She had to be cremated. I’ll take you to the funeral.”
Una had never had many friends or family, so the funeral was small and quiet. By the time Nora arrived, the service was already over.
Will was at the cemetery gate, finishing up the last arrangements with the staff.
Nora’s gaze landed on the photo propped up by the grave a bright, joyful smile frozen forever on Una’s face. Grief crashed over her in a wave. Her knees buckled, and she nearly collapsed.
“Aurora, hold on.” Daniel caught her in time, wrapping an arm around her for support.
Nora pushed him away and staggered forward, sinking to her knees before the headstone.
Her trembling fingers brushed the picture on the cold marble.
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
“Una
The name broke from her lips in a choked sob.
Daniel stood nearby, silent, staring off at the bleak horizon.
If Nora ever learned the truth, she’d never forgive him.
But he couldn’t stand by while her health faded away.
He had no choice.
I’m sorry, Aurora.
After a long stretch of silence-ten, maybe fifteen minutes-he finally stepped forward and gently lifted her into his arms.
“Aurora, you have to take care of yourself. If Una saw you like this, she wouldn’t rest easy.”
Nora’s struggles stilled.
Her hands clenched in Daniel’s shirt, knuckles white with strain.
At last, her grip loosened, and she sagged into his arms, eyes squeezed shut, silent.
Daniel breathed a small sigh of relief and carried her back to the car.
He brought her home to North Manor.
Even then, as they arrived, he lifted her out and carried her upstairs to the master bedroom.
He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. “Rest for a while. I’ll come get you when dinner’s ready.”
And then he slipped away.
Nora lay curled on the plush bed, fists twisted in the sheets as silent tears traced down her face.
Inside, she felt hollow, lost-like she was wandering through a wasteland.
She wanted to cry, but couldn’t.
It was as if the world had gone dark all at once.
Later, when Daniel finished his work and returned to the bedroom, Nora
was up She sat curled in the armchair by the window, turped away, her silhouette small and impossibly lonely. ‘
Daniel’s heart clenched painfully.
He pressed his lips together, walked
over quietly, and rested ane
voice
was
palm on her forehead His Soft “Why are you sleeping here?
Nora’s eyes were calm-too calm. Not the peaceful kind, but the stillness of utter despair.
Daniel’s heart skipped a beat. He grabbed her wrist, unable to hide his worry. “Aurora, look at me.”
Nora lifted her gaze to his.
Normally, she would have pulled
away from his touch-avoided him, bristling. But now, she just let him hold her hand neither struggling nor angry.
A cold unease crept through Daniel.
He could feel it—something in her had changed.
All the light was gone, replaced by emptiness and hopelessness. Thıs content belongs to.net
Daniel swallowed hard. He’d known Una’s death would hit Nora hard.
But not like this.
Not so hard it seemed to snuff out her will to live.