(Author’s POV)
"Nora’s brothers, they are~ ... good people. Don’t worry, Dad. They did nothing inappropriate with ," Myra sighed as she remarked, an attempt to reassure her father.
William looked at her closely and muttered, "If all of them were good to you, then why didn’t you tell us that they were Nora’s family? Why did you keep silent? Sothing must have happened in Kimberg for you not to ntion anything about them. After coming back, you never even called Nora. Tell , Myra. Tell , what happened?"
His sharp observation left Myra speechless. For once, she thought of telling him the bare truth, but it would lead to more questions and create even more chaos, which she didn’t want to happen. Especially now that her parents and Nora’s family have co face to face.
After what felt like an eternity, she said, "Actually~ ... I~ ...." Her fingers intertwined together as she told him, "Last year, when I went to Kimberg, the Everests were very welcoming towards . Nora, her parents, her siblings~ even the people working at their mansion~ .... None of them let feel out of place. They went above and beyond for ."
William listened to her without interrupting as she went on, "A day before my departure ~ ... Nora and I were sitting in the back garden, we were conversing, and sohow, we ended up reminiscing about the past. From our orphanage days to her ti with the Smith family. We talked about it all." Then Myra’s tone turned from neutral to somber, "Dad, you already know how Jas and Clara had treated Nora after Matthew was born. How much she had suffered with them. She said sothing about that ti that stuck with for a long while. She said~ .... she never wanted to rember her ti at Damona. That place, those mories were grueso for her. They made her feel inferior, rejected, and useless. They haunted her. She told ~ .... she even had nightmares because of that. Though she also ntioned the ti she spent with us was precious, but her previous words, they left thinking deeply."
"So, you decided to distance yourself from her and her family completely. So, she is not reminded of the past. Is that what you were trying to do?" William completed her words, trying to make sense of all this.
Closing her eyes, Myra nodded, "I wanted her just to live a happy life with her real family. I wanted her to start afresh, leaving everything else behind."
What Myra told William wasn’t all false. When she first arrived in Kimberg, she noticed the stark difference in Nora. Not just her face or her clothes or her status, but how happy she looked, how free she seed. As if, in Damona, she was bound by the shackles of prejudice and unfair treatnt. And there, in Kimberg, with the Everests, it felt like she belonged there. It was her rightful place.
"Even if it ant disappearing from her life? At the cost of your friendship with her?" he uttered. He pressed his lips in a thin line and continued, "I understand your point, Myra. You don’t do things without any solid reason or aning. You must have really thought this through before making a decision. But~ .... Mu child, did you talk to her? Did you consider how hurt she must have felt then?"
Myra gnawed at her lips. Of course, she was fully aware of how much hurt and pain it would cause Nora. But still~ ... at that ti, she did what she thought was right for her and her family.
William looked at his daughter’s slumped shoulders and lowered eyelashes. She looked guilty, defeated. Seeing her in that state, he released a heavy breath, patted her shoulders and added, "Most relationships~ .... they are like passing wind and shower, but there are very few that stay for life. They are invaluable, more than gold. You shouldn’t lose them for anything, hmm."
Listening to his heartfelt advice, Myra’s eyes welled up. She started sobbing like all hell had broken loose. It was a heartbreaking sight for William as well. He embraced her in comfort as she cried even more.
________________________
"Brother Dio, don’t you think you need to tell us sothing?" Elio spoke, his face void of any expression. They were nearing the Larson mansion, and Dion hadn’t said a word. For the first ti, he was really pissed, seeing his brother’s nonchalant attitude.
"What?" Dion said casually, way too casually, making Elio even angrier. "Don’t pretend. You know what I am trying to say," he fired back, his tone edgy this ti.
"Woah~ ... woah~ ... woah~ ... Eli, calm down first, will you? Why do you sound so~ ... vexed," Dion remarked. "What did I do to deserve such harsh treatnt?"
"When were you planning to tell us about Myr~ .... the Miracles?" he spat, visibly annoyed. "When did you even get to know about them being in Esteria?"
Nora backed her twin’s words. She, too, was disappointed in how Dion was acting.
Dion shook his head and sighed, "I got to know about them, not too long ago. I was planning to tell everyone in person, but with so many things happening, it slipped my mind." He said in a matter of factly manner.
"It slipped your mind? Really? Even knowing how much we have been searching for them, sothing like this slipped your mind?" Elio was getting emotional.
Dion’s brows creased as he remarked, "Why are you getting so worked up, Eli? You usually don’t react like this." Elio flinched as his brother pointed out. He closed his eyes, giving himself a mont. After gathering his feelings and apologizing, "Sorry~ ... for yelling at you. I was just~ ... taken aback by what happened at the hospital."
Dion glanced at Nora, who was already staring back at him, her gaze intense. He straightened his back, trying to sound aloof, "Nor, what happened? Why do you keep glaring? Are you still suspicious of ? Do you think I intentionally hid it from you?" He questioned.
To Be Continued . . . . . . . .
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