Chapter 224 Nellie Wilkin
“I’m not going,” Lenora said expressionlessly.
Zachary simply didn’t allow her to refuse. “I’ll come to pick you up tomorrow afternoon.”
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He turned to leave, and before he did, he reminded Harrietta, “Hattie, listen to Aunt Lenora, all right?”
Harrietta gave a nod.
As she watched Zachary leave and the door close behind him, she tilted her head back and asked curiously, “Aunt Lenora, what is a cocktail party?”
“It’s a gathering where many people get together to drink.”
“Can I go?” Harrietta looked at Lenora with a face full of anticipation.
Lenora shook her head with a smile. “No.”
“All right then.”
Lenora glanced at the sky, then headed to the kitchen. She opened the fridge and took out a few ingredients to prepare dinner.
Halfway through, a crisp sound echoed from the entrance as Sophia pushed the door open. She tossed her bag onto the couch and called out, “Cotton, where are you?”
“Cotton is here!”
Harrietta poked her head out from behind the couch, gazing curiously at Sophia. “You must be Ms. Tortell that Aunt Lenora mentioned, right? Ms. Tortell, you’re so beautiful!”
Upon seeing Harrietta, Sophia immediately recognized her. She walked over and said, “You’re Hattie, right? You sure have a sweet way with words.” She then gently petted Cotton a few times. “Why don’t you play with Cotton? I’ll go help your aunt with the cooking.”
After she finished speaking, she made her way to the kitchen. There she found Lenora engrossed in chopping vegetables. She walked over, nudged her with her elbow, and whispered, “Nora, why didn’t you send her home?”
“She’s sleeping with me tonight.”
“Huh?” Surprised, Sophia looked out. “What were you thinking? She’s Zachary’s niece. By having her around, you’ll never be able to sever ties with Zachary.”
Lenora’s hands froze.
She was well aware of that.
She even suspected that Zachary’s plan to keep Harrietta in the country, register her under his household, and make her Harrietta’s mother in name, was simply a tactic to keep her tied to him.
However, whenever she faced Harrietta, she inevitably found her heart softening. She simply couldn’t bring herself to be harsh.
Sophia let out a sigh. “The little girl is adorable, but what you’re doing is akin to seeking temporary relief
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regardless of the consequences. Zachary probably knew you love children, which is why he intentionally sent her over. Sometimes, it’s better to get the pain over with, rather than prolong the agony. Letting go in time is better for everyone.”
Lenora found her thoughts drifting back to half an hour ago when Zachary had forcefully kissed her.
Maybe Sophia’s right. I shouldn’t keep this up.
I should slowly stay away from Hattie.
It may be hard for Hattie to accept it at first, but as time goes on, she’ll find new companions to play with and begin to forget me.
And since Tamara doesn’t like me, staying away from Hattie helps preserve their grandmother–granddaughter bond
When it was time to eat, Sophia finally understood why Lenora was so fond of Harrietta.
She was adorable, with a round, cherubic face. She could also speak well and feed herself, requiring no one to fuss over her. Compared to the unruly children Sophia had encountered, she was incredibly well- behaved and sensible.
If she wasn’t Zachary’s niece, Sophia would surely like her.
After finishing their meal, Lenora took Harrietta for a walk downstairs. Along the way, they stopped by the supermarket where Lenora bought some daily necessities for Harrietta.
Harrietta had chosen a tomato–head toothbrush. She stood on a stool, brushing her teeth alongside Lenora.
Both of them had froth at their mouths.
Harrietta couldn’t help but let out a chuckle as they exchanged a glance.
Once they had finished freshening up, Lenora returned to her room and fetched one of her sweaters for Harrietta to wear. She rolled up the sleeves to serve as a nightdress, then tenderly helped her clean her tiny feet and bottom.
Lenora couldn’t resist giving her bottom a couple of gentle squeezes. It was incredibly soft.
Harrietta was visibly thrilled throughout the entire time. After drying her feet, she hopped onto the bed and rolled around twice before finally burrowing under the covers.
Lenora also changed into her pajamas, turned off the lights, and climbed into bed after pulling back the
covers.
Harrietta, with her plump figure, immediately rolled over.
Lenora smoothly wrapped her arms around Harrietta.
Harrietta nestled her head in Lenora’s chest, rubbing against it like a little kitten. “Aunt Lenora, you smell so good.”
Lenora chuckled lightly, patting Harrietta’s back. “Go to sleep. Call me if you wake up in the middle of the night.”
“Okay.”
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Having not slept in the afternoon, Harrietta closed her eyes and quickly drifted off to sleep.
Lenora also gradually fell into a deep sleep, and she had a dream.
She dreamt of her lying in a hospital, with a newborn baby placed by the side of the bed.
She gazed at the baby by the bed, her eyes filled with tenderness. “From now on, you’ll be known as Nellie Wilkin.”
In her dreams, she was cradling a child, gently rocking her back and forth.
Suddenly, the child vanished into thin air.
Lenora shuddered and groggily opened her eyes. The room was shrouded in darkness.
Oh, it’s just a dream.
She reached out and picked up her phone from the bedside table, glancing at the time. It was only five in the morning.
She looked at Harrietta, who was soundly asleep next to her, reached out, and gently poked her chubby little face, smiling softly.
Perhaps Harrietta had stirred up her inner longing for a child, which was why she had such a dream.
The thought of gradually distancing herself from Harrietta filled her with a profound sense of guilt.
She closed her eyes, drifting back to sleep.
When she woke up around seven, Harrietta was still deeply asleep.
Lenora stretched lazily, carefully climbed out of bed, and fed Cotton. After freshening up, she prepared breakfast.
She made two sandwiches. Each one was a hearty compilation of two slices of bread, a piece of steak, a fried egg, a leaf of lettuce, a slice of tomato, and a slice of cheese. All of these ingredients were neatly stacked together. She also prepared a separate bowl of egg custard for Harrietta.
As she was in the kitchen, cooking a steak, Harrietta emerged from the room, rubbing her eyes. “Aunt Lenora?”
Lenora emerged from the kitchen, and as soon as Harrietta saw her, she scampered over barefoot. “Aunt
Lenora!”
“I’m making breakfast. Go freshen up. Breakfast will be ready soon.”
“Okay.”
After cleaning up and changing her clothes, Harrietta sat at the dining table like an exemplary student.
Lenora brought over the sandwich, soy milk, and egg custard. She also prepared a cup of warm milk for
Harrietta.
Harrietta took a bite of the sandwich and said with a beaming smile, “Aunt Lenora, this sandwich you made is really delicious!”
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“I’m glad you like it.”
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“Where’s Ms. Tortell? Isn’t she having breakfast?”
“She’s not going to work today. She’s sleeping in until noon.”
“Oh.”
After breakfast, Harrietta nestled on the couch, engrossed in watching cartoons.
Lenora was perusing the past winners of the photography competition.
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Around noon, they went for a stroll, grabbed a bite to eat, and visited a shopping mall to buy a few clothes for Harrietta. Before they knew it, it was already past four in the afternoon.
As they were waiting for their drinks in a cafe, Zachary called.
Lenora remembered what he had said the night before when he was leaving. He wanted her to accompany him to a cocktail party.
Lenora was very resistant.
But she truly owed Zachary, and she didn’t want to be someone who went back on her word.
As she answered the call, Zachary asked, “Where are you guys now? I’ll come to pick you up for the styling. session and drop Hattie off at home on the way.”
Lenora provided the address.
Zachary quickly arrived at the parking lot of the shopping mall.
Lenora and Harrietta, each holding a milkshake, headed to the parking lot to find Zachary’s car. Upon seeing Zachary in the back seat, Lenora gestured for Harrietta to get in first before she followed suit.
“Uncle Zachary!” Harrietta affectionately hugged Zachary.
Zachary smiled gently. “How was your sleep last night with Aunt Lenora?”
“Aunt Lenora smells so nice, and she’s so soft. I like it so much,” Harrietta said, grinning from ear to ear.
Lenora was at a loss for words.
Zachary seemed to be lost in thought. “She does smell nice and is very soft…”
