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Novel Catalog
Chapter 74
seemed like she was not bothered by Karen’s words at all.
After a moment of silence, she simply walked over to the couch and sat down, taking her time before responding.
“Apologies, Aunt Karen.
I was caught up with some matters.
Let’s begin.” Her calm tone contrasted sharply with Karen’s sharp remarks, and it threw Karen off guard for a moment.
Karen’s expression tightened, but she held her tongue, not expecting such a composed reaction from Nicole.
The other relatives exchanged glances, some uneasy, others amused by Nicole’s indifference.
Nicole, unbothered by the tense atmosphere, glanced at her family, taking in their reactions with a hint of amusement.
She had long grown accustomed to their snide comments and judgment.
As the meal began, the conversation shifted, but Nicole noticed the underlying tension, especially with her aunt Karen.
As everyone settled into their meal, Nicole’s thoughts briefly returned to the motorcycle outside.
Who could it belong to? The image of the sleek machine lingered in her mind.
She hadn’t seen it before and couldn’t help but wonder who in her family, or even beyond, might own such a high-end bike.
Gloria caught Nicole’s distracted look and followed her gaze briefly before smiling knowingly.
“That motorcycle belongs to your cousin, Jacob,” she remarked softly.
“He just got it today.”
Nicole blinked, a little surprised.
Jacob? She hadn’t heard much about him, except that he was the son of her second uncle and was known for his rebellious streak.
The bike was certainly something he would get his hands on, but it was odd—she hadn’t expected him to be home tonight.
“Jacob’s always been one for extravagant things,” Gloria added with a light laugh.
“Though I do think he’s trying to impress someone this time.”
Nicole nodded, though her mind was still on the bike.
She’d have to meet Jacob soon to get a better sense of him.
For now, however, the dinner was her focus, as it seemed like Karen would continue to pick on her if she didn’t keep her composure.
As the meal progressed, the conversation between the adults grew more heated, mainly about family matters.
Nicole, while mostly quiet, remained observant, noticing the shifts in the dynamics.
She wasn’t just an outsider to the Riddle family; she was also someone whose presence sparked subtle yet noticeable changes in the atmosphere.
Jared’s words earlier that day about how everyone treated her differently because of her connections to Mr.
Ellison echoed in her mind.
Could it be that her family’s treatment of her was the same, driven by their awareness of her connections and not out of genuine care? She didn’t know, but for now, all she could do was navigate the tense waters with the same calmness she had shown when walking into the room.
Nicole quietly finished her meal, her gaze occasionally drifting toward the door, wondering when Jacob would come inside.