Chapter 147
Finally, it's the weekend, and I can relax a bit.
I went to the Morgan mansion to see Celestia. Her grandparents were there too, saying they were going abroad after the holidays, so they wanted to take Celestia to stay with them for a couple of days.
Aiden agreed. They're away most of the year, so it's natural they'd want to spend more time with their granddaughter.
When I was leaving, Aiden asked if I wasn't feeling well, saying I looked a bit pale. I told him I didn't sleep well last night.
He brought up Levi's business trip, but I quickly steered away from that topic.
No one knows what Levi actually went to Eldoria to do.
I heard Nola went back to the Skye family home, saying the Williams family was too anxious about her health, giving her tons of advice every day and making her take lots of supplements.
She couldn't stand all this "care," so she had John go back to her own family's place with her.
I parked in front of the Skye family villa. The last time I was here was back when I was still in school.
Nola's dad is a bit long-winded and loves giving lectures. Nola was afraid I'd find it annoying, so she almost never brought me home.
Come to think of it, the Skye family helped me a lot back then. When my mom passed away, they gave me so much care, especially Nola's mom, who treated me like her own child.
All these years, I haven't been able to visit them. I feel guilty about that.
I got out of the car, took the gifts I'd brought from the trunk, and looked up at Nola's room, thinking she'd be happy to see me.
I rang the doorbell and saw their housekeeper coming out, so I picked up the things from the ground again.
"Are you... Ms. Ember?"
"Echo, long time no see."
"Oh my, you still remember me! I thought you looked familiar just now. I've been trying to remember the whole way here. It's been years, hasn't it? You haven't changed at all, still so beautiful."
Echo took the things from my hands and led the way. "Ms. Ember, Nola won't be bored now that you're here. She's been saying she wants to go out, but Mr. Skye strongly objected, saying she needs to focus on the pregnancy."
"Nola's health is a big deal for the family right now."
Listening to Echo go on, I couldn't help but smile. Nola once said everyone in her household had picked up habits from her dad—they all turned into chatterboxes from listening to him talk all the time.
Inside, Echo put the things down and got me slippers.
"Ms. Ember, change your shoes first. I'll go tell Nola you're here right away."
"Okay, thanks."
Echo turned back and smiled at me. "Ms. Ember, no need to be polite. This is my job."
I walked to the living room and sat down to wait.
Suddenly, I heard excited shouting from upstairs. Nola ran out excitedly.
"Blair, is that you? Are you here to rescue me?"
"Slow down..."
John was chasing after her. She hadn't even put on her slippers before running over.
I stood up and steadied her.
"Why are you so excited? I'm not leaving right away."
I patted her back, still able to hear her rapid breathing.
Nola grabbed my hand. "Quick, sit down. I have so much to tell you. You have no idea how bored I've been these past few days."
John bent down to put her shoes on her feet. "Don't catch a cold."
"Such a fuss."
"You're basically a national treasure right now. I can't afford any slip-ups—the whole family is watching me." John looked pitiful.
Nola glared at him, then turned to complain to me.
"Blair, I thought coming back to my own home would be better, but I regretted it as soon as I got here. My parents are so over the top. They won't let me do anything—not even read for too long. They just want me to stay in bed and rest."
"And when they say bed rest, you'd think I could at least look at my phone, right? Nope, not allowed. They might as well install surveillance cameras in my room."
I glanced at John. "Why bother when you've got a walking surveillance camera right here?"
"You're absolutely right. He's a total bootlicker, following my parents' every word."
John looked innocent. "I'm really being wronged here. What am I supposed to do? I just became their son-in-law—I can't exactly go against them, can I?"
Nola clutched her chest. "You're really going to drive me crazy. Are you married to me or to them? Can you really listen to everything they say?"
"I..."
"Are you talking bad about me again?"
Just as John was about to defend himself, Nola's father Finn came out from the side hallway.
"We..."
John was trying to make an excuse for Nola, but she cut him off.
"Dad, we weren't talking about you. Who would dare? Blair's here, we're just chatting."
I stood up. "Uncle Finn, long time no see. How have you been?"
Maybe hearing I'd arrived, Nola's mother Mia Wilson came out of her room too.
"Blair, it really has been so long. We haven't seen each other in six or seven years, have we?"
Mia walked over first, stepping in front of Finn.
She took my hand. "You haven't changed a bit. Our Nola will never learn to be as gentle as you. She's loud and rowdy all the time. Only John can put up with her."
"Mom, can we not compare? Not everyone can have Blair's gentle nature."
Mia smiled slyly. "Look at you, can't even let me say a word. You've been contrary since you were little."
We all sat down. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Finn's mouth twitch. He was probably about to start lecturing.
Nola gave me a look and covered her ears.
"Blair, you and Nola are the same age, right? Do you have a boyfriend?"
Finn suddenly asked if I had a boyfriend. Nola really kept her mouth shut—she hadn't told her family anything about my situation.
I glanced at Nola. She shook her head.
I got the hint immediately. "Uncle Finn, I've been busy with work. I don't have a boyfriend yet."
"You mean that little jewelry company of yours?"
Finn stroked his chin. "I'd think Mr. Aiden Morgan from the Morgan family, who's backing you, would have plenty of suitable matches around him. Hasn't he introduced anyone to you?"
"I'm not considering it right now, so Grandpa hasn't brought it up."
I didn't expect the conversation to turn to my marriage prospects.
"Nola's cousin came back to the country to develop his career. He's been back for about two weeks now. He doesn't have a girlfriend yet, he's almost 6 feet 3 inches tall, has a pretty good career with his own company, and he's good-looking—big eyes like Nola."
"Dad, stop worrying about it, okay? My cousin confessed to Blair before, and Blair doesn't like his type."
Then I remembered—Nola does have a cousin. He came to our school to see her once and insisted he'd fallen for me at first sight. I already had Levi in my heart back then, so I clearly rejected him.
"There was such a thing? How come you never mentioned it?"
Nola held her waist. "There's a lot you don't know. Just stop worrying about it. You think my cousin is great, but Blair has even better men around her."
Finn chuckled. "You young people—maybe what didn't seem right before might work now."
"Uncle Finn, let's just leave marriage to fate."
I'm already grateful they're thinking of me. When the time is right, I'll tell them I already have my own family.