Chapter 108
Nora's POV
"I liked you back then," he continued. "More than liked you. But you were with Kyle, and I thought I'd missed my chance." His eyes held mine. "Then I heard you broke up. And I thought maybe—"
"Henry—"
"I'm not finished." His voice was gentle but firm. "I know you're going through a lot. I'm not trying to pressure you. But I want you to know how I feel. I care about you, Nora. I want to help your family. I want..." He took a breath. "I want to be with you."
The café suddenly felt too small.
I stared at Henry's sincere face, my mind reeling.
What the hell is going on?
I'd just ended things with Kyle, then there's Julian's pursuit, and now Henry's confession—why is everyone choosing my most vulnerable moment to show up?
I feel like I'm trapped in some ridiculous soap opera. Why is everything erupting all at once? I just want to work, take care of Mom, live a normal life. I don't need more suitors, don't need more emotional entanglements.
What I need is breathing room.
Henry was still waiting for my response, his eyes full of expectation. I opened my mouth, trying to organize a polite refusal—
Then he said it.
"There's one more thing you should know. About the treatment. If we're together—if you're my girlfriend—they'll prioritize your mother's case even more. Staff family members get preferential treatment."
Henry's words hung between us like a blade.
I stared at him, my brain struggling to process what I'd just heard.
"Henry," my voice came out flat and terrible. "Is this a transaction?"
"Nora, don't misunderstand. The surgical treatment has nothing to do with our relationship—whether you agree or not won't affect your mother's subsequent treatment," he explained. "I just don't want to keep waiting anymore. I don't want to keep being just your ordinary friend in this confused state."
"Stop." I raised my hand. "Just stop."
He fell silent, confusion flickering across his face.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to meet his eyes. "I'm grateful for everything you've done for my mother. Truly. But I have to be honest with you—I already have someone I like."
The words felt strange leaving my mouth, but they were true. Undeniably so.
Henry's expression froze. For a long moment, he just stared at me. Then he let out a bitter laugh and slumped back in his chair. "I'm too late again, aren't I?"
"I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize." He rubbed his face. "Who's the lucky bastard?"
I didn't answer. Couldn't answer.
He studied me for a moment, then nodded slowly. "He must be very special."
"Thank you for understanding," I said quietly. "About my mom's treatment—I'll discuss it with my family, but it won't change our relationship. We're friends, Henry. That's all we can be."
He nodded, though something flickered in his eyes—perhaps disappointment, perhaps frustration. "I understand. But Nora, my offer still stands. Treatment, medical support, whatever you need. As a friend."
"I'll think about it," I said finally. "Thank you."
We parted outside the café. I watched him walk to his car, his shoulders slightly hunched, and felt a pang of guilt. Henry was a good man. He deserved better than being someone's second choice.
But my heart had already made its decision.
The walk home felt longer than usual. Night had fallen completely, streetlights casting long shadows across the pavement. I pulled my coat tighter.
Time doesn't measure the depth of feeling. Henry had known me for years, yet he'd always remained just my kind senior. But Julian...
My thoughts drifted to the moments I'd spent with Julian, how my heart would race. When he kissed me, how my blood seemed to boil beneath my skin. Every interaction was a revelation—fresh, strange, thrilling, and somehow deeply safe all at once.
These were feelings I'd never had with Kyle.
With Julian, everything was different. Sharper. More real.
---
Aunt Marianne returned from Blackwood District with several heavy boxes.
I met her at the house, Lucas helping carry them to the storage room. The boxes were battered, taped multiple times, covered in dust.
"What's all this?" I asked.
Marianne sighed, brushing dirt from her coat. "Your father's things. I finally got around to clearing out the storage unit."
My chest tightened.
We spread everything out on the living room floor. Dad's old union representative badge. A few worn books on labor history and workers' rights. And at the bottom, wrapped in newspaper—a pocket watch, a silver candlestick holder, and other small antiques that had been in the Grey family for generations.
"I had them appraised," Marianne said quietly. "The dealer said they're worth maybe forty, fifty thousand total. It's not much, but it could help with Moira's medical bills."
I picked up the pocket watch, its familiar weight settling in my palm. Dad used to let me wind it when I was little.
"This one we should keep," Marianne said. "It was your parents' token of love."
I nodded. Then I told Aunt Marianne and the others about the new treatment option Henry had mentioned.
She sat down on the couch, Gareth standing beside her. Lucas sat next to me. "That new protocol Henry mentioned—the costs will add up fast. And there's no guarantee it'll work."
Gareth nodded. "I consulted with some doctor friends. They think conventional treatment is the most stable option for Moira's condition."
"We can spend more time with her," Lucas said. "Visit more often, make sure she's comfortable."
I nodded, though guilt gnawed at my insides. Was I giving up on Mom's last hope? Or was I just being realistic about what we could afford?
Either way, the decision sat heavy in my chest.
---
The next day, I was at the office editing footage when Marianne called.
"Nora? Something strange happened at the medical center today."
I sat up straight in my chair. "What's wrong? Is Mom okay?"
"She's fine. It's just—someone came to visit her this afternoon. The nurses said they were federal officials. They brought flowers and an expensive fruit basket."
My heart skipped a beat. "Did they say who they were?"
"No names. But they were very polite."
I hung up and pulled out my phone.
[Was that you at the medical center today?]
Julian's reply came a few minutes later: [Had business nearby. Stopped in to check on her.]
Warmth bloomed in my chest.
[Thank you] I typed. [You didn't have to do that.]
[I wanted to.]
I set the phone down, unable to stop smiling.