The Woman Who Claimed Him
1162 Words
The note remained clenched in Ethan's hand long after the courier had left.
Some dreams are better left unfinished.
His jaw tightened.
This wasn't a prank.
Someone knew about Nora's dream.
Someone wanted to frighten her.
"Nora," he said quietly, "has anything like this happened before?"
She slowly shook her head.
"No."
"I've never received anonymous messages."
Olivia stepped out from the storeroom, immediately sensing the tension.
"What happened?"
Nora handed her the note.
Olivia read it once before her expression darkened.
"That's creepy."
"It could just be someone trying to scare you."
"It worked," Nora admitted.
She wasn't afraid of insults.
She wasn't afraid of hard work.
But someone watching her from the shadows...
That was different.
Ethan folded the note and slipped it into his pocket.
"I'm keeping this."
"You think it's important?"
"I do."
He forced a reassuring smile.
"I'll figure out who sent it."
The rest of the afternoon passed slowly.
Although the café was busy, Nora couldn't stop glancing toward the windows.
Every customer who walked in made her heart skip.
Every unfamiliar face made her wonder if they were the one watching her.
Olivia finally nudged her shoulder.
"You're distracted."
"I know."
"Go take a break."
"There are customers."
"I'll handle them."
Nora hesitated before stepping outside through the café's back door.
The alley was quiet.
The rain had finally stopped, leaving the pavement damp and glistening beneath the afternoon sun.
She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply.
"You look like you needed that."
She turned.
Ethan stood beside the back entrance holding two paper cups.
"You really have perfect timing."
"I've heard that before."
He handed her one cup.
"Hot chocolate again?"
"I remembered you liked it."
She smiled.
"I do."
For a few peaceful moments, neither of them spoke.
They simply stood together, watching clouds drift across the sky.
Sometimes silence said more than words ever could.
"I've been thinking," Ethan finally said.
"About what?"
"You."
Nora laughed softly.
"That sounds dangerous."
"It probably is."
He leaned against the brick wall.
"When you talked about architecture..."
"I realized something."
"What?"
"You don't talk about it as if it's a dream."
"You talk about it as if it's part of who you are."
Nora looked down at the warm cup in her hands.
"I used to believe that."
"And now?"
She shrugged.
"Now life comes first."
"Liam comes first."
"The café comes first."
"My dreams..."
"They're somewhere at the bottom of the list."
Ethan looked at her for a long moment.
"I don't think dreams disappear."
"They just wait for someone brave enough to chase them again."
His words lingered in the air.
Before Nora could answer, Olivia opened the back door.
"Sorry to interrupt..."
"But there's someone asking for Ethan."
Inside the café...
A tall woman stood near the entrance.
She wore an elegant cream-colored suit and carried herself with effortless confidence.
Long chestnut hair rested over one shoulder.
The moment Ethan saw her...
His expression changed.
"Victoria."
She smiled brightly before walking straight toward him.
"It's been too long."
Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around him.
Nora froze.
The smile on her face slowly faded.
She wasn't jealous.
At least...
She didn't think she was.
But something inside her tightened.
Victoria stepped back and noticed Nora.
Her sharp eyes studied her from head to toe.
"So..."
She smiled politely.
"You're Nora."
Nora nodded.
"And you are?"
Victoria extended her hand.
"I'm Victoria Lawson."
"We grew up together."
Nora shook her hand.
"It's nice to meet you."
Victoria's smile widened.
"I've heard quite a lot about you."
Nora glanced at Ethan.
He looked uncomfortable.
More uncomfortable than she'd ever seen him.
"Victoria," he said quietly.
"What are you doing here?"
"I came back yesterday."
"You didn't answer my calls."
"So I decided to surprise you."
She laughed lightly before slipping her arm through Ethan's.
The movement seemed natural.
Practiced.
As though she'd done it countless times before.
Nora quickly looked away.
She suddenly found the coffee machine very interesting.
Olivia watched everything unfold in complete silence.
She didn't miss the way Nora's smile had disappeared.
Nor the way Ethan gently removed Victoria's arm from his.
"We should talk," Ethan said.
Victoria nodded.
"I agree."
Before leaving, she turned back toward Nora.
"I hope we'll get to know each other better."
"I'm sure we will."
The words sounded polite.
But something about them felt like a challenge.
Outside the café...
Victoria folded her arms.
"I didn't expect this."
"Expect what?"
"You."
Ethan sighed.
"What do you want, Victoria?"
She looked at him carefully.
"Your mother called me."
His eyes narrowed.
"I should've guessed."
"She said you've been spending all your time with a café manager."
"And?"
"And she thought I should remind you who you are."
Ethan let out a quiet laugh.
"My mother still hasn't learned."
"Learned what?"
"That my life isn't hers to control."
Victoria studied him for a long moment.
Then her smile slowly disappeared.
"You really like her."
"I do."
"And if your mother doesn't approve?"
Ethan looked back through the café window.
Nora was laughing at something Olivia had said.
The sight made him smile.
"I've spent too much of my life living for other people's expectations."
"I'm done doing that."
Across the street...
Inside a parked black sedan...
The investigator lowered his camera.
He had photographed everything.
Victoria's arrival.
Her embrace.
Nora's expression.
Ethan's reaction.
He immediately sent the pictures to Margaret Cole.
A reply appeared seconds later.
Bring Victoria to the estate tonight.
The investigator frowned.
Something was changing.
Mrs. Cole was no longer simply observing.
She was making her move.
Back inside the café...
Nora quietly wiped the same table for the third time.
Olivia walked over and gently took the cloth from her hands.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine."
"Nora."
She sighed.
"I don't know why..."
"But seeing them together..."
"It hurt."
Olivia smiled softly.
"I think that's called falling in love."
Nora laughed weakly.
"I don't even know him that well."
"Feelings don't ask permission."
Before Nora could reply...
The café door opened once more.
Ethan walked back inside.
He stopped in front of her.
"Nora..."
"I'm sorry."
She looked confused.
"For what?"
"For making you uncomfortable."
"You didn't."
"I saw your face."
She looked away.
For the first time since they met...
Words failed her.
Ethan took a slow breath.
"I need you to know something."
"Victoria is not my girlfriend."
Nora looked up.
"She isn't?"
"No."
"Our families have wanted us together since we were children."
"But I never agreed."
Relief spread across Nora's face before she could hide it.
Ethan smiled.
"I thought you'd want to know."
She smiled back.
"I'm glad you told me."
Neither of them noticed the woman standing outside the café.
Margaret Cole watched through the rain-speckled window.
Her expression remained calm.
But her eyes revealed one undeniable truth.
The bond between Nora and Ethan had grown stronger than she expected.
And breaking it...
Would not be easy.
- Writer
