Chapter 90
Norman’s eyes sparkled.
“Should we dress up as clowns? All we have to do is jump around in place.”
Nadia asked, “Aren’t you worried I’ll embarrass you?”
Norman blinked, confused. “Why would it be embarrassing? The other kids love clowns!”
Nadia didn’t know why she said it, but some words just slipped out before her brain caught up.
“Because I don’t have any fame, I can’t dance, and I’m from a rural background. I don’t understand the luxury lifestyle, so people might think I’m just… plain and uncultured.”
Norman seemed stunned as if he had never heard anyone speak like that before: After a long pause, he finally responded.
“Are they like pre–programmed robots or something? Why do they care so much about where someone comes from, like it makes a difference?”
Nadia had never heard it put that way. A little of her disappointment seemed to melt away.
“Pre–programmed robots?”
She repeated the words slowly, unable to stop herself from laughing.
Just like Mick and his crowd. Since birth, their paths were laid out for them–everything was prepared like a pre–made meal, waiting to be served.
“That makes sense. I’m who I am, so why should I compare myself to pre–made ones? Why should I deny myself? Alright, let’s be clowns!”
Norman’s excitement grew.
“Ms. Vega, I’m honestly so excited about it!”
This was great! He’d get to perform on stage with Nadia.
“What about your uncle?”
The two of them locked eyes, then almost instinctively turned to look at Eddie.
Eddie had been playing the part of the “listener earlier, deliberately lowering his Now, suddenly, they were both staring at him.
presence.
His calm, almost unreadable eyes twitched for a moment.
“Anything’s fine,” he said, his tone as aloof as always.
Norman couldn’t believe his ears. “Really?”
Chapter 90
Eddie nodded. “I never lie.”
Norman pumped his fist, his right arm raised high. “Yes!”
Eddie had taken the morning off to pick up Norman from kindergarten, but he had to return by a certain time.
Nadia took on the task of getting him back to school. When they arrived, the teacher also asked about the masquerade ball.
‘Yes. I’ll be there on time,” Nadia said with a nod
From the second–floor window, Ted spotted his mom and got excited, trying to rush downstairs to see her.
The teacher who had been chatting with Nadia returned and gently calmed him down.
“She’ll be back tomorrow for the ball.‘
Ted’s eyes lit up. He had planned to message his mom about the big reveal, but he didn’t expect her to be ahead of the game.
Was this what they meant by mother–son connection? He was overjoyed!
He rushed home to share the news with Mick
Mick was sitting on the couch, flipping through a business magazine. When he heard the
he paused for a moment, a slight smile tugging at his lips.
news,
The masquerade ball was tomorrow, and the cooling–off period would end the day after. Nadia must have been eager to seize this last chance to reconcile with him. She had made enough of a scene this time. It was about time to show her some respect.
He immediately called his stylist. “Pick out a suit for me. Something good for the ball.”
As for why he wasn’t searching the closet himself, it had been a month since anyone had tidied it, and it was such a mess he could barely walk in there.
