When Family Became a Place I Couldn’t Return To novel Chapter 402

“I really am worried about you,” Nicholas said, his voice low, a small smile curving at his mouth. “You’re a Watson, after all. You carry the family’s name.” Once he finished, Nicholas and his people hurried off, leaving the space feeling heavier.

As soon as he was out of sight, the calm smile slid off Nelly’s face. She let out a slow breath, pressing her head back against the wall, her chest rising and falling. She looked over at Jonah, hoping for some comfort in his eyes, maybe a shared smile, but both of them looked too weighed down for that.

Never was just starting to turn things around, and now it felt like another mess was about to crash down on them.

After a long silence, Jonah finally spoke, pushing himself up and coming to stand beside her. “Sheila should feel lucky we let her go so easily.” His tone was casual, but something tense lingered underneath.

“You are so hildish,” Nelly replied, her gaze clear, a teasing smile tugging at her lips. “But that’s not what you really want to say, is it?”

Jonah shrugged. “So what should I say?”

“You should be saying, first, I need to go talk to Felix and figure out what to do next. Or maybe you could come up with something to keep the fallout from my divorce to a minimum. And then, what are we going to do about Grandfather so we don’t end up completely on the defensive?” Nelly listed everything in Jonah’s usual businesslike tone, her voice light.

Jonah let out a short laugh, but it faded almost as quickly as it started. “Honestly, none of that matters right now.” He stepped closer, his height making her feel wrapped up in his presence as she leaned against the wall.

“What matters is… I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

Nelly blinked, caught off guard. Jonah’s eyes looked calm on the surface, but there was something deep and intense under those still waters. The longer she looked, the easier it was to get lost.

Her lashes fluttered as she remembered something. She glanced at his arm, the one that had been in a cast not so long ago.

“Hey, what about your arm?” Her eyes dropped, reaching out as if to check for herself.

…

“Have something to drink. Try to relax,” Britney said, holding out a glass of red wine.

Sheila’s nails pressed so hard into her palm she nearly broke the skin. She was standing in the most extravagant suite at the Peninsula Westhaven, the city’s top hotel. The wine shimmered in the light, casting an uneasy glow on her face.

“Ms. Watson… I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can help you,” Sheila finally said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Just two hours ago, she’d dropped Tina off at home, only to be stopped in the street and brought here against her will.