Female Novel
Chapter 250
I nodded, knowing that Nerissa was being considerate. Besides, I was indeed a little tired.
There weren't many people in the cafe, making the environment extra cozy and welcoming. Nerissa sat
me down at an empty table, and she went to order coffee for us.
Then, she returned to the table, looked at me, and she began to ask, "Arianna, can you tell me more
about Hendrix and you? I'll be honest with you, I used to often go back to Ucrebury to see him in
secret, but he never wanted to see me. He even went as far as to avoid me. Hendrix has always been
this aloof... Until the last time, he came to Jarold City. You don't know how happy I was when he came
to tell me that he's taking you here for a few days."
Nerissa seemed to be reminded of something painful as she looked visibly hurt. She continued, "I
thought that I had been abandoned by my family for the rest of my life. So, I'm really glad that Hendrix
is willing to come to visit me, and he's even bringing you with him!"
Her eyes were now brimming with
tears. Seeing that, I flustered and soothed, "The Roberts won't leave you behind, Aunt Nerissa. We
welcome you whenever you're ready to come home."
She looked at me and pulled a bitter smile. "But it has been so many years... Father won't want to see
me."
My heart tugged at the mention of Dalton.
Confused, I looked at her and asked, "Grandpa had passed away a few months ago, Aunt Nerissa.
Don't you know that?"
Upon hearing my words, Nerissa's hand tightened around her coffee cup. She looked at me in disbelief,
"What did you say?"
Judging by her expression, it seemed like she didn't know it. For a brief moment, I didn't know how to
respond. My heart jumped hard against my chest when I saw the state she was in. Nerissa lowered her
head and took a deep breath. When she looked back at me, her eyes were already red and swollen.
"What happened to Father?"
"Grandpa hadn't been in good health for the past few years. And he died of colorectal cancer at the end
of last year. He-"
At that, Nerissa dropped the cup in her hand. She crouched down in a panic to pick the shattered
pieces, but the worker at the cafe had already come forward to clean the mess.
She apologized repeatedly in a trembling voice, "I'm sorry... I'm really sorry."
The worker shook her head and replied, "It's all right. I just need to clean it up."
I reached out to guide Nerissa to a safer place. I didn't know how to comfort her, and for some reason, I
had a feeling that she wasn't only apologizing to the worker. The apology was for Dalton too.
After the episode, Nerissa was quick to recompose herself. After all, she was still a woman of good-
manner, and the cafe was a public space. A lady needed to be poised at all times, or at least in public
eyes.
However, she was no longer as calm as she had been when we sat down at the table. Even if she was
smiling, it was unconvincing. "Aunt Nerissa, maybe we should go home. We've been out here for quite
some time now,"
I suggested. I didn't suppose Nerissa would still be in the mood to shop for more things.
As expected, she nodded. "Yes, of course. Let's go. You're probably tired after a day of walking. You
should go home and rest." Then, we got up and headed towards the door to leave the cafe.
Nerissa was walking at the front while I trailed behind her, preoccupied with my handbag, and paid no
attention to the front. However, she abruptly stopped before the cafe door, and I almost ran into her
back. Following the direction of Nerissa's gaze, I was shocked to see the two people who had just
entered the cafe.
Bad things came in threes.
Helen was a few steps into the cafe while Irvin was behind her with a car key in his hand. It seemed
like he had just parked his car.
"Irvin, let's go to another cafe. It reeked of garbage here!" Helen jeered. She was more aggressive and
mean than the day before.
Irvin saw Nerissa and me, and he nodded with knitted brows, "Sure."
They turned around to leave, but the worker from earlier stopped the two of them. "Hello! Are you herenovelbin
for some coffee? Please, come in."
Helen glimpsed sideways at the worker, then her eyes turned back to fall on Nerissa. Glaring at
Nerissa, Helen scoffed, "I don't think this cafe suits me. However, it's a good gathering place for
mistresses!"
The waiter was taken aback at that comment, and naturally, she turned to look at Nerissa and me.
The atmosphere was initially quiet. However, the commotion had attracted a lot of people's attention,
and some people started whispering.
"What's wrong with this woman?"