Husband With Benefits-Chapter 36: A Confrontation

Sara Anderson gazed at Nora’s back, curiosity evident in her eyes. If she believed in concepts like rebirth, she might have been convinced that Nora had undergone some sort of transformation. However, not subscribing to such beliefs, she could only ponder what had caused her sister’s profound change.

Nora had always been someone who followed orders. From an early age, Sara had understood that all she had to do was cry and blame Nora for not listening to her, and her older sister would do everything for her. And if she did not, then their mother would make her do it, whether she wanted to or not. At times, she had even feared that her mother might do the same to her if she had a younger sister. However, she gradually came to realize that her mother wasn’t just biased against Nora; she actually harbored hatred towards her. Whenever she troubled her older sister, Sara was rewarded for it.

However, while she had been the center of the universe at home, Nora had excelled in school. Sara did well too, but mere success was insufficient for her; she desired the spotlight solely on herself. And so, one day when she was ten, she tearfully implored her sister to stop being so brilliant in school. She explained how hard it was for her to study and compete. She wanted to love her sister without resentment.

Of course, at that time, Sara didn’t realize that those last words had deeply affected Nora. Nora didn’t want her younger sister to resent her. If barely passing exams could make her younger sister love her, Nora was willing to compromise her academic excellence. Although Sara didn’t grasp this initially, by the time they were teenagers, she started understanding. Not only did she understand, but she also exploited this vulnerability, gradually making it her norm.

This dynamic continued until Nora met Antonio. The only guy that she had a crush on asked her less remarkable sister out. That night, Sara wept profusely, mixed with fear. She believed Nora was undeserving of love, so Antonio would surely break her heart eventually. But Sara dreaded the possibility of Nora revealing unfavorable things about her to Antonio while they dated, which would ruin Sara’s chances with him.

As a result, Sara distanced herself a bit, refraining from using Nora as much as before. She even requested her mother to ease up, to no avail. Nonetheless, she waited, expecting their relationship to collapse, only for it to persist. Watching Nora with Antonio brought tears to her eyes, until her mother suggested she seek Antonio’s help. Her mother assured her that once Antonio got to know her, he’d move on from Nora. True to her mother’s prediction, Antonio left Nora and turned to Sara. He even publicly declared his intention to marry her. Yet, despite having Antonio by her side, Sara couldn’t escape her fears.

What if Nora’s tears evoked Antonio’s sympathy? After all, they’d shared a strong bond for over three years. This sense of insecurity weighed heavily on her, a shroud around her thoughts. However, everything shifted drastically from there. Antonio couldn’t marry her despite her surrendering herself to him. Marrying Antonio sooner, as her mother advised to secure her inheritance, proved challenging due to his mother’s objections.

The only reassurance she had that Antonio wouldn’t return to Nora was his perception of her as inferior, incapable of standing beside him. And now, Nora had suddenly become an expert at math. This worried Sara, as the barrier between Nora and Antonio seemed to have crumbled. Antonio’s belief that Nora was unworthy of him was now under scrutiny.

Sara sighed in her heart. She wished Nora could have Antonio, yet the truth was Nora had truly let him go. The only person she could now fight to save her love was the man himself.

As for herself, she held no grudge against Nora. Nora had always been available to cater to her every need, and Sara had taken advantage of that. If Nora was exiting her life, Sara saw no reason to torment her. Hence, she refrained from sabotaging Nora when she noticed her newfound success.

However, there was one thing she couldn’t understand: who had tried to report her? She had asked Antonio, and he had denied informing the professor of Nora’s score.

Lost in thought, Sara suddenly realized that Nora had disappeared from her sight. Scanning the surroundings, she attempted to locate Nora but found no trace of her.

Then, she felt a tap on her shoulder and swiftly turned around, coming face-to-face with Nora. Caught off guard, Sara offered a somewhat fearful and hesitant smile, saying, "Nora, how are you? What are you doing here?"

Arching an eyebrow, Nora inquired, "I was on my way to work. Why are you following me, Sara?"

Startled, Sara stammered, "Me? I wasn’t following you. I, uh, I was just passing by."

Observing Sara’s unease, Nora sighed, "You want to talk to me?"

"Me? Um... No, no." Sara vehemently shook her head, even taking a step back. Nora shrugged and turned away, saying, "Alright then. I’ll be on my way."

As Nora began to walk away, Sara’s impulse got the better of her. "Could you spare a few minutes? I’d like to talk to you, please."

Exhaling audibly, Nora agreed. She gestured towards the café where she worked and said, "I have ten minutes. But let me warn you if you’re planning any theatrics, I’ll leave. Is that clear?"

Sara nodded vigorously, relief washing over her. "Absolutely, Nora. I just... need someone to talk to."

They walked to the café, settling at a table near the window. Sara fidgeted with her fingers, her thoughts racing. She finally found the courage to speak. "Nora, I want you to know... I’ve been unfair to you. I’ve used your kindness and sacrifices for my own gain, without truly considering how you felt."

Nora’s expression remained impassive as she listened, her eyes fixed on Sara.