Chapter 113

That familiar smell triggered something in his memory, like a fleeting scene from the past suddenly flashing by. But when Nelson Cooper took another bite, the only thing left on his tongue was the sweet, soft fragrance of the pastry—lightly sweet, not overwhelming. Honestly, it tasted great. Maybe he was hoping to chase that memory a bit further, so he reached for another piece. But before his fingers touched it, Beatrice slapped his hand away with a loud smack. "Claire made this for me. Letting you have one piece was more than generous. You seriously think you deserve another?" Nelson looked up at Claire. She just smiled faintly, sipping her water slowly, clearly not wanting to step in and say anything. Yeah, just like his mom—didn't want anything to do with him. Nelson didn't react. He quietly pulled his hand back, grabbed a tissue, and wiped his fingertips clean. "I'm heading upstairs. You two go on talking." And just like that, he left, even forgetting the phone he left on the coff