There, frozen in glossy stillness, were images of her and Noah.
His arm was wrapped around her waist, shielding her in a way that felt far too intimate. The closeness between them was undeniable, almost tender.
Sadie’s breath caught in her throat.
She couldn’t even recall a moment when she’d been that close to Noah.
A bitter knot twisted in her chest, rising like bile.
How was she supposed to explain this to Laura?
If she confessed the truth-that the man in the photos was her husband-then when the inevitable divorce happened, it would only make the situation worse.
But lying wasn’t any easier.
Sadie clutched the photos tighter, her mind racing for an answer.
After a shaky inhale, she forced a smile and walked back to Laura. “The man in the photos is my boss, Noah Wall,” she said, trying to sound casual. “He’s still single.”
Every word that slipped from Sadie’s lips was the truth.
Her marriage to Noah was a well-kept secret, buried so deeply that no online search could unearth their marital records.
But Laura’s skeptical gaze lingered, her clouded eyes narrowing with concern. “I hope you’re not lying to me.”
Without missing a beat, Sadie pulled out her phone and began typing, searching for proof right then and there.
The loading icon spun in circles before the results popped up. Noah’s public profile stared back at them, his marital status boldly stamped: Single.
Sadie shrugged, forcing an easy tone. “See? There’s no truth to that rumor about me interfering in someone else’s marriage.”
Laura’s frown deepened, her thoughts clearly racing. “So someone’s out to smear your name.”
Sadie gave a tight nod, a sharp glint flickering in her eyes. “You said there was a letter with the photos? Did you keep it? Maybe we can trace the handwriting and figure out who’s behind this.”
Laura froze for a moment, then let out a frustrated sigh and patted her head. “I tore up the letter and tossed it in the trash.”
Sadie reached for Laura’s hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “It’s okay. No one else has been home, right? The letter should still be there. I’ll head back later and dig it out.”
They talked for a little while longer, with Sadie making sure Laura’s nerves had settled before finally getting up to leave.
But as she approached the door, she nearly collided with a slender figure-Kyla.
Sadie hadn’t planned on giving Kyla a second glance, but Kyla’s panicked, guilty expression made her stop in her tracks. “What are you doing here?”
Kyla’s eyes darted away, her words tumbling out in a stammer. “Well, um… my… my heart’s been acting up. I came for a check-up.”
Then, as if a switch had flipped, Kyla’s tone turned defensive, her eyes narrowing. “But what’s it to you, anyway?”
Kyla turned around and stormed off, her footsteps echoing hastily down the corridor.
Sadie stood there, watching her retreat, her brows knitting together as a profound unease settled heavily in her chest.
There was something about Kyla’s panicked gaze and her fumbled, half-hearted excuse that felt like sharp thorns digging into Sadie’s thoughts.
Determined, Sadie sought out Jim to arrange her discharge, eager to rush to Laura’s apartment and find that letter.
However, Jim firmly objected. “You’re pregnant, and you were really shaken up yesterday. It’s crucial that you rest to maintain your pregnancy’s stability. Wandering about is the last thing you should be doing now.”
But Sadie was resolute. “There’s something pressing that I need to attend to immediately. As for the baby, I have a strong feeling-they’re just fine.”
Despite his reservations, Jim could not sway her; eventually, he gave in.
On her way out of Jim’s office, Sadie unexpectedly encountered Kyla again.
Their paths crossing so frequently seemed almost orchestrated.
Had she not known of Kyla’s heart condition and her urgent need for medical attention, Sadie might have suspected Kyla of snooping on her conversations.
With her patience wearing thin, Sadie brushed past Kyla, barely acknowledging her presence.
“Sadie!” Kyla’s voice, laced with urgency and a tremor of panic, halted her.
Sadie stopped dead in her tracks but didn’t turn to face Kyla.
“Y-you’re pregnant?” Kyla stammered, her voice a mix of disbelief and fear.
At that moment, a cold dread washed over Sadie, her heart plunging into an abyss of worry.
Under Kyla’s icy glare, a shiver skittered down Sadie’s spine, her posture rigid with unease.
“What does that have to do with you?” she demanded, her voice edged with defensiveness.
Sadie instinctively wrapped her arms around her stomach, a protective gesture that didn’t go unnoticed.
“Then why haven’t you told Noah you’re pregnant?” Kyla snapped, her fingers clamping around Sadie’s wrist with a force that bordered on painful, her nails threatening to break skin.
“Let me guess-you’re going to have the baby behind his back and then shove them in his face to blackmail him?” she went on, pure contempt lacing her words.
The sharp pinch forced a grimace onto Sadie’s face as she wrenched her arm free, her scorn palpable. “Do you think I’m as desperate as you? Clinging to Noah by any deceitful means necessary?” Sadie retorted, her disdain for Kyla’s touch evident in her shudder of revulsion.
Kyla, momentarily unbalanced by the force, steadied herself and sneered. “Pathetic. You actually believe having his child will keep Noah by your side? If he couldn’t care less about you now, what makes you think he’ll give a damn about that baby?”
She paused, her voice dropping colder with each word. “If you’re hoping this baby will boost your standing, you’re living in a fantasy. A man of Noah’s caliber could father countless heirs if he chose.” With a mocking laugh, Sadie shot back, “Then I sincerely wish you luck in bearing Noah’s child soon!”
With a final, dismissive glance at Kyla, Sadie turned around and strode away.
All she wanted now was to get that letter and put an end to this nightmare once and for all.
Kyla watched, her chest burning with pure rage as Sadie’s silhouette faded into the distance.
The sting of Sadie’s parting words lingered, as sharp and sudden as a slap across her face.
Noah hadn’t even laid a damn finger on her-not even once! What would happen if Noah found out that Sadie was carrying his child?
The mere possibility made her shiver, her mind refusing to accept the outcome.
Despite trying to convince herself otherwise, Kyla knew in her heart that Noah harbored feelings for Sadie.
His fleeting looks and subtle, unconscious gestures were undeniable-silent testaments to his care.
No, this child had no place in this world-they had to be dealt with. Kyla’s resolve hardened, and she sprinted after Sadie, her decision crystallizing with every step.
She scanned her surroundings in panic, only to catch a glimpse of a self-driving car pulling away from the curb.
Sadie’s voice, distant and icy, floated back to her. “Take me to Everhart Gardens.”
Everhart Gardens. Of course. That was where Laura, Sadie’s grandmother, resided.
A memory flashed in Kyla’s mind: the hushed tones of a conversation she had overheard between Sadie and Laura.
The letter. That damning, handwritten letter.
If Noah ever laid eyes on it and recognized her handwriting, the fallout would be catastrophic.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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