Noah’s expression darkened with a hint of annoyance.
The memory of Kyla’s chronic heart issue, a result of a past sacrifice to save him, flashed through his mind.
He quickly stifled his frustration.
His gaze shifted from Sadie to Alex, finally settling back on Sadie with a complex look.
“I don’t care what you and Alex are doing at the restaurant,” he said coldly, his voice sharp with authority. “Just ensure you return by eight tonight.”
A heaviness settled in Sadie’s chest.
His words pierced her like a sharp needle.
She clenched her jaw, remaining silent.
Alex continued to hold her wrist, feeling the slight shiver pass through her.
He glanced at her worriedly before easing his hold.
Noah bent down to lift Kyla, making his way toward the garage with a firm, unwavering stride.
As Sadie watched them leave, her heart ached with a searing pain, and bitterness welled up in her throat.
Despite his disloyalty in their marriage, Noah wasn’t prepared to let go of her.
He seemed determined to maintain control, keeping everything in his favor.
Truly, he was cunning.
Sadie felt a wave of sickness surge through her, and she struggled to hold back the nausea.
She gently touched her abdomen, whispering reassurances to the unborn child. “Little one, don’t be scared. Mommy’s here to keep you safe. Daddy or no daddy, you are my precious treasure, and I’ll make sure you’re happy.”
Sadie had managed to cover Laura’s medical bills by selling the “gifts” Noah had given her.
Now, she needed to save money for the baby.
She knew that to raise her child alone, she would need a reliable source of income.
The ambiance in the restaurant was set by soft lighting and soothing music.
Taking a deep breath, Sadie looked across the table at Alex and said, “Alex, I need to talk about that project with Mr. Dominguez. Could you set up a meeting for us soon?” Her voice was soft yet insistent, her eyes conveying her resolve.
Alex’s expression softened with understanding. He recognized her need for financial freedom as a step toward cutting ties with Noah.
“Let’s do it tomorrow. I’ll organize a get-together and make sure he’s there,” Alex responded, his tone smooth and supportive. “Roy won’t say no to family friends.”
A thankful smile crossed Sadie’s face. “That means a lot. Thank you, Alex.” She reached to pour herself wine, but Alex stopped her.
“Remember, Sadie, you’re pregnant; you shouldn’t be drinking,” Alex cautioned gently.
Sadie’s hand paused, and her eyes momentarily flickered.
Alex then gestured to a waiter. “Please bring us some orange juice instead.”
Soon, the waiter brought the orange juice, and Sadie accepted it, tasting the sweet-sour liquid. While it refreshed her, it did little to alleviate the lingering sadness.
She lifted her glass of orange juice, toasting Alex. “Thank you, truly.” With a warm smile, Alex raised his glass and quickly finished his wine, appreciating Sadie’s resilience and her silent perseverance.
Later, Alex drove Sadie back to her temporary home at the guesthouse. When they arrived, Alex looked at Sadie as he parked the car.
“Noah has demanded you return. Do you plan to go back?”
Sadie firmly shook her head. “I like it here at the guesthouse. Please keep my location a secret from him.”
Respecting her wishes, Alex simply nodded and asked nothing more.
Leaving the guesthouse, Alex felt a lightness in his step. Despite her fatigue, Sadie exuded a captivating resilience tonight. He liked this side of her, reminiscent of a flower weathering a storm with grace.
“Hey there, young man,” called out Katie Rivera, the innkeeper, a chubby woman surprisingly nimble on her feet. She greeted him with a sly smile. Alex stopped and gave her a respectful nod. “What can I do for you, Katie?”
With a playful yet serious look, Katie asked, “So, do you have a crush on that young lady?”
Alex quickly glanced back to make sure Sadie was out of earshot, relieved by the cover of night.
“I’m just helping a friend,” he responded quickly, his gaze shifting away from Katie to hide his discomfort.
Katie let out a knowing laugh. “Really, just a friend? Then why did you pay triple the amount to get the people who booked this place to cancel?”
Alex felt his cheeks warm under Katie’s teasing, his expression turning awkward.
He cleared his throat, eager to change the subject. “By the way, I’ll arrange a banquet for tomorrow and invite Roy.”
“Roy? Roy Dominguez from the Dominguez Group?” Katie’s voice was filled with surprise and disbelief.
Alex nodded, his expression serious. “That’s right. He’s your uncle, isn’t he? I need you to find a way to bring him to the banquet.”
“Don’t tell me this is about her again.” A playful smirk spread across Katie’s face, her eyes gleaming with mischief as she looked at Alex. “You do realize my uncle is a very busy man, right? Getting him to show up isn’t exactly easy.”
Alex touched his nose, a subconscious gesture that betrayed his unease. A faint blush tinged his cheeks as he felt Katie’s gaze piercing through his schemes, yet he struggled to maintain his composure. “Let’s cut to the chase, Katie. How much do you want to help me?” he asked.
Katie’s laughter filled the air as she teasingly held up five fingers. Without missing a beat, Alex, determined not to haggle over details, transferred $500,000 to her account.
The chime of the transaction notification echoed between them.
Katie’s eyes lit up with sheer delight as she glanced at her phone, her lips curling into a satisfied grin as though she could almost taste the sweetness of the money. “Wow, hitting the jackpot feels just like this, huh? I could definitely get used to it.”
Alex’s patience began to wear thin at her overt display of greed. With a slight frown, he brushed past her, his parting words carrying a stern warning. “Remember, Katie, fraud involving large sums can lead to prosecution. You’ve just pocketed half a million from me. If Roy doesn’t show up tomorrow, I’ll have no choice but to report this as fraud.”
Alex’s voice, though calm, was tinged with steely authority that commanded attention.
Katie felt a wave of surprise wash over her as the light from her phone screen danced across her features, revealing a tumult of emotions. The device in her hand suddenly seemed to burn her skin like a piece of scalding coal.
“Um… well…” Katie stammered, her eyes darting around as she desperately searched for the right words.
She watched helplessly as Alex walked away, her heart pounding in a frenzy of alarm. In that moment, she realized that Alex was not someone to be underestimated.
Snapping back to reality, Katie quickly dialed a number. “Hello, Uncle Roy…” she choked out, her voice trembling. “I need help!”
Meanwhile, Noah found the sterile scent of disinfectant in the hospital almost suffocating. After settling Kyla, the clock neared ten o’clock. He wearily pulled out his phone and dialed Samuel’s number.
“Has Sadie gone home?” he asked, his voice a quiet murmur, barely concealing his exhaustion.
Silence lingered on the other end of the line, stretching for a moment. “Uh, what? Mr. Wall, should I drive over and check?” Samuel’s voice wavered with uncertainty.
Noah hung up without responding, his heart racing as he rushed to Sadie’s ward, only to find it empty. He assumed she had already gone home.
Just then, his phone rang-it was Samuel. “Mr. Wall, Mrs. Wall hasn’t come home.”
Noah’s brow furrowed, annoyance bubbling up inside him. It was already ten o’clock at night; how could Sadie and Alex still be out having dinner?
With a growing sense of unease, Noah drove to the upscale restaurant. A polite waiter greeted him at the door and informed him that Sadie and Alex had left quite some time ago.
Frustration mounting, Noah stepped into the cool night air, massaging his temples as he dialed Sadie’s number.
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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