“It’s late, and it’s not safe for you to walk home alone. Kyla would understand; she won’t get the wrong idea.”
So, he acknowledged that Kyla was his precious sweetheart. The ache in Sadie’s chest grew until it was nearly unbearable.
With a forceful twist, Sadie freed her wrist and pivoted sharply to walk away.
The pain from her earlier injury was momentarily forgotten until she misstepped.
Her ankle buckled under her weight, and a sharp cry of pain escaped her lips as she stumbled. “Ah!”
Sadie tumbled gracelessly onto the cold ground. Instantly, Noah’s face twisted with concern, and he hastened to her side with long, urgent strides, sweeping her into his arms effortlessly.
“Let me down! I can manage on my own!” Sadie insisted, her voice thick with defiance as she wriggled in his grasp.
But Noah was unyielding. With a determined grip, he carried her to the black Bentley parked nearby. He settled her gently into the passenger seat, securing the seatbelt around her with a click that echoed her confinement, before slipping behind the wheel.
The Bentley sliced through the night, its engine a low growl against the silence. Outside, the landscape merged into a blur of shadows and fleeting lights, reflecting Sadie’s tumultuous emotions. She peered out, feeling adrift in a sea of confusion.
They navigated into an upscale residential area, the car’s headlights casting eerie shadows until they halted in front of a grand villa.
Sadie’s eyes widened in shock and a flicker of nostalgia. It was their former shared home.
Noah’s movements were tender yet firm as he carried Sadie into the living room and eased her onto the plush sofa. His brow furrowed as he observed her swollen ankle, his concern palpable in the quiet space.
Feeling uneasy, Sadie instinctively tried to retract her foot, but Noah gripped it firmly.
“Don’t move,” he commanded, his voice a blend of firmness and underlying warmth, leaving no room for protest.
Sadie’s heart fluttered with unease as she followed the instruction. With a swift motion, Noah pulled out his phone and promptly dialed a number.
The urgency in his voice was unmistakable as he stated sharply, “Jim, you have thirty minutes to make it to the Myrtlewood Estate.”
On the other end, a groggy Jim Archer struggled to gather his wits. He attempted to ask a question, but Noah briskly cut him off and ended the call.
With a heavy sigh of resignation, Jim reluctantly swung his legs out of bed. As he dressed in the dim light of his bedroom, he grumbled under his breath, “It’s the dead of night. Why can’t these emergencies ever wait until morning?”
But he knew all too well that when Noah called, refusal wasn’t an option-not when his $200,000 monthly salary came from a man as powerful as Noah.
Half an hour later, Jim arrived at the estate, his hair tousled and his eyes bleary. He briefly vented his frustration to Noah before turning his attention to Sadie’s injury.
Examining her carefully, he concluded, “This ankle sprain is quite severe. You’ll need to stay off it and rest for a few days.”
His skilled hands were gently securing a bandage around her swollen ankle.
“Thank you, Dr. Archer,” Sadie murmured, her attention fixed on the throbbing ache in her ankle.
Jim waved off her gratitude with a casual flick of his wrist. “Oh, it’s nothing. With what your husband pays, it’s the least I can do.” His tone held a hint of cynicism that didn’t go unnoticed.
At the mention of “your husband,” Sadie felt a sharp sting of bitterness surge through her. She managed a strained smile, masking the turmoil that the phrase evoked within her.
Jim had just finished tending to Sadie’s injury when he sought out Noah to discuss some necessary precautions. As he relayed the information, his gaze occasionally drifted toward Sadie, whose distant expression tugged at his curiosity.
Something about the evening’s atmosphere felt unsettlingly amiss.
Jim leaned closer to Noah under the guise of confidentiality, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Did you and your wife have a fight? She seems a bit… distant tonight.”
Noah paused, a shadow crossing his features. After a moment, he responded in a hushed tone, barely audible, “I’m planning to divorce her.”
Shock flickered across Jim’s face as he stared at Noah, his eyes wide with disbelief.
The silence stretched between them, heavy and uncomfortable. Observing Noah’s stern countenance, devoid of any humor, Jim let out a heavy sigh, tinged with regret.
“It’s your choice,” he finally said, his voice low and somber as he began to pack up his medical kit. “Just don’t do something you’ll wish you could take back.”
Noah, taken aback, felt a stab of irritation.
Why did everyone assume regret would follow his decision? Didn’t they understand? The love of his life had finally returned to him. He remained silent, lost in his thoughts, not fully grasping that some choices, once made, were irrevocable.
As Jim zipped up his kit, he turned to Sadie, offering her a gentle smile. “Take care, and try to get some rest,” he advised softly, his tone laced with concern. “I’ll be on my way.”
At his words, Sadie’s head snapped up, her eyes locking onto his with a desperate sharpness, as if she were grasping at a lifeline in a stormy sea.
Sadie knew seizing this moment was crucial for her escape.
“Wait, Dr. Archer!” she exclaimed suddenly, determination lighting her eyes. “I’m coming with you.”
She scrambled to slip back into her shoes, fumbling and hopping on one foot in her haste to catch up to Jim.
“Hey, slow down there!” Jim called out, surprised. He extended his hand to steady her, his eyes wide with concern.
As she made for the door, Sadie stumbled yet again, her foot twisting awkwardly.
“Ow…” she muttered, grimacing as a sharp pain shot through her. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes, but she blinked them back fiercely. The only thing on her mind was getting out.
She just needed to escape, away from this suffocating place.
Just then, Noah snapped out of his reverie, catching the tail end of her frantic movements. His heart clenched with worry, propelling him forward. He reached her just in time to prevent another fall.
“Sadie!” he bellowed in anger. “I told you to rest, and here you are, disregarding your own health! Are you trying to worsen your injury?” His voice was thick with worry and frustration, his brow furrowed as he looked at her intently.
Sadie blinked at him, caught off guard by the sudden flare of anger in his eyes.
As Jim realized his presence was unnecessary, he silently retreated, melting into the shadows.
Noah scooped Sadie up in his arms, and she was immediately enveloped by the comforting, familiar scent of him-a scent that evoked memories of intimate nights they had once shared.
Despite the warmth of his embrace, Sadie was keenly aware that soon, he would no longer be hers.
The realization sent a sharp ache through her heart, prompting her to wriggle desperately, trying to escape his hold.
“Let me go! I can walk on my own!” she asserted defiantly, her voice laced with frustration.
Her vigorous struggle irked Noah, and in response, he tightened his grip, his resolve firm.
“And risk you hurting your foot again?” He chided her softly, his voice a blend of reprimand and tenderness.
Sadie’s resistance faded; she reluctantly ceased her efforts and settled down.
Noah’s gaze softened as he looked upon her calm, delicate features, stirring a storm of emotions within him.
He carefully lowered her onto the sofa, his movements tender and deliberate, and he knelt to examine her swollen ankle.
His fingers, articulate and precise, brushed against her skin with a gentleness that contrasted with his earlier firmness.
Sadie cast her gaze downward, her eyes settling on the crown of Noah’s head, momentarily adrift in thought.
These instances of tenderness from Noah were few and far between.
Every gesture he made seemed to strum a chord deep within her heart. Once Noah confirmed her ankle was fine, he carefully placed her feet on the sofa and draped a blanket over them with a soft touch.
“You haven’t had anything to eat yet, have you? I’ll whip up some clam chowder to fill you up,” he offered, his voice soft and filled with concern.
At his words, a surge of warmth fluttered through Sadie’s chest. She raised her eyes to meet his, her gaze lingering on his striking features, rendered speechless.
She meant to insist that it wasn’t necessary, yet before the words could leave her lips, Noah said firmly, “Just relax,” and made his way to the kitchen.
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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