Ignoring Kyla’s flustered state, Sadie pushed herself to her feet. She knew she needed to leave-now more than ever.
With shaky steps, she made her way out of the private room, each step echoing her resolve to escape the stifling atmosphere.
As Sadie rushed for the elevator, her thoughts collided with each other like a storm, but one resolve cut through the chaos-she would no longer tolerate being pushed around or bullied, especially not by Kyla.
Just as this determination solidified, the elevator chimed open.
In her haste, Sadie rushed inside, colliding with a man exiting the elevator. The impact sent a jolt through her body. Through the thin fabric of his shirt, Sadie could feel the firm contours of his muscles, a clear indication of his physical strength.
The man’s face twisted into a frown, an irritated grunt escaping him as he prepared to scold the careless intruder. However, his reprimand faltered as his gaze fell upon Sadie-the very woman who was supposed to be resting at home. A surge of frustration built within him, threatening to overflow.
With a firm grip, he seized Sadie’s shoulders, his brow furrowing deeper. “Sadie, what the hell are you doing here?” he demanded sharply. As he leaned closer, the unmistakable sharp scent of alcohol hit him, and his frown deepened into a scowl. “Have you been drinking?” he asked, his displeasure unmistakable.
The moment their bodies collided, Sadie immediately recognized him by his signature cold, woody fragrance-Noah. The realization only fueled her desire to flee.
She believed, deep down, that if Noah hadn’t been supporting Kyla, Kyla wouldn’t have dared target her so blatantly.
At that moment, Sadie was overwhelmed by discomfort, her senses heightened to an unbearable intensity. Though Noah’s touch had been gentle, a dull pain throbbed in her shoulders.
“Get your hands off me! Let me go!” she cried out, her voice trembling with desperation.
Her plea seemed only to provoke Noah, whose grip tightened in response. He pulled her flush against his chest, his hold unyielding as he spoke in a chilling tone. “Can’t resist making a mess, can you, Sadie? You’re not holding back anymore, huh?”
Noah’s imposing presence surrounded Sadie, and her heart squeezed painfully, as if trapped in a vice, stealing her breath away.
For a fleeting second, Sadie ceased her struggles, allowing herself to feel the confinement of his embrace. Her voice, when she spoke, was shaky and heavy with tears.
“What did I do to deserve this?” she asked, her voice breaking. “Since the love of your life came back, I didn’t stand in your way-I agreed to the divorce. I even left our home to keep the peace, yet it seems you and she just can’t let me be!”
In the midst of her emotional turmoil, Sadie unleashed a torrent of pent-up feelings.
A twisted sense of triumph flickered through Noah as he listened. Could her recent erratic actions be a sign of her love for him, still burning too fiercely to extinguish?
Thinking of the years of deep affection Sadie had shown him, Noah found it wasn’t so easy to simply let go. Perhaps his approach had been too harsh.
He exhaled a heavy, resigned sigh, signaling a reluctant compromise. “Alright, let’s put the brakes on the divorce for now. Take all the time you need to adjust, but know that I won’t stay forever.”
Sadie felt a sharp pang in her heart upon hearing his words. Did he really believe she needed time to adjust to the idea of their separation?
A bitter smile twisted her lips as tears cascaded down her cheeks.
“Noah, your cruelty knows no bounds,” she said, her voice cold and detached as she turned her head away, shutting her eyes to block out the sight of him. “I don’t need time to adjust. You can vanish from my life whenever you please-it would be better if you never returned!”
A shadow fell over Noah’s expression, his aura turning icy and menacing. He couldn’t believe she would dare speak to him like that.
Seizing her chin, he forced her to look at him, his voice sharp and commanding. “Sadie, don’t you forget-you are still my wife!”
“Wife?” Sadie’s lips curled into a bitter smile as she confronted Noah. “Tell me, Noah, am I really your wife? Or just another possession you think you can throw away when you’re done with it?”
“Noah!” At that moment, a soft, melodious voice echoed down the hallway.
Noah’s gaze shifted upwards, catching sight of Kyla emerging from the other end of the corridor. She was clad in a flowing white gown, her figure ethereal, almost like a porcelain doll brought to life.
As Sadie had stormed off earlier, Kyla had trailed behind, her steps light with the anticipation of witnessing Sadie’s misery, ready to add fuel to the fire. However, the scene that unfolded before Kyla was not the debacle she had envisioned. She was shocked by the sight of Sadie, now cradled securely in Noah’s arms.
The intimacy of their embrace, the tender way Noah held her, sparked a seething rage within Kyla. They were so close, so entwined, that it seemed as though the world around them had dissolved.
Jealousy clawed at Kyla’s heart, fierce and unrelenting. She couldn’t comprehend it all. Why did Sadie, of all people, receive such affection and tenderness from Noah?
As Kyla approached, her smile softened even further, her hand extending warmly toward Noah. Her voice, infused with tender concern, broke the tension. “Noah, why don’t you let me take care of Sadie?”
There was a softness in her voice, wrapped in just enough worry to make it seem like she was the only one who genuinely cared for Sadie. Yet, instead of releasing his hold, Noah clutched Sadie tighter to his chest, his brows knitting together in a mix of confusion and slight irritation.
“What are you doing here?” he demanded, his voice edged with mild annoyance.
Kyla’s outstretched hand closed on empty air, and she paused, her face a mask of fleeting confusion before she smoothly retracted her hand. With a casual flick, she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, concealing her momentary embarrassment. Maintaining her composed demeanor, she replied softly, “Noah, don’t tell me it’s already slipped your mind? I brought this up last night. You were overwhelmed, so I offered to handle the contract negotiations with Mr. Crawford from Sky Tech.”
Noah’s mind flickered with a vague memory of that conversation. After he had dropped Kyla off at the hospital, his thoughts had been overwhelmingly occupied with Sadie’s health, only half-hearing Kyla’s words. He had nodded absentmindedly, his attention already elsewhere as he rushed off. That casual dismissal, though unintentional, had pierced Kyla like a dagger, wounding her deeply.
Still oblivious to the depth of Kyla’s hurt, Noah asked, “And Sadie? Why on earth is she here with you?”
With a casual ease, Kyla spoke as if she were merely commenting on a sunny afternoon. “Noah, you know there’s always drinking at these gatherings, and with my heart condition, I simply can’t drink. I heard that Sadie is exceptionally diligent at work, so I figured she could handle it. That’s why I asked her to step in.”
She studied Noah’s face intently, her eyes searching for the usual gentle understanding he had shown so many times before-hoping he would let the issue pass without fuss, as he always did. However, this time, his response was unexpectedly icy. “Sadie’s not feeling well either,” he stated flatly.
What?
Kyla stood rooted to the spot, shocked. For a fleeting moment, she questioned whether she was trapped in some surreal dream. Wait… was he seriously defending Sadie?
The thought pierced through Kyla like a sharp thorn, igniting a wild blaze of jealousy within her. She lifted her eyes, only to meet Noah’s intense, unwavering stare. There was a chilling coldness and an unspoken warning in his eyes that she had never seen directed at her before.
Feeling a tight knot in her chest, Kyla fought back any show of displeasure. Instead, she clenched her fist so tightly that her nails dug into her palm, and with a voice tinged with innocence yet laced with self-reproach, she murmured, “I had no idea about Sadie’s condition… I never would have involved her had I known. Remember, after I saved you and barely escaped those kidnappers, I was left with this heart condition. You promised, Noah-you said you’d always look after me.”
Noah remained silent, his deep eyes fixed on Kyla with an intensity that seemed to pierce through her very soul.
After a prolonged silence, he averted his gaze, his features shadowed by a mix of emotions-unreadable and foreboding.
“I haven’t forgotten-I don’t break my promises. The Wall Group is the only thing keeping Sky Tech from sinking,” he said, his voice low and steady. “You don’t need to be so deferential toward its CEO. When it comes to the partnership, he’s not our only choice. And you had no right to involve Sadie.”
Kyla’s heart thudded painfully against her chest.
A wave of irritation crashed over her as she pressed her lips together and murmured, “Noah, I’m sorry. I didn’t think it through.”
Noah ignored Kyla’s apology and shifted his focus to Sadie, who looked half-conscious and pale in his arms. His eyes darkened with concern as he gently guided her toward the private room.
Kyla watched Noah’s figure, her fists clenched so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, drawing pain without her noticing.
Kyla was determined to win against Sadie no matter what it took.
Inside the private room, an opulent yet eerie atmosphere enveloped the space. The crystal chandelier cast a ghostly glow over the polished mahogany table, intensifying the room’s unsettling aura.
“People rave about Miss Hudson’s brilliance at the Wall Group, but today, I see she’s nothing special.”
Platt, his ample stomach brushing against the edge of the table, spoke with palpable disdain and a mocking tone.
Marvin Valdez, who was perched next to him, eagerly joined in, his eyes gleaming with amusement.
“I heard she’s closed million-dollar deals on her own-showing the world she’s just as ruthless and sharp as any man in the game! For all her reputation, she can’t even hold her liquor! Ha! Women belong at home raising kids, not sticking their noses where they don’t belong in the business world. She wants to play with the big leagues, yet one drink has her tapping out? Pathetic!”
Mack, who had been quietly simmering with irritation, couldn’t hold back any longer. His voice cracked with emotion as he interjected, “Mr. Crawford, please watch your words!”
Platt, unfazed, gave Mack a condescending look and waved him off dismissively. “Oh, come on, Mack. I get it, a man’s instinct to defend a woman he admires, but don’t let that blind you to reality. Spoil a woman too much, and she’ll crumble the moment reality hits.”
He leaned closer, and his voice dropped to a sly whisper, heavy with insinuation. “And let’s not forget, some women are masters of manipulation-maintaining an innocent facade while cunningly advancing their own agendas behind the scenes.”
Laughter rippled through the group, yet Mack’s expression didn’t waver.
“Mr. Crawford is absolutely right. These days, a pretty face isn’t just a blessing; it’s a stepping stone. Makes you wonder what underhanded tricks they resort to for climbing the ladder so swiftly.”
“Couldn’t agree more! Some women pretend to be saints in the daylight, but once the doors shut, they know exactly how to seduce their prey!”
As their laughter grew louder and more obnoxious, a piercing, cold voice sliced through the cacophony.
“Let me get this straight-according to you, Mr. Crawford, the women at Wall Group are just eye candy?”
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.
Leave a Reply