Sadie stood there, her complexion ghostly, a sheen of sweat glistening faintly on her brow, her body emanating frailty and fatigue.
“How many times do I have to repeat myself? I don’t want to eat,” she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper, trembling with frustration.
Noah’s face softened immediately. He stepped closer, extending a hand to check her forehead.
“Are you feeling alright?” he inquired, concern lacing his words. Yet, Sadie turned away sharply, her cheeks shadowed with a mix of hurt and defiance.
A flicker of bitterness tightened her lips.
Yesterday’s harshness from Noah had left her reeling, not just emotionally but physically too, leading to complications in her pregnancy and a burning fever.
All of it was his fault. Now he dared to show concern? Was she seriously supposed to let this go? No way in hell!
“Just leave me alone,” she said, her voice cold and flat, slicing through the tense air.
Noah shifted his attention to Rosa, who was standing nearby, unease written on her face. “Rosa, make some plain soup,” he instructed firmly.
His gaze briefly met Kyla’s, who stood not far away. He acknowledged her with nothing more than a dismissive glance before turning back to Sadie with a commanding tone that brooked no argument. “Go back and lie down. I’m calling the doctor now.”
A pang of anxiety gripped Sadie’s heart, pulling a rash, desperate response from her.
“Don’t!” The word escaped her lips with a tremor, betraying her fear.
“I’ll just stay warm and sweat this thing away.”
The looming threat of a doctor’s visit terrified her.
It would unveil her secret pregnancy, a revelation she feared Noah would never accept.
This child was both her last beacon of hope and her deepest vulnerability.
Noah’s brow deepened into a troubled furrow as he pressed on,
“You’ve been throwing up lately and are burning up with a fever now. You’re clearly unwell, yet you stubbornly refuse to see a doctor. Are you hiding something from me?” His tone was demanding, laced with concern and frustration.
Sadie averted her gaze, her eyes darting nervously, betraying her reluctance to confront his questioning.
“Of course not,” she replied, her voice a strained whisper of feigned calm. “It’s just… doctors tend to pry too much into my life.”
On the sidelines, Kyla observed the tense exchange with a simmering blend of jealousy and resentment.
Her eyes lowered, masking the storm brewing within.
Seriously? Sadie thought Noah would care about her with this act? She was dumber than she looked.
Noah, his face a mask of stoic indifference, whipped out his phone. His long fingers danced across the screen with practiced ease as he made a call.
“You’ve been in Jim’s care before. It’s just another check-up. Why act like it’s a big deal now?” he questioned, his voice smooth.
At the mention of “Jim,” a visible wave of relief washed over Sadie. Jim was among the few who knew of her pregnancy and had vowed to keep it a secret.
She trusted him implicitly, and the mere thought of his support seemed to soothe her fraying nerves.
As Noah ended the call, his expression softened, his voice gentle. “Just wait for a while. Jim will be here before you know it.”
With a slight nod, Sadie’s attention drifted toward the window, her thoughts swirling.
Sadie knew she needed to reach out to Alex. He was her last chance to escape this place.
Jim’s visit could be her break.
Kyla’s eyes darted between Sadie and Noah repeatedly.
Observing the shift from tension to ease on Sadie’s face, Kyla grew suspicious, sensing that something was off.
Her instincts whispered that Sadie was concealing something important from Noah.
But what could it possibly be?
Interrupting her thoughts, Noah’s voice resonated, “Kyla, you’ve put in the effort last night looking after me. Why don’t you grab a bite and refresh yourself?” His voice was deep and captivating.
A flutter of warmth passed through Kyla as her heart momentarily skipped a beat.
He actually cared about her!
It was unusual for Noah to show such personal concern, sparking curiosity about his different behavior today.
Doubt briefly crossed her mind, but it was swiftly overtaken by a rush of satisfaction.
With a sidelong glance at Sadie, Kyla responded to Noah, “I did what I should. Shall we head to the dining room together?”
Agreeing with a nod, Noah began to walk with Kyla toward the dining room.
He couldn’t resist a backward glance at Sadie, as if searching for a sign of emotion.
Finding none, he quickly turned and hastened to catch up with Kyla. Upon entering the dining room, Noah courteously pulled out a chair for Kyla.
Caught off guard by the gesture, Kyla released a victorious smile.
She reveled in the attention, feeling more like his rightful partner.
All the while, Sadie watched quietly.
She had no resentment, only a deep sense of weariness.
Turning away, she gently closed the door to the master bedroom, silencing the sounds from the dining room.
Everything finally became quiet.
Jim, carrying a medicine box, rushed into the house, his forehead dotted with sweat.
Upon spotting Noah, he eased up a bit and inquired, “Where’s Sadie?”
“Just follow me,” Noah responded briefly.
Kyla quickly set her utensils aside, her eyes alight with eagerness as she whispered, “Noah, I want to come along to see Sadie because…” She trailed off, seeming to search for the right words, then continued, “There are some misunderstandings between us that need to be cleared up face-to-face.”
Noah didn’t object, simply saying flatly, “Let’s go.”
Rising, he took the lead toward the master bedroom.
Kyla was right behind him, a subtle smile of anticipation playing on her lips.
Catching sight of Kyla, Jim froze for a moment before staring at Noah in disbelief. “You’ve actually put Kyla and Sadie in the same house?”
Noah stopped, giving Jim a look of mild annoyance. “Why does it bother you? Sadie isn’t bothered. She doesn’t even care. What’s got you so agitated?”
Jim was momentarily speechless.
He inhaled deeply, and after a pause, he shook his head and muttered, “Never mind. You’re truly blind, Noah. Just don’t come to regret this.”
“What do you mean by that? I’m blind to what?” Noah’s expression darkened.
Jim remained silent, only gesturing towards the door as he told Noah and Kyla, “I have to go in and see to the patient. Wait here, please.”
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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