Kyla maintained a feigned look of concern. “I’m just concerned about you, Sadie. You skipped lunch, and I thought I’d check on you.” She added, “Mrs. Wall suggested that those feeling unwell might prefer spicier, more acidic foods to stimulate their appetite, given the blandness of our meals.”
Noah’s expression darkened slightly. He firmly said to Sadie, “Go and eat.”
He reached for her arm, intending to guide her downstairs.
Sadie swiftly pulled her arm away and responded coldly, “I’m not going.”
Noah lost his temper, his demeanor turning cold as he picked Sadie up in his arms and decisively carried her downstairs.
“Let me go!” Sadie fought back with all her might.
“Are you out of your mind?” Her eyes bore into Noah, filled with both anger and fear.
Noah paid no attention to her protests, carrying her effortlessly and heading straight for the dining table. He placed her onto a chair with a firm but controlled motion.
His stare was cold as he looked down at her.
“Is this some kind of threat, refusing to eat or drink?”
Sadie was baffled by his actions. She had no desire to argue or engage with him; she only wanted to escape this oppressive environment as soon as possible.
Her eyes quickly swept to the wall clock-it read eight-thirty. The guards at the gate would switch shifts at nine o’clock, which was her window for escape, coordinated with Alex’s arrival.
Noah took the seat opposite Sadie, his expression as cold as ever. “You won’t leave this table until you’ve eaten,” he said, his voice leaving no room for negotiation.
Kyla observed the escalating tension with growing annoyance.
She had intended to thwart Sadie’s plan to flee, not anticipating that Noah would care so much about Sadie.
He even got furious just because she had skipped a meal.
A sharp pang of jealousy hit Kyla, feeling excluded and unnoticed.
Sadie clenched her jaw, silently working out her next move. Her only thought was to get out.
Despite her lack of hunger, Sadie feigned cooperation to minimize conflict with Noah.
She reached for the serving spoon, selected a piece of fish steak, placed it on her plate, and began eating without any real interest.
The flavor of the sauce coated her tongue, yet it failed to appeal to her taste buds.
As she chewed without enjoyment, her gaze flicked towards the clock intermittently.
With each passing minute, her tension mounted.
Once Noah observed Sadie consuming a few bites, he seemed to relax somewhat.
He filled a glass with water and set it next to Sadie’s hand.
A spark of inspiration flashed in Sadie’s eyes.
She feigned a casual gesture and accidentally knocked the glass over.
Water cascaded out, saturating Noah’s suit with a spreading dark patch.
“Argh! Are you alright, Noah? Did that scald you?” Kyla sprang into action, pulling out paper towels and hastily trying to dry Noah’s suit, her expression etched with worry.
Her voice thick with disapproval, she scolded, “Sadie, how could you be so clumsy?”
Sadie dismissed Kyla’s criticism, ignoring her completely, and continued with her meal as though the incident hadn’t occurred.
A scowl formed on Noah’s face, and he uttered a grunt of irritation before standing.
“I need to go change,” he said, his voice filled with cold fury.
Immediately, Sadie placed her fork down.
With determination, she got up, planning to shut herself in the bedroom and bar Noah from entering.
But as she took her first step, Kyla’s sharp voice stopped her cold. “Where do you think you’re heading, Sadie?” Kyla’s words were tinged with sarcasm.
Caught off guard, Sadie stopped and turned around in surprise to face Kyla.
“Trying to make a getaway through the window?” Kyla sneered, her voice full of contempt.
A wave of cold fear washed over Sadie.
Kyla’s correct guess about her escape plan unnerved her.
Sadie’s complexion drained of color.
Observing Sadie’s distressed look brought a twisted sense of gratification to Kyla.
She moved closer to Sadie, towering over her with a mocking smirk.
“Really, Sadie, such a clumsy attempt. Jumping out of a window? Do you honestly think you’ll manage to flee? Even if you manage the jump, escaping isn’t certain.”
Kyla paused for a moment, her eyes flashing with spite.
“Imagine if I inform Noah that you deliberately spilled water on him as a distraction to help your escape…”
Kyla left the threat hanging, confident that her words had hit their mark.
Sadie inhaled sharply.
“What are you trying to imply?”
Kyla gave a dismissive shake of her head and exhaled, pitying Sadie as if she were a lost cause.
Kyla’s eyes narrowed as she looked at Sadie. “You’re really unbelievable. Did you honestly think such a reckless plan would work? You think you can just waltz in and out of this villa whenever you please?” She paused for a moment, her expression softening ever so slightly. “But… I can offer you help, if you agree to my terms.”
Sadie was taken aback. She stared at Kyla, suspicion written across her face. “Help me? Why would you?” Her mind raced, trying to make sense of it. Still, she couldn’t fathom what other connection could exist between her and Kyla besides the animosity that had always been present.
Kyla’s lips curled into a knowing smile, her gaze calculating. “It’s simple, really,” she said. “I want to marry Noah. And you’re standing in my way. If you vanish and promise never to appear in front of him again, I’ll help you.”
Sadie’s heart dropped, a heavy weight settling in her chest. Her mind raced, her eyes flickering with doubt and conflict. She didn’t trust Kyla. Not for a moment. Kyla was cunning, manipulative, and always scheming. What was she really after?
Sadie bit down hard on her lower lip, silence filling the space between them. She didn’t respond immediately, unsure how to handle the situation.
Kyla didn’t push further. Instead, she leaned back, observing Sadie intently, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of her lips. Her voice was smooth, but there was an unmistakable edge to it. “You can think it over,” she said, her tone laced with subtle warning. “But don’t even think about trying to escape through the window. Even if you try, you won’t get away.”
Just as the tension thickened, Noah returned, freshly changed.
Kyla immediately took two steps back, her demeanor shifting instantly. The sharp, calculating woman from moments ago was gone, replaced by someone calm and composed. She wore a gentle smile as if nothing had happened.
Sadie’s eyes flickered to Noah as he approached her. There was a faint look of confusion on his face. “What are you zoning out for?” he asked, his voice deep and smooth, laced with a subtle hint of concern. “Did you spill the water on purpose?” His tone was light, almost teasing, as though he were merely making casual conversation.
Sadie scoffed quietly, a bitter laugh escaping her. “Yes, I did it on purpose,” she said, her voice sharp. The anger she’d been holding back was now bubbling to the surface.
Sadie turned her eyes away, her voice growing cold. “The meal’s finished. Can I go back and rest now?”
Noah’s gaze shifted to the small stain of soup at the corner of her lips, his brow furrowing in slight concern. Instinctively, he reached out to wipe it away.
But Sadie quickly stepped back, a firm expression crossing her face. “It’s fine,” she said, her tone dismissive as she avoided Noah’s touch.
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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