Meanwhile, at the city hospital, Kyla lay in a private ward, her face pale and delicate, the very picture of fragility.
The soft click of the door opening stirred her, and she immediately lifted her head. When her eyes met Noah’s figure standing in the doorway, tears welled up in her gaze. “Noah, you’re finally here…”
Her voice was faint, laced with subtle grievance, as though she had been abandoned in her moment of need.
Noah approached the bed, his expression stern, his eyes cold and devoid of warmth.
Kyla’s heart fluttered anxiously under his chilling stare. She struggled to sit up, her body trembling with effort. “I’m in a lot of pain…” Kyla’s voice was barely a whisper as she clutched Noah’s hand, her tears spilling freely down her cheeks. “Did you really have an episode last night?”
The sudden shift in Noah’s tone sent a jolt through Kyla. Her eyes widened, and the little color left in her face drained completely.
She bit down on her lip, trying to compose herself, but her gaze flickered nervously. “Noah… what are you talking about? I’m really not well. My chest-it hurts so badly-“
“Oh, really?” Noah let out a cold, humorless laugh, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. Without another glance at her, he turned to Samuel. “Go get the doctor who was on duty last night.”
Samuel didn’t hesitate. He spun on his heel and left the room, leaving a heavy silence in his wake.
Kyla’s heart pounded in her chest, dread creeping in. She clutched the quilt tightly, her knuckles turning white, fighting to keep her breathing steady.
Minutes later, Samuel returned with a doctor in tow.
“Tell me, Doctor-does Miss Wade’s condition match the emergency she claims it is?” Noah’s voice was like ice, his tone leaving no room for excuses.
The doctor glanced nervously between Noah and Kyla before finally speaking, his voice cautious. “Well… there are some minor issues with her heart, but nothing severe. We can’t entirely rule out the possibility of sudden complications, though.”
His words were careful, measured, as if he were walking a tightrope.
Noah gave a dismissive wave of his hand. “Both of you, leave.” Samuel and the doctor didn’t need to be told twice. They exchanged quick glances of relief before slipping out the door, closing it softly behind them.
“Noah… why are you questioning me like this? Don’t you trust me?” As soon as they were gone, Kyla turned to Noah, her eyes welling up with fresh tears. Her voice wavered, thick with feigned hurt.
But Noah’s stare only grew colder, his jaw tightening. The pity in Kyla’s expression did nothing to soften him; in fact, it solidified what he already knew in his heart. “Everything that happened last night…”
His voice was low, razor-sharp. “It was all part of your plan, wasn’t it?”
Kyla’s face paled, the mask slipping as panic flickered in her eyes. “No… no, it’s not like that, Noah. You’ve got it all wrong!”
“Then tell me, do you know someone named Ryder Clifford?” Noah leaned in slightly, his gaze piercing through her.
Kyla’s breath hitched. “R-Ryder Clifford?” she repeated, her voice quivering. “I… I don’t know anyone by that name…”
Noah watched her carefully, the guilt etched across her face dissolving any lingering doubt. In that moment, he knew-she was involved in what happened last night.
“I’ll find Ryder soon, and when I do, the truth will come out.” With that, Noah spun on his heel and left the room without a backward glance, his footsteps echoing down the hall.
Back in the ward, Kyla collapsed against the pillows, her body trembling, her face as white as the hospital sheets. She never imagined Noah would suspect her-never thought he’d be so cold, so unforgiving. Meanwhile, outside the room, Noah’s expression hardened as he turned to Samuel.
“Keep an eye on Kyla. I want to know her every move. If she so much as blinks suspiciously, report it to me immediately.”
Samuel nodded sharply. “Yes, Mr. Wall.”
Without another word, Noah stalked out of the hospital and into his car.
He pounded the steering wheel with such force that the veins in his hands bulged, his knuckles white from the pressure.
Where the hell was Sadie? His mind kept replaying the same image-Sadie’s pale, fragile face and the horrifying pool of blood staining the pavement.
Minutes later, the car screeched to a halt in front of the bar belonging to Jim’s family.
Without hesitation, Noah jumped out, his stride purposeful and tense as he stormed through the bar’s entrance.
Inside, the bar pulsed with dim, flickering lights and pounding music. The air was thick with the sharp scent of alcohol and tobacco. At the bar, Jim sat alone, nursing a drink, his posture relaxed, as if the chaos around him didn’t exist.
When Noah stormed in, Jim’s eyes flickered with brief surprise, but he quickly masked it with indifference.
“Hello,” he said flatly, his tone devoid of emotion, as if he’d been expecting this confrontation all along.
“Where is Sadie?” Noah shot back, cutting straight to the point. Jim chuckled quietly, swirling the amber liquid in his glass.
“How would I know?”
“Don’t play games with me!” Noah snarled, lunging forward to grab Jim by the collar. His eyes burned with fury. “You and Sadie were plotting something!”
But Jim didn’t flinch. He met Noah’s glare with calm defiance.
“Playing games?” Jim scoffed, shaking his head. “Noah, you give me too much credit.”
With a swift, sharp motion, Jim wrenched himself free from Noah’s grip, his eyes glinting with mockery.
“And why would Sadie be plotting with me? Hasn’t she always been your loyal little shadow?”
“Damn you!” Noah spat, his chest heaving with frustration, but deep down, he couldn’t find the words to argue.
“Noah,” Jim said quietly, his voice cutting through the tension, “you only realize the value of something once it’s gone. But by then… isn’t it too late?”
Noah’s fists clenched so tightly his nails dug into his palms, but the sharp sting didn’t register. All he could feel was the weight of Jim’s words.
Noah’s fist shot out with brutal speed, connecting squarely with Jim’s jaw. The crack of the impact echoed over the thumping bass of the bar’s music.
Jim staggered back, catching himself against the edge of the bar, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
“Are you in love with Sadie?” Noah roared, his voice raw. His eyes were bloodshot, wild-like a caged animal teetering on the edge of losing control.
“In love with her?” Jim scoffed, shaking his head. “Noah, you really do think too highly of yourself. I’ve been with more women than I can count-why the hell would I be interested in your wife?”
“Then why are you protecting her?” Noah barked, grabbing Jim by the collar, his grip like a vice. His knuckles blanched as he pulled Jim in, his teeth clenched so tightly it looked like his jaw might snap.
“Because I can’t stand watching you tear down a good woman like that,” Jim shot back, his voice sharp, cutting through Noah’s rage like a blade. “Sadie’s given up everything for you. And you-you’re too blind and too fucking selfish to see it!”
With a sharp shove, Jim pushed Noah back, his eyes gleaming with disgust. “You’ve changed, Noah. You’ve turned into a selfish, hypocritical bastard, all for Kyla. And in the process, you threw away someone who loved you without question, like she was nothing.”
Noah’s chest heaved, his breath coming in ragged bursts. His fist shot up again, trembling in mid-air, ready to land another punch. Jim didn’t move. He just shrugged, a knowing smirk tugging at his bruised lips, as if he’d expected Noah to pull back all along.
“We’re not friends anymore.” Noah’s voice was low and hoarse, weighted with pain and disappointment he couldn’t quite mask.
Without another word, he turned on his heel and strode out of the bar, never once glancing back. Jim stood there, watching Noah’s figure disappear into the shadows, the echo of his words lingering in the air long after he was gone.
Sadie drifted in and out of consciousness, trapped in a fog of dizziness. Her vision was hazy, and a sharp, persistent ringing filled her ears. She blinked hard, trying to focus, and slowly, the sterile white of the hospital ceiling came into view.
The sharp, clinical scent of disinfectant filled her nostrils, making her stomach churn.
“You’re awake, Sadie?” A familiar voice broke through the haze, warm and laced with concern.
Sadie turned her head slowly, wincing at the effort. Her blurry gaze settled on Alex, sitting at her bedside. His face was lined with exhaustion, but relief flickered in his eyes.
“Where… where am I?” Her throat was dry, the words barely a whisper.
“We’re in Cairhienen,” Alex replied gently, reaching for a glass of water. “I’ve taken care of everything.” He handed her the glass, his tone soft but firm. “Just focus on getting better. We’ll deal with the rest later.”
Sadie accepted the glass, sipping slowly. The cool water soothed her raw throat, offering a sliver of comfort amidst the lingering pain. “Thank you, Alex,” she murmured, her eyes meeting his with quiet gratitude. “I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”
Alex smiled, though there was something unspoken behind his eyes-a flicker of hesitation. “Actually… about Noah…” he started, his voice cautious.
“Don’t,” Sadie snapped, cutting him off. “I don’t want to hear his name. I’m done talking about the past.”
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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