Averill never knew that Noah had stayed with her that night. Noah never acted like he knew she was hurting herself physically. He was maintaining his distance quite well, giving her the space she needed. "For how long are you going to stay here?" Averill asked without an ounce of ill intention, but Noah took it the wrong way. "I am your husband, you know? Do you want strange rumors to circulate about us?" "I don't mind it anyway," "I do," Noah said. 'Why the hell is he so worked up this early in the morning?' Averill thought to herself. They are currently eating breakfast together, they have been sharing meals for a week now, and Averill is simply confused as to why the man is acting this way. "I don't want any weird rumors about myself. I have plans of expanding my range, and I cannot have your issues as my liability." Noah told her though it was really not the reason why he was staying there nor the reason why he did not want strange rumors to circulate in their society. 'Dam
Averill woke up in cold sweat. She dreamt of that horrible nightmare all over again. Like a broken tape that continuously plays every time she closes her eyes. Averill went down to the kitchen. She's craving some alcohol to loosen her thoughts. "You're still up?" Averill almost flinched when a voice suddenly came from the dark kitchen! It's two in the morning, and who would not get scared if someone suddenly spoke when all you could see was black! Noah came out of the kitchen, all sweaty. He's holding a bottle of water and looking at Averill with a bored look. "Jeez, you scared me." Averill exhaled when she saw Noah. The latter stared at her, utterly confused as to why she was down there. Noah could not sleep, he got a lot of tangled thoughts in his head, and he went out for a jog around the mansion. "Why are you here?" "Craving for some alcohol," Averill honestly replied. She walked past Noah and turned on the lights. She went straight to get a bottle of red wine. When she fin
Noah's POV I have been answering calls since this morning. I saw Averill walking down the stairs and immediately put my phone inside my pocket. I did not even answer the last call, which was from Yanna. "Good morning," "See, tea is way better than wine," Averill simply nodded in agreement. Jeez, why the hell is she acting this adorable so early in the morning? What? Did I just say adorable? I must be out of my damn mind. "Anyway, do you have plans for today?" I asked. I think reporters would be waiting outside the hospital since they somehow learned that Averill is visiting there. I asked Karl to look into it, and good thing they still do not know why she visits there. I can still use my grandfather as an excuse. "I will be going to Shiloah," "Why do you even meet him?" I asked though I knew why. I want to know if she would be willing to tell me. Averill froze and stared at me. Her messy hair did not give off an ugly vibe. Instead, it made her look playful. I gulped and swal
Averill's POV I was feeling really nervous ever since we entered his grandfather's room. I mean, I have met a lot of influential people before, but Mr. Caden Dalton is a different one. He's someone everyone respects in the business world. He took over his family business when it was dealing with a crisis, and now he's built an entire empire that even old conglomerates could not touch. "You seem nervous," "Yes? Ahh, sorry, sir, it's just that I am one of your fans," I shyly replied, fixing the chess pieces in front of me. The last time I played one was ages ago! It was a hobby I ended when Allen died. He was the one who taught me how to play. How dare he die when I never won a game against him? How the hell am I going to play with Noah's grandfather? I heard he's a really good player. Noah left to buy something. Mr. Caden instructed all his guards to wait outside. I'm glad he's being considerate, but isn't it more uncomfortable to play with him alone in a room? He's my husband's
Averill's POV I woke up with swollen eyes. I can't even open them. I cried until I fell asleep. And what's the time now? Five in the afternoon? Damn! That was the most prolonged sleep ever since my son died. I was about to leave my bed when I saw a figure on my couch. Noah? What is he doing here? And he's sleeping soundly too. I walked near him, stood beside him, and quietly watched his sleeping figure. Why are you here? What is the meaning of this act? Should I convince myself that you're just drunk and could not find your room? Come to think of it, he reeks of alcohol. Just how much did he drink? And why did he drink so much? I tapped his shoulder to wake him up... I don't want to do this because I am afraid he'll ask me about what happened yesterday, but his posture looks really bad on this small sofa. How the hell did he fit himself in here? "Hmm," he moaned. I shook his shoulder, but my eyes widened in surprise when he grabbed my arm and pulled me into an embrace. I could h
Noah sits up and stares at Averill. He's been keeping himself from shouting at the woman for the nonsense accusation. "I am no fool, Averill. Do you think I would not remember what happened that day?" "I am not lying, Noah. Do you also think I will easily forget the hell we have been through?" "STOP IT! Quit this act. Am I that stupid in your eyes that you want to do this? I am your husband. What else do you want?" "The truth. I thought you knew that it was me," "I knew that it was you, Averill." Noah looked at her with contempt. "I knew that it was you who made Yanna suffer that hell. How could you do that? I have been suppressing myself from getting mad at you. Do you think I would not know what Yanna has been through whenever she's with you?" Noah mocked. Remembering all the days, Yanna cried to him because of the trauma that Averill left her. Averill found herself ridiculous. She could not understand why she had the urge to finally tell him all the truth she's been keeping
Averill's POV I left the mansion earlier than usual. Noah is still sleeping soundly in his room. I told him to move out, but he stayed. I called Shiloah again and told him that I was on my way to the hospital. He called me last night and told me all the things that are happening in Europe. The things that my family has been keeping from me. I asked him to do it for me. No one reached out to me. Even Ken and Sam. Kieffer. How? Noah is a powerful man. I give him that. He made it possible for all those issues not to reach my ears. Also, maybe because I cut off all my social media accounts after I retired, I wasn't that updated on things online. I don't even watch the news. "So you told him everything?" Shiloah nodded. He's not even feeling guilty about it. "This is not legal, Shiloah," "He's your husband, technically," he shrugged. "You need him, Averill. You need a shoulder to lean on," "You don't know how he treats me, Shilo," "I know. He's been treating you like a disgusti
Averill could hear the noises from all the reporters subside as Noah continued kissing her. She tried to push him away, but he did not budge an inch. He held her face tightly, kissing Averill passionately. When they were both out of breath. Noah slowly let go of Averill's lips and stared at her golden eyes. He rushed to the airport upon knowing Averill's plan to go back without him. Karl arranged everything, and luckily, he came to the airport at a crucial moment in time. Noah glanced at Kieffer, whose face darkened because of the situation. Ken informed Kieffer about Averill's plan to finally talk in front of the media, but now that they're surrounded by them, he could be seen as no less than a supportive friend and cousin. "What the hell are you doing, Noah?" Averill whispered to the man. Noah simply smiled at her and faced the reporters. "Did it answer your curiosities? Averill and I went to the US to lessen her stress level. You've taken quite a toll on her. Should I sue you
Noah woke up early and left the villa before even Averill got up from bed. He left a note on the table and a massive box in the living room. He drove to a building not too far from the villa he bought. “You look relaxed. Are you even sure about this?” Karl asked him. Brian and the gang are also there, preparing for Noah’s wedding. The man in his white tuxedo smirked, “Never been sure in my whole life, Karl.” “Tsk.” He went to his stylist and asked for a perm. Brian went beside Noah and tapped his shoulder, “You need to buy me a yacht if she doesn’t say yes.” “That woman loves me. You buy me twenty-five percent of the shares in your new business.” “That’s pretty— tsk, deal. Might as well be your wedding gift.” He followed and excused himself after receiving a call. Noah smirked, realizing who called his casanova friend. “Clayton,” “I will attend your marriage. I just need to finish this.” “That’s why you should have told her what you felt.” He stared at Noah and ignored him after
Averill’s POVI was busy reading through the reports about my hotel. I had left it to Leon for a long while. Funny how I told him he was fired, but he kept coming to the company and managed it while I was busy doing things for myself. I would have never come this far without him.“Coffee?” Leon asked. He placed a hot coffee macchiato on my desk. He could pass as a barista, if not a lawyer. I thanked him without looking at him because my eyes were still busy reading. I can’t help but focus on these things.“I heard about his proposal,” I stopped scanning through the files, looked at him, and smiled. I raised my brows, waiting for what he would say next. “Why did you reject him?”“Do I need a reason not to?”“You love him—”“How’d you know that?” I smiled. Leon stared at me before looking away, putting down his coffee. “When you fired me, you were too emotional. Aren’t you being emotional as well when you rejected his marriage proposal? I thought you loved him and that you sacrificed
“I love you,” Noah muttered as he kissed her deeply. He kissed her passionately, moving his lips gently as he caressed the back of her head. Noah continued until the two of them were out of breath.He stared at her golden eyes, “I love you, Avi.” he repeated, claiming her lips once more. “I love you,” he whispered between their kisses. Averill tried to push him, but he gently pulled her to his chest.He hugged her and buried her face in his body. “I love you.” Again, he told her. Averill still has yet to respond to him. Noah loosened the hug as he gently held her shoulders.Noah looked at her and wiped the tears that fell from her eyes. His thumb gently against her cheek as tears fell from his pitch black eyes as well… like crystals under that sunny afternoon… they cried.“A-Are you c-crying?” Niana approached the two of them. Noah and Averill looked at their daughter, who was also about to cry, confused as to why her parents were weeping. They smiled, gently slipping their hands agai
Noah’s POV I stared at my daughter, sleeping soundly on my lap. She had played all day with the dog we brought from Hawaii. We’re currently in the UK. Thankfully, she wasn’t looking for her mother much. I just won’t have any more excuses had she asked once more. I have a hunch on where Averill might be, but I want to give her more time. I don’t know why she had not even met with Niana. I know she loves our daughter. I know she loves her with all her heart and won’t abandon her. No way that is not the Averill that I know. The Averill that I fell in love with has so many flaws… but she’s not an irresponsible mother. She’s sometimes selfless to the point where even I would pity her helplessness. Averill is a woman who would not care even though she’s hurt. And she’s also the type of woman who would stand firm if anyone vital to her was hurt. I did not love her because she was perfect but rather because she was so perfectly imperfect that even though her flaws were visible, her pure
Averill woke up with someone stroking her hair. “Noah?” Surprised, she saw Noah beside her, sitting on the bed. Looking at her, smiling with his teeth. “Good morning, Avi.” “Avi?” Averill looked at Leon, who was currently feeding her. It had been a day since she was admitted. She fainted after donating blood to Noah while she was injured. “Did Noah wake up?” Leon shook his head. He tried feeding her again, but Averill looked away. “You need to eat.” “I did my best. Why is he not waking up?” “His body needs rest, Averill. And you do too. Eat, I am begging you.” “I’m not hungry.” Leon sighed at her response. After fainting from fatigue, she did not sleep a wink overnight. She would have stayed by Noah’s door if she had not fallen to the floor. Waiting for the man to wake up. Noah’s grandfather came later that evening. He deliberately stopped Averill from coming to Noah’s room. He was so mad when he heard what had happened to his grandson. “I told you enough to get away from my
Leon drove as fast as he could when he heard the news about Averill. He could not believe they had just left the woman there. He heard about Noah’s condition but still! Was it too hard to get the woman as well? Leon parked recklessly in front of the cafe. Some men barged in his direction, attacking him with metal pipes, but he was way faster than these men. He punched and kicked and pushed… It took him five minutes before he could enter the facility. And his blood boiled when he saw Averill looking so lost in one corner. He scanned the room, and there was Kyle, looking at Isabella fiercely. Looked like they had an argument. “WHO KILLED MY DAUGHTER?!” Isabella shouted. Leon looked around again and saw a woman lying dead on the floor. ‘So she died. What a waste.’ Leon thought, thinking about the charges he could have done to put the woman forever behind bars. “You’re still thinking of Yanna in this situation? For Pete's sake, Isabella! They are holding you as their hostage!” “I do
Kyle’s eyes were sharp as he stared at the woman’s crying face. His jaw clenched as he gritted his teeth. He could feel his muscles tremble in anger. Why is another man touching what was his? Why are they touching Isabella? What is going on here? He could not think straight. He stared at the gun in his hand and looked at the three people that were left on his side. In an instant, he pointed the gun at them. Karl was alarmed by his sudden movement but was immediately caught off guard when Kyle killed the three remaining people on his side. Why? Why did he kill them? Karl could not wrap it around his head. Why would Kyle Jackson kill these people when they are his allies? This is crazy. Kyle Jackson is an absolute madman with lots of screws lost in his head. Karl signaled his men to approach Averill and Noah. Kyle is yet to notice them. He is still busy looking at the men which he killed. “One more step, and you’ll follow them.” Karl’s men halted. Was he watching? Jackson was watch
Averill looked at him with wide eyes. She could feel her entire body go cold as she trembled hands touched Noah. “Are you okay?” Noah asked, still worrying about the woman, albeit the circumstance. “What are you even saying? Why did you do that?” She cried, Averill saw Yanna pointing the gun at her, but Noah was too fast to cover her from the bullet. And in a blink of an eye. Everything happened. “No… no… no, no, no, NO!!” Everyone looked at Kyle when he started acting odd. His eyes shake as he stares at the two people on the floor. One is covered in blood while the other is covered in tears. Kyle’s hands were shaking. He pulled his hair and glared at Yanna. “You! “How dare you!” he shouted. “How dare you touch my target!” His eyes were dark as he pinned his nails on Yanna’s arms. He could see nothing but the fact that Yanna pulled the trigger against Averill, and it hit Noah. His targets were touched by another person. Kyle is this type of crazy person. He never wanted anyone t
Mason did not move, Kyle was too swift that he did not notice him in front of him and grabbed his gun. They fought with each other as Kyle’s men started swarming with the other men that were left in Noah’s group. Chaos started to sip in, plates and glasses were shattered. Tables were wrecked. Chairs were thrown.It was total chaos inside while the men fought each other. Noah hugged Averill in one corner. “You should have not said that. You were provoking him!” “Why are we here, Noah?”“What?”“We’re here to get Yanna. But what are you doing?” Averill looked at him. She pushed him away from her. “Stop protecting me. When we learned about Kyle, we expected this already, that’s why we asked Shiloah to bring her to New York.”“Averill—”“If you’re gonna tell me to be careful. I am. I am already doing that so stop being a coward. We just need Yanna. You’ve let her loose for so long.” She stood up and walked away, she grabbed a stick and went her way to Yanna.Kyle was there, sitting by th