“Hello there, little one,” Noah murmured, his voice softer than I had heard it in years—or maybe ever. He tapped her little nose, and she wriggled and grabbed his index finger. “Aren’t you just the most beautiful thing?”As I watched Noah with Olivia, a traitorous thought crept into my mind. Would h
HannahMy fingers traced the delicate lace patterns on the pillowcase while my eyes wandered the floral wallpaper, picking out patterns that I had almost forgotten over the years. The sun streamed in through the open window, the sheer curtains billowing slightly in the wind.Everything in this room
And now, he didn’t even seem to remember them at all.Sure, we went through the motions of a honeymoon phase for a few months; we had lots of sex, shared pillow secrets, went on dates. But now, looking back, I knew that it was all an act. A tactic to keep me happy, keep me obedient until I produced
HannahI sat stiffly at the dinner table, my gaze flickering between Noah and my father.The tension in my shoulders refused to ease as I waited for some sign, some hint of the deal I was convinced they had struck earlier. Lily told me that Noah had handed my father a check to help with his failing
“There we go, little one,” he said in a soft voice. “We’ll have you all clean and comfy in no time.”I must have made a sound because Noah looked up, his eyes meeting mine in the doorway. “Did you need something, Hannah?”I shook my head, still trying to process what I was witnessing. I wanted to pi
HannahNoah’s warm hand rubbed gentle circles on my back as he held my hair, his voice soft and soothing.“I’m here for you, Hannah. Just let it out.”His tone was more tender than I had ever heard it, a contrast to the cold, calculated demeanor he usually wore. The touch of his hand, the reassuranc
As the words left my mouth, I was surprised to feel a pang of… disappointment.Why did I feel this way when all I had wanted lately was to escape? My heart seemed to betray me, caught between the freedom I had sought and a longing for something I thought was lost.Noah nodded solemnly, rising to his
HannahI made my way down to the dining room the next morning, my eyes still bleary from a fitful night of sleep. Today was the day of my father’s birthday party, and I was sure that the day would be a blur of activity. But I had my own plans today.Noah, Lily, and my parents were already at the tab
“Almost done…” she murmured, leaning in with a touch of gloss for my lips. I couldn’t help but laugh at how serious she looked, as if I were some delicate art piece she was trying to perfect. Finally, she stepped back with a smile. “There. Now, the dress.” Amber was already at my side, helping m
Hannah The next morning, I woke with a flutter in my stomach that had nothing to do with morning sickness. Sunlight filtered softly through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. I blinked up at the ceiling, letting that first realization sink in. It was the day of our wedding. In le
Hannah Mornings had gotten louder since Melody learned to walk. And she wasn’t just walking—she was trying to run, arms flapping and her chubby legs barely holding her up as she went. This morning, she seemed to be hell bent on dashing down the hallway as Noah tried to brush his teeth and I hunted
I laughed, hoping it sounded more natural than I felt. “Hey, I can spoil you once in a while if I want. Just because it’s a Thursday doesn’t mean I can’t surprise you.” We chatted about our day as we ate, filling each other in on all the usual things. But every so often, his eyes would flicker to
Hannah My hands shook a little as I straightened the delicate flower crown over Melody’s soft hair, adjusting it so the petals framed her tiny face just right. She blinked up at me with those wide, innocent eyes, slapping her hands contentedly on the top of her high chair. I smiled as I ran my f
Hannah By the time we stepped out of the ring, it felt as if my entire body was on fire. Every muscle seemed to be taut, every heartbeat one thump away from shifting. I couldn’t tell if I wanted to run circles around the building or maybe tear up the walls like a caged animal. What was wrong wit
Hannah For what felt like the hundredth time that morning, I sidestepped Drake’s punch with ease, narrowly dodging his hook. Training with him had become an obsession of mine lately. He’d pushed me in ways I hadn’t expected, helping me learn how to use my speed and endurance instead of relying on
Noah pushed himself harder, letting out a playful howl as he gained on her, the hunt pulsing through his veins like a drug. She glanced back, her ears twitching, and he saw her eyes flash with excitement before she put on an extra burst of speed. It became a game of cat and mouse, each of them pus
Noah For the millionth time that morning, Noah’s gaze drifted from the stack of papers on his desk to the stretch of forest that was visible through the office window. The afternoon light filtered through the trees, casting that familiar, deep green hue over the landscape. Just seeing the expans