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NOAH'S POV.Since the moment I asked Mike to start doing some research on Kim, I wasn't expecting this kind of news.My mood went from Zero degrees to 360 degrees the moment Mike informed me Kim flew to Cape Town, and he hung up after warning me to be careful.I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't realize I hadn't touched my food since the moment I finished making the call.It was Racheal's voice that pulled me out of my trance, asking me if I was okay. I denied it, but I had to force myself to leave the table to get dressed to avoid her pressing it further."How I wish I could cancel this trip to another day." That was my thought on reaching the car, and Rachael couldn't help but ask me more questions, so I just faked a smile."The last scene I was expecting to unfold is Kim meeting Racheal coincidentally"Everything was going fiñe the moment we got to the beach until I noticed Racheal's unbreakable gaze and her stiffness against my body. They might be sisters but one can feel t
Last Updated : 2024-12-28Betrothed 122
NOAH'S POV.It has been one week since Racheal has been acting weird and strange since that moment we left the beach and she wouldn't even say anything, which means it has been two weeks since we last spoke, till we make love....he wouldn't even let me touch her not to talk of making love.I thought we both did well at putting Kim in her position until she shrugged my hands off her waist. Immediately, we were out of Kim's sight at the beach; it was at that moment that I knew something wasn't going well.Till we left the beach to go home, our journey was even heavier than when we were going.I peeped through the door to our bedroom and saw her busy with her laptop, and through her shoulder, I could see she was on a conference call, probably in a meeting.I moved closer to them while leaning towards her nape, inhaling the breath.I know Racheal is someone who chose her public image over anything; she has always been very careful to avoid being the talk of the world, and I knew she would
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Racheal's POVI couldn't help but feel insecure. Truth be told, I needed some time to myself; it felt like I was on the brink of insanity. My mind was a whirlwind of questions, each one more chaotic than the last, and the craziest part was that there was no one around to answer them. It was clear to me: either I fixed this myself, or I risked losing my trust in Noah and, by extension, my marriage. This wasn’t what I had envisioned for us. I would rather confront my demons than jeopardize the love we had fought so hard to build.I couldn't shake the image of Kim walking toward us on that beach, her presence like a dark cloud looming over a bright day. I had planned to create beautiful memories with Noah, but seeing her had unearthed a mountain of bad memories I thought I had buried deep. The way she exchanged intense glances with Noah, the way her words dripped with double meanings while she stared at me—it was all too much. I decided to pretend I hadn’t noticed any of it, determined
Last Updated : 2024-12-28Betrothed 124
Racheal's POV"Why do I feel like Kim has been stalking me? Or is it just a coincidence that everything she’s done lately feels so targeted?"These thoughts spiraled in my mind as I sat in the back seat of the car, watching Ariella animatedly share stories about her day at school with Noah. Her laughter rang out, a melody of innocence that I wished I could fully embrace. Meanwhile, Noah seemed distracted, nodding along but barely paying attention. I could feel his gaze lingering on me, a heavy weight pressing against my chest. I chose to ignore it, hoping to lose myself in the passing scenery.However, Noah's glances became more frequent, and it didn't take long for Ariella to notice. “Dad, you’ve been with Mom for three weeks. Why are you suddenly stealing glances?” she teased, her innocent tone cutting through the tension like a knife. I scoffed lightly, trying to mask my discomfort. “That’s because Dad here misses Mom, and Mom is not going to look at Dad,” Noah retorted, his voic
Last Updated : 2024-12-28Betrothed 125
Racheal's POV As I stepped into the kitchen, the comforting aroma of herbs and spices enveloped me. Sophia was busy preparing dinner for me and Ariella, her every movement exuding a sense of purpose. I knew she was determined; she wouldn’t stop until I relayed everything I had been through these last few weeks. And I felt ready to share it all.Ariella, on the other hand, was struggling to finish her food. Her eyelids drooped, and she fought against sleep, her little body swaying slightly in her chair. I couldn’t bear to see her like that, so I lifted her into my arms. “Let’s get you to bed, sweet girl,” I whispered, carrying her to her room. She spent most nights with Sophia, so it felt natural to tuck her into the cozy bed there.As I laid her down, I closed my fingers together, feeling the weight of my thoughts pressing against me. I knew I had to talk to Sophia, to let her in on everything that had been weighing me down. But even as I walked back to the kitchen, I felt a flicker
Last Updated : 2024-12-28Betrothed 126
Racheal's POVThe tension in the car was palpable as Noah's eyes remained fixed on the road. My mind raced, trying to piece together his cryptic response. “Not in the way I think?” What did that even mean? I wanted to press him further, but I could feel the weight of the moment hanging between us, thick with unspoken truths.“Then what do you mean?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. He remained silent for a moment, his knuckles white as he gripped the steering wheel. “It’s complicated, Racheal. I need you to trust me.”Trust him? The very foundation of that trust felt shaky at best. “How can I trust you when I see you with her? When you choose to meet her in secret?”Noah sighed, running a hand through his hair as he pulled into the parking lot of my office. “I can explain everything later, but right now, I need you to focus on your day. We’ll talk tonight, I promise.”I wanted to protest, to demand answers, but I felt like I was walking on thin ice. Instead, I nodded, trying
Last Updated : 2024-12-28Betrothed 127
Noah's POVI wouldn’t lie about the irritation crawling onto my skin, a sensation that intensified with every moment I spent in that office. It felt horrible, almost suffocating, as I forced out those words to Racheal. The question had come out of nowhere, yet part of me had been anticipating it. Rachael was stubborn—proud to a fault. I knew she wouldn’t approach me first, so I waited until Ariella’s tiny voice broke the tension, hitting me like a stone.At that moment, I was tempted to lie. I had every intention of telling Racheal everything, especially now that I was certain Kim was plotting something again. My stomach churned at the thought. I hadn’t yet figured out why she had made that transaction to the hospital, but I knew it couldn’t be good.I felt trapped, forced to confront Kim because I understood what she was capable of, especially with a pregnancy involved. The stakes were higher now, and I couldn’t afford to let Racheal hear about any of this from Kim. It had to be me w
Last Updated : 2024-12-28Betrothed 128
Racheal's POV"I knew it, I knew it, I knew that wasn't all... I knew there was more to it." My mind raced, a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions crashing against the walls of my sanity. Kim couldn't just let go, surrendering herself to humiliation without a price. Why had I been so foolish? Why had I been so blinded? My heart pounded in my chest as anger simmered through me, each beat echoing the frustration I felt toward myself.I gripped the steering wheel tightly, my knuckles turning white as I fought to contain the storm brewing inside. Beads of sweat mixed with the tears streaming down my cheeks, the salty taste a bitter reminder of the pain I was enduring. My dark hair clung to my face, plastered there by the humidity of my emotions, as I sobbed softly, the rhythm of my breath matching the frantic pounding of my heart.The news Noah had dropped on me felt like poison coursing through my veins, heavy and suffocating. I felt choked, breathless, as if the weight of it all had pinne
Last Updated : 2024-12-28
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Noah's POVOne week later...I stood beside Racheal, who was propped up on the hospital bed, still struggling to fully recover. The sterile scent of antiseptic hung in the air, but it was the sight of her fragile form that gripped my heart. Kelvin and Bella had flown back to New Coastal two days ago, insisting on leaving after Racheal woke up. Their departure felt like a hollow echo of the chaos that had consumed us.Juliet was locked away, and sentenced to life imprisonment. I made sure of that. She deserved every bit of it. A maniac like her wasn’t meant to walk among the living.As I watched Racheal adjust herself, attempting to sit upright, I instinctively reached out to help her. But she slapped my hand away with a surprising force. The sting of her rejection hit me like a cold wave. She had done the same thing when she first woke up, and it scared the hell out of me. I rushed to the doctor, fearing she was suffering from amnesia, but my worries eased when he assured me she had b
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Kelvin's POV"You left us, remember? You gave us hope, Ana! You let us all believe you would come back! We waited for you, Ana. I waited. Mom waited... You broke your promise! You broke your fucking promise because of your selfish interest, your lust for revenge!"I pulled Bella into an embrace, which she calmly accepted. Juliet, whom I now realized was Anabella, had recently been caught at the same tournament Bella had described. She had a lot on her mind and plenty of tools at hand. If not for Bella, we would still be in the dark; no one would have thought that this old tournament, long neglected, would be used to commit such a devious act.Just two days ago, Bella had been crying in my arms. So much was uncovered—so much I hadn’t expected at all.After coming to terms with the fact that Bella was Juliet's younger sister, it occurred to me that Juliet wasn't who we thought she was. Her initial aim in entering R.A. was to cause harm to the Houston family. As she had said moments ago,
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Kelvin's POVI was on the brink of tears the moment I set my eyes on Kim. The fact that she was breathing with the aid of oxygen wasn't enough; she was hooked up to a life-support machine. I felt a flicker of irritation that Noah had signed the forced labor consent form, but perhaps I was wrong—maybe that was the best decision.Bella had a tough time going back to sleep after mentioning a random name that only gave me a hint amidst the shattered debris of my thoughts. I tried not to force any conversation on her, at least keeping my promise to Noah until she opened up. Until then, I remained silent.We couldn't go into the ward, so we decided to stay back, looking through the transparent glass that separated us from the lobby lawn. Bella couldn't control her tears anymore; I had been hearing her trying to stifle the sobs since we arrived. Her soft gasps said it all. It made me reflect on my decision to stay outside; I didn’t think I could keep my emotions in check once we entered.Lin
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Kelvin's POVI couldn't believe I had given in to my lust once more. The last time something like this happened, I apologized and vowed it would never repeat itself. Now, as I sifted through the files Noah sent me, I still struggled to admit that Juliet and Bella might be sisters. Our alliance was built on a shared goal, and the last time we had met like this was to reveal the truth behind RA. Now, we were here because of Racheal, but my purpose was to uncover Juliet's identity.*I didn’t start this relationship on a clean slate just to end it because of a culprit sharing her blood.*“You seem early!” Noah remarked, his voice laced with sarcasm.“And you seem late,” I shot back, eyeing him. He looked lean and disheveled, a total mess compared to the Noah I knew.“Is she with you?” he asked.“Why would I bring her with me?” I replied, my irritation rising.“You have no reason to call me here, then—”“What makes you think they’re related? Even if they are, I doubt she knows about her ex
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Bella's POVEvery part of my body ached from the journey, and I could barely feel my legs. But it was worth it. It had been a long time coming—discussing the idea of flying down here to visit Kelvin's parents. He had been overly protective, worrying I wasn’t ready for this. Yet, here we were, on our way to meet both my idol and his parents. The former excited me; the latter filled me with dread.Kelvin noticed my uneasiness and pulled me into an embrace, planting a soft kiss on my forehead—a gesture I had grown so accustomed to. We had just landed, and as we headed to the lobby, I spotted Kelvin shaking hands with someone I didn’t recognize. Others bowed slightly to him, showing their respect.*What should I expect?* I thought. *He is one of the youngest renowned businessmen, linking a channel between New York and the USA is no small feat.* I mustered a smile for those who acknowledged me.We would head home before leaving early to visit Racheal in the hospital. My gaze was caught in
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Kelvin's POVI had barely settled back into my office when the news hit me like a freight train. Rachael had been in an accident? My heart sank as I slumped into my chair, the weight of the world crashing down around me. I had just returned, hoping to find some semblance of normalcy, when everything spiraled out of control again.“Kelvin, are you okay?” Bella asked, moving toward my chair, her eyes scanning my face for any sign of reassurance.“No, not really,” I replied, rubbing my temples to ease the pounding in my head. She could see how close I was to Racheal, and I knew she understood my worries. “Rachael is in critical condition. I need to get down to New York,” I added, my voice strained.“Do you want me to come with you?” she offered, concern lacing her tone. I hesitated for a moment, the urgency of the situation clashing with my instincts to protect her. “No, I’ll travel alone,” I said, pushing myself to my feet. I grabbed my phone and shot a quick message to my secretary,
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Kim's POVI could remember feeling utterly drained when I returned home, free from Kelvin's silence, the weight of everything pressing heavily on my shoulders. My parents welcomed me with open arms, their warmth almost overwhelming. My dad, who had been distant for so long, embraced me tightly. The love in that moment nearly brought me to tears.“Kim, we’ve missed you so much,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “I’ve missed you too, Dad,” I replied, feeling the tears well up in my eyes. It was a bittersweet reunion, knowing what lay ahead. I wasn't expecting such a reaction from my dad and hearing how he missed me made me feel like I was close to my endThe last time I went to the clinic for a check-up, I had received the results I had dreaded. I had known, deep down, that choosing to keep the baby while battling cancer was a gamble. The odds were stacked against me, and I felt the looming shadow of my mortality.My mom had sensed something was wrong, even when I tried to keep
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Racheal's POVI couldn't take Noah's silence anymore. It was suffocating me, and it was terrible for Ariella to witness all of this. My heart raced as I stormed into Noah's study, furious and desperate for answers. My hands trembled with anger and confusion as I stumbled upon a collection of files and documents, all centered around Juliet.I picked up every picture I could find. My breath caught in my throat as I looked at the images of Juliet and her family. There was one of a man smiling lovingly at a woman—Juliet's parents, I realized. The man’s coat struck a chord in my memory, though I couldn't pinpoint why it seemed so familiar. As I traced the photos, my eyes fell on a little girl who looked strikingly like Juliet. It had to be her sister. A shiver ran down my spine as I pieced together the fragments of my discovery. But then, my gaze landed on a guillotine with a body labeled "XAVIER'S." My heart dropped. I was about to open it when Noah’s voice shattered the silence.“You're
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Kelvin's POVThe air between us hung heavy with unspoken words. I could see Bella processing everything I had just said, her brow furrowed in thought. I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words to bridge the gap that had grown between us.“Kelvin, I don’t understand why you didn’t tell me sooner. I could have helped you,” she said, her voice steady but filled with a hint of disappointment. “I thought I was protecting you,” I replied, my frustration mixing with regret. “I didn’t want you to be dragged into the chaos of my life. But now, I realize that keeping you in the dark only hurt us both.”She fell silent, staring at the ground as if searching for answers in the cracks of the pavement. I wanted to reach out, to comfort her, but I hesitated, unsure if she would welcome my touch again.“Do you think this is something I could just forget?” she finally asked, her voice breaking slightly. “You made me feel like I was special, and then you pulled the rug out from under me.”
