Birthday Disaster (2)

CHAPTER 47: BIRTHDAY DISASTER (2)

NOAH'S POV

I slam the door shut behind me, my breath ragged as fury claws at my chest. The house is silent, but I do not mind it; I am used to that kind of life. I can’t even think straight. My mind is a hurricane, spinning out of control, each gust of anger fueled by the images of Rachel that had been sent to me.

Marco looks up, startled. So he knows about the birthday party. He probably wasn’t expecting me home so early. Neither was I. Today was supposed to be my birthday. A day I never really cared about, but somehow, I let myself believe—for a brief moment—that it could be different. That maybe, just maybe, I could enjoy something normal. But I was a fool.

   “Sir? Why are you back this early?” Marco takes a cautious step forward.

I ignore him, heading straight to the wine cabinet. My fingers tremble as I grab the first bottle of strong whiskey I can find. The cap clatters onto the marble countertop, forgotten as I pour myself a heavy drink. The amber liquid burns my throat, but the pain is welcome. It’s better than the agony ripping through my chest.

Marco shifts uncomfortably. I can feel his eyes on me, worried, calculating. He has never seen me like this before. No one has. I don’t drink like this. I don’t lose control. But tonight, everything feels different and I hate myself for letting myself be vulnerable because of an employee.

I don't care!

I shouldn't care!

But she is married to me even if it was just a contract! Having an affair shouldn't be the next thing.

The glass slams onto the counter as I pour another. The past few months flash before my eyes—Rachel, her stubbornness, her defiance, the way she somehow wormed her way into my life, into my goddamn heart. And now? Now, she throws it all away. I was just about to let her in. I was just about to give her a chance, to give us a chance, maybe she will be able to prove my belief wrong.

Just then, my head starts to pound. My vision gets blurs.

Voices echo in my mind, distant but clear. Mocking, cruel.

    “Noah is incapable of love.”

   “You should be grateful if you can receive a shred of love from anyone because you are not worth anything.”

   “No one will ever love you.”

I squeeze my eyes shut, but the words remain. They cut through me like a blade, each syllable deepening wounds that never really healed. I grip the glass so tightly I almost expect it to shatter. Maybe I want it to. Maybe that will cause me to feel a bit of relief.

The sound of the front door opening barely registers. My head is spinning too much for me to care. But then… her scent. Subtle. Familiar. My eyes snap open.

Rachel.

She stands frozen at the entrance, her breath hitching the moment our eyes meet. I don’t smile. I don’t move. I just watch her, my gaze heavy with hatred and disappointment. She hesitates before stepping inside, casting a quick glance at Marco, who looks just as tense as she does.

I set my drink down, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand as she approaches.

   "Why are you here?"

    "What happened Noah? Why did you end the birthday celebration all of a sudden? I got back only to find things..."

  “You have some nerve,” I mutter, my voice hoarse, laced with bitterness.

Rachel doesn’t flinch. Her hands tremble slightly, but she stands her ground. “Noah… I—”

I scoff. “Don’t.” I take a step closer, and she takes a step back. Good. “You left. You ran off in the middle of my birthday..."

   "I am so sorry. It was urgent."

  "... to be with another man which is urgent.”

Her eyes widen. "Another man?"

   "Do you think that I am a fool? Do you believe you can just swoop me in with your lies and deceit?"

  “It’s not what you think.”

  "Oh, it’s exactly what I think.” My chest tightens. “How could you have done such a thing to me? How dare you! Did you lose your sense of morality, huh? Did you? I was...the only thing I wanted to do was to just trust you! You played me! You used me like everyone else did. I have always wondered why your movements seem to be always frequent. I didn't want to believe those thoughts but you just confirmed it tonight. I should’ve known. I should’ve never—” I shake my head, unable to even finish.

The pain morphs into rage. The trust I let myself build shatters into pieces.

  "I...I didn't do anything. He is just a friend..."

“You kissed him,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper, but she hears it. I see it in the way her body tenses, in the way her lips part but no words come out.

RACHEL'S POV

My heart drops.

How does he know? How did he—

It doesn’t matter. He knows. And he’s furious.

   “Noah, please, just listen—”

  “Listen?” He laughs bitterly, shaking his head as he runs a hand through his hair. “I don’t need to listen. I saw enough.”

Guilt slams into me like a tidal wave. I should have explained immediately. I should have told him everything before this moment. But I didn’t. And now, standing in front of him, I don’t even know where to start.

  “Elvis was drunk. His sister called me. He was breaking things, screaming my name. I had to—”

   “Had to what?” Noah cuts in, stepping forward until he’s right in front of me. “Had to kiss him?”

   “It wasn’t like that!” My voice rises, desperate. “I was just trying to calm him down. He was a mess, Noah. He—”

   “I don’t care! You were trying to calm another man with a kiss? Can't you see how silly that sounded like?" His voice roars through the room, his anger finally boiling over. 

His fists clench at his sides, his breathing ragged. “You don’t get it, do you? You left me.” His voice cracks, his mask slipping for just a second before he hardens again. “You left me for him.”

Tears well in my eyes. “It’s not like that.”

  “Then what is it like, Rachel?” He demands, his voice quieter now, but no less dangerous. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks pretty damn clear what your intentions are. You are married to me, Rachel! You are supposed to abide by the rules." 

I swallow back a sob. I want to reach for him, but he looks at me like I’m a stranger. Worse. Like I’m a betrayal he never saw coming.

I shake my head. “I didn’t want to hurt you.”

His laugh is hollow. “Congratulations, then. You did a terrible job.”

The silence stretches between us, thick and suffocating. I can feel the weight of everything crashing down, the hurt in his eyes cutting me deeper than I thought possible.

   “I trusted you,” he finally says, his voice quieter now, more broken. “I let myself believe… for once… that maybe I wasn’t completely alone.”

My breath hitches. “Noah…”

   “But I was wrong. You are no different. You are just like everyone else. Every...fucking... one else! Now, let me make this clear to you. As from henceforth, stay away from me. Speak to me only when you are allowed to. Remember that you are nothing but a fucking employee in my hotel and you have no extra benefits for bearing my last name. Speak to me with respect at home the same way you would at work. Refer to me as only Mr.Noah. 

Don't overstep your boundaries, and the next time I get to see you with your ex, this marriage won't come to an end, but I will make life unbearable and a living hell for you. You will have to work to pay my money back to me. I hope I have made myself clear.”

The finality in his voice shatters me. He brushes past me without another word, leaving me standing there, drowning in regret.

The door to his bedroom slams shut. I stumble back, the weight of his words knocking the breath out of me before I crumble to the floor. 

And I know—I’ve lost him and I am back to square one.