Noah“What are you talking about?” I asked, eyebrows raised in surprise. Raymond’s sudden outburst took me off guard. My stomach tightened with anxiety.His expression was hard as he yanked his phone from his pocket, thrusting it in front of me. “What is this, Noah? Who is this man?”I blinked, trying to focus on the screen. I immediately recognized the source of his anger. It was Cassandra’s latest social media post: “Fun in Vegas with the girls! #bachelorette” Below the caption were photos of us at the casino. Most of them were harmless—just us posing with drinks, laughing, enjoying the night—but one photo made my heart stop. It showed me sitting at a small table with Thomas. He was leaning in close. His face was tilted toward mine, as if sharing something conspiratorial.Raymond’s voice was tight, barely holding back the frustration. “You said nothing happened, Noah. Then why were you sharing drinks with a man? And why does he look just like me?”I glanced at the photo again, my th
NoahSwallowing the lump of fear rising in my throat, I slowly pushed the door open. Every sense was on high alert. The apartment was eerily quiet. Nothing seemed out of place at first glance. But that didn’t calm the growing dread in my chest."Hello?" I called out, my voice trembling slightly. Silence greeted me in return.I stepped inside, my hand instinctively clutching my phone in case I needed to call for help. Each step felt heavier than the last as I moved further into the living room. I scanned every corner for signs of an intruder. But everything seemed normal. Almost too normal.Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a flicker of movement near the kitchen. My heart leapt into my throat. My fingers fumbled through my purse until I grasped the cool metal of the pepper spray. I carried it with me ever since the Blackwoods incidents.Before I could pull it out, a voice suddenly called, "Surprise!"I froze in place, blinking rapidly as my brain caught up to what had just happe
Noah"Hello?" Thomas’s smooth, deep voice greeted me on the other side of the line.I swallowed hard, gathering my thoughts. "Hi, Thomas? It’s Noah."There was a slight pause, and then his voice brightened with warmth. "Noah! It’s good to hear from you. Have you given my offer some thought?"I hesitated, feeling the weight of my response. "I have, and… it’s a great opportunity. But I’m not sure if a full-time job is what I’m looking for right now."He didn’t miss a beat. "Well, there are certainly ways we could work around that. In fact, I’m in Edendale to scout new business venues for a couple of days. How about we meet for lunch tomorrow? We can discuss things further over a meal."I blinked, surprised by the suddenness of his offer. "Oh, uh... sure. That sounds good," I agreed, though nerves were beginning to churn in my stomach."Great! I’ll make a reservation and text you the details." His voice had a natural, reassuring quality. But still, I felt the unease twisting in my chest.
NoahThomas looked past me, his brows furrowing in confusion. "Uh... Excuse me, miss, who are you?" he asked.A sharp, mocking laugh cut through the air. "Who am I? Really, Raymond? Don’t tell me you’re going to pretend you don’t know me…" the woman scoffed, her voice dripping with condescension.My heart sank as I turned to face the figure behind me. She hadn’t changed a bit. Her platinum blonde hair was styled in that same sharp, immaculate bob. And as usual, she was dressed to draw attention—this time in a low-cut, form-fitting dress that left little to the imagination. She was always on the prowl, hunting for another innocent soul to drag into her web of deceit and manipulation."Clara," I said, my voice cold and steady. Though every muscle in my body was tensed.Thomas glanced between us, his curiosity evident. "You know this woman?""We’ve crossed paths…" I admitted reluctantly. I hated even acknowledging her existence. Clara was the embodiment of trouble—no good could come fro
NoahRaymond stood only inches away from me. So close I could feel the warmth of his breath brushing against my skin. His presence was magnetic, drawing me in as if no time had passed. And yet, so much had. The familiar ache of our shared history tugged at my heart. But his eyes, filled with something softer, made me stay rooted in place.He took a breath, his gaze steady as he said, “I want to start over, Noah. And so… I’d like to ask you out. On a date. Like a first date.”I blinked, surprised. "Oh… Uh…" The words hung in the air between us, and I didn’t know what to say. We hadn’t exactly had a "first date" before. Our relationship had always been turbulent, born from moments of chaos and uncertainty.Raymond must have sensed my hesitation. He smiled gently. "There’s no need to give me an answer right now. Take your time. Sleep on it." He paused, his hazel eyes softening. "I just think we should start fresh—a new chapter for the two of us. One date. We can get to know each other
Noah“Follow me,” Raymond said with a mischievous glint in his eyes. His voice was smooth, yet laced with a hint of excitement. There was something electric in the way he looked at me, a spark that made my heart skip a beat. As we walked to the elevator, I found myself wondering what he had planned. This was our chance to start over—to rebuild, to remember why we fell in love in the first place.I followed Raymond out of the apartment building into the warm embrace of a spring night. The air was soft and fragrant with the scent of blooming jasmine. A cool breeze whispered through the city streets, carrying with it the promise of something magical.We approached a sleek black limousine parked just outside. I raised an eyebrow, and he smiled, his mischievous glint intensifying. “You didn’t think I’d do anything halfway, did you?”I laughed softly. “Of course not. Not you, Raymond.”The limousine driver opened the door for us. As I slipped into the soft embrace of the luxurious leather s
NoahI hesitated, feeling the mood around us turn icy. “Yes, Raymond. I need something for myself, something separate from all of this…”“And you thought he was a good idea?”I could see the anger rising in him. His calm exterior was cracking. “It’s not about him,” I defended, crossing my arms. “It’s about me. I need this.”“He’s trouble, Noah. I’ve dealt with men like him my entire career. He’s not trustworthy.”I exhaled, frustrated. “You don’t know him.”His eyes flared, the intensity back. “I don’t need to know him. You’re my wife. You should be working with me, not for some random guy who you barely know.”I pulled away. The tension was unbearable now. “This isn’t about you, Raymond. I love you, but I need to do something that’s mine. You have everything. You always have. This is my chance to build something of my own.”Silence followed. The once magical evening had shifted into something tense, uncertain. He stepped back, running a hand through his hair. His expression was unre
NoahBefore I knew it, Friday had come. I'd spent the last few days ignoring Raymond’s calls and texts, feeling paralyzed by indecision. What could I even say to him? The swirling uncertainty had kept me from replying, leaving me in a strange limbo. But today was about Cassandra, not me. Today was about wedding dresses.Cassandra had invited me along to help her choose the dress, and I couldn’t have been more grateful for the distraction. The girls—Harper, Lila, and Gia—all met us at the bridal boutique early, brimming with excitement. We started the morning sipping on champagne, giggling and reviewing as Cassandra tried on one stunning white gown after another. Each dress seemed more beautiful than the last. For a few blissful hours, I managed to push all thoughts of Raymond out of my mind.And then, Cassandra stepped out of the dressing room in that dress.We all froze. A collective gasp filled the room. “Cass… Whoa,” I breathed, unable to find the words. She looked ethereal, glowi