NoahWhen Raymond’s lips met mine, it was like the first taste of warmth after months in the cold. A spark ignited deep within me. The familiar rush of emotions—desire, longing, hope—came flooding back, overwhelming me. Our kiss deepened, and I felt it coursing through my entire body. It made my skin tingle, my heart pound in my chest. How had I gone so long without this?He pulled me closer, his hands gently pressing into my back as if afraid I might slip away. But I wasn’t going anywhere. Not now. Not with this heat between us, pulling us together like magnets. The intensity of his kiss sent waves of sensation through me. It stirred up memories of when we were inseparable. When nothing could come between us.“Oh, I want you, Noah,” Raymond moaned, his voice low and rough against my lips.His words wrapped around me like a flame, heating every inch of my skin. And God, how I wanted him too. Every fiber of my being ached for him, for the touch I’d missed, for the closeness I’d cra
NoahI shouldn’t have clicked the video. Some instinct had told me not to, that whatever was in that attachment would destroy everything. But I did—I clicked it, and the screen of my phone filled with an image I never wanted to see.I instantly recognized Clara’s apartment. It was the place Raymond and I had practically paid her to stay out of our lives. There she was, in her lavish bedroom. Draped in red lace lingerie that clung to her body like a snake skin. And then I saw him.Raymond. My Raymond. His upper body bare, lying on the bed as if he belonged there. As if this was just another day in his twisted world. Clara prowled toward him like a predator closing in on its prey.He stretched out his arms, inviting her closer. He pulled her to him by the waist. And then, they kissed. Not a gentle, hesitant kiss. It was hungry and passionate. A kiss that spoke of familiarity, of longing.The sound of their moans came through the microphone—quiet enough for Raymond not to hear it from wh
NoahMy heart dropped to my stomach, a wave of shock and dread washing over me. Of all the people in the world, it had to be her.She looked up as I walked in, a smirk playing on her lips as if she had known all along. As if this was all part of her plan.I tried my best to hold it together. This was a new beginning for me. I wasn’t going to let her ruin it. But as I stared at her, my mind raced with questions.What the hell was Clara doing here?I clenched my fists at my sides, willing myself not to march over and demand an explanation. But every fiber of my being screamed with anger. How could she be here? How was she always one step ahead, infiltrating every corner of my life?Before I could say anything, Thomas appeared. “Noah!” He was all smiles and warm greetings, blissfully unaware of the tension between Clara and me. His presence, too, stirred something painful inside me. The uncanny resemblance to Raymond only made the situation worse. Like salt in an open wound.“Welcome to
NoahI couldn't believe this woman. How dare she keep ruining my life at every turn? Standing there, Clara looked so composed, so smug. It took every ounce of willpower not to scream in her face.But I couldn't afford to make a scene. Especially on my first day at my new job. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Grace sitting at her desk, glancing toward the office. She was probably aware that something wasn’t right.I had to handle this with control. Keep my cool.“How dare you?” I hissed quietly through clenched teeth. “You’ve got some nerve, sending me that video and then showing up here—at my new job, no less. What exactly are you trying to achieve, Clara? What's your endgame?”She tilted her head slightly, a fake look of concern washing over her face. Her eyes glimmered with something dark and calculating beneath the surface. “Noah,” she said, her voice soft and sugar-coated, “we women need to look out for each other.” She took a step into the room and gently shut the door behind
NoahI couldn't believe this woman. How dare she keep ruining my life at every turn? Standing there, Clara looked so composed, so smug. It took every ounce of willpower not to scream in her face.But I couldn't afford to make a scene. Especially on my first day at my new job. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Grace sitting at her desk, glancing toward the office. She was probably aware that something wasn’t right.I had to handle this with control. Keep my cool.“How dare you?” I hissed quietly through clenched teeth. “You’ve got some nerve, sending me that video and then showing up here—at my new job, no less. What exactly are you trying to achieve, Clara? What's your endgame?”She tilted her head slightly, a fake look of concern washing over her face. Her eyes glimmered with something dark and calculating beneath the surface. “Noah,” she said, her voice soft and sugar-coated, “we women need to look out for each other.” She took a step into the room and gently shut the door behind
NoahBy the time I stepped into the penthouse, I felt awful. A deep, gnawing nausea churned in my stomach, growing more intense with each passing minute. I couldn’t tell if my body was reacting to the thought of facing Raymond again, or if it was something more tangible. The seafood I had for lunch replayed in my mind—had it been off? I stumbled to the couch. My head was spinning, my breath shaky.I forced myself to nibble on some light snacks, hoping it would settle my stomach. To my relief, the nausea eased up slightly. Exhaustion was weighing me down. I crawled into bed early, desperate for rest.But the night was far from peaceful.The next morning, I woke up with a jolt. A violent wave of nausea hit me like a truck. I barely made it to the bathroom before throwing up. My body shuddered as I leaned over the sink, groaning. This can’t be happening right now. Food poisoning? The timing couldn’t be worse. I had work to do, and I couldn’t afford to be out sick.I splashed cold water
Noah“No, that can’t be… I can’t be pregnant.”But even as I said the words, something inside me shifted. The constant nausea, the exhaustion, the strange emotions I had been feeling—it all started to make sense.Grace smiled knowingly. “You’ll know soon enough, miss Noah. I’ve seen it happen enough times to recognize the signs.”I shook my head, trying to keep the panic from rising in my chest. This can’t be happening. Not now. Not like this. My mind raced, frantically trying to calculate the possibilities. But deep down, I knew. Grace was right.I wasn’t ready for this. Not with everything that had been happening. My shaky marriage to Raymond, the looming question of whether we even had a future together—how could I bring a child into this chaos?Grace must have sensed my panic. “Can I get you a test from the store?” she offered. I knew she was trying to be helpful, but the weight of her words felt suffocating.I swallowed hard, my throat dry. “N-no thank you, Grace. I, uh… I just ne
NoahI placed a hesitant hand on Clara’s shoulder. My touch was awkward, uncertain. “I miss Owen too… your brother was a good man.”The words felt strange coming out of my mouth. Comforting the woman who had played such a large role in wrecking my marriage? The irony wasn’t lost on me. But as I looked into her tearful eyes, that looked so much like her brother’s, I couldn’t help but feel sympathy. She had no family left. And despite everything, I knew what that kind of loneliness felt like.Clara turned to me with a trembling smile, tears clinging to her lashes. “Thank you for coming with me, Noah. It means more than you know.”I nodded, managing a small smile in return. There were no words that felt right in that moment. She had caused me so much pain. But standing here in the graveyard, with Owen’s memory between us, the bitterness faded just a little.As we walked back toward the car, the silence between us stretched. We passed a weathered bench, perched on the cliffside with a bre