Noah"Hello, thanks for agreeing to meet with us," Raymond said warmly. I heard them exchange a kiss on the cheek. The woman bent down to greet me in the same way."Hi, Cassandra. It's nice to meet you," I said, my voice trembling slightly. Her long, silken hair brushed my cheek. Even her perfume smelled alluring.I thought being here with Raymond would help ease my jealousy, but as they discussed the plans in hushed tones, I felt even more like an outsider.I sipped my cappuccino and took a bite out of my croissant, trying to look busy. My mind drifted elsewhere as I half-listened to their conversation.Images came to my mind. A stunning woman in a shimmering gown. Her and Raymond, both wearing masks, da
NoahI stood in the bathroom, held by a strange woman with a familiar voice. Her grip was iron. Her nails were digging into my skin.“What a pleasure to ‘see’ you again, Noah,” the woman said with a madness in her tone. The worst thing was that I recognized her voice. It was Josie, the woman who had become my worst nightmare. The realization struck me like a bolt of lightning.“Surprised? My-Dear-Old-Friend!” she sneered, yanking my hair back so hard it felt like my scalp might tear away. I winced. The pain was sharp and immediate.Her ghostly voice sent chills down my spine. The voice that had once been so familiar now felt like a deadly weapon, cutting through the remnants of our shattered friendship.
NoahThe sudden voice outside the door made both of us freeze. I could feel Josie’s heart pounding through the hand she had clamped over my mouth. It was Cassandra! My last hope.But Josie seemed to sense my thoughts. She tightened her grip, her fingers digging painfully into my skin.“Don’t say a word,” she hissed, her voice low and menacing. “You wouldn’t want her to die too, would you?”We stood there in silence, waiting. The knock at the door faded away, and the silence felt suffocating. Maybe it was for the best that Cassandra didn’t come in. At least she was safe. As for me, I was growing dizzy from the blood loss and Josie’s grip around my throat. If my death could protect everyone else, maybe it was w
NoahDuring the long drive, my anxiety grew with every passing minute. I tried to break the silence to ease my nerves.“Is it much farther?” I asked, my voice trembling with worry.Raymond reached over, taking my hand in his for comfort. “Not too far. The navigation says about 15 kilometers. Why don’t you take a break? I’ll wake you up when we get there.”“Getting there soon,” Cassandra’s voice came through the intercom.“Got it,” Raymond replied, his tone soothing.Despite their reassurances, I couldn’t shake the unease. I had placed my trust in a woman I had just met. A woman we all doubted whether
NoahI stumbled back into the bedroom. My heart was heavy with the weight of what I had overheard. Throwing myself onto the bed, I felt the tears come slowly. I tried to convince myself that I should trust him. But doubts gnawed at me. What if he gave me the worst answer? What if everything was about to fall apart?I admitted, I was timid in love sometimes. I was not confident enough. Especially when it came to Raymond. Maybe it was because of the scars left by a bad marriage, or I was not as young anymore. I kept telling myself that there had to be a misunderstanding, that I just needed to calm down and ask him directly. Yes, I could face this.“Noah? Are you awake?” Raymond knocked on the door. “Wait a minute,” I called out, quickly sitting up and wiping away the tears. I couldn’t let him see how shaken I was. “Okay, come in, honey.”Raymond walked into the room. “Are you okay? Your eyes…”“Oh, my eyes are just a little dry,” I said, rubbing them to make my words more convincing.“L
Noah"What’s happening?” I asked, my voice trembling as panic rose in my chest. The fear was overwhelming. Holding Raymond tightly, I braced myself for whatever came next. I knew that as long as we were together, we could face anything.The suburb’s tranquil silence was shattered by the sound of approaching cars. The tension in the air was palpable. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. Raymond and Cassandra guided me into the living room. A series of security screens displayed live footage from around the property.Raymond’s arm was around my shoulders. I could feel his body tense as he watched the screen. “There's multiple cars,” he said, his voice low and cautious. “They’re stopping just outside the gate. A man with a hat and glasses is getting out. Can’t see his face. ”My heart raced. I hid my face in Raymond’s chest. He wrapped his big arms around me protectively. We waited in suspense as the man approached the front gate. His movements were deliberate and confident. He
NoahNone of us realized that the killer wasn’t dead. The shot rang out before anyone could react. Owen had thrown himself in front of me, and now he lay in my arms, bleeding. The world around me blurred. I couldn’t believe this was happening.“Owen, stay with me, please,” I whispered, my voice trembling with fear. Tears streamed down my face as I held him. How could this be happening? Just moments ago, we had been fighting for our lives. Now, Owen, who had protected me, was dying. The realization that he might not survive sent a wave of despair crashing over me.He started moving slightly. I turned my gaze towards his face, trying to make out his features. But all I could see was a very faint contour of his head. “Noah… I’m so sorry,” he gasped, his voice weak. “I regret everything… the way I treated you… I was so wrong.”“Don’t talk like that,” I pleaded, trying to keep my voice steady, but the panic was overwhelming. “You’re going to be fine. You have to be fine. Just stay with me,
NoahThe darkness of my dreams was suffocating. One by one, I watched as my family was taken from me. Their screams echoed through my mind. No matter how desperately I tried to save them, the outcome was always the same. My world crumbled, piece by piece. Until I was left alone, drowning in a sea of despair.I couldn’t breathe. The weight of the nightmare pressed down on my chest. I was suffocating. Just as I thought I would be lost to the darkness forever, I jolted awake, gasping for air.“Noah, are you okay?” Raymond’s voice broke through the fog of panic that clouded my mind. I blinked and tried to focus on him. But I was still trapped in the nightmare’s grip. His face was filled with concern. His hand reached out to touch mine.I couldn’t speak. The horror of what I had just witnessed in my sleep was still too fresh, too real. Raymond’s eyes searched mine. Fear creeped into his voice as he called my name again. “Noah, please… talk to me.”Finally, I found my voice. But all I could
NoahI opened the box, and there it was—a delicate golden necklace with a teardrop-shaped ruby nestled at the center. It caught the light with a soft, familiar glow.“Wait a minute… Is this…?”Raymond’s smile widened. “The necklace Owen gave you after you saved his life as a child? It sure is.”I shook my head in disbelief, my fingers brushing over the ruby’s multifaceted surface. This was the necklace that had started it all—the one that ended my relationship with Owen, fractured my friendship with Josie, and, in the end, brought Raymond and me together.“No way… Where did you find it?” I asked breathlessly.He took my hand. “I went to Josie’s apartment after she passed away and found it tucked away in a jewelry box. I remembered the story you told me about it. I just knew you should have it back.”Overwhelmed, I looked up at him, my eyes filling with gratitude. He held my gaze, and we shared a lingering, tender kiss. One that was filled with years of love and unspoken promises. As
NoahThe grand hall was resplendent, draped in soft whites, blush pinks, and touches of gold. Chandeliers sparkled overhead, and the orchestra played a melody that filled the air with romance and elegance. I took a deep breath, looking out over the sea of familiar faces, and then my eyes found Raymond’s.He stood at the end of the aisle, his gaze fixed on me, his smile both proud and tender. The love in his eyes was so deep, so steady, that my nerves began to melt away, replaced by a warmth that filled my entire being.With every step, my heart beat faster, the anticipation building with each note of the music. Raymond’s gaze never wavered, and as I drew closer, I could see the emotion glistening in his eyes.Finally, we reached him. My mother released my hand and turned to Raymond, her own eyes shimmering. She placed my hand in his, her voice choked with emotion. “Take good care of her,” she said softly, her words laced with love and a hint of the strength that had carried us both.Ra
NoahAs I looked at Evelyn, her gentle smile seemed to melt the tension in my shoulders. Her eyes, always so full of determination, held a glimmer of joy as she spoke.“Don’t worry, Noah. It’s good news.”A breath I hadn’t realized I was holding escaped me. “Good news?” My voice was barely a whisper.She nodded, a spark of excitement lighting up her face. “The doctor said… well, they said there’s a chance I’ll walk again. The prognosis is good if I keep exercising, eating healthy, and pushing myself.”My relief quickly turned into a grin as the magnitude of her words hit me. “Mom, that’s amazing!”She wheeled closer, her hand finding mine. Her touch was warm and filled with the quiet strength that I’d come to admire even more through her recovery. “I know, right?” She laughed, her voice tinged with the thrill of newfound hope. “I can’t wait for the day I can pick up Rosie all on my own, to hold her without limits.”We sat there, both smiling, both overwhelmed by the idea that she migh
NoahCassandra’s labor dragged on, stretching through two long days. I felt every minute of it from my room. My worry and helplessness coiled tighter with each update. The doctor had ordered me to stay in bed. Although it felt good to rest, I hated that I couldn’t be there for her. She’d been such a support to me during my own labor with Rosie. Her words had steadied me through every contraction and every wave of pain. Now, here I was, stuck in bed while she struggled on her own.Little Rosie was my solace. Every time I looked at her, I felt a soft warmth spread through me, all the worry and exhaustion melting away. She was a tiny, perfect miracle with her miniature fingers and rosy cheeks. I couldn't stop staring at her. Raymond was wonderful too. He moved back and forth between rooms to check on Cassandra and then back to me, sharing gentle updates that kept me grounded.On his fourth or fifth return, Raymond’s expression was strained. He sat by my bed, taking my hand gently. “She
NoahThe words fell like a stone in the room. My heart stuttered as I looked between her and Raymond, my grip tightening around his hand. “What… what kind of complication?”The midwife took a steadying breath. “It seems your baby may be in a posterior position—facing up, rather than down. This can make labor slower and a bit more challenging.”A wave of worry swept over me, and I felt my breaths quicken. Cassandra placed a steadying hand on my shoulder. “Hey, Noah, breathe. She didn’t say impossible—just more challenging.”The midwife nodded, her tone reassuring. “We’ll try some different positions, some movements that might help encourage her to turn. This happens often enough, and there are ways we can support the process.”I nodded, feeling the tension ease a fraction as I met Raymond’s eyes. He gave me a brave smile, squeezing my hand. “We’ve got this,” he murmured. “We’ll help her get into position, and soon, we’ll be meeting our little girl.”The midwife guided me through some po
NoahI stared, slightly panicked, down at the small puddle forming beneath me. Cassandra brought her hand to rest gently on my arm. “It will be fine, Noah. Looks like your little girl has her own schedule,” she said with a reassuring smile. Her voice was calm and warm. Her words broke through my anxiety. I managed a shaky laugh, nodding in agreement.An employee approached, casting an understanding look at the situation. “Don’t worry about a thing—we’ll clean it up,” she said, a gentle smile on her face. “Good luck!” She gave a supportive nod as we carefully made our way out of the store. Cassandra held my arm to steady me.Once we were outside, Cassandra reminded me, “You don’t need to rush to the hospital just yet. They usually want you to wait until active labor is in full swing.” Her calm certainty helped, but I still felt jittery. I immediately grabbed my phone, dialing Raymond’s number. He picked up after the first ring.“Raymond?” I began, my voice trembling slightly. “It’s ha
NoahThe room erupted in cheers and joyful shouts as pink confetti rained down around us. It took a second to sink in: we were having a girl. Barely containing my smile, I felt Raymond’s strong arms wrap around me from behind. He leaned his head close, his voice a low, gentle murmur. “A little girl, Noah… our little girl.”My heart swelled as I looked at Neil, who was watching the confetti with wide eyes. He had a look of pure wonder on his face. It was the brightest smile I’d seen on him since everything that happened, and I felt a weight lift from my shoulders. He was still healing. But moments like these, surrounded by love, felt like the very first steps toward a new beginning.Evelyn rolled over, her eyes filled with emotion as she held out her hands to us. Slowly but surely, she was regaining control over her muscles. I leaned down to her, and she wrapped her arms around both Neil and me. “Oh, a little girl,” she whispered, her voice thick with joy. “Our family just keeps grow
NoahThe house buzzed with excitement and laughter as we invited everyone inside. Each new arrival was greeted with hugs and cheers. Cassandra's friends—Harper, Lila, and Gia—were here, their faces lighting up when they spotted me. Our trip to Vegas and Cass’s wedding had bonded us. Seeing them again brought a sense of closeness, comfort and normality after recent events. Raymond’s colleagues filled the space with their lively energy, and Simon’s friends mingled easily with Raymond’s parents, whose faces were aglow with anticipation.Neil quickly spotted his friends from school, darting over to hug a small girl with a sweet smile. I couldn’t help but smile knowingly; he’d mentioned her more than once—his little primary school girlfriend. Seeing him run and laugh, his face bright with joy despite the shadows of recent events, filled me with a deep, almost overwhelming sense of gratitude. After everything he had endured, there was hope that he might find his way back to himself. Seei
Noah“Oh, Raymond…” I murmured, my heart brimming with emotion as he knelt before me, the words barely forming in my mouth, tangled up with a happiness that felt almost surreal.He waited patiently, still on one knee. His hazel eyes sparkled with flecks of gold in the bright sunlight. His hand was steady, holding out the ring as if it were a promise. A reminder of how far we’d come. I glanced at my old engagement ring. My fingers trembled as I noticed the way this new ring was designed to nestle perfectly against the first one. It was so unmistakably Raymond—thoughtful, detailed, crafted to fit me like a missing piece.“Yes,” I finally said, smiling through my tears. “Of course, I will marry you… again.”His face lit up with a joy I hadn’t seen in years. He slid the ring into place, its sleek band clicking softly as it nestled against my old ring. The two pieces formed a sparkling whole. As the diamonds caught the golden glow of sunset, it felt like the most perfect reflection of us—