Noah’s heart sank and his face grew grim. After some time, Gianna came to her senses. Flicking her long hair, she said coldly, “This isn’t fair! Why do I have to be kept in the dark and be your mistress? Why should I marry someone I don’t even love? You have no idea how much I sacrificed for you, Noah!”Her painful memories flooded her in a gut-wrenching instant, tormenting her.He had no idea what she went through. Back then, his business had just taken off. All he could care about was how much it expanded every day and if it was getting closer to being listed. He wasn’t concerned with how much liquor she had drunk with the benefactors and how many times she had thrown up because of it.Then, he found success and brought his business to a whole new level. A wild man like him, who played the field, was inexplicably confessing to a young Gwynn like a common schoolboy. He took Gwynn on night strolls and actually didn’t lay a finger on her even once before they got married. For Hea
Noah’s back was covered with sweat. Then, all of the yelling around him faded into the background until there was nothing. It felt as if he had traveled back in time. He was standing in the chapel in Silvercrest again. It was a magical day. Dressed in a wedding gown, Gwynn was holding a bouquet, waiting for him before the altar. His leather shoes made crisp, clear clacks on the pristine chapel floor. White doves flapped their wings gracefully and took to the skies, careful to not lose a single feather. A divine hymn filled the chapel as the chorus sang to usher in their holy marriage. Slipping a wedding ring onto her finger, he met her gaze and listened to her melodious voice as she spoke through the veil. “We’re married, Noah! Promise me you’ll love me forever and ever.”Why did she say something like this?It was because she got married to him in secret and Liam would have killed her if he found out about it. Noah was all she had now!…People banged on his car window
Staring at him in profile, Zoe said softly, “Let it go, Noah! Dad wouldn’t want us to live a life full of hatred. I believe he’d want us to be happy.”A breeze blew past them gently. His carefully combed hair was tousled a little, seemingly dialing the clock back on him. He looked like a twenty-odd-year-old man, reminiscent of the elegance and gentlemanly grace he had back then.Wearing a white shirt underneath the glow of the evening sun, he looked absolutely stunning. Keeping his hand on the doorknob, he lowered his gaze and said, “Happy? Do you want to know something, Zoe? It’s impossible for Gwynn and I to start over!”If he could turn back time and figure out his own thoughts and feelings earlier, then he would’ve turned Gianna away at Nihonburg before the New Year. He might’ve stood a chance with Gwynn then. Now, however, he was sure Gwynn would never fall in love with him again! What went on between him and Gianna had made her sick through and through. She thought o
Gwynn was unperturbed as if nothing had happened. His fingers twitched at the thought of it. He wanted to give her a call and listen to her voice. However, he was experiencing a similar fear as a soldier coming home after a long war.He was scared that he didn’t belong.He didn’t grab his car keys and drove home until one in the morning. He was mildly surprised to find that a servant waited for him when he returned home. She welcomed him and said in a hushed voice. “Ms. Gwynn sat in the study by herself ever since what happened in the afternoon.”After a brief moment’s quiet, he asked, “Did she have dinner?”“Why wouldn’t she?” The servant sighed lightly and continued, “Today’s Lorian’s birthday. Ms. Gwynn might’ve been disheartened to see what was on the internet, but she took a few bites of his birthday cake nonetheless. I’m telling you, Mr. Noah, she really loves her little boy.”He nodded and said that he knew what she was getting at. Climbing the stairs, he went straight
Noah, however, made sure he got home every night. He no longer forced Gwynn to sleep with him. Sometimes, he’d even sleep in the study. He was sure that he’d wear her down over time. After all, Lorian was the glue that held them together!It didn’t hurt that he treated his son nicely. He did love that little rascal from the bottom of his heart. Half a month later, her health deteriorated more and she started to throw up blood in the mornings.Still, she didn't seek treatment for it. She had given up on her life. It was evening when she sat in the yard, enjoying the evening breeze. She looked so scrawny underneath the fading light from the sky that there was a layer of fragility added to her grace. Gladys came over and put a small blanket over her, speaking softly, “Gianna’s here again! She said she wasn’t going to leave until she saw you. I’m going to send her away right now.”Gwynn was a little stunned. This had to be the third time she came!She coughed intensely before s
Aware that Noah was ruthless, Gianna put her pride aside and started pleading with him. “Please, Noah. Think about what we meant to each other in the past. Give me something. I can’t even find a job if you don’t let up.”At the next moment, she cried out desperately, “He broke up with me because his family forced him to! I have nothing left!”Noah didn't relent.Instead, he asked, “Don’t you think you had it coming? You begged me for mercy but did you ever pause to think about the repercussions of your actions?”Standing in the evening sun, he took a drag of his cigarette. He might’ve looked elegant, but, at that moment, he was cold and distant. He looked like he had never loved her to begin with. Wisps of smoke rose in the air slowly and scattered to the winds. His voice was cold and hollow. “Get out of Brookesville and never come back, ever.”Gianna couldn’t help but take a step back.She couldn’t believe what she had just heard. She sobbed and said, “Are you seriously going
Noah soothed his son, lowered his head, and asked her, “What are we to each other, Gwynn?”“A jailer and a prisoner.” Her voice was hollow. “I’m not your wife, Noah. I’m your prisoner!”Another gust of night breeze blew past him, sending chills down his spine. …Noah ended up sleeping in the study that night. He had a dream in which Gwynn left, taking Lorian with her. She also took away every scarf and cashmere sweater she had made with her, leaving the bedroom empty except for a veil, which was flowing in the air quietly. “Gwynn!”He jolted awake and beads of cold sweat rolled down his back. Opening his eyes, he saw that the sky was still dark outside. Then, he checked the time and realized it was only three in the morning. He was too overwrought to go back to sleep. So, he got out of bed, opened the door, and walked straight toward the master bedroom across the hallway. The door to the bedroom was ajar, a glow of light seeping through.To his surprise, Gwynn was sitting
Gwynn shook him off and uttered, “I don’t need it!”He was the one who had been rough with her. Now, he was pretending to be taking care of her. Why even bother?!She left without any hesitation.Noah sat alone on the couch, smelling the lingering body odor left in the air in the private lounge. It did nothing but leave a hollow sensation in his heart. …He had a bad feeling about what was going to happen to his family and it wasn’t exactly unfounded. Three days later, something terrible happened. Lorian went missing. Noah rushed home the second he learned about it through a phone call. Worried that her CEO might get into a car accident in his current state, Kim went with him. The moment Gladys saw him, she fell on her knees, wiped her tears, and said, “I took Lorian out for a stroll and ran into a friend. We were just chatting when someone snatched him away from the stroller! I didn’t leave his side, Mr. Noah, I swear. All I did was talk to my friend a little!”The old