All Chapters of Shattered Trust: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

Chapter Eighty-One: Ghosts of the PastThe silence in Noah's study was stifling, as he leaned against his desk, staring down at the crumpled newspaper clipping in his hand. Stephanie stood frozen, her breath caught in her throat while she waited for him to speak. The tension was palpable; every second felt like an eternity.Noah exhaled loudly, the paper falling onto the desk. For the first time, his eyes darted to Stephanie, and his face softened-not with tenderness, but with the weight of old wounds that had never healed."You want the truth?" he said, his voice low and heavy. "Fine. But the truth isn't as simple as you think."Stephanie nodded, her fingers digging into the back of a chair for support. "I'm listening.Noah ran a hand through his hair, his eyes going distant, as if into a past he'd tried so desperately to forget.Rachel and Noah"It started years ago," Noah said, his voice low, rough. "Long before I became…this." He gestured vaguely to the study around him, the life

Chapter Eighty Three: A Chance EncounterThere was a hum of excitement in the air as Rachel and Vanessa walked towards the grand entrance of the posh gala. The tall chandeliers, visible through the tall windows, lit up the night like a beacon. Rachel's palms were sweaty as her heart ran a mile a minute while she smoothed down the silky fabric of her dress. She hadn't been to one of these things in ages, and yet here she was, the one walking into it, hoping to confront the man whose heart she'd broken."I don't know about this," Rachel muttered low, her voice barely a whisper above the murmur of the crowd streaming into the venue.Vanessa was looping her arm through Rachel's, oozing confidence. "Trust me, this is your moment. You've got the dress, the hair, the confidence-or at least you will after a few glasses of champagne. Noah is going to see you, and he'll remember why he fell for you in the first place.Rachel laughed shakily. "What if he doesn't even look at me? Or worse, what i

Chapter Eighth Five: Stephanie's Self-ReflectionStephanie sat all alone in the generally darkened living room; the soft hum of the air conditioning was barely audible from the background. The curtains were drawn, leaving the room to bathe in the golden warmth of the afternoon light. Her fingers traced the rim of her glass of water idly. Her mind was far away from the clear liquid lying before her. She wasn't really thirsty. She wasn't even thinking about anything in particular, really. She had one of those thoughts that tugged in every direction, yet somehow came full circle back to one person: Noah.It had been months since she stepped into his world, and within those months, she had more ups and downs in emotions than she could ever have imagined. Confused at first, unsure of a place in his life and where she fit, it was now the uncertainty eating her alive. She'd remained by his side, standing beside him through everything-his work, his troubles, his past-but to what end? A pang o

Chapter Eighty Seven: Anxiety of RejectionNoah sat at the edge of his bed with the phone in his hand. His mind was a mess with all the words of his friends, Sophia and James, who were so sure that he was ready, that he was in love. But even after those words of encouragement, still, he couldn't push aside the feeling that he wasn't. Not yet. At least not completely.He rubbed his temples, trying to push away the nagging doubt that had taken root ever since Sophia's suggestion. Propose to her. The words echoed in his head, some sort of chant, but they sounded foreign, unreal. He had never been good with commitment, had never been the type of person that would tie himself to anyone, especially after what happened with Rachel. But with Stephanie, things were different. He couldn't quite explain it, but there was a pull toward her that he couldn't resist.Noah had spent days wrestling with his emotions, trying to untangle the whirlpool of feelings inside his tummy. He did not want to mak

Chapter Eighty Nine: The Unexpected She went to the window and adjusted the sheers to let in the soft light of the afternoon sun. The room was intricately set: candles on elegant holders, casting a warm glow in the room; rose petals scattered all over the bed and floor; a table at the corner had all kinds of delicate desserts and champagne glasses. The mood in the room was romantic, to say the least-perfect for Noah's proposal to Stephanie.He readjusted a small, velvet box stuck into his jacket pocket and scanned the surroundings critically over it. There was an almost palpable sense of contentment in the air: Things were going according to schedule, and he could already not wait to see Noah pop the question."Is it ready?" Sophia asked him, turning from the window toward him.Almost. Just putting the finishing touches on everything," he replied, readjusting the position of flowers that had been put in a vase on the table.Sophia beamed and moved over beside him, looking at all that