Chapter 0315

Hannah

Noah’s warm hand rubbed gentle circles on my back as he held my hair, his voice soft and soothing. “I’m here for you, Hannah. Just let it out.”

His tone was more tender than I had ever heard it, a stark contrast to the cold, calculated demeanor he usually wore. The touch of his hand, the reassurance in his voice—it wasn’t at all like the Noah I had come to know over the years. But it was exactly what I needed.

When the wave of nausea finally passed, I slumped against the cool bathroom wall, feeling utterly drained. The chill of the tiles against my back was a welcome distraction from the lingering queasiness in my belly. Noah quickly wet a washcloth with cold water and gently wiped my face, crouching in front of me.

“Here,” he said, offering me a glass of water and some saltine crackers. “Small sips, okay?”

I nodded weakly, taking the water with hands that still trembled slightly. As I sipped, I couldn’t help but notice the worry etched into Noah’s green eyes. The tenderness of his gesture was almost too much to bear. Each touch, each word seemed to chip away at the icy barrier I had built around my heart lately. I felt myself softening toward him, even as a nagging voice in the back of my mind whispered countless doubts and concerns.

But was this genuine concern, or just another tactic? The check he had given my father, the sudden display of domesticity with my new niece—could it all be part of an elaborate plan to keep me in this marriage?

“Why are you doing this?” I asked, my voice hoarse from the earlier retching.

Noah’s brow furrowed with genuine confusion. “Doing what?” he asked, stroking the cool washcloth along my forehead.

“This,” I said, gesturing vaguely to the room—to the glass in my hand, the sleeve of saltines on the sink, the washcloth against my forehead. “Being such a… perfect husband. Is it just to look good in front of my parents?”

“Look good in front of your parents?” He cocked his head.

I shrugged. “Maybe you want them to convince me to stay with you. It wouldn’t be hard, if you keep acting like this around them.”

Noah sighed, sitting back on his heels and leveling me with a stern gaze. “Hannah, we’re alone right now. How can I be putting on a show for your parents when they’re not even here?”

I blinked, taking in his words. He had a point. “But… They saw you take Olivia… And then you came after me…”

“I helped Lily because she’s a new mom and the father of her child is a deadbeat, and I wanted you to enjoy your family dinner. And for what it’s worth, I told your parents you just remembered an important phone call and ran off,” Noah explained. “They have no idea you’re sick, or that I’m doing this right now.”

I fell silent, unsure of how to respond. He continued, “And about the check… it was simply an extension of goodwill toward your father. If we’re going to divorce, I don’t want you going back to a home where finances are an issue.”

My head snapped up, the realization hitting me like a slap to the face. “What are you saying?”

Noah took a deep breath, his eyes wandering the designs on the tile floor. “I’ve decided that if you don’t want to return to Nightcrest with me, I won’t stop you. Just say the word, and I’ll go home without you. We can finalize the divorce.”

I stared at him, stunned. The shock of his offer was almost overwhelming. “You would really do that?” I breathed.