LOGINFor a few seconds, I simply stared through the windshield. Then I turned to him slowly. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” He looked at me, amusement dancing in his eyes. “What?” I gestured toward the road ahead. “You brought me here?” “Looks like it.” “Noah!” “What?” He shrugged, looking entirely too pleased with himself. “I thought you’d be happy.” “Happy?” I repeated. “You brought me to the lake in the middle of the night without telling me where we were going. How exactly is that supposed to make me happy?” He leaned back in his seat. “Because you love this place.” My words died in my throat. I looked out the window again. The lake. The same lake where I had spent countless evenings alone, hiding from the world whenever everything became too much. The place where I could sit for hours, watching the moonlight dance on the water and pretending that, for a little while, nothing else existed. The place where everything had started. And the place where I had first seen Noa
I blinked. I continued to stare at him, and when his eyes landed on me, I knew for a fact that he wasn’t angry when a smirk plastered on his lips. He winked, then licked his lips. Then, despite everything, a small smile escaped me. “You’re unbelievable.”He looked at me, then a smirk plastered on his lips. “But tell me something, you’re at least excited that we’re not blood related right?”“Well… I am.”“Exactly.”I looked at him, wondering what’s getting into him. His eyes landed on mine, then he shrugged. “What? It’s a very important discovery.” He said wearing is shirt. “You just found out that the man you thought was your father isn’t your father, and that’s what you’re choosing to focus on?” “I’m a man of priorities.” I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t stop smiling. “You’re impossible.” “And yet, here you are.” He looked entirely too pleased with himself. I shook my head and carefully climbed off the bed, reaching for my shirt. “Well, now that you’ve told me everything
“What?” I stared at Noah, waiting for him to tell me that I had heard him wrong. David was my father. That much had been confirmed by the DNA test. But Noah? He wasn’t? I lifted my head from his chest, looking directly into his eyes. “What do you mean he’s not your father?” Noah let out a humorless laugh. “I mean exactly what I said, Rosalie. The DNA test came back negative. David isn’t my biological father.” “But how is that even possible?” I sat up, my mind already racing as I tried to put the pieces together. “I thought your mom and David were married. I thought you were his son. Everyone thought you were his son.” “Yeah, well, apparently, everyone was wrong.” He said it so casually, but I could hear the pain underneath his words. I stared at him, trying to process everything. If David wasn’t Noah’s father, then who was? “Do you have any idea who your biological father could be?” Noah shook his head. “Not even a little clue?” “Rosalie, if I knew, don’t you think I wou
“Are you serious right now?” I asked.He raised an eyebrow.“Do I look like I’m joking?”I opened my mouth, then closed it again.“I came here because I’m worried about you! And David! You two left for the airport saying you were going to Italy, and now you’re back, David is crying downstairs, and you look like someone just ruined your entire life. Of course I’m going to ask what’s going on!”Noah watched me quietly.For a second, I thought he might finally drop the attitude and tell me what was happening.Instead, he let out another small chuckle.“Okay. I’ll tell you.”I blinked.“Really?”“Yeah.” He shifted against the pillows. “But you have to do one thing first.”I narrowed my eyes.“What?”“Come to the bed, and I’ll tell you everything you want to know.”I stared at him.“You’ve got to be kidding me.”He shrugged.“Your choice.”I couldn’t believe him.“What’s wrong with you? Seriously, Noah, what has gotten into you? Can you just talk to me like a normal person for once?”He di
My mother somehow managed to get David back on his feet and led him upstairs to their bedroom. He didn’t even look at me as they passed. His head was lowered, and he looked so broken that I almost felt bad for standing there staring at him. Almost. Because I was still confused as hell. What had happened? Who was the woman he kept talking about? What had she done to him? And why did Noah look at me as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t bring himself to do it? I stood in the living room for a few more minutes, hoping someone would come back and explain things to me. But nobody did. Of course. Apparently, everyone in this house had suddenly decided that keeping Rosalie in the dark was a family tradition. I let out a frustrated sigh and headed upstairs. I was halfway down the corridor when my eyes landed on a figure. It can’t be anyone else but Noah. He was leaning against the wall beside his bedroom door with his head hanging low. His arms were folded across his chest,
Noah and David had already left for the airport. David had called me himself to tell me they were going to Italy, and now Noah was coming to pick us up?Had they changed their minds?Had something happened at the airport?Or was this somehow connected to whatever had made David cry?But the thought of being in the car with Noah, at least my mum is with us.I didn’t have to wait long for an answer, though I wasn’t sure I was ready for one.A few minutes later, my mother’s phone vibrated.She glanced at the screen.“That’s Noah. He’s outside.”I picked up her bag, and we made our way out of the hospital.The moment I saw Noah’s car, a strange feeling settled in my stomach.He was sitting behind the wheel, staring straight ahead. He didn’t even look up when we approached.My mother opened the passenger door and got in while I settled into the back seat.“Hi, Noah,” she said gently.He didn’t respond.She fastened her seat belt and turned slightly toward him.“Thank you for coming to get
The first thing I saw was the steady rise and fall of his chest as the morning light filtered through the blinds, painting stripes across Noah. He was still sleeping peacefully beside me and a stupid smile touched my lips. For a second, it just felt… good. Calm.Geez, I shouldn’t be here smiling at
The video game store guy took Noah’s phone with a shrug. He promised to crack it for a hundred bucks. Expensive, but I’m desperate. It’s going to take a lot out of my savings. Considering I’m not the stepdaughter to a millionaire, It shouldn’t be such a big deal. I should be getting my big girl al
Rosalie’s POVNow I’m sure Noah is running mad. How can he just barge into my room without knocking? Like he just threatened me with a knife a few minutes ago. I kept my back pressed against the headboard, refusing to flinch as his shadow swallowed the space between us. I continued to stare at h
My eyes widened.Was he really asking me that? Because you threatened me with a knife.Because you stole my panties.But the words died in my throat when his thumb brushed my pulse point. “Why?” He asks again.“Are you really asking that?” I scoffed. “I’m going to assume you’re drunk. It’s the







