This was a pretty important chapter from Tally and Ryan's book and only part of it was shown in their book. But it explains Noah's trust issues.
Noah pulled up in front of Ryan and Tally’s house for the second time in a week. But this time, his gut wasn’t twisting with dread. He wasn’t walking into a nightmare. No life-shattering news awaited him.And yet, he still sat in his car for a moment, gripping the wheel, exhaling slowly as if trying to steady himself.His mind was still reeling from what he had learned the last time he was here. He had fathered a child—a child he had never known about, never even had the chance to fight for. And now, he never would. That reality wasn’t something he could just shake off. It clung to him, burrowed deep into his chest like a wound that refused to close. The fact that he had been kept in the dark only made his hatred for Ashley even more raw.But he wasn’t here to drown in that grief today. He had drunk enough this past week to sink any ship. But it hadn’t helped. He needed to deal with it and move on. Like Ryan had. For years, his best friend had believed the baby was his.Then Ryan had t
April wiped her hands on a kitchen towel, glancing at the dining table one last time. Everything was perfect. The table was set; the wine was breathing, and the scent of roasted garlic and herbs filled the air.So why did she feel like she was about to walk into an ambush?“April, breathe,” Tally’s voice cut through her spiraling thoughts.April turned to where Tally stood at the counter, slicing fresh bread with practiced ease. Unlike April, who had been running around the kitchen for the past ten minutes like a chicken with its head cut off, Tally looked completely relaxed.“I am breathing,” April muttered, running her hands over the front of her dress. “I just... I don’t know how they’re going to take this.”Tally had offered to be here tonight. A quiet pillar of support for what April was worried about what would be a difficult conversation. How did you explain to your friends that you’d been keeping your identity a secret? That the May Jones they had known for years was actually A
The laughter still echoed through April’s brownstone as the night stretched on, the conversation growing more relaxed now that the big revelation was out in the open. April had expected more resistance, more anger, but after the initial shock, her friends had simply adjusted. It was strange…almost too easy, but maybe that was what real friendship was.They had known her for a few years now, after all. May Jones, April Harrington, like Tally had said, she was still the same person.Trent leaned back against the couch, swirling his wine. “You know, I keep thinking about something.”April sighed, already bracing herself. “Should I be worried?”Trent smirked. “You’re always worried. But no, it’s just… I remember reading some gossip piece a few years back about you. April Harrington… I mean, you.”April tensed, her fingers tightening around the stem of her glass. “Oh?”Poppy arched a brow. “Wait, I remember that too. Something about April Harrington getting married to some rich heir and the
April adjusted the cuffs of her blazer, smoothing the lapels as she stared at her reflection in the floor-to-ceiling windows of Harrington Enterprises’ top-floor boardroom. The city skyline stretched behind her, but she barely saw it. Today wasn’t just any meeting… it was war.She had been expecting resistance, but the more she uncovered, the more disgusted she became. Her uncle, David Harrington, had been scheming for years, waiting for the day her father would pass so he could claim what he saw as his rightful place. But William Harrington had left everything to April. The company. The shares. The legacy.And David was furious.April turned away from the window, her heart steady despite the storm brewing inside. Across the boardroom table sat the key players in today’s power struggle. Her former father’s right-hand man, Fred Coolman, the now-disgraced CFO, Mitchell Grant, and a handful of board members she knew had aligned with them. They just didn’t know it yet. They had no idea she
A tense silence filled the boardroom, thick and suffocating. The weight of what had just happened settled like a storm cloud over the table. April sat motionless, watching as David fumed, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. His breathing was shallow, the vein at his temple pulsed dangerously. He was trying to mask his anger, but she saw the barely restrained fury in his eyes.He had lost. And he just didn’t know it yet.Neil Harper broke the silence, his voice smooth but firm. “As per David Harrington’s request, do we have a second for a no-confidence vote?”April looked around the room, waiting, her gaze sharp. The silence stretched unbearably long. David looked shocked when no one raised their hand straight away, and for a brief, satisfying moment, she thought maybe even his allies were hesitant. But then, the oldest board member, Arnold Hayes, lifted his hand.Of course, it was him.One of those men who had built his career in an era where women were nothin
“Power is not given. It is taken.” House of Cards.April sat in her office, staring blankly at the city skyline. The glass windows stretched from floor to ceiling, offering a breathtaking view of the empire her father had built, the empire that was now hers. But instead of feeling victorious, she felt… exhausted.The boardroom battle had ended, and she had won. But wars weren’t won in a day. David had been humiliated, but he wasn’t gone. The board members who had stood with him still had seats at the table for now. And Noah…She exhaled sharply. Noah.Her hands curled into fists in her lap. He had blindsided her with his revelation, and now she couldn’t stop thinking about it. She had spent the last four years believing one version of events, one truth: that he had taken her father’s money and treated her like she was insignificant because he had never wanted her just the money.Now, he had thrown that into question.Had her father truly forced him? Had Noah really been trapped, just a
April took a deep breath as she stepped out of the car, grateful she had swapped her heels for flats. The neon sign of The Patch cast a warm glow over the bustling sidewalk, its deep red letters standing out against the night.Who the hell called their pub The Patch? April almost felt like she should have an eye patch just to gain entry. Trent had insisted it was the trendy place to be. But honestly, all she wanted was a good meal, maybe a drink or two, and then a taxi home so she could crawl into bed and sleep. Today had been… exhausting.Poppy looped her arm through April’s. “You sure you want to be out in public for this? The media are still circling like sharks.”“Let them circle,” April said, straightening her shoulders. “I’m not hiding.” Besides, she doubted they’d be here.Sophie smiled, nudging Trent. “See? That’s the energy we love.”Trent snorted. “Please, she’s been running off adrenaline and rage for the last twenty-four hours.” He turned to April. “When this all calms down
“You want to date my friend? Great. But know this… if you hurt her, I will become your worst nightmare.” by UnknownApril slid out of the booth, grabbing her clutch as she stood. “I need the bathroom.” They had been here for over thirty minutes and Noah had just sat there, watching her and her friends.Sophie stood up immediately. “I’ll come too.”April didn’t argue. She needed a moment away, and anyone understood the importance of a good bathroom escape. As they weaved through the crowded tables and headed down the narrow hallway past the bar, April could still feel Noah’s eyes on her back. It made her skin itch and her blood heat. No matter how much she said she didn’t want him in her life, she knew she was lying to herself. She had strong feelings for Noah, but not all of them were good.Once they were out of sight of their table, Sophie gave her a sideways glance. “You okay?”April hesitated before answering. “Honestly? No. But I will be.” She paused, pushing the bathroom door open
April pulled her car into the underground parking garage beneath Harringtons, the soft rumble of the engine echoing against the stark concrete walls. She glanced at the dashboard clock. 8:12 a.m. Early, but she liked it that way. Quiet, still, no one around to pull her into impromptu meetings before she had a chance to settle. If Noah had his way this morning, she would have been late.Grinning, she slipped the gear into park and killed the engine. The silence that followed was oddly sharp, too complete. She reached over for her handbag, slinging it over her shoulder, and opened the door, her heels clicking against the floor as she stepped out. The sound echoed off the concrete walls.The moment she shut her door and hit the lock, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up.She paused.It was instinct. A tightening in her chest. A shift in the atmosphere that had nothing to do with the cold. She wasn’t alone. Usually, she wouldn’t have minded. It was common for her staff to come and g
Six weeks later.The soft Saturday morning light poured in through the bedroom windows, casting a warm glow over the sheets tangled around April’s legs. She lay on her side, one hand resting over her slowly growing belly, the other curled under her pillow. Beside her, Noah was already awake, propped up on one elbow, just watching her.“You’re staring,” she mumbled, not even opening her eyes.“I’m allowed to,” he said, brushing her hair back from her cheek. “I’m admiring my girls.”She cracked one eye open, giving him a sleepy smile. “You don’t know it’s a girl yet.”He leaned down and kissed her belly. “I have a feeling.”An hour later, they were in the car, heading to the clinic for her second-trimester appointment. April watched the city pass by outside her window, but she was only half paying attention. Her nerves were fraying. It wasn’t that she thought something would be wrong, but pregnancy had a way of stirring up worry even when everything seemed fine.Noah reached over, threa
The front door clicked shut behind them with a soft thud, the sound swallowed by the quiet stillness of the Harrington estate.April’s heels echoed faintly in the empty hall, her fingers still laced through Noah’s. The place smelled like memory, old cedar and roses, polished wood, her childhood. She had loved it here. She was so glad they had renewed their vows in the garden she loved so much.For a moment, the silence felt too big. Too final. Like stepping out of one life and into another. Her dad was gone, but she held him in her heart and this place would always be here.Noah, in his usual effortless way, broke the weight with a grin.“Well, Mrs. Crawford,” he murmured, his voice low, teasing, “you have exactly fifteen seconds to tell me which room we’re sleeping in before I throw you down right here on the marble floor.”April raised a brow, smoothing her fingers up his lapel. “Not the master-suite.”Noah blinked. “Why not?”“It was my father’s room, and I still feel guilty moving
The sun filtered gently through the tall windows of the Harrington family estate, casting soft light onto the white floral arrangements that lined the garden path. April stood just inside the drawing room, her hands clasped tightly in front of her as she stared out at the rows of white chairs set up on the lawn. Everything looked perfect.But it wasn’t nerves twisting in her stomach—not quite. It was something deeper. Quieter. A solemn ache that this moment, this day, was finally hers. Theirs. A peace she hadn’t known she was waiting for pressed into her chest like a soft ache. It was overwhelming and still, somehow, comforting.They weren’t getting married again. They were already married. But today was a promise. A real one. A clean slate, with no secrets between them. A vow, this time, given by choice, not circumstance. Not blackmail.Behind her, the door creaked open, and Poppy stepped in with a smile. “You ready?”April turned, her mouth curving with emotion. “Almost.”Poppy walk
April stepped into the house with a sigh, dropping her purse on the hallway table and slipping off her heels with a grimace. Her feet ached, her shoulders were stiff, and she hadn’t even had the energy to take off her blazer before Noah’s voice floated from the living room.“You’ve got thirty minutes to get ready,” he called. “Dinner reservations. And before you argue—we’re celebrating your win.”She frowned, stepping further into the room. He was standing by the bar cart, dressed to kill in a black suit with no tie, his shirt unbuttoned just enough to show a glimpse of skin. He looked... devastating.April blinked. “Wait, what win?”Noah came over, kissing her cheek lightly. “You, standing up for yourself. Your win. You put them in their place and walked out with your head high. We’re celebrating.”Her heart softened, but her pride flared slightly. “We lost the Paris group acquisition because of that damn leak.”Noah smiled patiently. “And yet, you didn’t let them rattle you. You mad
The elevator doors opened with a low ding, and April stepped onto the executive floor of Harringtons with her head high and her spine straight.She could feel it immediately… something was wrong. It was the shift in the air, the whispered voices that stopped when she passed, the subtle tension strung too tight across the office. April had a feeling she was going to be very pissed before the morning was over.Her heels clicked a sharp rhythm as she moved toward her office. Neil was already waiting by the door, a folder clutched in one hand, a look on his face that said this wasn’t going to be a normal day. She could already feel her blood pressure rising, the heat in her temples building with each silent glance tossed her way.“Neil,” she greeted calmly, her voice smoother than she felt.“Can I speak with you?” he asked, voice low and tense.She nodded, pushing open the door to her office. The moment it shut behind them, Neil dropped the polished professionalism he wore like armor.“Th
The morning light spilled lazily across the bedroom, catching on the mess of tangled sheets and bare skin. Noah stirred first, blinking against the soft gray light filtering in through the curtains. He shifted, his body deliciously sore, and smiled when he felt April tucked against him, her hand splayed possessively across his stomach.For a long moment, he just lay there, breathing her in. Her scent clung to the sheets, warm and sweet, threaded with the faintest trace of last night’s passion. His chest tightened, a slow ache he welcomed. She was here. She was his.He tilted his head, pressing a kiss to her hairline. April murmured something incomprehensible, shifting closer, her thigh sliding up to hook over his hip.“Careful,” he whispered against her temple, amusement threading his voice. “Unless you want a round two before breakfast.”April cracked one sleepy eye open, her mouth curving into a wicked smile. “And miss food? Never.”Noah chuckled, sliding out from under her carefully
Noah kicked the bedroom door shut with a soft thud, never loosening his hold on her. April giggled against his mouth, her hands fisting in the fabric of his shirt, pulling him closer, her body molding to his.He didn’t rush. He kissed her slowly, deeply, his tongue teasing her lips until she opened for him, tasting her with a hunger that simmered beneath the surface. His mouth devoured hers, coaxing, teasing, claiming. Every stroke of his tongue was a promise: tonight, he was going to worship her.April whimpered softly, pressing into him. Her scent surrounded him, sweet and clean, a heady mix of her shampoo and her skin. He couldn’t get enough.Noah’s mouth traced the corner of her lips, down the line of her jaw, savoring the faint taste of her skin. He pressed kisses to the hollow beneath her ear, nipping lightly at her earlobe, feeling her shiver in his arms.“Noah,” she breathed, fingers sliding up into his hair, tugging lightly.He growled low in his throat, hands sliding to the b
Noah got home first.He hadn’t planned it that way, but a meeting ran short, and he found himself pulling into the driveway an hour earlier than normal. It wasn’t even properly dark yet. The brownstone looked quiet from the outside, the porch light just flickering on with the motion sensor.He shut the door behind him and leaned against it for a second, exhaling slowly.He still hadn’t told her.Four days.Four days of smiling and kissing her forehead and pretending he hadn’t threatened to destroy half her family behind her back. The guilt sat heavy on his chest, a slow, grinding weight he couldn’t shake off.Noah ran a hand through his hair. It had felt right at the time. It was right. David and Porsha had needed to hear it. Needed to be scared. But it didn’t change the fact he should have told April. Not because he thought she’d be angry. She probably wouldn’t be. But because this… them… was supposed to be built on trust now. No more secrets. No more half-truths, even if they were me