I know it's a short chapter but it needed to finish here. I hope you agree. Love Billie
'Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memery no one can steal.' Quote by Richard PuzNoah couldn’t believe it. The woman that had barreled into his chest as she was leaving the hospital was May.He gripped her arms, holding on, so she wouldn’t vanish again. He could see she wasn’t pleased to see him. She looked tired and her hand was also bandaged. How long had she been in the ER before being treated? “What happened to your hand?”She looked at her hand resting against his chest and blinked at the stark white bandage before saying, “I cut it on some glass. They just put three stitches in.” She didn’t meet his eyes, instead looked at his hands gripping her arms. “Can you let go of me, please? I would like to go home.”Noah’s hands tightened slightly on her arms. He was afraid if he let her go, even for a second, he might never find her again. “May, can we talk? I would like to set the record straight.” He said to the top of her head because she was staring at his ches
‘Most of the problems in life are because of two reasons: we act without thinking or we keep thinking without acting.’ Quote by Unknown.“What is it? What’s wrong?” Noah asked.April shook her head. “Nothing important.” God, she hoped not.“Then can we start again?” Noah asked.April didn’t think that was a good idea. Not only did Noah not know who she was, but he had hurt her every day for the last four years, starting from their wedding day.“I just don’t think that would be good for me.” April wrapped her arms around her waist, watching him. “Look Noah, let’s call it what it was. We both had fun, but we both saw it as a one-night stand.”“And not worth a repeat. If I remember your words correctly.” Noah said, taking another step towards her.April held her hand up as if to stop him from advancing. “I was angry when I wrote that note. But I don’t want you, Noah, for more than we have already shared. Let’s just go our separate ways.”April’s breath caught as Noah’s hand closed around
When no negative answer was forthcoming from her. Noah let her hands go from above her head. In short order, he had his belt and zipper undone. Freeing his length. Making her gasp as the heat of him touched her inner thigh.Her legs trembled. She lifted them and wrapped them tightly around his waist as he positioned himself. April’s breath hitched as she felt the head of his erection press against her entrance, the promise of what was to come making her heart pound even harder. But he didn’t push in immediately. Instead, he pulled away, leaving her hanging, aching for more.“Tell me,” he demanded, his voice cutting through the haze of desire. “Tell me what you want, May.”She blinked, dazed and disoriented, her mind struggling to form words. “I... I don’t know,” she stammered, her voice soft and uncertain.Noah let out a dark chuckle, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “Liar,” he said simply, “You know exactly what you want. You’re just too stubborn to admit it.”Her cheeks burned with
“Fuck.” Noah said aloud as he finished pulling up his pants and buttoning and zipping himself up. He knew by the time he was done, she would be long gone. He wanted to know what the hell she was playing at. She ran hot and cold.If he didn’t fancy her like mad. Plus, it had been the best sex of his life. He would just walk away without a backward glance, like he had done too many times before. But he did want her in a way he hadn’t wanted anyone. It wasn’t just the sex.Pulling his phone out of his pants pocket. Noah dialed Hugo’s number. “Hugo, I ran into May at the hospital when I was visiting Ryan. She had a bandage on her hand. Do you have a contact within the hospital who can look into all ER visits tonight?”“Sure, but boss, if you ran into her, how did she get away?” Hugo was curious enough to ask.Noah could feel the heat rising on his cheeks. How indeed. But he would not be telling Hugo how. That he had been caught with his pants down. “She got away, as I was otherwise occupie
Weeks later, Noah found himself alone in the boardroom of one of his London hotels. Lost in his own thoughts as he gazed out the window. Everyone else had already left the room. As he sat there, deep in thought, the door suddenly swung open, and his personal assistant, Jarrod, walked in. Noah remained unaware of Jarrod’s presence until his name was called multiple times. “Noah.” Jarrod said again. Noah swung around to face Jarrod, who had a frown on his face at Noah’s lack of awareness. “What is it?” “Sorry to disturb you. Ryan Hawkins is on line two.” Jarrod told him before backing out of the boardroom. Noah frowned. It was unlike Ryan to chase him down when he was in another country away for work. Reaching across the table, Noah lifted the phone sitting there on the boardroom table. Punching line two to answer the call. Bringing the handset to his ear. “Hi.” “Noah, thanks for taking my call, mate.” Ryan sounded relieved. “I left my mobile with reception. I just wrapped up a me
The soft murmur of voices surrounded April as she stood by her father’s coffin, holding onto Tally’s hand for support. The church was filled with mourners, some family, some distant friends of her late fathers, but April’s attention was fixed solely on the casket before her. Her father, once a pillar of strength, now lay in quiet repose, an almost peaceful expression on his face. The thought felt wrong, too final. There was so much more to say, so much left unsaid between them. The last few years of sickness had been telling on him. Even if she wished for more time. This earth could not hold him. His mind might have been sharp until the end, but his body hadn’t been. Tally, ever the rock, stood by her side, squeezing her hand lightly in support. She hadn’t known Tally long, but in the time they had spent together, Tally had become April’s anchor. April’s heart felt heavy with gratitude, and yet the weight of her secrets almost choked her. Her friends from university couldn’t be with h
April made her way outside as soon as the service had finished. She had been relieved. It had started at the prefect time when Noah had said her name, not giving her time to talk. The courtyard was eerily quiet despite the low murmur of voices from mourners lingering nearby. The cold air wrapped around April, but she barely noticed. Her focus was on the man standing a few feet away, his gaze sharp, searching. Noah.He had followed her out after the funeral service, his long strides full of purpose. She could feel the weight of his presence, the tension radiating between them, thick and undeniable. He still didn’t know who she was, and she needed to keep it that way.April’s fingers curled into the fabric of her dress as she forced herself to remain still, composed. When she finally spoke, she kept her voice soft, careful. Not hiding her voice from him, but speaking softly instead, hoping that was enough. “Can I help you with something?” She said, spinning around to face him after she
On the drive back to the estate, she enjoyed the quiet and solitude. April sat stiffly in the back seat of the black town car, her fingers clenched tightly in her lap as she stared out the window. The funeral had been draining, but she had little time to grieve. Her father’s will was about to be read, and she knew it wouldn’t be a quiet affair. The rest of the mourners would be heading back for drinks and food, as her father’s lawyer read William Harrington’s will in the privacy of her father’s office.David had made it clear where he stood, and she had no doubt he believed himself entitled to everything her father had built. But William Harrington had never been a man to let others dictate his decisions. If there was one thing her father had been adamant about, it was control and there would be no splitting the estate.The estate loomed ahead, its grandeur somehow colder today. As the car rolled to a stop, April exhaled slowly. Tally was already waiting for her near the entrance, stan
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