Chapter 1 ~ Past on replay

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Love doesn’t come with reasons.

“If anyone had told me I’d fall in love with my dead husband’s best friend, I’d have laughed. But grief has a funny way of rewriting your story.” Nora whispered to herself.

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Nora sighed deeply, her eyes lost somewhere beyond the glittering skyline outside her office balcony. She held a cold cup of coffee like it was the only thing keeping her steady, and maybe it was.

Six months had passed since Mira’s wedding. The last time they saw each other, Mira’s belly was round and full—a new life on the way.

The girl who used to disappear into the background was now married to Lucian Creed, one of the richest men alive—a real-life fairy tale.

Everyone seemed to have their part in the story, yes, everyone except Nora.

Maybe she was meant to be the tragic character, standing quietly in the background of someone else’s happy ending. Or she was the writer, cursed to watch it all unfold, never part of the plot. If that was the case, it’s not funny, not one bit.

She hadn’t written a word in weeks. Her head was full, but nothing stayed long enough to catch. Thoughts, feelings, questions—all spinning too fast.

And at the center of it all was Noah Bamford.

Noah had always been trouble. Charming, reckless, and smooth in a way that felt dangerous. He could have anyone, yet he always circled back to Mira—the one woman he should’ve stayed away from.

Nora had thought Mira’s marriage would end it. Instead, it brought them even closer, like they were holding on to something broken, hoping to fix it.

Lucian didn’t seem to mind. He no longer saw Noah as a threat. In fact, they became business partners—and good ones. For months, Noah flew back and forth between Paris and New York, always with a business excuse tied to the Creed empire.

But Nora knew better.

Mira still told her everything. She always had. Every call, every visit, every quiet talk over tea—Mira made sure Nora stayed in the loop, even when she didn’t ask.

Noah’s company had just landed one of the biggest deals in years, thanks to the Creed connection. On paper, it was a win. The media loved it. Investors cheered.

But behind all of that, Noah was using work to stay away. To keep distance between them.

She rose slowly, leaving the cold coffee behind. Her thoughts roared louder than ever.

“Love really does come without reasons,” she whispered to the quiet room.

But this time, she wasn’t laughing.

She was staring at a woman she didn’t recognize anymore

A woman who once had it all—a family, a steady home, and a clear direction.

Now all she had were memories.

And feelings she never wanted and couldn’t shut off.

What luck.

Nora closed her eyes, hoping to stop the image that was flashing through her mind and soul.

But they came anyway, because she didn’t have control over them.

Down Memory Lane

“Mommy! Mommy!” little Charlotte’s curls bounced as she ran into the room, holding a blinking toy. “Look what Uncle Noah got me!”

Nora’s eyes dropped to the noisy plastic toy in her daughter’s hands. It chirped and blinked nonstop. Her gaze shifted to Oliver, the older twin by three minutes, standing with crossed arms and a quiet frown. His hands were empty.

Nora’s voice came out harsher than she meant. “Didn’t I tell you to stop taking gifts from strangers?”

Charlotte blinked up at her, confused. “But Mom… it’s from Uncle Noah.”

Nora raised a brow. “And who is he to us now, Charlotte?”

The little girl paused, searching her memory. She turned to Oliver for help, but he was already laughing.

“Hmm… Dad’s?” she guessed.

Nora sighed. “Go give it back.”

Before Charlotte could move, a voice came in.

“Seriously, Nora?” Noah said with irritation. “Teaching them to be rude now?”

Noah stepped in, smirking. Liam, Nora’s husband, followed behind, looking uneasy.

Nora didn’t even look at him. “How about you focus on your own life and stop showing up here like a babysitter?” she said, turning away like he wasn’t worth another second.

The words hit hard. Noah looked at Liam, confused and hurt. “Did I miss something? Why does she hate me so much?”

Liam scratched his jaw, avoiding eye contact. “Maybe because you didn’t show up for her birthday.”

Noah frowned. “What are you talking about? I even apologized and bought her that necklace I promised.”

Liam gave a weak smile. “Oh, right. That... you did.”

Noah narrowed his eyes. “Ah! Please, tell me you gave it to her, Liam.”

“Of course I did.”

“With my name written on it?”

Liam hesitated.

“Oh… that,” he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. “I might’ve… forgotten.”

Noah snapped. “Are you serious? You made her think I didn’t get her anything?”

Liam sighed. “Okay, yeah. I forgot. But come on—you know how busy I’ve been trying to get that promotion.”

“And you thought it was fine to hand her my gift like it was yours? Letting her believe I didn’t care?”

“I’m sorry, Noah. Don’t blow it out of proportion.”

“Oh, now I’m blowing it out of proportion?” Noah snapped. “And you call yourself my best friend?”

“I’m your best brother,” Liam said, with one of his pretentious smiles.

Noah rolled his eyes. “You’re the worst brother.”

They walked upstairs, but the damage was already done.

When the truth came out—about the necklace, the birthday—Nora was furious. Not at Noah, but at Liam. He had lied again. But Liam knew how to make up for things. Flowers, dinners, helping with the kids. Slowly, Nora let it go.

She always did.

Then came the job offer. Liam left for Canada. Months away.

And in his absence, Noah stepped in.

He picked up the twins. Stayed late when things piled up. Fixed shelves. Made pancakes. Learned their favorite cartoons by heart.

And he looked at Nora the way Liam hadn’t in a long time.

At first, she told herself it was nothing. He was being helpful and kind. Maybe he felt loneliness, just as she felt when Liam wasn’t with her.

But at night, when the house was quiet, she thought about him, not the way a friend is supposed to.

About how safe he made her feel.

She never acted on it.

Not until the incident.

That one unholy incident that broke her completely.