All Chapters of Non~Contracted: The Heart Doesn't Need a Contract to Break: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

ϖϖϖϖϖϖThe entire floor descended into chaos the moment the door slammed open.Heads jerked up from desks. Fingers hovered over keyboards. Conversations died mid-sentence.Every single staff member turned toward the corridor, stunned into silence as Noah Bamford, the CEO, stormed out, gripping Nora's wrist like a man possessed.“What the hell is happening?” someone gasped from the graphics team.“I… I don’t know,” another stammered, eyes wide as they watched the scene unfold in slow, messy disbelief.“They’re—are they holding hands?” Someone whispered.“No. He’s holding her. I thought they hated each other.” another said, frowning. “Didn’t he once tell the board she was a regrettable boss?”“That’s what I heard too,” came the murmured reply. “So why is he dragging her through the office like she’s… property?”No one had an answer. Everyone had theories.“Is it a lovers’ quarrel?” someone offered, almost hopefully.“Don’t be ridiculous,” another snorted. “That man barely acknowledges h

ϖϖϖϖϖϖDr. Faith heard the yelling before she even reached the hallway.Nora.Of course, it was her…shouting like she was being marched to a firing squad.But even Faith wasn’t ready for the sight that greeted her.She stepped out of her office in pale pink scrubs. Blinking in disbelief. When Noah had called earlier, she’d assumed he was exaggerating; clearly, he wasn’t.There he was… Noah Bamford, in a black tuxedo, sleeves rolled just enough to reveal sharp veins and male arrogance.And on his shoulder? Nora. Flailing, furious, one hand gripping him for balance, the other swinging like she meant to take his head off.Faith raised a brow, biting back laughter.If only I had my phone… This was better than any TikTok drama.She crossed her arms. “Wow. You two didn’t tell me you’d joined Hollywood. What’s this one called? Beauty and the Bastard?”She burst out laughing just as they reached the office door.“FAITH!” Nora screeched from his shoulder. “Tell this lunatic to put me down now!”

ϖϖϖϖϖϖNoah sat hunched on the cold bench, his face buried in his palms as a heavy sigh slipped through his lips.“Ah…” he muttered, choking back the burn of tears.If dull, straight-talking Faith could see through him… Then what about Liam?Liam had been sharp and intelligent. What if he had noticed too?The way Noah’s eyes stayed too long on Nora. The way his heart raced whenever she laughed.Another guilt.Another silent punishment was added to the list he carried for years.Nora meant everything to him. She always had.Even now, ten years later, he’d still do anything to see her whole again. To hear her laugh like she used to.But not with him.Whenever she drew close, all he saw were ghosts—Liam’s warm smile and the kids’ wild laughter. Nora, barefoot in her favorite floral dress, dancing in the kitchen to an old jazz record.All gone.That memory was a knife, twisting deeper each time she looked at him like he was supposed to replace what she lost.Like he could.It had been ten

ϖϖϖϖϖϖNoah pulled back, sighing. He kept his eyes on Nora's sleeping face.“Even though I want to keep going…” he said to himself and ran a hand through his hair, his gaze full of questions he had no right to ask.He shrugged off his suit jacket and tossed it aside. He sank into the nearest sofa. The room was dim, with soft shadows.He just sat there and watched her, afraid she might disappear if he blinked.She looked peaceful. Too still for someone carrying that much pain. “What am I supposed to do with you, Nora?” he whispered, like he hoped she would answer.He leaned back and tried to rest. His thoughts were loud. He did not sleep much. He closed his eyes and opened them at the smallest sound she made. Then morning came.****Nora opened her eyes slowly. She was in her bed, in her room.Everything looked the same… soft blue walls with a hint of gold, the big bed she’d picked out years ago—but it felt strange. Like she’d woken up inside someone else’s life.She sat up. Her head f

ϖϖϖϖϖϖNora stood frozen. Not knowing what to say or what to do.It wasn’t until the front door slammed like a gunshot that her body jolted back to life. She rushed to the entrance, yanked it open… … but the driveway was already empty.He was gone.“Dammit!” She slammed the door shut and stumbled back to the couch, dropping onto it with a heavy thud. For a moment, she buried her face in her palms before looking up at the ceiling like it held the answers.“Two weeks. What the hell am I supposed to do with two weeks?” she muttered. “That stupid doctor… Why couldn’t she keep her mouth shut? And he called my department? That smug little…”Fuming, she snatched her phone and dialed the office number.The line rang a few times, then came a chipper voice, high-pitched but weirdly manly, like a squirrel who smoked cigars.“Hello!”“You traitor!” she hissed.“Ma’am, it’s lovely to hear from you,” Max replied, cheerful as ever. “Although, I’m not entirely sure what I did to earn that label.”“Y