Chapter 24

When she had come to, it was to find Noah by her bedside, his face etched with worry as he gently offered her water and medication.

“It’s your own body. Don’t treat it so poorly.”

Though his tone had been calm at the time, it etched itself into her memory. Those words had spurred her to take better care of herself, ensuring she ate regularly, no matter the circumstances. What once felt comforting now sliced through her, leaving an aching wound.

Noah observed Sadie, who was gazing vacantly at the floor, seemingly lost in a world of her own. Minutes ticked by without a single change in her expression. He knitted his brows, concern slowly morphing into irritation. Just as he was about to confront Sadie, she lurched forward, her movements abrupt as she seized the bowl and scooped a spoonful of clam chowder into her mouth.

The soup’s robust seafood flavor bombarded her senses immediately, too potent for her liking. Her face contorted in disgust as her stomach revolted against the taste. With a swift motion, she set the bowl aside and brushed past Noah, hopping on one foot as she rushed toward the bathroom.

Her fingers dug into the toilet seat as she bent over, vomiting until nothing was left. Noah lingered at the doorway, his initial annoyance fading into a shadow of concern as he watched her trembling form. He stepped closer, tentatively extending a hand to comfort her, but she slapped it away with a weak, yet determined, gesture.

“Sadie…”

“Don’t touch me!” Sadie’s voice was ragged, strained from the force of her retching.

Noah halted, his hand suspended in the air, his features clouding over with a mix of hurt and confusion.noveldrama

“Let me take you to the hospital,” he hastily suggested.

“No!” The refusal came sharp and instinctive from Sadie as she braced herself against the cool bathroom wall, her arms protectively wrapped around her abdomen. Her eyes, filled with a mix of fear and defiance, locked onto his.

The air between them thickened with unspoken words, and Noah’s suspicions crept back into his mind, the idea that she might be hiding a pregnancy gnawing at him. His eyes narrowed, the weight of his fears and frustrations making his next words heavy and resolute.

“You don’t get to decide this time!”

His voice was unyielding, shutting down any chance of protest. Just as Noah was about to step forward and scoop Sadie up, his phone erupted into a jarring ring. The name “Kyla” flashed urgently across the screen.

Without a second thought, Noah answered. Kyla’s voice, soft and frail, seeped through the receiver.

“Noah… Something feels off with my heart… I think my old condition is flaring up again. Can you come get me and take me to the hospital?” There was a soft, nasal sweetness to Kyla’s voice, making it hard not to feel for her.

Noah’s eyes darted towards Sadie. She sat curled up in the corner, her posture reminiscent of a kitten deprived of safety, her arms wrapped tightly around herself.

Her pallid face, lips pressed into a thin line, and eyes brimming with unease and defensiveness painted a picture of vulnerability that could soften the hardest heart.

A wave of discomfort washed over Noah, causing his grip on the phone to tighten. He found himself caught in a moment of deep hesitation, torn between two calls for his attention.

Kyla’s voice, threaded with a hint of fragility, broke the silence once again, followed by two soft coughs.

“Well, if it’s too much trouble for you, that’s okay. After all, it’s quite late. I can wait until tomorrow to see a doctor. It’s not urgent.” Her words were polite but carried an unspoken accusation of neglect, wrapped in quiet endurance.

Noah felt as though an invisible fist had clenched around his heart. His earlier hesitation melted away instantly. “I’ll be right there,” he declared, his voice firm, offering no room for doubt.

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