Chapter 6 Why Are You With Him

In the days that ensued, Sadie meticulously dodged any encounters with Noah.

Since they both worked at Wall Group, it was almost unbelievable how their paths never crossed.

Sadie worked tirelessly, determined to finish the project at hand.

Once it was wrapped up, she'd make sure the divorce was finalized-then hand in her resignation and leave Wall Group behind.

As the week spiraled into a brisk Saturday morning, Sadie, clutching a box of Laura's favorite pastries, made her way to the old, familiar teacher's apartment building.

Laura, a dedicated elementary school teacher of many years, still resided within the modest confines of the apartment building.

Just as Sadie was navigating the leaf-strewn path from the school grounds to the apartment building, she was startled by Alex's voice, tinged with surprise.

"Sadie? What brings you here?" he inquired, his eyebrows arching in curiosity.

Sadie turned around to look at him, her face mirroring his surprise.

"Oh, my grandmother lives here. How about you?" she replied, her tone a mix of astonishment and curiosity.

Alex's eyes widened even further, his face a canvas of shock.

"Really? I've never seen you around. Noa-uh, I mean, I used to go to school here."

He stumbled over his words, waving a sheaf of documents. "I'm currently involved in some plans for expanding the school."

Nodding with a newfound understanding, Sadie offered a smile. "I only came here once or twice a year during my childhood, so it's likely we just missed each other," she explained, her voice steady and composed.

As Sadie prepared to bid Alex farewell and continue on her way, Laura emerged from the apartment building with a bright, welcoming smile.

Her eyes landed on Alex, and she radiated warmth as she approached him, laying a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Young man, what's your name?" she asked with a tone of friendly curiosity.

Alex, a touch bewildered by Laura's fervent greeting, cautiously responded, "Oh, you're Sadie's grandmother, right? Pleased to meet you, I'm Alex Howe."

His charm was enough to make Laura's smile bloom effortlessly.

Meanwhile, Sadie lingered in the background, her intuition telling her that this cheerful encounter might soon take an awkward turn. "No, Grandma, you-" she interjected, tugging at Laura's sleeve.

Yet, Laura shot her a playful, teasing look and chuckled. "What do you mean, 'no'? You've brought him here, and now you're getting all flustered?"

Confusion clouded Alex's features.

It took him a moment to catch on.

Did Laura take things the wrong way?

"No, I-" he said, attempting to clear the air, but Laura cut him off before he could continue.

"Come on in, Alex," Laura said, her voice warm and inviting as she ushered them into the building. Their path was marked by lively exchanges with a few of Laura's old friends.

Laughingly, Laura declared, "My granddaughter's boyfriend, isn't he a fine young man?"

Sadie and Alex exchanged a look of mutual reluctant resignation, a silent communication filled with both amusement and a touch of distress.

"I'm sorry," Sadie whispered to Alex, her apology tinged with embarrassment. "I mentioned to Grandma a few days ago that I'd bring my boyfriend over..."

Surprisingly, Alex took it more gracefully than she anticipated.

With a gentle reassurance, he murmured, "It's fine. Let her enjoy her misunderstanding for now. Anyway, you've..."

He trailed off, but Sadie understood the implication.

Alex let out a weary sigh, his voice softening with concern. "If you ever need help, just let me know."

Sadie had once been a vibrant part of their youthful social circle, her eyes shimmering with a bright, infectious spirit every time he met her.

However, as the Hudson family fell from grace, she gradually faded from the gatherings that had once bound them together.

Over time, Sadie's life took another unexpected turn as she became Noah's wife.

"Sadie, I can finally rest easy now," Laura murmured, gesturing for Sadie to take a seat, emotion flickering in her gaze.

In the cozy embrace of Laura's apartment-a modest two-bedroom with an invitingly spacious living room-Alex didn't feel his tall frame confined at all.

"Make sure to cherish each other and live well," Laura remarked, her hands wrapped around theirs as she continued chatting.

Sadie wanted to speak up, to explain everything, but watching her grandmother glow with happiness for the first time since her mother was gone, she chose to hold her tongue.

Later, sitting in Alex's car, Sadie felt an awkwardness creeping in. "I hope you don't mind-my grandma absolutely loves to chat. And thank you for everything today-seeing her this happy means a lot," she said, her voice tinged with gratitude and relief.

Alex chuckled, his tone light. "Yeah, your grandmother is quite a character. I remember hearing tales of the strict 'Iron Lady' teacher back in elementary school, though I never had the chance to meet her."

Their conversation flowed seamlessly until they reached Sadie's apartment building.

As a gentleman, Alex escorted Sadie to the entrance of the building.

As she was about to express her thanks and head up the stairs, a sudden misstep caused her to twist her ankle, a sharp pain nearly drawing tears.

"What's wrong? Are you hurt?" Alex's concern was palpable as he quickly stepped forward to support her, ready to assist her upstairs.

But before they could take another step, an unexpected fist swung through the air, cutting the night with startling abruptness.

"Are you fucking insane, Noah?" Alex's voice was sharp, his disbelief clear as he confronted Noah.

Without thinking, he returned a punch, driven by a rush of anger.

Noah, with reflexes quick as a whip, sidestepped, his eyes narrowing into slits as he fixed a piercing gaze on Alex.

"Why are you with Sadie?"

"Well..." Alex started, his tone hesitant, but before he could stitch his words into an explanation, Sadie cut him off.

"There's no need to explain, Alex. I have nothing to do with him anymore," she declared firmly, her voice tinged with finality. "Does it hurt? Do you need some medicine?"

Sadie's concern was evident as she leaned closer, inspecting Alex's face for injuries. Relief washed over her when she found none.

The possibility of Alex getting hurt because of her filled her with a deep, unsettling guilt.

But for Noah, witnessing this tender exchange was like a match to kindling. A fierce blaze of jealousy ignited within him.

He reached out abruptly, grabbing Sadie's wrist with a grip that was both sudden and forceful, and pulled her toward the elevator.

"What the hell are you doing? Let me go!" Sadie's protest was sharp as she struggled against his hold, but her efforts were in vain.

"Noah, calm down!" Alex stepped forward, his voice a mix of concern and command, attempting to defuse the escalating situation.

Yet, he was met with nothing but a chilling glare from Noah that made him halt in his tracks.

Noah's anger didn't wane as he dragged Sadie through the hallway to her apartment door.

Releasing her abruptly, he kicked the door open with such force that it swung wildly on its hinges, barely holding together.

Rubbing her wrist, Sadie glared at the damaged door, then turned her fiery gaze to Noah.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" she demanded, her voice rising with both anger and hurt.

"What's wrong with me?" Noah echoed her words mockingly, his sneer sharp as broken glass. "Why are you with him?"