Chapter 1 Kyla Was Back

"Hmm..." Sadie Hudson murmured in a gentle whisper, her eyes fluttering open into a drowsy blur, only to be met with the intense gaze of another pair of eyes.

Her husband, Noah Wall, had quietly returned, his presence subtly marked by the faint aroma of alcohol.

He sealed their reunion with a kiss that was unyieldingly dominant, compelling her into a reluctant acquiescence.

A wave of unease surged through Sadie's chest, and reflexively, she attempted to withdraw.

"Stay still." Noah's voice rumbled, deep and seductive, tinged with a compelling charm that was hard to resist.

For a moment, Sadie's body tensed, caught in a struggle between resistance and submission.

Today was significant-their second anniversary-and she was determined not to spoil the celebratory spirit.

With a sigh, she closed her eyes, allowing herself to melt into his embrace.

The robust scent of his cologne masked the alcohol, swirling around her and piercing her heart with its potent allure.

Noah's eyes darkened with desire as he observed her yielding, his actions becoming bolder and less restrained.

Just as Sadie was about to regain her composure, she gasped softly, her plea laced with a tender fragility. "Please, not too harsh... because I..."

She couldn't complete her revelation of being pregnant. The sharp ring of a phone sliced through the thick tension, abruptly severing the intimate moment between them.

Noah's eyes, still ablaze with longing, flickered as he caught sight of the caller ID.

He got up and began to dress, his movements betraying none of the fervor that had engulfed him just moments before.

"Are you heading out?" Sadie inquired, her voice tinged with a mix of confusion and concern as she tightened the grip on her nightgown.

"Yeah," Noah answered, his tone breezy and dismissive, as if evading further inquiry.

"But..."

"Go back to sleep," he interjected smoothly, his voice soft yet detached. He leaned forward, his lips briefly caressing her forehead in a fleeting, tender gesture.

Without a single backward glance, he strode out of the room.

Sadie's eyes lingered on the empty doorway, her heart sinking slowly.

She convinced herself it had to be an emergency at work.

Understanding was essential; any sign of displeasure could drive him further away.

After all, she had loved Noah for over a decade, and becoming his wife was a dream realized. She could hardly expect more.

With a sigh, Sadie quickly freshened up and returned to bed, her hand resting gently on her belly, a hopeful smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

"Sweetheart, Daddy didn't mean to leave us by ourselves. Please, don't hold it against him, alright?"

No sooner had she uttered these words than her phone buzzed with an unexpected news alert, startling her.

"Wall Group CEO Spotted at the Airport Late at Night, Allegedly Picking up Mysterious Girlfriend."

The photo that accompanied the headline captured Noah at the airport's private terminal entrance, clad in a black suit. He stood with impeccable posture, exuding an undeniable aura of authority.

His eyes conveyed a softness, a tender warmth that Sadie had never observed before.

Shock flashed across Sadie's face as her heart thudded painfully in her chest, the sharp sensation nearly stealing her breath.

It took a considerable effort for her to regain her composure. Clutching onto a sliver of hope, she clicked on the article, her fingers quivering.

As she had feared, a familiar face filled the screen-Kyla Wade.

The woman Noah had seemingly been unable to forget was evidently back in his life.

A chill spread through Sadie, a profound sorrow embedding itself deep within her heart.

She clenched her teeth, forcefully suppressing her cries.

The memory of how her marriage had begun was too painful to revisit.

Two years earlier, just as Kyla and Noah had been planning their future together, Kyla had vanished without a trace.

At that critical juncture, with Noah poised to secure the position of chairman of the board and in dire need of a compliant wife, Sadie, known for her unwavering devotion to him and from a family now in decline, had become the ideal candidate.

For the past two years, Sadie had been a docile wife, enveloped in a sense of unworthiness, as if the joy she experienced was never truly meant for her.

That illusion shattered yesterday when she discovered she was pregnant.

They had always been meticulous in preventing pregnancy, except for that one night last month. Noah had staggered home, reeking of alcohol after a business dinner, and in his drunken haze, they had lost themselves to passion.

That fleeting lapse had now culminated in her pregnancy.

Now, Sadie was tormented by uncertainty on how to break the news to Noah.

She dreaded that Noah would demand an abortion.

Deep down, she knew she wasn't the woman he loved.

When Sadie was still engulfed in a whirlpool of anxious thoughts, her reverie was broken by Noah's voice echoing from the study.

Was he already home?

She rose, pulling a light coat around her shoulders, and made her way to the study.

Just as she neared the door, the playful tones of Alex Howe, Noah's friend, reached her ears. "Did you really spend the entire night with Kyla?"

Sadie felt her heart plummet.

So it was true. Noah had spent the night with Kyla.

"Mm-hmm," Noah responded, his voice empty of any discernible emotion.

"What's your take on Sadie, then? After two years as husband and wife, you can't possibly say she means nothing to you, can you?" Alex's voice softened with concern. "She's truly remarkable, you know. If you fail to see her worth, someone else surely will, and you'll be left with nothing but regret."

"I only feel a faint stir of guilt," Noah retorted, his voice cold and distant, as if discussing something trivial. "If you're so taken with her, perhaps I should do the matchmaking. But really, shouldn't you be getting back to work? Off you go."

Guilt? Was that the only thing Noah felt towards her? As this stark realization dawned on Sadie, a solitary tear traced a silent path down her cheek. Her hand fell away from the doorknob, trembling.

It was painfully clear-he had never truly loved her.

In the recesses of Noah's heart, she was just an insignificant trifle he could easily hand off to another.

A shiver of desolation coursed through her.

With a swift turn, Sadie darted into the sanctuary of the garden, her heart pounding wildly.

There, she huddled down, burying her face in her knees, her tears distorting the world around her.

Memories flooded back-the day she first met Noah, ten years ago.

He had been the epitome of charm and vitality, born of privilege, effortlessly stealing the hearts of every girl at school.

And Sadie, newly vulnerable from her family's downfall, had been easy prey for ridicule.

It was Noah who had stepped in like a guardian, his words like shields, commanding others to back down.

In those moments, he had been her savior, her angel.