Chapter 3 She Was Just His Employee

Sadie's complexion drained of color, leaving her ghostly pale.

Noah had just delivered his harsh decree for her to end the pregnancy. His indifference was a dagger to her heart.

"Why? Noah, even if you don't want this child, must you be so merciless?" Sadie's voice trembled, disbelief etching her features.

Noah returned her gaze with icy detachment, his voice a deep, unwavering growl. "Our marriage is merely a contractual arrangement. A child would only make things messy."

Crushed, Sadie averted her eyes, the sting of rejection too potent to bear. Internally, her sorrow carved through her, deep and relentless.

After collecting herself, she said, her tone defiant, her resolve firm, "Well, don't you worry, Noah. I would never burden you with a child!"

Her decision was made: she would keep the baby, but not for him-for herself.

One day, she would tell her child that their father was a part of her past, nothing more.

Noah's brow creased slightly. "I'm glad you see it that way. You're not feeling great. Take some time to rest. No need to worry about work for now."

Without another word, he exited Sadie's room, his silhouette disappearing into the hallway.

Despite his words, Sadie appeared at the company the very next day.

The weight of raising a child alone left no room for weakness. No matter how drained she felt, she had to push through-there was no luxury of rest.

She worked at Wall Group. She had joined its secretarial department right out of college to be close to Noah.

Their marriage was a well-kept secret, hidden from the eyes of the oblivious majority, except for Noah's assistant, Samuel Ford, and a select few executives.

As soon as Sadie stepped into the bustling secretarial department, she noticed a crowd huddled in front of the meeting room, buzzing with hushed, eager whispers.

"So that's the woman everyone's been whispering about-Mr. Wall's rumored girlfriend."

"Rumored? She's practically official, okay? Don't forget she was the reason Mr. Wall spiraled into that slump two years back."

"Apparently, they've known each other since they were just kids in elementary school."

"Mr. Wall actually held back during the meeting just now-no scolding at all. Guess his sweetheart was watching."

"And now, Miss Wade's stepping in as Mr. Wall's private senior legal counsel. Talk about a power couple."

...

Each whispered word struck Sadie like a sharp, icy dagger, slicing through the facade of her calm demeanor.

The memories of Noah's enduring affection for Kyla, even remembered vividly by the employees, haunted her.

She felt utterly insignificant.

Sadie bit her lip hard enough to draw blood, her nails digging into the flesh of her palms, a physical counter to the emotional pain.

She forced herself to block out the murmurs, to ignore the stabs of jealousy, and to focus on her tasks as if nothing had disrupted the ordinary.

But the words clung to her, a relentless echo in her mind, taunting her with their cruel, magical persistence.

Suddenly, nausea overwhelmed her.

Sadie stood abruptly, her chair scraping back, and hurried to the restroom.

To mask her discomfort, she cranked the faucet to full blast, the sound of rushing water a feeble shield against any curious ears.

It wasn't until after she had vomited nothing but bitter bile that Sadie felt the turmoil inside her subside slightly.

She splashed her face with cold water, each droplet a small shock to her system, helping her piece her composure back together.

With a deep breath, she steadied herself and left the restroom. The door to the meeting room was slightly open as she walked by, just enough for her to see Noah and Kyla sitting side by side.

Kyla tilted her body forward in a pose that spoke of elegance and deliberate grace.

Her voice was soft, almost a whisper, and her eyes glinted with a mix of allure and subtle seduction.

They were so close their shoulders almost touched, casting them in the intimate silhouette of a couple deeply in tune with each other.

Watching from afar, Sadie felt like a forgotten shadow lingering on the edges of their world.

In her own marriage, she had always been the one on the outside, peering in, never truly part of the picture.

Tears welled up quietly, tracing a silent path down her cheeks.

As she turned to leave, her elbow caught a potted plant, sending it crashing to the floor with a clatter that sliced through the quiet.

The sudden noise jerked Noah's attention away from Kyla. His eyes found Sadie's, locking onto her with a mixture of surprise and something colder, harder.

Embarrassed by her own clumsiness and overwhelmed by her feelings, Sadie felt frustrated.

Noah stepped outside, his presence now overwhelming, and Kyla, quick as a flash, appeared beside him.

"What are you doing here?" Noah's voice was sharp, edged with clear displeasure at the sight of Sadie.

It didn't take long for Kyla to figure out Sadie's identity.

Yet, she pretended not to know, flashing a sugary smile as she asked, "Noah, who is she?"

And there it was-the question that hung in the air, heavy and oppressive.

Who was she?

Sadie's heart ached to know just where she stood in Noah's life.

The disdain in her expression was evident, and Noah's features tightened, a flicker of displeasure crossing his face. He responded curtly, "She's just an employee."

Just an employee?

The phrase echoed mockingly in Sadie's ears, amplifying her sense of insignificance.

She felt reduced to nothing-a mere shadow within the cold, unyielding walls of their workplace.

No sooner had Noah finished speaking than he turned around and strode away.

Kyla paused to shoot Sadie a smug, provocative glance, her eyes gleaming with triumph, before she hurried after Noah.

Left alone, Sadie felt adrift, as if standing in the midst of a strange, unfathomable world.

Lost in a haze for the rest of the workday, Sadie was jolted back to reality by an unexpected call from her grandmother, Laura Stewart.

"Sadie, I'm not getting any younger, and who knows how much time I have left. More than anything, I dream of the day you're settled, with a loving spouse and children by your side. So, when are you finally bringing your boyfriend to meet me?"

As Laura spoke with warmth and ease, Sadie found herself swallowing hard, emotion creeping up on her.

Even Laura, the one who had always been there for her, was completely unaware that she was married.

Noah had set the terms before their wedding-beyond the board of directors, it was best to keep their marriage under wraps.

He surely anticipated Kyla's return, didn't he?

Every step of the way, he had been silently working to make things easier for Kyla.

The moment she hung up was a blur, but one thing stuck-her promise to Laura that she'd bring her boyfriend home this Saturday.

But just who was she supposed to show up with?