Chapter 5 Causing Trouble

"Enough already!" Nigel snapped, his glare slicing through the tension as he stared Isabel down, silencing her instantly.

Sadie and Isabel had never gotten along.

Isabel, always looking down her nose at Sadie, considered her as nothing more than a bankrupt heiress trying to claw her way into the Wall family's vast fortune.

In the past, Sadie had to navigate these treacherous waters with grace, swallowing her pride even when she felt deeply aggrieved.

But now, with divorce proceedings looming on the horizon, she no longer felt compelled to humble herself before Isabel.

Brushing off the chilly atmosphere, Sadie strode confidently across the room to where Nigel sat, taking a seat beside him.

At that moment, Noah pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The moment he walked in, Kyla sprang up and approached him, looping her arm around his.

"Noah, you're finally back," she cooed, her voice dripping with the honeyed tones of a wife who had awaited her husband's return for long.

Noah's reaction was swift and cool. He slipped his arm away, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his tone icy.

Before Kyla could muster a reply, Isabel interjected smoothly, "She's here because I invited her. It's been too long since her last visit, so I thought we'd catch up."

Two years earlier, Isabel had fallen victim to a disastrous investment scam, losing a substantial sum. It was Kyla who had stepped in to untangle the mess, a deed that had quietly solidified her status in Isabel's eyes as the preferred daughter-in-law.

Kyla cast a sorrowful glance at Sadie, her voice trembling slightly. "Maybe I shouldn't have come. It might be best if I leave now. I don't want to cause any trouble for you, Noah."

She turned dramatically towards the door.

Noah, visibly annoyed yet restrained, stopped her and said, "No, don't overthink things. Stay."

Sadie observed their interactions from the sidelines, her heart sinking with a bitter sense of irony.

Officially, she was Noah's wife, yet she sat there, feeling more like an unwelcome intruder in his life.

Restlessness crept up on her, making it impossible to remain passive any longer.

"Shall we go to the study now, Nigel?" Sadie suggested, her voice steadier than she felt.

Nigel, leaning heavily on his cane, responded with a sneer, "I may be old, but I've still got some fight left in me! As for my granddaughter-in-law, Sadie is the only one I acknowledge. The others don't even come close!"

He paused for emphasis, his tone hardening. "And let me be clear-if I hear of anyone here hurting Sadie, they can kiss my shares goodbye."

At this declaration, Kyla clenched her fists, her nails almost digging into her palms, a clear flash of jealousy sparking in her eyes.

Isabel, visibly upset, bit her lip, holding back her words.

Noah bristled at the confrontation, loathing the sensation of being cornered, especially by Nigel.

"Then go ahead and donate your shares," he retorted sharply, tugging at Kyla's arm to leave.

"What did you just say, you ungrateful brat..." Nigel's voice trembled with fury, his body shaking as he struggled to maintain his composure.

Quickly, Sadie offered support as she guided him into the sanctuary of the study.

Once inside, she spoke, her tone low and filled with weary acceptance. "Don't bother forcing him-his heart was never mine to begin with."

Watching her composed demeanor, Nigel exhaled a heavy sigh, a mix of admiration and sorrow. "It's truly Noah's loss, not yours."

He knew deep down that no matter how much he wanted to, he couldn't steer the lives of the younger generation.

It pained him to see Sadie mistreated.

With a resigned air, he pulled a document from his drawer and laid it before her.

"Sadie, please, sign this."

The moment Sadie spotted the word "shares" on the contract, a sudden, piercing tension gripped her head.

With a firm hand, she slid the document across the table, her voice steady but laced with resignation. "This isn't mine to take. I married Noah knowing full well he had someone else in his heart. Now that she's here, it's only right that we put an end to our marriage."

With a solemn expression, Nigel ventured cautiously, "Sadie, do you ever regret marrying Noah?"

His question, unexpected and direct, made Sadie pause. She was momentarily taken aback, then offered a bitter smile as she shook her head. "No, I don't regret it," she admitted, her voice tinged with a sorrowful resolve.

Despite the searing pain, her love for Noah was something she could never regret.

Yet, this love had grown too burdensome, teetering on the brink of crushing her.

Sadie refused to sign the document.

Nigel, seeing he couldn't sway her, handed her a card instead.

As she stood to leave, he told her that if it became unbearable, she had no reason to keep suffering.

He cared for Sadie with the affection one might show a beloved granddaughter, even if it meant standing against his own grandson.

After she stepped away from the grandeur of the Wall Manor, Sadie didn't return to the home she still shared with Noah.

Instead, she found solace in a modest, serviced apartment managed by a hotel.

It had a bedroom and a living room, fully furnished, offering her solitude at an affordable price.

Sadie grew to cherish this small, cozy sanctuary.

Most importantly, it was free from Noah's presence and the excruciating memories that lingered around him.

After a refreshing rinse, Sadie scrolled through her contacts, a pang of helplessness washing over her.

No matter how she looked at it, she had no one to pretend to be her boyfriend.

What excuse could she possibly give Laura for showing up alone?

A wave of frustration crested within her, prompting her to run her fingers agitatedly through her hair.

Accepting the inevitable, she surrendered to whatever happened next.

If pressed, she'd lay out the truth for Laura-plain and simple.

With her mind somewhat settled, Sadie busied herself with tidying the space.

Thankfully, the little one nestled within her was cooperative today, not stirring up any discomfort.

Just as she was lost in her cleaning frenzy, her phone buzzed to life.

Noah was calling.

Sadie's heart skipped. She was torn between answering and ignoring the call, but ultimately, she picked up.

Noah's voice, icy and sharp, cut through the silence. "Where the hell are you, Sadie? Why aren't you home? You're not causing trouble again, are you?"

"Me? Causing trouble?" Sadie's laugh was tinged with bitterness. "Considering we're getting a divorce, I don't see how my whereabouts are your concern."

"I-"

"Listen," Sadie interjected, her tone firm yet cool, "I've accepted this divorce. I won't be clinging to you. And I'd appreciate it if you'd refrain from bothering me further, Mr. Wall."

With a decisive click, Sadie ended the call, leaving Noah to stew in silence on the other end.

His face twisted in anger as the line went dead.

How dare this woman hang up on him!