at Sadie fell hopeless

ad, she immersed herself completely in her studie

hat excellence could brid

e approached her an

fections had thawed

she was m

ad always belo

nothing more t

to control the whirlwind of emoti

maintain her composure, she knew she h

she rose and made her w

blunt announcement as soon as he entered the room. "Kyla i

e with the force of a physical

e had clung to a sliver

lly long time to muste

rned?" Her voice quivered, betraying h

s he regarded her with

't long for what can never be truly yours. Anyt

edding night, a night meant only to quell the

never been h

thrown herself at him, believing

o Noah's, a silent plea

shared... were you

nt question. He hesitated, his mouth

stark admission she had feared, and i

understood that Noah's hea

uring their intimate nights had momentar

physical closeness fo

been tragica

uous entanglement, Noah's hear

e closed her eyes and resi

the divorce," she

few personal belongings, deciding t

rehead creasing in frustration, a s

ached out instinctively, clasping

d his mouth, Kyla's c

ie's hand to answer, and Sadie

.. It's nothi

hear the rest o

softness in Noah's voice, a stark contr

ew herself onto the bed, and clamped a h

g divorce, the stinging disparity between Noah's indifference

now? And what of

completely

t exhausted, hurt, and desper

bathroom as Sadie absentmindedly shed

her, it did nothing to thaw the cold

st her knees. The relentless roar of the shower muffled her so

he have to

and got dressed, but suddenly, her

A

d back a pained cry. Instinctively, her hands flew to her l

's distress reached Noah. He immediately

, and he caught sight of S

on her skin, her attire in disarray, and her hands fe

concern tighten

ickly scooping her up f

o you? Are you i

ith a barely detectable

tried to focus on the man before her. It took her a momen

er words were b

ree from Noah's embrace, b

firm, tinged with urgency. Sadie cease

fter edge, "Let me mak

laid her on

mined her for any injuries, his exp

s rekindled a wavering sp

question loaded with fear and desperation. "Noah, what if I we

r marriage intact for the sake

s eyes for any sign

y, "We've always been careful. It's unlikely you're pregnant. But even if i