she hastily collected her t

s searching the street, a sleek M

iking features of a man whose appearance never

ne other

out, his voice smoot

Laura's unsettling phone call earlier mad

tely chose the back sea

acting pitiful will make me feel sorry for you,"

g pit

e, and a laugh, sharp and devoid o

" she asked, her voice tinged

eplied, "Relax, there's no need

now?" Sadie pressed, h

state-Grandpa wants to see you," No

od as a pillar of warmth in Sadie's

ool and the mysterious disappearance of her parents

once brightened he

to be reverting to a

her quietness an impl

e, barely above a whisper, b

s confusion w

a month," she declared, her tone reso

on, Noah might uncover he

tedly demand she end the pregnancy, and she w

been made, Sadie. Stop playing these mind games wi

cared for him, which always left h

eelings couldn't be used as levera

ivorce is official, we need to keep up ap

sting in her eyes a

f stone when it comes to me," sh

w, turned her head to gaze out, an

cated in a lush, prestigious hill in Buihron, a m

to the yard, marking their

cefully shielding her head with his broad p

ical display, Sadie found herself m

rd, Noah's warm grip

twitching as she attempted a

Noah stumbled slightly, turning to f

looked up to meet his gaze, their li

hrough Sadie, her eyes refle

, her voice trailing of

he sudden appearance of Nigel

h to reclaim her hand as Nigel tapp

I was starting to think you'd forgotten

, Sadie would have steppe

, uncertain of the role she was

the business world, didn't miss th

stress," Nigel stated, his gaze softening with empathy t

ine, remained silent, soaking

ng into a strained smile that failed to reach her

ncern for her, yet she knew his aff

h worry as he took Sadie's hand in his. "You look pale. Come, let

llowed herself to be led int

them, his brow creased with a m

from Sadie, the sight of her finding solace in Nigel's c

yla. Poised and elegant, Kyla sat on the sofa, a coffee cup

se when she noticed Sadie. "Hello, yo

ced her? Looking at the mess she is, it's clear why he doesn't want to admit to their relations

el. Leaving for my studies abroad was a mistake. If I hadn

f you're back now. Some people who've overstaye