Chapter 50
Chapter 50:
She stiffened slightly, not from discomfort, but because everything suddenly felt more vivid, more alive. That small contact shouldn’t have meant anything.
But it did.
Trying to steady herself, she asked quietly, “Is it on p>
“All done.” Ethan’s voice was calm. His hands rested gently on her shoulders as he nudged her forward. “Go take a look in the mirror p>
A full-length mirror stood across the room. Noelle walked toward it and stared at her reflection.
But her eyes weren’t drawn to the necklace. Instead, they shifted to the man behind her.
Ethan stood just slightly to her right, his tall frame close enough that his hands still rested lightly on her shoulders. The way his fingers curved around her made it look as though he was holding her—softly, protectively.
A strange tension stirred in her chest. She took a small step forward, slipping out of his touch.
Behind her, Ethan lowered his gaze, his fingers still tingling faintly from the warmth of her skin. He rubbed his thumb against his forefinger slowly, as if trying to hold on to the feeling.
Their eyes met in the mirror. His voice came low and steady, almost thoughtful.
“Just as I thought. It looks perfect on you p>
ѕ𝗁𝗮𝘳𝖾 𝗒o𝗎r t𝗵𝗈𝗎𝗀𝘩𝗍𝘀 o𝘯
Noelle blinked and finally looked at the necklace. It was beautiful—a perfect fit. But that only made things more complicated. What could she possibly give him in return for something like this?
The auction wrapped up around 10 p.m. Ethan checked his watch. “Hungry? Want to grab something to eat p>
Right on cue, her stomach let out a quiet rumble. She rubbed her belly sheepishly and said, “Yeah, let’s find something light p>
They left the room together.
But moments later, Ethan’s phone rang—work.
Noelle told him to take the call and began strolling down the hallway, her eyes wandering from one painting to another. Each piece told its own story, and she paused to study them one by one. She didn’t realize how far she’d gone until she found herself near the main staircase.
“Noelle p>
A sharp voice cut through the quiet air.
She turned to see Gerard storming toward her, his face dark with anger. He had left earlier, but the bitterness from the auction still burned. Now he was back—furious, ready to confront her.
As he reached the landing, his eyes went straight to the necklace glimmering around her neck. His face twisted with outrage. “So it was you! You stole Willa’s necklace p>
Noelle stood at the top of the stairs, her posture straight, her expression calm and unreadable. She looked down at him and said evenly, “Stole? It was an auction. If you couldn’t win it, that’s on you p>
Her words struck deep, and Gerard’s fury only grew. His voice rose, sharp and trembling. “Don’t push it, Noelle! If you dare hurt Willa again, I swear I won’t let it slide p>
Her expression hardened. The chill in her eyes could have frozen fire.
“You think I’m being unreasonable?” Gerard spat, his tone self-righteous. “You may be my blood, but Willa’s my sister too! Don’t forget—she saved my life. And you p>