Chapter 0298 Hannah I found myself standing outside Noahâs office door. The sun had begun its nightly descent, the shadows. in the hall lengthening. I hadnât seen Noah all day; he had abruptly canceled our daily bonding time that morning, and I wondered if my locking the bedroom door last night when I heard him standing outside had anything to do with it.
Good. Maybe he was finally getting the hint.
My heart raced as I raised my hand to knock, hesitating for a moment before finally rapping my knuckles against the wood. The sound echoed in the empty hallway, making me flinch slightly for no reason in particular.
âCome in,â Noahâs voice called from inside, muffled by the thick door.
I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the conversation ahead, before turning the handle and entering.
Noah looked up from his desk, surprise flickering across his face when he saw me standing there. The sunlight streaming through the window behind him cast a golden glow around his silhouette, outlining his sharp jaw.
Clearing my throat, I quickly looked away. No; now was not the time to be thinking about how damn handsome he looked.
âHannah,â he said, setting down his pen. âIs everything alright?â
I nodded stiffly, hating the way that my fingers nervously played with the hem of my shirt like a frightened child. Quickly, I clasped them behind my back and squared my shoulders.
âI just wanted to let you know that I intend to visit the Luna Council tomorrow for my trial. I wanted to know if Iâm allowed to go...â
I paused, and couldnât help the way my upper lip curled back ever so slightly. *... Despite being your prisoner.â
you want.
Noahâs expression shifted from surprise to exasperation. He sighed, rubbing his temples as he leaned back in his chair, âOf course you can go, Hannah. Youâre not my prisoner. You can go anywhere âAnywhere except home,â I replied bitterly, the words tasting like ash in my mouth. Noahâs brow furrowed, his green eyes flashing first with annoyance and then with exhaustion. âThis is your home.â
I shook my head, feeling a lump form in my throat. âNot anymore.â
For a moment, I thought I saw a look of sadness flicker across Noahâs stony face, but it was gone just as quickly as it came and I forcefully shoved the notion away. Even if he was sad, which I doubted, I didnât care about his feelings.
To me, he was nothing more than my captor now.
âThanks,â I said curtly, turning on my heel.
But as I turned to leave, Noah called out, âHannah, wait +25 BONUS Chapter 0298 I paused, my hand on the doorknob. I debated leaving anyway, but then forced myself to wait and hear him outâwithout turning to look at him.
âWill you ever see me as anything but your jail warden?â he asked, his voice surprisingly soft and pained.
My fingers tightened on the doorknob, and he continued, âEven if I spend the rest of my life trying to become better, will you ever forgive me for denying the divorce? Iâm sorry I locked you in your room. I was angry and scared that you would take my child from me.â
I turned slowly, my wide eyes meeting his. He was standing now, his fingers pressed into the wood of his desk. For a brief moment, I saw a flash of the boy Noah used to be: innocent, kind, and... scared.
My heart ached as I remembered the person that I had fallen in love with all those years agoâthe boy who just needed a friend. I opened my mouth, ready to tell him that I might forgive him in time, that I was glad he finally wanted to work on our marriage But then, a thought struck me. I needed to know something first.
âNoah,â I said, taking a step forward, âdo you remember the letters?â
He blinked, confused. âWhat?â
âThe letters,â I pressed, taking another step closer to his desk. âTell me you remember. Tell me you saved all the letters we sent during those two years we were apart.â