Chapter 342: Chapter 358

Chapter 0358 Hannah Viona’s nimble fingers worked expertly through my hair weaving intricate braids and curls as I sat in front of my vanity. The sweet scent of floral perfume filled the air, mingling with the subtle aroma of the styling products she was using.

I’d forgone my usual stylist tonight in favor of Viona, wanting a few hours alone with my friend. Amber and Emma would be at the party, but they both had their own things going on and wouldn’t be able to arrive until the party started.

From what I understood, Emma was finalizing the divorce with her husband today. And Amber... Well, she had apparently met someone new. And from the little tidbit of gossip that Viona had shared with me, I’d gathered that their third date went well enough last night that he had spent the night at Amber’s place and their date had bled into today.

Speaking of blossoming relationships...

“I still can’t believe how much has changed with Noah lately,” I mused, watching Viona’s reflection in the mirror. I toyed with my necklace, a delicate gold chain with a little crescent moon pendant.

She smiled, her eyes meeting mine. “I’m really so happy for you. I know you two have been through a lot, but I always kind of hoped you’d be able to work it out.

“It’s like he’s a different person. Or maybe... maybe he’s finally becoming the person he was always meant to be.”

Viona’s hands stilled for a moment. “What do you think caused the change?”

I considered her question, my hand absently stroking my belly. “I think... maybe the prospect of the baby snapped him out of his icy haze. And perhaps whatever trauma he endured that gave him selective amnesia added to his iciness in the first place.”

“Selective amnesia?” Viona asked, resuming her work on my hair.

I sighed, explaining the letters and Noah’s complete inability to remember writing them. Not just them, but all of the events that led up to us becoming penpals–that summer we’d spent getting to know each other, even sneaking into his mother’s hospital room. He didn’t remember a shred of it.

“If he couldn’t remember our past together, then no wonder he was always cold toward me,” I mused. “To him, I was hardly more than an acquaintance. A random girl he was forced into an arranged marriage with.”

I paused, watching as Viona plucked a bobby pin from between her lips and slipped it into a curl.

“I think that having his fated mate bond severed with Zoe was what may have caused it,” I continued, dropping my voice a bit.

“But I can’t bring it up to him. I think it would hurt him too much, and it’s probably best reserved for a therapist.”

“He never talks about it, does he?” Viona asked.

“No,” I said softly. “But I know it left its mark on him.”

I winced just at the thought of the pain he endured during that process. Severing your bond with a fated 1/2 +25 BORRUS Chapter 0358 mate was not a pleasant experience in the slightest. Everyone who did it claimed that it felt like being stabbed in the heart with a knife, over and over and over again for days.

He’d never talked about it to me, not even once, but I knew.

We fell into a comfortable silence as Viona finished my hair and moved on to my makeup. She worked skillfully–lately, she’d been taking cosmetology classes at night, which she had begun when we weren’t talking during those weeks.

She’d explained that, with her parents still not speaking to her, she had decided to get certified so she could open her own salon.

I’d always known that she had a knack for it, but taking classes made her skills even more polished.

“Vi,” I said suddenly, catching her hand as she reached for a brush, “I just want to say that I’m so glad we’re friends again. I missed you. And I’m sorry for fighting with you.”

Chapter 0359