Chapter 10

Chapter 10:

Did Laura take things the wrong way?

“No, I—” he said, attempting to clear the air, but Laura cut him off before he could continue.

“Come on in, Alex,” Laura said, her voice warm and inviting as she ushered them into the building. Their path was marked by lively exchanges with a few of Laura’s old friends.

Laughingly, Laura declared, “My granddaughter’s boyfriend, isn’t he a fine young man?”

Sadie and Alex exchanged a look of mutual reluctant resignation, a silent communication filled with both amusement and a touch of distress.

“I’m sorry,” Sadie whispered to Alex, her apology tinged with embarrassment. “I mentioned to Grandma a few days ago that I’d bring my boyfriend over…”

Surprisingly, Alex took it more gracefully than she anticipated. With a gentle reassurance, he murmured, “It’s fine. Let her enjoy her misunderstanding for now. Anyway, you’ve…” He trailed off, but Sadie understood the implication.

Alex let out a weary sigh, his voice softening with concern. “If you ever need help, just let me know.”

Sadie had once been a vibrant part of their youthful social circle, her eyes shimmering with a bright, infectious spirit every time he met her. However, as the Hudson family fell from grace, she gradually faded from the gatherings that had once bound them together.

Over time, Sadie’s life took another unexpected turn as she became Noah’s wife.

“Sadie, I can finally rest easy now,” Laura murmured, gesturing for Sadie to take a seat, emotion flickering in her gaze.

In the cozy embrace of Laura’s apartment—a modest two-bedroom with an invitingly spacious living room—Alex didn’t feel his tall frame confined at all.

“Make sure to cherish each other and live well,” Laura remarked, her hands wrapped around theirs as she continued chatting.

Your favorite tales live at gⱯlnσν𝒆𝓁s．𝒄𝓸𝓂

Sadie wanted to speak up, to explain everything, but watching her grandmother glow with happiness for the first time since her mother was gone, she chose to hold her tongue.

Later, sitting in Alex’s car, Sadie felt an awkwardness creeping in. “I hope you don’t mind—my grandma absolutely loves to chat. And thank you for everything today—seeing her this happy means a lot,” she said, her voice tinged with gratitude and relief.

Alex chuckled, his tone light. “Yeah, your grandmother is quite a character. I remember hearing tales of the strict ‘Iron Lady’ teacher back in elementary school, though I never had the chance to meet her.”

Their conversation flowed seamlessly until they reached Sadie’s apartment building.

As a gentleman, Alex escorted Sadie to the entrance of the building.

As she was about to express her thanks and head up the stairs, a sudden misstep caused her to twist her ankle, a sharp pain nearly drawing tears.

“What’s wrong? Are you hurt?” Alex’s concern was palpable as he quickly stepped forward to support her, ready to assist her upstairs.

But before they could take another step, an unexpected fist swung through the air, cutting the night with startling abruptness.

“Are you fucking insane, Noah?” Alex’s voice was sharp, his disbelief clear as he confronted Noah.

Without thinking, he returned a punch, driven by a rush of anger. Noah, with reflexes quick as a whip, sidestepped, his eyes narrowing into slits as he fixed a piercing gaze on Alex. “Why are you with Sadie?”

“Well…” Alex started, his tone hesitant, but before he could stitch his words into an explanation, Sadie cut him off.

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