Chapter 3

Chapter 3:

Sadie’s complexion drained of color, leaving her ghostly pale.

Noah had just delivered his harsh decree for her to end the pregnancy. His indifference was a dagger to her heart.

“Why? Noah, even if you don’t want this child, must you be so merciless?” Sadie’s voice trembled, disbelief etching her features.

Noah returned her gaze with icy detachment, his voice a deep, unwavering growl.

“Our marriage is merely a contractual arrangement. A child would only make things messy.”

Crushed, Sadie averted her eyes, the sting of rejection too potent to bear. Internally, her sorrow carved through her, deep and relentless.

After collecting herself, she said, her tone defiant, her resolve firm, “Don’t you worry, Noah. I would never burden you with a child!”

Her decision was made: she would keep the baby, but not for him—for herself.

One day, she would tell her child that their father was a part of her past, nothing more.

Noah’s brow creased slightly.

“I’m glad you see it that way. You’re not feeling great. Take some time to rest. No need to worry about work for now.”

Without another word, he exited Sadie’s room, his silhouette disappearing into the hallway.

Despite his words, Sadie appeared at the company the very next day.

The weight of raising a child alone left no room for weakness. No matter how drained she felt, she had to push through—there was no luxury of rest.

She worked at Wall Group. She had joined its secretarial department right out of college to be close to Noah.

Their marriage was a well-kept secret, hidden from the eyes of the oblivious majority, except for Noah’s assistant, Samuel Ford, and a select few executives.

As soon as Sadie stepped into the bustling secretarial department, she noticed a crowd huddled in front of the meeting room, buzzing with hushed, eager whispers.

“So that’s the woman everyone’s been whispering about—Mr. Wall’s rumored girlfriend.”

“Rumored? She’s practically official, okay? Don’t forget she was the reason Mr. Wall spiraled into that slump two years back.”

“Apparently, they’ve known each other since they were just kids in elementary school.”

“Mr. Wall actually held back during the meeting just now—no scolding at all. Guess his sweetheart was watching.”

“And now, Miss Wade’s stepping in as Mr. Wall’s private senior legal counsel. Talk about a power couple.”

Each whispered word struck Sadie like a sharp, icy dagger, slicing through the facade of her calm demeanor.

The memories of Noah’s enduring affection for Kyla, even remembered vividly by the employees, haunted her.

She felt utterly insignificant.

Sadie bit her lip hard enough to draw blood, her nails digging into the flesh of her palms, a physical counter to the emotional pain.

She forced herself to block out the murmurs, to ignore the stabs of jealousy, and to focus on her tasks as if nothing had disrupted the ordinary.

But the words clung to her, a relentless echo in her mind, taunting her with their cruel, magical persistence.

Suddenly, nausea overwhelmed her.

Sadie stood abruptly, her chair scraping back, and hurried to the restroom.

To mask her discomfort, she cranked the faucet to full blast, the sound of rushing water a feeble shield against any curious ears.

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