Chapter 9

Chapter 9:

Just as she was lost in her cleaning frenzy, her phone buzzed to life.

Noah was calling.

Sadie’s heart skipped. She was torn between answering and ignoring the call, but ultimately, she picked up.

Noah’s voice, icy and sharp, cut through the silence. “Where the hell are you, Sadie? Why aren’t you home? You’re not causing trouble again, are you?”

“Me? Causing trouble?” Sadie’s laugh was tinged with bitterness. “Considering we’re getting a divorce, I don’t see how my whereabouts are your concern.”

“Listen,” Sadie interjected, her tone firm yet cool, “I’ve accepted this divorce. I won’t be clinging to you. And I’d appreciate it if you’d refrain from bothering me further, Mr. Wall.”

With a decisive click, Sadie ended the call, leaving Noah to stew in silence on the other end.

His face twisted in anger as the line went dead. How dare this woman hang up on him!

In the days that ensued, Sadie meticulously dodged any encounters with Noah.

Since they both worked at Wall Group, it was almost unbelievable how their paths never crossed.

Sadie worked tirelessly, determined to finish the project at hand. Once it was wrapped up, she’d make sure the divorce was final, then hand in her resignation and leave Wall Group behind.

As the week spiraled into a brisk Saturday morning, Sadie, clutching a box of Laura’s favorite pastries, made her way to the old, familiar teacher’s apartment building.

Laura, a dedicated elementary school teacher of many years, still resided within the modest confines of the apartment building.

Just as Sadie was navigating the leaf-strewn path from the school grounds to the apartment building, she was startled by Alex’s voice, tinged with surprise.

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“Sadie? What brings you here?” he inquired, his eyebrows arching in curiosity.

Sadie turned around to look at him, her face mirroring his surprise. “Oh, my grandmother lives here. How about you?” she replied, her tone a mix of astonishment and curiosity.

Alex’s eyes widened even further, his face a canvas of shock. “Really? I’ve never seen you around. Noa—uh, I mean, I used to go to school here.”

He stumbled over his words, waving a sheaf of documents. “I’m currently involved in some plans for expanding the school.”

Nodding with a newfound understanding, Sadie offered a smile. “I only came here once or twice a year during my childhood, so it’s likely we just missed each other,” she explained, her voice steady and composed.

As Sadie prepared to bid Alex farewell and continue on her way, Laura emerged from the apartment building with a bright, welcoming smile. Her eyes landed on Alex, and she radiated warmth as she approached him, laying a gentle hand on his shoulder.

“Young man, what’s your name?” she asked with a tone of friendly curiosity.

Alex, a touch bewildered by Laura’s fervent greeting, cautiously responded, “Oh, you’re Sadie’s grandmother, right? Pleased to meet you, I’m Alex Howe.”

His charm was enough to make Laura’s smile bloom effortlessly.

Meanwhile, Sadie lingered in the background, her intuition telling her that this cheerful encounter might soon take an awkward turn.

“No, Grandma, you—” she interjected, tugging at Laura’s sleeve.

Yet, Laura shot her a playful, teasing look and chuckled. “What do you mean, ‘no’? You’ve brought him here, and now you’re getting all flustered?”

Confusion clouded Alex’s features.

It took him a moment to catch on.

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