Noah looked at the screen, his brows drawing together. ’Elena always replies to me instantly. But this time, she is so silent.’

He felt something off.

"I’m sorry. She just miscarried. She needs you. But you are here with me. If I hadn’t fallen sick, you wouldn’t have been stuck with me here."

Tessa lowered her head.

Noah put the phone aside and took her hands in his. "It’s not your fault. Don’t feel bad. I’ve arranged a nurse for Elena. She is fine. And you..."

He smiled. "You are my legal wife. Taking care of you is my duty."

Tessa’s lips stretched.

"You are important to me more than anything else." He leaned forward and kissed her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

As soon as Elena returned home, she gathered her things and stuffed them into a suitcase.

Once, this place had been her home. But now, this very place suffocated her.

She didn’t want to stay here any longer. Her movements paused when her eyes landed on a photograph of her and Noah—smiling, looking happy.

It was from the day he had proposed.

The memory was still fresh in her mind.

It had been her graduation day. Noah took her to her favorite place.

Elena loved watching the sunset there. They had come there many times before. So, she had not suspected anything unusual.

She thought it was just a small celebration.

"Finally, I have graduated," Elena beamed, glowing with excitement. "I can start working. So, Noah..."

She slipped her arm around his and fluttered her eyelashes innocently. "Will you let me work at your company? Will you hire me?"

Noah flashed a charming smile. "As long as you want, I can give you anything."

Her face lit up with joy. "I promise. I’ll work hard and never let you down."

Noah reached into his pocket. "I have something for you."

"What is it?" Elena asked, curious. "A gift?"

Noah opened a box and showed her a ring with a small diamond.

Elena’s eyes widened. She forgot how to breathe. "Is this for me?" she asked in a daze.

"Of course, silly. Who else is here?"

Elena giggled. "Are you proposing to me?"

Noah held her gaze. "Elena, I promise I will take care of you for the rest of my life. I’ll make you happy and fulfil all your demands."

He grinned. "Marry me."

Elena nodded vigorously and stretched her hand toward him.

The memory faded.

The ring was still on her finger.

As Elena looked at it, her eyes turned watery. It was the ring she had treasured all these years. She had never once taken it off ever since he had slid it on her finger.

Then her expression stiffened. "You lied to me, Noah. You destroyed my dreams, my hope... I’ll never forgive you."

She removed the ring and threw it out of the window.

Pulling the suitcase, she went out of the room.

End of flashback...

"Madam..." The housekeeper approached. "Sir will be upset if he doesn’t find you. Please don’t leave."

Elena wanted to laugh.

Why would he be upset? He had been with his first love for all these days. He must be happy.

She shrugged and said coldly, "I want to stay alone for a few days. Now move."

She walked past her and strode out.

~~~~~~~~~~~

At Elena’s old house...

She sat on a sofa in front of the hearth, throwing the old photographs of her and Noah into the fire. She didn’t want to keep anything that would remind her of him, of the lie she had lived for years.

Each pictured curled and faded into ash.

Her hand paused at one photograph. It was from the day they got the marriage certificate.

At the time, Elena thought she had become his wife. She had been so happy.

’I promise, Elena... I’ll always love you. I’ll cherish you like a treasure.’ 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Those words seemed to still echo in her ears. She had foolishly believed everything he had said. She had given him everything—her time, her love, and her faith.

And he...

He took her love for granted and cheated on her.

Elena’s eyes burned. She threw the photograph in the fire.

She tore the remaining photographs ruthlessly before tossing them into the fire.

Rage and emotions crashed over her.

Her chest heaved. Her breathing grew uneven, and her hands trembled uncontrollably.

The pain didn’t lessen. If anything, it only intensified.

’Why? Why did you do this to me?’

She wanted to scream, to tear his world apart the way he had destroyed hers.

He had trampled over her heart without a second thought. And now, all that remained was this unbearable, suffocating pain.

Elena stared at the fire, the flames dancing in her eyes. "Noah," she muttered, curling her fingers into balls. "Just to cancel the wedding, you killed our baby. You will pay for this."

Later that day...

Noah’s car rolled in through the driveway. The wheels ran over the ring Elena had thrown earlier, crushing it.

The ring twisted out of shape, dislodging the small diamond.

Oblivious to all this, Noah pulled the car over and stepped out in a hurry.

The moment he entered the house, the housekeeper came over.

"Sir, you are back..."

Noah looked at the room upstairs. "Is Elena resting?"

The middle-aged woman lowered her head. "Madam packed her bag and left."

"Left?" Noah scowled.

"She looked upset."

Noah’s expression shifted. Without a word, he strode toward his bedroom.

He ripped his tie in frustration and tossed it aside. "I told you to wait for me," he muttered. "But you left. You ignored my words."

He took off his suit jacket and threw it down. "I told you I’d make it up to you. I even brought you a gift. Shouldn’t you be obediently waiting for me at home?"

Knock-knock...

"What?" he barked.

"Sir, it’s me, Linda," came the housekeeper’s voice. "I brought you coffee."

Noah rubbed his forehead. He needed a cup of hot coffee to calm himself.

"Come in."

The door pushed open, and Linda entered. She paused for a moment as she saw the suit jacket lying on the floor. Her legs trembled slightly as she moved past it and put the cup on the side table.

Without wasting a second, she walked out quietly.

Noah sat on the sofa, taking the cup. He took a slow sip, his fingers scrolling down the phone screen.

During these days, Elena had not called him. There was not even a single text message from her.

’What’s wrong with her?’ His brows knitted in confusion.

Before, she used to text him every hour to check on him. Noah had felt bored and had often ignored her. But now, seeing no messages from her unsettled him.

’Is she upset with me?’

The question raised a concern in his mind.

"No, she can’t remain mad with me for long," he said confidently. "I’ll call her, and she will come back without a delay."

He dialed her.

The call connected after a few rings.

His lips curled slightly. "Elena. I missed you."

On the other end, Elena stared at the wedding gown she had just thrown into the fire.

’Missed me?’ she scoffed inwardly. ’How long are you going to lie?’

"Did you miss me?"

She nodded slowly. "Yes. I missed you, too."

He chuckled. He knew Elena loved him and couldn’t stay away from him for long.

"I am back," he said. "But Linda said you packed your bag and left. Are you still upset? I have brought something for you. Come home. I can’t wait to see you."

Elena’s stomach churned with disgust. She couldn’t keep listening to his fake words. She disconnected the call.

Noah frowned. "What the..."

He looked at the screen with disbelief. ’Did she hang up on me?’

But he dismissed the thought instantly. "No, she wouldn’t. She might be in trouble. I need to find her."

Shoving the phone into his pocket, he ran out.