Several minutes later...

Noah stood in front of Elena’s old house. He pressed the doorbell impatiently.

After some time, the door was pulled open, and Elena’s petite form came into view.

For a second, neither of them spoke.

In a sudden rush, Noah stepped forward and pulled her into his arms.

Elena’s body went rigid in his embrace. Rage surged back like an inferno inside her.

’You have the nerve to show your face after what you have done? Get out of here. I hate you.’

Elena imagined shoving him away and slapping him hard. But she did nothing. She remained static in his arms, eyes vacant, expression indifferent, rage burning through her veins.

He pulled back slightly, scanning her face anxiously. "Are you okay?" he asked, his hands resting on her shoulders. "Why did you cut my call?"

Her fingers twitched at her sides. She shrugged his hands off her shoulders. "I dropped the phone accidentally," she lied.

He breathed. "Thank goodness, you are fine," he murmured in relief and hugged her again. "I was worried."

Worried?

The word felt like a cruel joke.

Elena sneered in her mind.

’You lie so smoothly. You fooled me all those years. Now you play the part of a concerned husband.’

She felt disgusted.

’But I know everything now. I will no longer fall for your lies.’

Elena broke free from his embrace and walked into the house.

Noah entered. The smell of burning fabric hit his nostrils.

His fingers moved to his nose. "What did you burn?"

He turned to the hearth and noticed a half-burned piece of white silk among the ashes.

Elena looked at the piece of fabric. "Unnecessary things," she replied curtly.

He nodded. "If you need to clean the house, just tell me. I’ll arrange everything."

"I can manage." Elena sat down on the sofa.

Noah turned to her. He could see her coldness, her distance. He thought it was because of the miscarriage.

"Why didn’t you wait for me at home?" he asked slowly as he sat down beside her.

"I wanted to stay alone," Elena replied.

Noah noticed something was off with her.

Elena had always been soft with him, her emotions clear in her eyes. If she were hurt, she would cry. If she were upset, she would cling to him and seek his attention.

This was what he had expected this time, too. He had prepared himself to console her.

But she didn’t cry, didn’t lean on him, and didn’t even look at him the way she used to. This suffocating distance in her gaze was something else entirely.

It unsettled him.

"Elena, please talk to me," he started. "Don’t hold it in. If you want to cry, cry. If you have any complaints, say them openly. I am here."

He reached for her hand. He noticed her ring was gone. His gaze narrowed.

Elena cherished that ring, never taking it off once in the five years. She was practically obsessed with it. What had changed now that she had put it off?

A restless energy rose in his chest. "Where is the ring?" he asked urgently.

She pulled her hand away. "It didn’t fit anymore," she muttered. "It started biting my finger."

He smiled. "Okay. It’s old now. You should replace it with a new one. I’ll buy you a new ring."

Elena stared at him. His words only added to the pain in her chest.

’Of course. You replaced me with Tessa. Fine. I’ll also replace you with someone else.’

"You must be hungry. I’ll go cook something for you." He stood up and went to the kitchen. "I’m making noodles for you with a lot of cilantro. I know you love it." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Elena didn’t stop him. She looked at him coldly. ’You think cooking a meal for me can make up for losing our child?’

She snorted and turned aside. Her heart had already turned cold. Nothing would make her forgive him for what he had done.

Dinner was ready soon. Noah served her the hot noodles. "Tell me how it is."

Elena looked at the bowl of noodles. In the past, this would have made her smile. She would have felt loved. But now, she felt meaningless.

He placed a rectangular velvet box in front of her. "I got this for you. Take a look."

He opened the box. Inside lay a bracelet.

Elena brushed her fingers over the blue diamonds. It was simple yet elegant – something she would like. If it were in the past, she would have treasured it, held it close, and thanked him with a smile.

But nothing mattered to her now.

"I attended a charity auction a few days ago and purchased it for you." He took it out and clasped it around her wrist. "It’s perfect. Beautiful."

Elena lifted her wrist a little and looked at it, the diamonds catching the light. She could see his attempt to fix things. But some damage was beyond repair.

He watched her, confidence brimming in his eyes. ’I knew she would love it,’ he thought. ’It’s easy to pacify her. A small gift, and she will forget everything.’

He chuckled. "Don’t keep looking at it. Eat."

He went back to the kitchen to fetch his bowl.

Meanwhile, his phone buzzed on the table. Elena glanced at the screen and saw a message from Tessa.

’I received your gift. It’s beautiful. Thank you for the lovely necklace.’

Elena stiffened in her place instantly. For a moment, she looked at the screen with disbelief. Then she snorted.

’Noah, you are really something. Trying to make two women happy at the same time.’

She removed the bracelet and put it back into the box.

Noah came back. "Why did you take it off?" he asked, sitting down across from her. "You don’t like it."

"I’ll wear it later," she replied flatly.

"No problem." He started eating. "This Sunday is my parents’ fiftieth wedding anniversary. You can wear it on that day."

The phone rang, interrupting him. When he saw Tessa’s name on the screen, he instantly took it. He glanced at Elena.

"Uh... I need to take the call."

Elena had already seen who it was. She didn’t stop him.

Noah stood up and walked away as he answered the call.

"Noah," came Tessa’s troubled voice. "I had a nightmare. I am scared."

"I’ll be there."

He turned to Elena. After a brief hesitation, he said, "I have something urgent at work. I have to go."

"Okay. Go."

Noah frowned. He had never seen Elena being so obedient before.

She had not stopped him or questioned him, as if she didn’t care.

It was disturbing.

"You aren’t going to ask where I am going?"

"You just say something urgent has come up at work," Elena said. "Of course, you are going to the office. Or..."

She paused for a moment. "Are you lying to me?"

Noah swallowed, uneasy under her sharp gaze. "Yes, I’m going to the office."

He headed toward the door. But he paused at the doorstep. "Don’t be late to the party on Sunday."

The moment the door closed behind him, Elena dropped the noodles in the dustbin.

’From now on, I won’t eat noodles.’