IV

he was busy and wouldn't be available to m

avoid any interaction with Noah as much as possible, especially now that I knew he

ad a girlfriend or not, it was sti

had been asking for one for so long. To my surprise, Margareth agreed right away. She understood how much Hannah wa

ite Shih Tzu. When I brought the dog home, Hannah was thrilled, but I could still see a hint of disappointment in h

as a well-behaved dog, always wa

?" Ella's voice snapp

"I'm okay, just th

k to our respective tabl

hen I noticed Alice. Her face w

ick?" I asked as

my period and I'm dealing wit

y pain meds?" I

take painkillers. I don't wan

noticed the lunchbox she was hol

ng surgery, and Isabel assumed he wouldn't have time to buy

y." I ju

nly cried out in pain. I rushed over to h

n I ask you a favor?" She

Palo Alto for a clie

oing to Palo Alto, could you drop this food off at the Palo

ng the pain on Alice's face, I couldn't bring myse

lice's message. To my surprise, the details

r using the same room? I tried to calm myself do

anxiety. Please don't be Noah, I prayed silently.

lled in a deep,

d, "Isabel, your girlfriend, asked me to deliver this food to

s coat, the fabric crisp and professional. His eyeglasses rested on the bridge of his nose, and his dark hair was slightly

Girlfriend? How come I didn't know I had one

ny knows she's been seeing someone recently,"

eard with Noah on the phone last

re's nothing else, I'll be leaving now," I

stumbled and ended up in his lap. His grip tightened around my waist, and with hi

do me a favor," h

owered his head and kissed the thum

one and the bridge of his nose brushed against mine. Ou

g my mind go blank. Panic surged through me, and I instinctively t

mpletely

woman's scream shattered the mom

pressing the back of my head against his chest a

to interfere with my personal affair

d me? What's so special about her? Our families have known each other for

gaze remained sharp and impassive. "

are sending a chill down my spine. I heard her footsteps storm

met, and I saw the mockery in his gray eyes. It only then dawned o

on my lap, Olivia?" His voice was