Mirabelle’s POV:
“Daddy, please don’t go!” Mika’s voice was choked with sobs, as she clutched the front of his shirt with tiny fingers. “I want to come with you!”
Noah’s smile faltered, and he hugged her tighter. “I know, sweetheart. I wish I could take you with me. But like I said, I need you to be here and take care of Mommy and your brothers. Okay? Can you do that for me?”
Mika shook her head, her face buried in his shoulder, but Noah kept speaking softly to her until she finally nodded, sniffling and wiping at her eyes. Tyler, trying to be brave, gave Noah a quick hug and promised to help out around the house while he was gone.
Skyler just stood back, his eyes wide and serious, as if he were still processing what it meant for Noah to be leaving.
Finally, Noah stood up, giving the kids one last smile before turning to me. “Ready?” he asked, and I nodded.
We left the house together, waving goodbye as Jamie led the kids back inside for breakfast before she dropped them off at school. I saw Mika press her face to the window, her eyes following us as we made our way to the car. It felt like leaving a part of myself behind.
The drive to the airport was quiet. I kept my eyes on the road, gripping the steering wheel tighter than necessary, while Noah leaned back in his seat, his gaze shifting between me and the passing scenery.
When we finally pulled up to the private airstrip, I parked the car and helped him with his bags.
The private jet waited for him on the tarmac. I walked with him to the steps of the jet, then he dropped the suitcase at his feet and turned to face me.
It turned out that Natasha had to leave for Shanghai ahead of him, so she left yesterday. And Samuel, Noah’s manager.
His wife got into an accident the day before, so he opted out of the trip.
I didn’t see any reason for Noah to take a commercial flight, so I persuaded him to use his private jet instead.
Although I hated the idea of the fact that Noah and Natasha would be alone, together in Shanghai. I was relieved that they traveled separately.
“I’ll call you as soon as I land,” he said, reaching out to cup my face with one hand. “Promise me you’ll take care of yourself while I’m gone.”
“I will,” I said. I forced myself to smile, even though my heart was pounding so loudly I was sure he could hear it. “You take care too. And… come back soon.”
He leaned in and kissed my forehead, lingering there longer than necessary, then pulled back and brushed a gentle kiss over my lips. “I love you,” he said softly.
“I love you too,” I whispered, my hands still gripping the lapels of his trenchcoat. Then I let go, stepping back to give him the space to turn away.
He hesitated, his eyes lingering on mine for just a second longer, before he turned and climbed the steps to the jet. I stood there, watching as he disappeared into the cabin. Then the door shut behind him.
I waited until the plane’s engines roared to life and it began to taxi down the runway. Only then did I turn away, heading back to the car with a heavy heart.
I climbed in, smiling as I pulled out of the airstrip and back onto the main road.
I was almost halfway home when my phone buzzed on the dashboard, a notification lighting up the screen. Frowning, I reached over to check it, my breath catching when I saw the sender.
Natasha.
‘THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS NOW.’
I pulled over to the side of the road, my fingers clenching the steering wheel until my knuckles turned white. I wanted to scream, to throw my phone out the window, but I did neither.
Instead, I closed my eyes and leaned my head back against the seat, forcing myself to breathe. “Stay strong,” I whispered to myself. “Noah is not Ken.”
Then I opened my eyes and pulled back onto the road.
I reversed the car, taking in a shaky breath as I watched the private airstrip fade in my rearview mirror.
Instead of heading straight home, I found myself taking a detour, driving aimlessly through the streets until my hands seemed to move of their own accord, steering the car in the direction of a dimly lit bar on the far side of town.
I knew this place. It wasn’t some upscale lounge or trendy hotspot, but a quiet corner for people who wanted to forget.
The kind of bar you went to when you didn’t want to be found. I pulled up to the curb and parked. I sat in the driver’s seat, my hands clenched around the wheel.
I hadn’t come here to be found, either. Or so I told myself.
I stepped out of the car, my heels clicking against the pavement as I walked inside. The bar was nearly empty, only a few early drinkers scattered at tables. I headed straight for the counter, not hesitating for a second.
Sliding onto one of the stools, I signaled the bartender and ordered a forever martini-something strong.
I wasn’t the type to drink in the middle of the day. I wasn’t the type to drink at all.
But today was different.
Today, everything felt wrong.
As I waited for my drink, I pulled out my phone and started scrolling. Social media was a mess of headlines, and I had no desire to look at it, but I did anyway. Scrolling numbed the constant thoughts in my head-the ones that circled back to Noah and Natasha.
I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t notice anyone approaching until a familiar voice broke through. “You are the last person I expected to ever bump into here.”
I froze, my heart skipping a beat before I looked up. Ken stood there, a drink already in his hand.
Of course, it was Ken!