CHAPTER 48
LILY’S POV
“Why are you crying? Please don’t cry…” Noah said and I realized a teardrop had escaped the corner of my left eye.
Sniffling a sob and feeling embarrassed for breaking down in front of him, I tried to wipe the tear off with the back of my hand. After all that time with Robert, I had promised myself I wouldn’t cry again. While in prison, Alison had let me know crying was for the weak and faint-hearted and it never fixes any problem. She trained herself not to shed a single tear no matter the situation. I didn’t know how she managed to do it but she did.
Despite my attempts to ward off the tears, I couldn’t help crying. It was as if I wasn’t in control of my emotions anymore and the tears had a mind of its own.
Before I could wipe them myself, Noah reached out and used his thumb to scrape them away. He cradled my cheeks, my face fitting perfectly into the cup of his palms. We were so close I could feel his breath warm against my face, his eyes boring deep into mine as if he could see right through to my soul. My breath caught and under his intense gaze, I felt extremely nervous. For years, I haven’t been this close to a man. Even Robert had never held me like this, except on that one drunken night we shared. I know it was stupid but I still think of that moment at times.
“If it’s about your kids, you don’t have to worry about them,” Noah said softly, his voice soothing and reassuring. “I’ve placed highly trained, professional bodyguards with years of experience to watch over them and guard your house. They’re safe. I can promise you that. As long as the air is still pumping through my lungs, I won’t let anyone hurt you or your kids.”
My eyes gleamed and I was speechless, almost breathless with gratitude. I managed to find my voice but all I could say was “Thank you…”, my voice barely above a whisper.
“It’s nothing,” he smiled, that cheerful look I knew him for returning on his face. “I promise you, we will get to the bottom of this. We’ll find the bastard that sent that man and we’ll make them pay.” He said firmly and I know he meant every word because I could see the savage inner fire that burned at the depths of his eyes.
He plastered a kiss on my forehead before letting go of my cheeks and getting up from the bed. I watched, my chest rising and falling with an overwhelming feeling I couldn’t quite make out what it was as he made his way to the small fancy table where the food tray was.
Noah seemed like the perfect man-the kind every woman dreams of having. I still couldn’t understand why his wife would go so far as to divorce him. It was like being offered something sweet, only for her to taste it and spit it out in disgust instead of swallowing it with joy. I couldn’t wrap my head around it.
If only Robert was more like him, then things would have been different for us. He would have loved me like I deserved and we would still be together with no one coming in between us. But sadly, he wasn’t and I don’t think he’ll ever be. If only Noah and I had met earlier in life. If only the universe had put things in place for that to happen, I would have been the happiest woman on earth right now because true love makes a woman colourful and complete, and not left wandering around like a lost sheep, begging for love from someone undeserving.
I know I said I have gotten over Robert because of how cruelly he treated me and left me to rot. He hurt me like no one else and for as long as I live, I’ll never forget. But deep down, I could feel a part of me was still attached to him. He was my first love, my crush, right from the start. He had a strong hold on me that it was so hard to completely let go. I couldn’t completely set myself free from him and it was preventing me from moving on the way I wanted. Preventing me from giving other men coming for me a chance. A chance to love freely and be happy romantically.
“Hey…” I was so lost in thought I didn’t know Noah was standing in front of me. “Are you okay?” He asked with slightly furrowed brows.
Snapping out of it, I looked up at him and smiled awkwardly. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
He half shrugged like he didn’t believe me completely. He sat down on the bed and set the food tray on his thighs, wiping the cutleries clean, and getting them ready for use.
“Aside from the cuts and bruises, the medics said you suffered a mild concussion and will be needing a lot of rest. I know you must be starving after all that time unconscious so I prepared a little something for you to eat. After your meal, you can rest for as long as you want so you can feel better by tomorrow. And any idea you have of leaving this house tonight is out of the question because there is no way I’m letting you out of my sight. Your clothes were soiled so I had them taken to laundry. A fresh set of clothes will be given to you first thing tomorrow and also about work, take all the time you need, you can…”
“Noah…” I held his arm to stop him from talking further because he wouldn’t stop. “I’m fine, okay? You don’t need to worry about anything. I’ll eat and rest. I’m not leaving. I don’t care about the clothes anymore and I’ll start work whenever you want me to.”
He deflated with a sigh and flashed a half-looped smile. “I’m sorry. I just wanted to make sure you’re safe and alright.”
“And I am,” I reiterated. “So stop worrying, okay?”
He gave a firm nod before returning his attention to the food tray. “So are you going to eat by yourself or should I spoon-feed you?” He teased playfully as he looked at me.
“No, thank you,” I said, smiling back at him as I took the tray from him. “I’ll be fine on my own. It’s just a mild concussion, not brain damage.”
“Alright.”
After I had eaten to my fill, I thanked him for the meal and laid on the bed to rest. I hadn’t recovered completely from the impact of that crash so I needed all the rest I could get especially if I was going to see my kids tomorrow. Noah helped tuck me into bed. He was so kind and gentle with me that I wondered if men like him truly existed.
“Can I ask you something?” I said with a cautiously gentle tone.
“Anything,” he sat on the edge of the bed while holding the empty tray, all his attention focused on me.
“Did you have any kids with your ex-wife and have you ever thought of remarrying?”