Alpha's Regret After Her Rebirth (Hannah and Noah) novel Chapter 193

Chapter 0193
Hannah
I descended the staircase, my hand trailing along the polished banister. The chatter from the living room grew louder as I approached, and I took a deep breath before taking the last step. For a moment, I just paused, smoothing down the front of my dress.
It was the night before the Lunar Festival and, just a few hours prior, Noah had informed me of his intent to have a gathering at the house-a gathering which, much to my chagrin, would include Zoe.
I hadn’t seen Zoe, nor had I spoken to her since the day I had showed up at her house. That was a week ago now, and I supposed that a stupid, tiny part of me had hoped that I wouldn’t have to see her at all before the Lunar Festival.
But here we were.
Finally, I nodded to myself, rounded the corner, and stepped into view.
The conversation died as every head in the room turned toward me. I felt my cheeks flush under their scrutiny, acutely aware of how my dark blue dress clung to my slightly fuller figure-I had been gaining weight lately, which was a good thing, but still made me feel self conscious.
Zoe’s eyes widened as I approached the group, her gaze sweeping over me appraisingly and momentarily lingering on my larger breasts. Even Noah, standing by the fireplace, seemed taken aback by my appearance.
But it was Drake’s reaction that caught me off guard. His eyes locked onto mine, a mixture of surprise and something else I couldn’t quite place flickering across his face.
I just stood there for a moment, unsure of what to say. The room was full of people, many of whom had returned to their idle conversations, but I felt like I was in my own little bubble of silence.
Zoe, surprisingly, was the one who broke that silence. Before I could say a word, she was hurrying over to me with two glasses of champagne-one in each hand. “Hannah,” she said, her hips swinging as she strode up to me. “Drink?” (1)
I hesitated, knowing I should refuse, but Zoe’s expectant look made me falter. I’d have to swap it out for a non-alcoholic one, of course, but perhaps not beneath her prying eyes. Right now, with the divorce coming closer and closer by the day, I couldn’t risk anyone else finding out about the baby.
“I… thanks, Zoe,” I finally said.
As I accepted the glass, however, Drake smoothly intercepted. “Actually, I think Hannah might prefer this one,” he said, his fingers brushing against mine as he swapped my drink for another. “I know you prefer gin and tonics over champagne.”
My eyes widened slightly. Drake winked at me subtly, turning his head so that only I could see. Frowning, I glanced down at the bubbling glass-and it was then that I realized he had given me a non-alcoholic alternative. Upon taking a sip, I discovered that it was just Sprite with a slice of lime in it.
“Oh, um, yes. Thank you, Drake,” I said, smiling gratefully. I glanced over at Zoe, who was checking her nails with disinterest, and felt my shoulders sag slightly with relief. As I took another sip of my soda, I caught Noah’s eye from across the room. But he quickly looked away, his jaw tightening.
Chapter 0193
+25 BONUS
Dinner passed in a blur of laughter and small talk, of catching up with old friends and packmates who I hadn’t seen in a while. Congratulatory toasts were had, speeches were made, dessert was served, and all the while, I kept a pleasant smile on my face and continued to sip my soda.
As the last plates were cleared and the party began to split off into small groups of people dancing, playing games, and chatting, I excused myself to freshen up. I slipped into the bathroom and took a deep breath, running my fingers through my perfectly-curled hair.
Exhaling, I turned sideways in the mirror. There, ever so slight, was a little bump on my lower belly-not my baby just yet, but something just as precious. A little bit of extra, healthy, flesh.
I couldn’t help but smile a bit as I looked in the mirror. Since the beginning of my eating disorder recovery journey, I had officially gained eight pounds. And it showed, too, not just in the fat deposits on my body, but in my hair, my skin, my eyes. I was… glowing.
Things were looking up, weren’t they?
For a moment, though, my fingers itched for my phone. I had been checking that damn forum post every day, watching as the likes ticked up one by one. Last week, it had already been at five thousand. The count had since slowed, only reaching a little less than six thousand now, but… still.