Chapter 18 Misunderstanding
The voice belonged to Rosa Barrett, the devoted housekeeper who had faithfully served Sadie and Noah for years.
“Thank you, Rosa. I appreciate your concern,” Sadie replied, her voice polite but tinged with unmistakable disappointment.
As she set the phone down, her face lost all its color.
So, it
Noah.
The faint spark of hope that had flickered to life in her chest was ruthlessly snuffed
out.
A self–deprecating laugh escaped her lips; she had let her imagination run wild again. How could Noah, with his life of privilege, ever stoop to care for her–the wife he was planning to leave behind?
No doubt he was with Kyla now, lavishing her with affection and warmth.
Sadie sipped her steaming chicken soup, a semblance of comfort seeping into her weary bones.
She applied some blush to mask her pallor, grabbed her bag, and made her way to work. As soon as she entered the company, Tina immediately came over, her expression clouded with worry.
“Sadie, are you alright?” she inquired, her brow furrowed.
“Just a slight cold. I’ll be fine after some rest,” Sadie replied, managing a weak smile.
“But you look terribly pale,” Tina noted, setting a cup of hot apple cider on Sadie’s desk. “Drink this; it’s great for boosting your immune system and fighting off colds–it’s amazing!”
With a genuine smile and an enthusiastic thumbs–up, Tina warmly recommended the
concoction.
Amusement flickered in Sadie’s eyes as a soft warmth filled her heart.
“Thank you,” she murmured, her voice a gentle whisper.
“It’s nothing. We’re colleagues after all, and it’s only right we look out for each other,” Tina responded, giving Sadie’s shoulder a comforting pat.
Sadie nodded her head in acknowledgment, her heart caught in a tangled mix of emotions.
Despite her marriage, it was a colleague, not her husband, who offered her solace and
concern.
And then there was Noah–where was he right now? And who was he with?
Just then, a soft, apologetic voice drifted from the hallway, halting Sadie’s spiraling thoughts.
“Noah, I didn’t mean to take up so much of your time–sorry about that.”
There was no mistaking that voice for Sadie–it could only be Kyla.
A chill ran through Sadie as she instinctively turned, her eyes meeting the silhouette of the woman. Her body tensed, her complexion paler.
Tina, noticing the sudden shift in Sadie’s demeanor, followed her gaze and caught sight of a sophisticated woman facing away from them. The woman slightly tilted her head, exposing the graceful curve of her slender neck, her lips curled into a radiant smile directed at the man before her.
That smile, bright and seemingly innocent, stung Sadie’s eyes like a shard of glass.
With the notion that Sadie was unaware of Kyla’s identity, Tina chimed in helpfully, her voice low and tinged with intrigue, “Sadie, that’s the CEO’s rumored girlfriend, Kyla Wade.”
“They do seem quite close,” Sadie replied.
“I heard that Kyla had a heart attack last night. The CEO was so concerned he whisked her to the hospital and remained by her side the whole night. He only returned this morning.” Tina’s voice dropped to a whisper, cautious of eavesdroppers.
A sharp pang of jealousy jabbed at Sadie’s heart, spreading a numbing ache.
So, her memories had been nothing more than a fanciful illusion.
With unwavering devotion, Noah stayed with Kyla at the hospital, keeping her company through the long night.
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