The Lies Behind Her Marriage novel Chapter 232

Port Arcliff Children’s Haven.

Silas put a cup of coffee on Noelle’s table and a sandwich. He sat next to her and pushed a strand of her hair behind her ear.

Noelle stiffened.

Earlier, exhaustion had made her feel a little dizzy, but after Silas’s touch, goosebumps ran across her skin.

“Don’t you want to take some rest?” Silas asked.

She was tired.

Silas was the same.

They both had bags under their eyes, and their voices were starting to get hoarse. Silas, especially, since he was so good at threatening people.

“I can’t,” she answered. “I can’t rest knowing our son is out there.”

“We can take turns pulling all-nighters,” Silas suggested. His voice was soft and laced with concern for her.

She didn’t answer. Noelle simply focused on the new information from HelixPoint’s server.

“You know we were supposed to check that penthouse,” Silas reminded her.

She paused but said, “We can check it later. Maybe after we find our son.”

“Of course,” he said. “Hey.”

Before Noelle knew it, Silas turned her chair to face him, and he hugged her outright. He said, “We need this. We need each other right now.”

Noelle was stunned, of course, but the moment he said that, she felt the tears welling in her eyes.

She sniffed and hugged him back.

He was right.

The whole situation felt so heavy. It was important to remember they were not facing this alone.

Noelle hugged Silas tighter. She said, “Thank you, Silas. Thank you so much.”

When they pulled away, Silas wiped the tears from her face. He suggested, “Have some coffee and take a bite of the sandwich. I won’t leave until you do so.”

She nodded and forced a smile. After she took two bites, Silas said, “Okay. Milo and I are going to check orphanages in Port Arcliff. We have gone over the ones in Rexam, but nothing came up. We will try our luck in the next city.”

“I will tell you if I find something,” Noelle said.

Silas cupped her face, and unexpectedly, he placed a kiss on her cheek.

Noelle was rendered speechless and didn’t know how to react. She just sat there, frozen in place until Silas left.

When she finally returned to checking the network of HelixPoint, she came across an email communication from finance to Brian.

It was a money transfer to Port Arcliff Children’s Haven Orphanage.

First of all, it was the first time she had heard about this institution.

Why would Brian suddenly transfer money there?

What were the chances?

Noelle felt a strange unease creeping into her chest. Something told her she just had to go and see this place for herself.

“We don’t know. Maybe he is a jinx,” another boy said.

Theo’s eyes narrowed, his heart growing heavy. Like everyone else, he had often wondered why he wasn’t allowed to be seen by visitors. Only the other children in the center knew he was there.

“Theo, don’t listen to them,” a girl about Theo’s age approached. “One day, Miss Paula will change her mind and let you meet other parents.”

“Thank you, Evie,” Theo said. Then he remembered Evie was about to leave the orphanage next week. “Your new parents are going to get you soon, right? Are you going to leave me?”

In the center, Evie was Theo’s longest friend. She was brought in when she was just two years old after her parents died.

Evie grabbed Theo’s hand and said, “Don’t worry, Theo. I’ll try to visit you.”

“Kids, emergency!” one of the caretakers called. “We have visitors coming in today. Everyone inside for instructions!”

All the children rushed in.

The kids who already had parents lined up for adoption were instructed to stay in their rooms, while the other children were asked to wait in the waiting area.

As for Theo, the directress, Paula, turned to him and said, “Theo, you know what to do, right? Go to your room and study. We will call you when the guests have left.”

Theo stilled.

His hazel eyes grew sad. He asked, “Miss Paula, why can’t I see the visitors?”

The shock on the directress’s face was apparent. She frowned but quickly composed herself. She answered, “Theo, you are not the kind they are looking for. Go on now. Go to the room.”

Then Paula looked at the other kids, reminding them, “Remember, no one mentions Theo.”

“Yes, Miss Paula.”