Wake Up Leave The Liar novel Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Noah clutched the thin letter of broken engagement. His knuckles turned white.

My handwriting was clear, precise. “Engagement voluntarily terminated. From this day forward, you go your way, I go mine. We’re done.” That’s all it said. No extra explanations. Not a single hint of regret.

He stood by the hospital window. Even breathing felt thick, heavy.

How could I have called off the engagement?

I’ve loved him my whole life. We’ve been childhood sweethearts, together for over twenty years.

So why would I suddenly end it?

Did I find something out?

Noah’s heart sank. He’d kept the whole Lila thing airtight.

There’s no way she’d know.

But lately, he’d definitely felt she’d been distant, cold towards him. Even when he suggested taking Lila out to celebrate, she barely reacted.

A jolt of unease shot through him.

“Noah, you okay?”

The Chief’s voice broke through the silence behind him. Noah snapped back to reality, shoving the Letter of Breaking Engagement deep into his pocket “I’m fine,” he forced out, a subtle rasp in his voice. “I’ll head out now.”

He practically floored it the whole way back.

His subordinate didn’t dare breathe, just letting him snatch the keys.

He shoved the door open. The living room was empty.

Noah stormed into the bedroom. Her side of the closet? Bare. The bookshelves, too, were completely empty.

A faint gardenia scent still clung to the air. His heart clenched, like an unseen hand squeezing it tight. He just stood there, frozen.

“Noah, you’re back? Weren’t you at the hospital picking up Ella? Where is she?”

Lila’s voice came from the doorway.

Noah turned, his voice flat, numb. “Ella… she’s studying abroad. She’s not marrying me.”

A flicker of pure joy flashed in Lila’s eyes. Just for a split second.

Then a worried look replaced it as she rushed over. “Study abroad? That’s so sudden! She didn’t talk to you about it at all?”

Lila reached out, her voice soft, trying to touch Noah’s arm. “Honestly, this is for the best, Noah. I was worried you’d have to be the one to call off the engagement, and it’d totally mess with your rep. But now that she’s gone on her own? Isn’t that perfect? We can finally be together, out in the open.

As she spoke, her fingers hooked onto Noah’s sleeve. She leaned in, her lips almost brushing his cheek.

But Noah flinched like he was burned, shoving her away. The force made Lila stumble back a couple steps, hitting the doorframe.

“What’s up with you?”

Lila clutched her arm, her eyes wide with surprise.

Noah looked away, his voice a little hoarse. “I’m fine. Just exhausted from training. Need to rest.”

For some reason, ever since she left, a strange irritation had settled deep in him.

In that moment, Lila’s closeness had actually repulsed him.

Lila bit her lip, trying to hide her irritation. She leaned back in. “So, when are we getting married? You promised me, Noah. I’ve given you my all!”

‘Hold on.’

< Chapter 11

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Noah cut her off. “Ella just left. If we get married now, people will talk. Plus, I just helped you pass the hospital’s evaluation. Getting married right after that would be too obvious. People would say you used your connections.”

The moment she heard evaluation, Lila didn’t question it. She just assumed he agreed.

After all, she really owed Noah for passing that evaluation. It’s how she got to keep her job at the hospital.

A wide smile bloomed on her face. “Okay, I’ll wait for you! I’ll go check out the wedding room decorations right now. I’ll make sure you love them!” She said, then practically skipped out the door, completely missing the impatience in Noah’s eyes.

First thing the next morning, Lila invited some of the neighborhood ladies over to help her decorate the wedding room.

Bright red heart-shaped decorations were plastered all over the living room. Ribbons were wrapped around the staircase railing. The whole house screamed celebration, totally clashing with Noah’s gloomy vibe.

“Where’s the bride? How come I haven’t seen Ella?”

Mrs. Smith glanced around. “Didn’t we say we’d all plan the decorations together today?”