When She Ended It With Divorce (Chiara and Titus) novel Chapter 82

**Silent Roads Remember by Sawyer**

**Chapter 82**

Noreen stood there, momentarily stunned. Her gaze swept over Lena, taking in the subtle changes that marked her friend’s demeanor. It was as if Lena had stepped out of her own skin, leaving behind a version of herself that felt foreign.

“What, did you figure it out?” Noreen asked, her tone laced with a mix of curiosity and concern.

The question hung in the air, prompting Lena to pause, her mind racing. She opened her mouth, but the words seemed to get stuck in her throat, creating a moment of tension between them.

“You knew?” Lena finally managed to articulate, her voice barely above a whisper, tinged with disbelief.

Noreen glanced around, ensuring they were shielded from prying eyes, before ushering Lena into the elevator. The doors slid shut with a soft thud, and Noreen’s voice took on a calm, almost detached quality.

“I can’t say for certain, but you should understand that Mr. Goodman and the Lynch family are intricately linked,” Noreen explained, her expression unreadable.

Lena’s complexion shifted, a wave of shock washing over her as her thoughts spiraled. She clenched her jaw, a mix of anger and confusion bubbling to the surface. “You knew from the very beginning?”

“No, I just had an inkling,” Noreen replied, her tone steady.

“A hunch?” Lena echoed incredulously, her skepticism evident.

Noreen studied Lena closely, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Consider the projects between Goodman Group and Lynch Group. Did anything ever seem off to you?”

Lena felt a jolt of realization. She racked her brain, trying to piece together the fragments of information she had.

Suddenly, it struck her like a bolt of lightning: those projects were not high-profile deals; they felt more like Goodman Group was merely extending a hand to the Lynch family, almost out of obligation.

Drawing in a sharp breath, she whispered, “So they really do have some kind of special relationship…”

Noreen couldn’t shake the feeling that their connection ran deeper than Lena could imagine. If it were merely a casual affair between a man and a woman, Titus wouldn’t have kept Lena so close, so involved in his world.

There was undeniably more beneath the surface, a complexity that Noreen had never anticipated. Never in her wildest dreams would she have guessed that they were already bound by marriage, at least on paper.

Seeing the shock on Lena’s face, Noreen felt a wave of seriousness wash over her. “Lena, I genuinely care about you. I won’t be in this role much longer, but your feelings for Mr. Goodman are glaringly obvious. I can’t predict if you’ll ever find yourself in my position, but if I were in your shoes, I’d cling to this job with everything I have. Mr. Goodman is far beyond your reach,” Noreen cautioned, her eyes earnest.

Lena’s face drained of color, her hands balled into tight fists as she whispered to herself, ‘Why am I so rattled by this?’

“I just… I just…” she stammered, her voice quaking with uncertainty.

Noreen sighed softly, her breath escaping like a whisper. “Just make sure you take the time to reflect on what you truly desire. And before you make any decisions, ask yourself if it’s worth the potential consequences. If things go awry, can you handle the fallout?”

Noreen recognized a flicker of potential in Lena, largely due to their shared backgrounds. Everything Noreen had accomplished was a product of her own hard work. And as for being infatuated with Titus? Oh, she had certainly felt that pull.

But being a few years older, she had learned the art of composure, of keeping her emotions in check.

After a year of collaborating with him, Noreen had developed a keen understanding of this ambitious leader. He was ruthless, decisive, and she knew that one misstep could cost her everything.

She was far more clear-headed than Lena about what she wanted and how to navigate this treacherous terrain.

As Lena watched Noreen exit, her fists remained clenched, her mind replaying the events of the day like a relentless loop.

The contrast between the two women was stark, yet Titus treated each with a distinct demeanor.

When Elaine had approached him, he hadn’t even flinched. But when he spoke to the woman on the other end of the line, his entire demeanor shifted, as if he were a different man altogether.

Tears welled in Lena’s eyes as she finally understood why she had always felt a sense of wariness around Chiara.

It was that instinct, that sixth sense all women possessed, guiding her through the murky waters of relationships and hidden truths.

*****

“Did you deliver it?” Titus inquired, his tone casual, yet commanding.

Paul lifted his gaze, a hint of admiration flickering in his eyes. “Yeah, it’s been delivered,” he confirmed.

As he spoke, Paul couldn’t help but marvel at Mr. Goodman’s strategic mind. He was always two steps ahead of everyone else. He understood that Lena would be itching to uncover who had been on the other end of that phone call, so he had Lindsay bring those desserts he purchased directly to the office, a calculated move that practically invited Lena to start questioning Chiara’s identity.

But curiosity got the better of Paul, and he couldn’t resist asking, “Mr. Goodman, aren’t you concerned that Lena might lose her composure and do something reckless?”

Titus’s gaze sharpened as he looked at Paul, his eyes narrowing slightly, accompanied by a soft tsk.

“You know, even a rabbit will bite if you push it too far,” Titus remarked, a hint of amusement dancing in his voice.

“So Mrs. Goodman’s the rabbit in this scenario?” Paul asked, arching an eyebrow in disbelief.

Titus glanced at his hand, where the remnants of a bite mark had faded away, leaving no trace.

“Her? Sometimes she’s a rabbit, sometimes she’s a dog. It all depends on the day,” Titus replied with a nonchalant shrug.

Paul blinked, trying to process that. ‘So she’s always some kind of animal?’ he pondered silently.

“Should I keep a closer eye on Lena?” Paul asked, his concern genuine.

After years of working together, he had a decent understanding of Lena’s character.

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