Chapter 3

I anxiously waited for their call, but Noah's expression shifted. A trace of pain flashed across his face, and his brows tightened with compassion.

"Nia, don't worry. I'll be here for you," he said softly.

My heart hit rock bottom. I numbly followed Noah, watching as the mother who'd smiled and wished me good luck in court that morning now lay covered by a white sheet.

"Nia," Noah said gently.

He reached out to hold me, but froze when he saw how I flinched away.

"Noah, I swear I didn't mean for this to happen. I'm a shareholder at the hospital, so I always have to think about profits. Those machines cost a fortune to keep running... I just thought I was doing the right thing," Clara said.

"I get it. No one's blaming you." Noah immediately smiled, trying to soothe her. I just stood there, numb, watching the way they acted affectionately.

"Mr. Blake, you know the Cooper family put up money for this," I said. There was no warmth left in my voice.

Clara pouted, trying to look pitiful as she protested, "So what if they did? She was half-dead anyway. It's a waste of medical resources. I freed up a bed out of kindness. Why am I the one being blamed?"

Noah sighed in resignation, ruffled Clara's hair, then looked at me, his tone steady and composed.

"Nia, Clara really meant well. She just made a mistake. Even if we kept treating your mom, there was no real chance she'd recover. This way, at least her pain is over," he said gently.

Noah was acting all noble, but to me, it was just ridiculous.

So in Noah's eyes, my mom's life didn't matter as much as Clara's fake pout and her little complaints.

Seven years of love became something bloody and cruel. I held my mother's now-cold hand and spoke with exhaustion. "Noah, let me go. I won't marry you."

Noah, who'd always carried himself with quiet confidence, suddenly looked rattled. But then, he smirked.

He said coolly, "Nia, I know I haven't been around much lately. That's probably why you're upset. Tomorrow, I'll take you to the diamond auction so we can choose the stone for our wedding ring."

He added, "But don't say that kind of thing again, or maybe I'll really leave you. You can't even have kids now. Who else would ever marry you but me?"

I caught the jealousy in Clara's eyes, and I didn't want to say a single word to either of them.

Noah helped me take care of all the funeral arrangements. When it was finally over, he hesitated, looking over at me as I held the urn.

"I won't report you. Just go," I said, my voice flat.

"Noah, I'm so hungry! All this annoying paperwork is exhausting. I want you to take me out for seafood!" Clara pouted.

Noah's expression softened with obvious affection as he reached over and gave her nose a gentle pinch.

He teased, "All you ever think about is food. Keep eating like this and you'll end up a little piglet. Fine, let's hit up that seafood place by the beach. You love their lobster."

He responded patiently to Clara's whining, but when he glanced back at me, a hint of guilt flashed in his eyes.

"Nia, you haven't been well lately. Why don't you come too and get something nourishing?" he said.

"No," I replied coldly.

Noah could name every restaurant Clara adored, but with our wedding right around the corner, he couldn't even remember my deadly seafood allergy. A single bite and it could've killed me.

Watching them leave laughing, I slipped the bracelet off my wrist and handed it to a nearby nurse.

"Can you leave this in Dr. Blake's office for me? Thanks," I said.

Face pale, I handled the last thing that tied me to him, and bought a plane ticket to return to the Cooper family in a month.

Clutching Mom's urn tight to my chest, I made a silent vow in my heart. When Clara finally paid the price for what she had done, I would bring my mom back home.

Noah had taken all the evidence last time, so I had no choice but to sort through everything again from the beginning.

Seeing the ultrasound picture of the baby, with those tiny hands and feet forming, my heart ached so badly. Ignoring Noah's constant calls, I kissed the ultrasound picture through my tears and called someone else.

"Mr. Flynn, where can we meet?" I asked.

But I never made it to the meeting. Just as I opened my door, I saw Noah leaning against his car, his expression cold and unfriendly.

"Nia, are you deaf or something? I've been calling you nonstop," he barked, clearly pissed.

"I've got something to handle today," I said flatly.

"What could possibly be more important than picking out our wedding ring?" Noah retorted.

He frowned, steering me straight into the back seat without even giving me a chance to protest. Sure enough, Clara was already in the front passenger seat, happily beaming.

When he caught my gaze lingering on the front seat, Noah tried to reassure me, though his irritation was barely hidden.

He said, "Clara's just tagging along to get a little experience. She's young and gets carsick easily, so I let her sit up front. You're not going to make a fuss..."

I cut him off. "Clara's fine in the front. Let's go."