Chapter 175
I’m still vibrating with anger when I reach the hallway. Anger at Brook’s lies, at myself, at Chloe for dying, at the whole fucking situation. I’m so angry it almost feels suffocating.
That first time, I thought that maybe it was a one–time thing. I thought that maybe it was the shock of finding out that Sierra was pregnant, but what about today? Why would she go to such a length to get rid of Sierra?
I can’t stop the thoughts. What if I was wrong this entire time? What if what Gunner and Adrian said was the truth? Have I been so blinded all these years? I just can’t figure out whether this is who Brook has always been or it’s just a reaction to Sierra.
Guilt presses through my ribs as I walk towards her Sierra’s room. I don’t know when guilt became my shadow. Maybe since Chloe died, maybe since that night with Sierra, but I feel it constantly, and it’s fucking suffocating.
I stop outside her door. My heart pounding. For a brief moment I close my eyes in hesitation before lifting my hands to knock.
I wait, but I get nothing. A full minute passes, then another, still the door doesn’t open. I’m about to turn away when the door finally pulls open.
Sierra’s face drops the moment she sees me. Her guard shoots up instantly; her shoulders tighten and her eyes dull. The message is clear, she doesn’t want to see me.
She doesn’t say a word. Just leaves the door open and walks back inside, leaving me standing there with no idea why I came to her.
For a moment, I debate whether I should turn around and leave, but then think against
When I finally work up the courage to get in, I freeze because on the bed is her suitcase, open and half filled.
“What are you doing?” My voice comes out rougher than I intend.
She doesn’t look at me and just continues throwing clothes inside.
“What does it look like?” A shirt goes in the suitcase. “I’m packing p>
My chest seizes. “And why are you packing p>
She zips one side of the case and finally looks at me. Her eyes are tired. Defeated. “Isn’t it obvious? I’m leaving. I’ve overstayed my welcome p>
The word slices straight through me. “You can’t just leave p>
“Says who?” her eyes narrow, glaring at me. “I can leave if I want to. No one can keep me here”
“That’s not what I meant and you know that”
“Do I?” she pauses.
“Yes you do… You just can’t up and leave, Sierra… It’s not safe for you yet.
“And I can’t stay here, Noah.” Her voice is steady but soft, like she’s holding herself together with strings. “You say it’s not safe for me, but I can’t help but wonder, if staying here more dangerous p>
I stare at her, my mind running. I don’t understand if she’s talking about Brook or something else.
She then continues, “Look at what happened today. Today Brook lied, what if tomorrow she does something far worse? Then what p>
“I’ll handle her,” I tell her, but I can already tell she’s not really listening.
“You don’t understand Brook, do you?” she asks. “That woman is more unhinged than Chloe ever was, not going to stay here and risk my baby’s life p>
and I’m
Her words drive a sharp dagger into my heart, especially at what she’s just said about Chloe, but I let it slide. Now it’s not the fucking time
“And,” she continues, stepping around me to grab a stack of folded clothes, “if me being here is what’s making avoid your own house and your kids… then I’d rather go p>
you
The breath leaves my lungs.
I force out, “That’s not what I’ve been doing p>
The words sound shallow even to my own ears. It’s exactly what I’ve been doing.
“It doesn’t matter.” She shakes her head and keeps packing. “This isn’t my home, and honestly, I’m tired. I’ve had an amazing time with the twins but I can’t stay some where everyone thinks I’m here to replace Chloe p>
Her words snap something in me. I heard the rumors among my staff and I thought I’d dealt with it before it got to her… It also doesn’t help that I thought that too, before she made it perfectly clear that she doesn’t give a damn about being my wife.
“Stop.” I move before I fully register it, closing my hand gently around her wrist but firmly enough to make her still.
She freezes and so do I.
Being this close to her sends a damn spiral through my chest. One I can’t fucking explain.
I let go of her hand before letting out a slow breath. “Just stop packing p>
Her eyes flick to mine, confused, guarded. “Why? Noah, you’ve made it pretty clear where you stand… You should be fucking happy that I’m leaving p>
Fuck I should be. I should be ecstatic. I should be relieved but I can’t fucking understand why I am not.