Chapter 236
Sierra.
“Uhm… hello?” I say, leaning back against the wall.
The scene unfolding in front of me is eerily similar to yesterday except this time, Lilly is here. She’d told me before she left that she was heading to the meeting and would be back before I woke up so we could plan something to do.
Apparently, this wasn’t part of the plan and it’s interesting.
They all turn to look at me. Noah has one hand wrapped around Lilly’s wrist, while Juliett has hers looped around his.
Lilly studies my face, clearly searching for something. Maybe a hint of irritation or jealousy while Juliett stares like she’s trying to decide whether I’m competition.
I almost laugh. I’m the last person who would ever compete with her over Noah. Doesn’t she know our history? Doesn’t she know how much that man hates me? At this point, I’m pretty sure the whole world knows I was in love with Noah and trust me, that’s my shame to carry.
Instead of sizing me up, she should try Brook. She’s the one who wants Noah all to herself and from what I’ve seen so far, she’d go to any lengths to get him, but then again, Juliett doesn’t strike me as the easily intimidated type.
“There she is,” Lilly says brightly, pulling away from Noah. “The only one worthy of my cousin p>
I groan. The urge to knock some sense into her is strong.
Judging by the way Juliett’s eyes narrow, Lilly has just painted a bright red target on my back.
Completely unfazed, she walks over to me and links our hands together like she hasn’t just thrown me into the middle of a mess.
I squeeze her hand hard enough that she flinches, then turn toward the others, already ready to leave. I have zero interest in being part of whatever this is.
I’m just about to speak when Noah abruptly shakes Juliett’s hand off and turns away. He walks off without a word, while Juliett calls after him, hurrying to follow.
I stand there, watching his back, the look in his eyes freezing me in place.
I don’t know how to explain it. The way he narrowed his eyes. The coldness in them. It reminded me of how he used to be. It’s like his hatred for me has suddenly been renewed for reasons I don’t understand.
See? This is exactly what I was talking about… Whiplash.
One minute he shows me kindness and reminds me of the boy I fell for all over again back in uni. The next, he looks at me with the same cold disdain as the boy who carelessly shattered my fucking heart.
“Are you okay?” Lilly shakes me, pulling me back to the present.
I turn to her and plaster on a smile. “Why wouldn’t I be p>
She shrugs. “Because you look like you’re about to run after them and strangle them p>
“Not them,” I mutter. “Just your cousin p>
“What did he do this time?” she asks, releasing my hand and opening the door to our suite.
She pulls me inside.
“He’s confusing p>
“Well,” Lilly says, dropping into a chair, “he’s been confused since the day he was a kid. Probably because Uncle Rowan dropped him on his head a few times as a baby p>
I don’t know how she manages it, but I laugh.
“I’m being serious,” I say, still smiling.
“And I’m not?” she replies. “You should ask Uncle Rowan to tell you the story. You’d understand why that boy’s mind fails him sometimes p>
The laughter bubbles out of me despite my best efforts to hold it back.
“He’s your cousin, Lilly p>
“And I’m just stating facts,” she shrugs. “He should really see a doctor, because how else do you explain a man with such a high IQ choosing a clown and a fraud like Chloe over you p>
I used to ask myself that too until I got tired of never getting an answer. I’m not saying I’m an angel or better than Chloe but it never made sense that Noah would choose someone who manipulates and lies.