Chapter 230
“Wake up, Si… we’re here p>
Lilly’s voice pulls me from sleep. I pry my eyes open to find her hovering over me, a soft smile on her face.
Slowly, I sit up, stretching my arms above my head and arching my back to work the knots out of my muscles.
“What time is it?” I ask, yawning.
She checks her phone before answering. “Six minutes to ten p>
I nod, but I don’t move.
I’m one of those people who needs a few minutes to load. If I don’t give my brain time to catch up, I’ll spend the rest of the day moving like a zombie. So I sit there for a few more minutes, letting myself wake up properly.
Lilly drops down beside the bed, completely understanding my need for a quiet moment.
“I don’t get why you didn’t use the bed,” I murmur once I start feeling human again. “You knew very well there was one p>
She turns to face me. “Because you’re pregnant, and I figured you’d need it more. You get tired easily these days p>
My breath catches for a moment. I know some people would think it’s a small, insignificant thing, but to me, it isn’t. It’s thoughtful.
Honestly, Lilly never ceases to amaze me. My mom always says I hit the jackpot in the best-friend department, and I couldn’t agree more. To think we met when she transferred to our school… I was convinced she’d hate me because Noah did, but instead, we clicked so effortlessly that even now, it still surprises me.
“You need a good night’s sleep,” I say, noticing the dark circles under her eyes.
She laughs softly. “I need more than one night, but I’ll take what I can get p>
I hop off the bed and grab her hand, pulling her up with me. The moment she’s on her feet, I quickly straighten the bed.
“You do realize the hostess could’ve done that, right?” Lilly says just as I finish.
“Yes,” I reply, tugging her toward the door. “But now they don’t have to. Come on p>
I pull her through the main cabin, which is now empty except for the hostess, and down out of the jet.
The first thing that hits me is the cold.
“Damn p>
“I know p>
We come from a country that’s hot and humid almost all year round, so this isn’t just cold; it feels like I’ve walked straight into a blast of frozen air. My body reacts instantly, every nerve ending screaming in protest.
We descend the stairs carefully when a black Rolls-Royce Phantom pulls up beside us. (Don’t ask. Thanks to Lilly, I know my cars p>
The driver steps out and opens the door just as we reach the last step. He helps us in before gently closing the door behind us.
“Where’s Noah?” I ask as I settle in. “Isn’t he riding with us p>
“He already left,” Lilly answers, buckling her seatbelt. “Apparently, we wouldn’t all fit in one car without squeezing. He took another one. We’ll meet him at the hotel p>
I nod and buckle up. Minutes later, we’re pulling out of the airport.
The drive is quiet. Lilly gets comfortable and falls asleep barely minutes in, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
Thankfully, the driver speaks English, and we end up having a pleasant conversation. I ask for recommendations. Foods to try, places to visit beyond the Eiffel Tower and he’s kind enough to give me a small list.
I’m already dying to try the pastries, but that will have to wait until tomorrow.
Eventually, after what feels like forever, we’ve arrived at the hotel.
La Réserve doesn’t announce itself.
There’s no grand façade screaming for attention, no crowds lingering outside, and no glittering excess meant to impress strangers. Just a discreet cream-stone building tucked away.
The car glides beneath the covered entrance, and before the engine even shuts off, a door is already being opened.
I step out slowly, taking everything in.
It’s beautiful. I’ve seen places like this before. I’ve stayed in them. Growing up with Lilly ensured that. So no, I’m not wide-eyed, but I’m impressed all the same.
A man in a perfectly tailored suit approaches us almost immediately, his smile easy as he greets Lilly by name, like he’s been expecting us all day.
“Welcome back to La Réserve. Right this way p>
Our luggage disappears without instruction. Someone offers chilled water on a silver tray. Another murmurs quietly into an earpiece. There’s no paperwork and no waiting around pretending we’re normal guests.
We’re led through quiet corridors where warm lighting softens the space and thick carpets mute our footsteps. Everything feels quiet, like the outside world has been sealed off completely.
An elevator waits, already open. We step inside and glide upward. When we reach our floor, we exit and head toward our suite.
I’m just about to step inside when something makes me stop. Lilly notices immediately and halts beside me.
At the far end of the corridor stands Noah and a woman I barely recognize.
She’s clinging to him, her arms wrapped around his arm like an octopus. Her body is angled into his space, her head tipped toward him as she speaks, while he looks like he’s trying to gently fight her off.