Chapter 184: Chapter 195

Chapter 0195 Hannah “I think you know, Hannah.”

I stared at Drake after he uttered those words, my mind reeling. Was he implying what I thought he was? That he had feelings for me? It couldn’t be possible; he loved Zoe more than anyone, and we were just friends. We had established that already.

No, that wasn’t it; surely I was just reading into things. But my heart continued to race despite myself, and I found myself at a loss for words.

Finally, I managed to stammer out, “But... What about Zoe?”

Drake sighed deeply and ran a hand through his dark hair, which was slightly ruffled by the evening breeze. “Zoe and I... I think I’ve realized that we’re just not a good match,” he admitted.

He paused, shaking his head, and leaned against the veranda railing. His throat bobbed as he tilted his head up and swallowed, staring at the sky. “I’ve given up on trying to rekindle things with her. It’s over.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, frowning. Only a week ago, he had been dying for that date with her at the restaurant. “Did something else happen?”

He pursed his lips for a moment, thinking. “I think... What Zoe wants is a strong Alpha to hold her in the palm of his hand like a porcelain doll,” he muttered, his eyes taking on a faraway look. “And I’m... well, I’m just not in a position where I can-nor do I want to-do that.”

I raised an eyebrow. “What makes you think that that’s what she needs?”

Drake shrugged. “After that failed date, I ran after her,” he said slowly, his eyebrows furrowing as though the memory pained him.

“I finally managed to corner her, and we talked for a long time. She said a lot of things, but I could tell-deep down, she really just wants to be pampered, treated like a princess, never having to lift a finger. And I’m not sure if I want to do that for someone.”

For a moment, my mouth hung open in surprise. So the independent, job-searching, single mom Zoe wanted to be pampered...

It was a bit shocking, to say the least.

“So you’re saying...”

“I’m saying,” he said, pushing away from the railing and shooting me a sidelong glance, “that I think I’ve realized lately that if I’m going to be with a woman, I’d prefer someone who is strong. Someone who is independent. Someone who works hard, takes initiative in her own life. Someone like...”

His voice trailed off, but his gaze lingered on me. We stood in silence for a moment, the implications of his words hanging heavy in the air between us.

guess that means I’m released from my contract to help you win her back?” I murmured in an attempt to bring some levity to the situation, although my voice cracked ever so slightly despite my best efforts.

A ghost of a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. “Yeah, I suppose it does.”

I couldn’t help but feel a bit relieved. One less complication in my already complicated life... Or so it seemed. But nothing was ever simple, was it? “But Drake,” I said, shaking my head, “if you’re implying what I think you’re implying...”

1/3 +25 BONUS Chapter 0195 His eyes locked onto mine as my words died, his gaze intense and utterly unreadable. “Hannah, I-”

“There you are!”

The sound of Noah’s voice caused us both to jerk our heads up, and it was only then that I realized how close we were standing-

Drake had taken a step closer to me without me even realizing it. I turned to see Noah standing in the doorway, his eyes flicking between Drake and me, and I quickly stepped back with my heart thundering in my chest.

“What are you two doing?” he asked as he glanced back and forth between the two of us.

Drake offered Noah an easy smile and waved his hand dismissively. “Just talking.”

Noah narrowed his eyes slightly with disbelief, but didn’t pry-not for the time being, at least. “Well, the photographer wants to get a group photo,” he said in a rather clipped tone of voice. “Come on, Hannah. You need to be standing next to me.”

I glanced back at Drake, who gave me a small nod. ‘We’ll talk later,’ his gaze seemed to say. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.

Maybe I didn’t want to talk. Maybe I just wanted to be left alone.

Swallowing hard, I followed Noah back into the house. As we walked, he slipped his arm around my waist, pulling me close to his side. The heat of his body against mine through the thin silk of my dress sent a shiver down my spine, and I felt my stomach twist.

“Noah-”

“I don’t want to know,” he growled, his fingers digging into the soft flesh at my hip. “Just stay by my side for the remainder of the night. That’s all I ask.”

My face flushed hotly at the order, but I didn’t protest. We joined the rest of the guests in the living room, where the photographer was setting up her camera. Noah kept his arm firmly around me as we posed for the picture. Just before the flash went off, I couldn’t help but look up at him.

His jaw was set, his eyes focused straight ahead. On the outside, he looked just as cool and collected as always.

And yet, there was something almost... possessive about the way he held me. Something territorial about the way his fingers remained dug into my hip, about the way that he kept me held tightly to his side. And as I turned back to the camera, I caught Drake’s eye from across the room. He was standing off to the side, watching us with an unreadable expression on his face.

Noah must have noticed, because his grip on me tightened even further. I felt my cheeks flush, a mix of embarrassment and...

something else whirling through me. Something that felt dangerously close to arousal, no matter how much I tried to deny it.

The remainder of the party passed in a blur of small talk and forced smiles. My feet, which had begun to swell slightly as of late due to the pregnancy, were killing me in these heels. But I kept a pleasant expression plastered on my face, determined not to show any weakness. Not in front of Zoe, or Noah, or even Drake, for that matter.

Finally, mercifully, the last couple of guests left. As soon as the door closed behind them, I sank into the nearest chair with a heavy sigh and kicked my shoes off onto the floor.

2/3 Chapter 0195 +25 BONUS “Oh, Goddess,” I groaned, reaching down to rub my aching soles. “I thought they’d never leave.”

Noah huffed and loosened his tie as he walked over to the sofa. There was a long silence between us as I continued rubbing my own feet and he worked at the topmost buttons of his shirt. When he finally turned, his eyes flickered first to my feet and calves, then to the pained expression on my face.

“You good?” he asked, his voice gruff.

I shrugged. “My heels were just hurting me. That’s all.”

Noah stood there for a moment, just looking at me. Then, to my shock, he knelt down in front of my chair and pushed his sleeves up.

“Here,” he said, patting his knee with one hand. “Put your feet up. I’ll give you a massage.”

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