Chapter 0287 I set the food down, whatever appetite Iâd previously had gone. âYou canât just decide that-â
âI am the Alpha, and I will decide.â
His tone was gruff, brooking no argument. I wanted to bite out a retort, but the words died before they even reached my tongue.
âSo you just think youâre going to get âbetterâ,â I whispered, lowering myself onto the bed. âLike that will save our sham of a marriage.â
Noah huffed, although whether from annoyance or agreement, I couldnât tell. âLook, Hannah. We canât work on ourselves separately without working on our relationship as well. Weâll have to work on our marriage for the childâs sake.â
He paused, rising, and crossed to the window. I held my breath as he brushed past me, not wanting to inhale his scentâbecause if I did, then I might soften. And right now, I was too furious for that.
âIf that doesnât work,â he continued, looking out the window with his back to me, âthen weâll come to some sort of coâparenting arrangement. But as things stand right now, divorce is officially out of the question.â
Fury bubbled up inside of me, so hot it was burning. I wanted to scream, to throw something, to make him understand that I didnât love him anymore, that I couldnât stay in a marriage with a man who couldnât even remember our shared past, regardless of whether I carried his child or still felt turned on by his touch. T But I remained silent, the food now tasting like ash in my mouth. Still, I forced myself to pick up the container and keep eating, knowing that I needed the nutrients for the baby. Or if I needed to run at the last minute.
Noah turned, watching me for a moment before speaking again. âIn the meantime, I will spend two hours a day with you for the duration of the pregnancy. And I want you to follow a strict meal, vitamin, and doctorâs appointment regimen to ensure the health of our heir.â
âYou mean your heir,â I sneered, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice.
Noahâs eyes flashed. âNo, Hannah. Our heir. Weâre staying together, and that child is every bit yours as it is mine.â
I turned away, unable to bring myself to look at him. The weight of his words pressed down on me, suffocating.
âWeâll see about that,â I muttered. Then, a thought occurred to me, sending a chill down my spine. âAre you going to keep me locked in this room forever? Your little wife and broodmare, never to see the light of day again?â
âNo.â Noah said firmly, returning his gaze to the window. âBut if you try to run back to Silvermoon, Iâll come personally and bring you back myself.â
âSo Iâm still a prisoner.â
âOnly if you want to look at it that way.
I did look at it that way; in fact. I felt trapped, cornered The walls seemed to close in again, and I jumped +25 BONUS Chapter 0287 to my feet just as Noah turned fully to face me. âYouâre a monster,â I spat, the words tasting like poison. on my tongue.
Noahâs line lips quirked up into a humorless smile. âYou didnât think I was a monster when I was inside of not long ago.â He strode toward me, so close now that could feel his warm breath on my face as his voice lowered to a husky timbre. âOr last night, when I felt how wet you were.â His eyes flicked to my thighs, which were exposed beneath my skirt.
His words hit me like a punch to the gut. Rage surged through me, and I couldnât control it any longer. Without thinking, I spat directly onto his shoe, a small act of defiance.
Noahâs jaw clenched, and for a moment, I thought he might yell. I braced myself for his anger, for the punishment I was sure would come.
But he didnât.
Instead, he calmly pulled out his pocket square, bent down, and cleaned his shoe off.
âIâll take you to your appointment in the morning,â he said, his voice eerily calm. The lack of reaction unnerved me more than any shouting would have. âI apologize again for locking you in here earlier. It wonât happen again.â
you Without another word, he turned and left the room. I waited, my heart pounding in my chest, expecting to hear the lock click.
But it didnât. He had kept true to his wordâfor now, at least.