Chapter 5

Noah tapped his pen against the polished mahogany of the conference table, the sound sharp in the sudden silence of the room. He looked at the executives and assistants gathered around him. "Let's return to the agenda. We have a timeline to meet," he stated, his voice cool and determined. The room shifted back into professional gear, but Lucas Hayes leaned in close to his cousin's ear. As the second oldest among the cousins in Noah's age group, Lucas often felt he could push boundaries that others couldn't. "So, the rumors are true?" Lucas whispered, his eyes searching Noah's face for any sign of a crack. "You actually went through with it? You married Chloe?" Noah didn't turn his head. He merely shifted his gaze, leveling a silent, disapproving look at Lucas that effectively cut off any further questioning. The Hayes family was in a position where they didn't need to secure social or financial status through marriage—they were the status. Lucas, not being the eldest, found the entire situation baffling. He sat back, watching Noah with a flicker of genuine sympathy. To Lucas, a match with Chloe seemed like a stark mismatch for a man of Noah's corporate standing. While the meeting dragged on, the subject of their conversation was miles away. Chloe turned the key in the lock of the Briarwood apartment, the heavy door swinging open to reveal a space that felt massive and hollow. She stepped inside, her footsteps echoing against the floor. The house was roughly two thousand square feet, a sprawling layout that included two living areas, four bedrooms, a kitchen, two bathrooms, and two balconies. It was sparsely furnished, possessing the cold, museum-like quality of a space that had never been lived in. The main living room held a minimalist sofa set arranged around a low coffee table, and a sleek wine chiller hummed in the corner. Chloe walked toward the master bedroom. It was exceptionally spacious, boasting en-suite facilities that felt more like a luxury hotel than a home. She ran a hand over the edge of the wardrobe in the walk-in closet and peeked into the study. Of the four bedrooms, only two were equipped with beds and wardrobes; the other two remained entirely empty, their windows looking out over the quiet neighborhood. She took a breath, letting the silence settle. She had already ordered some basic kitchen utensils online to make the place functional. Looking out at the main balcony, she imagined a few sturdy plants and perhaps a small outdoor table. It was a conversation she'd need to have with Noah eventually—whether he would mind her adding furniture to suit her taste. For now, she decided to take it slow. Until Noah asked her to fully embrace a shared married life, she would treat the house with the careful touch of a guest who didn't want to leave a mark. The next afternoon, the bells at the entrance of the bookshop near Riverbend High School chimed as Chloe moved behind the counter. Hannah Sterling, her best friend and business partner, was already there, leaning against a stack of new arrivals. "It's huge, Hannah," Chloe said, her voice upbeat as she described the Briarwood house. "There are rooms I haven't even decided what to do with yet. I'm thinking of some greenery for the balcony." Hannah's eyebrows shot up. She crossed her arms, looking curious. "And how does Noah feel about you moving in and redecorating his bachelor pad?" Chloe hesitated, adjusting a display of hand-knitted trinkets. "He hasn't said much. I'm just trying to make it livable. I'm staying in the guest room for now." Hannah let out a short, shocked laugh. "Chloe, I still can't believe you actually did it. You married into that family. You know what they say—a woman needs to keep her own finances tight. Don't go losing yourself in that big house." "I'm serious, Hannah," Chloe said, her expression turning direct. "I'm married. But please, you have to keep this a secret. If Olivia finds out through the grapevine before I'm ready to explain everything, she'll lose her mind." "A secret marriage to a Hayes," Hannah teased, a mischievous glint in her eye. "What's next? Are you going to tell me he's secretly a billionaire and you're the heroine of some romance novel?" Chloe dismissed the idea with a playful wave of her hand. "Don't be ridiculous. He's a high-level executive with a good salary. Let's keep it in reality, okay?" Hannah leaned over the counter, her tone shifting to something more concerned. "Fine, reality then. What about the house? Briarwood isn't cheap. Is your name on the deed? You need to protect yourself." Chloe shook her head. "Noah paid for the house in full. It's his property. It wouldn't be fair for me to demand my name be added when I haven't contributed a cent to the purchase." She thought of Olivia then. Her sister's husband had bought their family home before the wedding and handled the monthly mortgage. Olivia had poured her own savings into the renovations, yet her name was nowhere on the deed. Now, her brother-in-law often used that leverage to accuse Olivia of squandering his money, leaving her with no legal claim to the roof over her head. Chloe didn't want to be in that position, but she also didn't want to be a predator. "I'd rather have nothing than have something I didn't earn," Chloe added quietly. The day ended late. At eleven o'clock that night, Chloe locked the main door of the bookshop. Hannah had already left to meet a family member for dinner nearby. Chloe hopped on her e-bike, the night air cooling her face as she pedaled toward Briarwood. As she passed her sister's neighborhood, she noticed the lights in Olivia's house were already off. By midnight, Chloe reached the Briarwood estate. The house was dark, the silhouette of the building imposing against the night sky. She let herself in, moving quietly through the empty living room. She knew Noah's main residence was actually the villa on the hill—his own personal property—and that he only really visited the main family estate for formal dinners. She assumed she would be alone for the night and began preparing for bed. Across town, the glass doors of the Riverbend Grand Hotel slid open. Noah stepped out into the humid night, followed by a small group of subordinates and a bodyguard. He had just finalized a significant deal with a major client and had seen them settled into the presidential suite. The bodyguard stepped forward, holding the door of the black sedan open. "Where to, sir? Back to the villa?" Noah paused, his mind flickering to the marriage certificate and the keys he had handed over. "Briarwood," he said, his deep voice cutting through the quiet of the valet stand. He climbed into the back seat, the car pulling away from the curb and heading toward the quiet suburb where Chloe was just turning off the lights. ════════════════════════════════════════