Chapter 647 I Believe You
Frowning at Noah’s absence upon waking, Stephanie walked out of the bedroom barefoot and found him at the door with a breakfast cart.
“Where have you been, Noah? I didn’t see you when I woke up. I thought you left me behind to go off on a honeymoon yourself.” Stephanie pouted, half unhappy and half coquettish as she sashayed over to him.
Noah reached out to touch her face before noticing with his hawk-like eyes that her feet were bare. His face fell before he scooped her up and placed her gently on the couch. “Why aren’t you wearing your slippers?” he chastised with gentle sternness. “The floor is cold in the morning. It will hurt me to see you catch a cold.”
A tinge of red appeared in Stephanie’s eyes. “You feel like a different man today, Noah. I suddenly feel very lucky to be married to you. Will you always be this sweet to me?”
Noah pinched her nose affectionately. “You are my wife now. I will only be sweet to you.”
“You promise? If you ever dare mistreat or betray me, I will cripple you so that you will never be able to leave me.” Stephanie pinched his cheek warningly.
Noah patted her back. “Good girl,” he said indulgently. “Go brush your teeth and wash your face. I’ve had the servants prepare your favorite breakfast. We’ll be heading to Oscar’s after eating.”
Stephanie gave him a strange look. “Why are you going to Oscar’s place?” she wondered. She felt deeply uncomfortable at the thought of seeing Amelia and Tony. “I don’t want to go. Amelia and I don’t get along as it is. Showing up there will only serve to increase feelings of animosity between us. We’d better go directly to our honeymoon. We can visit Oscar after that.”
Hidden behind his glasses, a dangerous glint flashed in Noah’s eyes. However, his expression softened even further.
“You are my wife now, Stephanie. I will spoil you, but you must also listen to me. This is how a marriage works. It’ll be tiring and unfair if I only accommodate you without you taking my feelings into consideration, don’t you think? I want to feel your love for me. Can’t you do a simple thing for me that would make me happy?” Noah said as he regarded her with a tender gaze.
Stephanie gazed back at him. Unsure if she was charmed by his looks or spurned by the desire to be a good wife, she nodded docilely in agreement.
“That’s my girl. Go wash up now. We’ll leave for Oscar’s in a while.” Noah’s smile became even sweeter.
“Is there something you and Oscar are hiding from me, Noah?”
Noah picked her up by the waist and carried her to the bedroom to put her shoes on for her. “Have you forgotten what I said to you in front of all our friends and relatives?” he whispered as he worked. “’In sickness and in health, I will never leave you. Holding you dear in my heart always, I will always love you and never tell a lie. I will only love you in this life.’“
Stephanie was finally satisfied.
“Quite the smooth-talker, aren’t you? Fine. Since you love me so much, I’ll believe you,” Stephanie said snobbishly.
The confidence she felt at that moment made learning the truth much worse later. When she found out, Stephanie felt as if her heart had been torn apart. Noah’s warmth and thoughtfulness at that moment only made the unveiling of his true colors all the more gruesome.
The harder she fell in love with Noah, the more she hated his hypocritical betrayal.
Yet unmarred by the betrayal, Stephanie got dressed obediently. After having their breakfast, the newlyweds drove to Oscar’s neighborhood.
As it was a Sunday, both Oscar and Amelia were in.
Amelia was stunned when she opened the door to find Noah and Stephanie outside. Having thought that the couple was going on their honeymoon, their appearance before her caused utter confusion.
“Good morning, Amelia,” Noah said very politely. “I hope that our early arrival did not disrupt your quiet morning?”
Amelia turned sideways to let them through. “Come on in.”
“Thank you, Amelia.”
Noah came in holding Stephanie’s hand. Their public display of affection seemed to announce their status of being newlyweds.
“Have a seat while I bring us some tea.” At that, Amelia hurried to the kitchen.
“We’re a family now, Stephanie,” Noah whispered. “Don’t scowl. Greet your brother’s wife, will you?”
“Do you think marrying me means you can control everything I do, Noah?” Stephanie snapped, staring at him through narrowed eyes.
Instead of being irritated, Noah smoothed her hair. “I’m not trying to control my wife. I’m just trying to patch things up between all of us. You wouldn’t want to put Oscar in a tough spot, would you? The two of you have been estranged for far too long. Don’t you think it’s time to bury the hatchet?”
Stephanie fell silent.
“Do it for me, hmm?”
“Fine,” Stephanie relented impatiently. “You’re so annoying. Is that all you want me to do? Greet her when she comes out? I can’t believe you would think I wouldn’t do such a simple thing.”
A gleam of triumph flashed across Noah’s eyes. Stephanie is putty in my hands. For all her stubbornness, she’s still so easy to manipulate.
Amelia soon emerged with a tray in her hands. Stephanie leaped up at once and almost snatched it out of the former’s hands. “Let me, Amelia,” she said stiffly.
Amelia’s surprise turned to astonishment as she stared at Stephanie, who was clearly displaying good intentions despite the bluntness of her gestures.
Amelia turned to study Noah again. What on earth did this man do to turn an arrogant and reckless young woman into a meek and well-behaved kitten? Persuasive power like this should not be underestimated.
Stephanie placed the tray on the table, looking a little awkward as she did so.
“Where’s Oscar and Tony, Amelia?” Noah asked.
“Oscar is working in his study. Tony is on a day out with Kurt. They might return before you leave.”
“I have some work matters to consult Oscar on, Amelia. May I go into his study for a word?”
Guessing that he was going to discuss the matter of his lover with Oscar, Amelia did not stop him. Having expected that Noah would wait until after the honeymoon at least, Amelia did not expect them to show up the very next day.
“Go ahead. I’ll entertain Stephanie.”
Noah nodded before turning to address his wife. “Spend some time with Amelia, Stephanie. I have some matters regarding work to discuss with Oscar quickly. We’ll be on the plane to Baxrich for our honeymoon in no time.”
“Go,” Stephanie said reluctantly.
Noah went upstairs and knocked on the door of the study. “It’s Noah, Oscar.”
“Come in.”
Noah pushed open the door and went in.
“Oscar.” Noah nodded politely.
Occupied with some official business laid out across his desk, Oscar did not so much as raise his head. Hence, Noah was forced to wait.
After several minutes, Oscar finally put down his pen and looked up. “Shouldn’t you be on your honeymoon with Stephanie?”
“There is something I wanted to discuss with you,” Noah replied politely, “so I postponed the flight,”
Oscar pointed to the chair before his desk. “Have a seat. I’m listening.”
Noah did so obediently.
“Well, what is it?”
“This is about the words you said in my ear yesterday, Oscar. You know Emma?” Noah asked bluntly.
The corners of Oscar’s lips curled upward. “Are you referring to your mistress?”
Noah’s fists clenched involuntarily. They only loosened slowly through a sheer act of will.
“You already know?”
“If you’re referring to the woman you’ve been paying everything for over the years, then yes, I already know.”
“Why didn’t you expose me to your family?”
“Do you want me to?”
Noah was caught off-guard.
He lowered his head to conceal the gloom in his eyes. “I have ended things with her, Oscar,” he said in a low voice. “I love Stephanie, and I’m not that bold to offend the Clintons by toying with Stephanie’s feelings.”
“So, I can deal with that woman named Emma however I want?” Oscar asked quietly, enjoying the thrill of being a predator. “She’s a good-looking girl, though. Soft and meek, she’s the type that men go crazy for, isn’t she? As luck would have it, it just so happens that one of my men does not yet have a wife. I don’t think anyone will mind that I have him take care of her, would they?”
Noah’s hands tightened into fists again, and there was a storm brewing in his eyes.
“What’s the matter, Noah?” Oscar asked quietly. “I can oblige you and leave her alone, but I’ll tell my parents in return. Stephanie is their only daughter. I cannot allow my sister to suffer. After all, she’s my only sister.”
Noah knew that Oscar was threatening him.
“I have nothing to do with her anymore, Oscar. I have no right to interfere with who she falls in love with or marries. If your man wants to make her his wife, I don’t think I have the right to intervene as long as she’s willing.”
“All right,” Oscar said with a smile as he clapped his hands. “I admire your courage to make tough choices, Noah. To even be able to give your woman away, you have what it takes to achieve great things. I wonder how you’d react if I had somebody send you a video of her being ravaged by other men.”
A ball of rage rose in Noah’s chest. One more word, and I’m going to lose it.
“There’s no need to be so hard on the woman, all right? I already feel bad enough to end such a long relationship. I’ll be a monster to allow her to be damaged for my sake. I don’t think Stephanie will love a man like me.” Noah glanced up, resigned with defeat. “I was the one to have wronged her in the first place. If it angers you, I would be willing to accept the consequences of my being with another woman before Stephanie. I just beg you not to tell her. I love her so much that I would rather spare her the pain of finding out.”
Oscar watched coldly, not believing a word of it. He deserves an award for the act he’s putting on there.
“Did you really break things off with her?” Oscar asked again.
“It’s been a long time since we have even last met,” Noah replied, “but I must still insist that no harm comes to her.”
“What a loving and righteous man you are, Noah. You’ve changed the way I look at you.” Oscar applauded.
Noah forced himself to smile, though he could not guess what Oscar had planned for him with the charade.
