Chapter 10
“We were in the same orphanage,” Noah said.
Someone brought over a tattered doll he’d kept, and that evoked some old memories. My first crush wasn’t Aidan. It was an older boy at the orphanage, scared of the dark.
I always wanted to protect him. Later, he left, and I forgot. That doll was my gift to him.
“You’re my hero, Lorelei. I waited 17 years for you,” he said.
I choked up at his words.
Noah walked over, knelt, and hugged me. He was tough in business but soft for me.
I didn’t make him chase me. We became a couple naturally.
I returned to Breeze Lounge, helping develop new drinks. A year later, I met his parents and younger brother.
I braced for judgment, but they welcomed me like family.
Noah was adopted but loved. The outsiders didn’t know the Bennett heir wasn’t blood.
At the engagement party, Noah’s mother gave me a pair of antique bracelets, saying they
were heirlooms for the bride.
I shed tears, touched by her kindness.
His teenage brother grinned, “If Noah messes up, we’ll kick his ass.‘
I laughed through tears.
That night, Noah drank a lot. Tipsy, he held me. “Lorelei, you’ve finally belonged with me.”
His eyes burned with desire. I was half–nervous and half–expectant.
We’d been cautious since we were together one year ago. I could feel he was holding back.
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Over 30, I didn’t care about old–school rules, but he had insisted on waiting for me to feel
safe.
Before I could respond, he scooped me up, carried me to the bedroom, and tore off my dress. Hoarsely, he asked, “Is this okay?”
I answered with a kiss.
At Sparkle Elegance’s next launch, I watched Noah present his designs below the stage. A reporter asked why he had unveiled a wedding ring many years ago but never sold it.
He grabbed the mic and looked at me gently. “I was waiting for someone to wear the ring I
designed.”
a
He had always wanted to make our relationship public, but I had insisted on keeping it quiet, sharing only with close friends.
The screen flickered. All the cameras in the room turned to me, and the light focused on
- me.
Noah had me styled that day. I wasn’t able to tell why until that moment.
He took a box from his assistant, walked to me, and knelt. All eyes were on me, but I wasn’t
scared anymore.
I just gracefully extended my hand. His fingers trembled as he slid on the ring.
I teased him, “Chill. I’m saying yes.”
He got up and kissed me.
The audience plauded, but a sharp voice cut through.
Aidan, looking rough, stormed in with a megaphone. “You can’t say yes. I’m your fiancé. We were together for years, through everything. How could you ditch me?”
He ranted like a madman. Security dragged him out.
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He kept at it, staking out my work and spewing lies. He sobbed, “Noah is just playing you. A
guy like him won’t marry you. I am the one who really loves you.”
His friends joined. “You worked as a barmaid. There is no way the Bennett family will ever
let you in. All he is doing is setting you up for an even harder fall. You should just apologize to Aidan and make things right.”
Disgusted, I snapped at Aidan, “Get lost! I loved you because you saved my life. But after all
the things I did for you, you slept with someone else.”
“It was Isabella. She seduced me,” he argued.
I shook them off, but Aidan tried to drag me to his car.
Just then, Noah appeared. “Lorelei and I are married. Come near her again, and you’re done in this city!”
He held me, and we left together.
In the car, I smiled, “Weren’t you on a business trip?”
Noah kissed me hard, fuming. “I want to strangle him.”
“Take it easy. It’s all over,” I said, soothing him.
I didn’t regret my past. I was just grateful that Noah had waited. Otherwise, I would have missed my true love.
Later, Callum managed to get my number. He told me that Aidan married Isabella after she leveraged her pregnancy.
Their kid was born with issues, and his company tanked. He was in debt again, but Isabella
wouldn’t bail him out.
“You were with Aiden for years. You can’t let him drown,” Callum said.
“When you people slandered me, did you care about my feelings?” I sneered.
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“We were just joking. You’re happy now, aren’t you?” he explained.
I hung up and blocked him.
My happiness was mine, earned through Noah’s 17–year wait. They could rot.
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At our wedding, I descended the spiral staircase into the hall filled with roses. My dream
came true.
Noah waited below.
We held hands, ready to grow old together.
The End
