Hell Hath no fury like a billionaire's Ex-Chapter 28: Unexpected Comfort

The sound of waves crashing against the shore filled Joan’s living room, a sound that usually brought me peace. But today, as I sat on the soft couch staring out at the wave, it did little to calm the storm raging within me.

Joan had left for work, called away by an emergency, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

The doorbell’s chime snapped me out of my thought. My heart skipped a beat. Taking a deep breath, I rose to answer it, grateful for Noah’s quick response to my message.

"Diane," Noah said softly as I opened the door. His eyes searched mine, filled with concern. Relief washed over me at the sight of his familiar face.

"Noah," I breathed, stepping aside to let him in. "Thank you for coming."

He followed me into the living room, and we settled onto the couch. Silence stretched between us, thick with unspoken words. I could feel Noah’s gaze on me, patient, understanding—waiting for me to speak.

"So," Noah finally said, his voice gentle. "What happened today?"

I swallowed hard, my eyes once again drawn to the ocean beyond the windows. I took a deep breathe, "It’s Liam," I whispered. "He... he tried to hurt me. To hurt us."

Noah stiffened beside me. "What do you mean? Diane, are you okay?"

He tried to run over me, threatning me. I had even asked Joan to get a restraining order. With each detail, the fear and anger rose again, tightening around my throat. Noah listened, his jaw clenched, his hands gripping his knees.

"That bastard," he muttered under his breath, his voice low and dangerous. "I should’ve—"

"I just... I don’t understand why he want to wipe me off this earth," I choked out, tears brimming. "How could he do this?"

Noah’s hand found mine, squeezing gently. "This isn’t your fault, Diane. Liam’s actions are his own. You couldn’t have known."

I nodded, but doubt gnawed at me. "I’m just so tired," I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper. "Tired of being afraid. Tired of looking over my shoulder. Tired of feeling like a victim."

Noah shifted closer. "I know," he murmured, "but you’re not alone in this. You have Joan, you have me. We’re here for you—whatever you need."

As for the restraining order , could you hold off on that while I talk to Liam?

For a moment, I let his words sink in. I nodded. "I could do that."

The waves outside seemed softer now.

Then Noah spoke again, his tone lighter.

"Hey," he said suddenly, his tone lighter. "Do you remember that time we all went to the beach? It must have been... what, three years now?"

I looked at him, confused by the sudden change of subject. "The beach trip? Yeah, I remember. Why?"

A small smile played at Noah’s lips. "Do you remember what happened to Liam’s ’lucky’ hat?"

Even though i was sad, I felt a laugh bubble up inside me. "Oh god, yes. He was so obsessed of that ridiculous hat."

Noah’s smile widened. "And then that seagull swooped down and stole it right off his head. I’ve never seen someone look so offended."

The memory played out in my mind - Liam’s shocked face, the seagull flying off with the hat dangling from its beak, all of us laughing so hard we could barely breathe.

For a moment, I was transported back to that carefree day, before everything had gone so terribly wrong.

"He chased that bird for half a mile down the beach," I said, a small giggle escaping me.

Noah nodded, his eyes teary from laughter . "And when he finally caught up to it, the hat was... well, let’s just say it had seen better days."

We both burst into laughter then, the sound echoing through the room. It felt good to laugh, to remember a time when things were simpler, when Liam was just a friend with a silly hat instead of... what he had become. frёewebnoѵēl.com

As the laughter faded, Noah’s expression turned serious, though his eyes remained warm. "That’s what I admire about you, Diane. No matter what lige throws at you, you find a way to smile again."

I felt warmth spread through my chest. "I don’t feel very strong right now," I admitted.

"But you are," Noah insisted. "Look at everything you’ve been through, and yet here you are. Still standing. Still fighting. That takes incredible strength."

I looked down at our joined hands, gratitude swelling inside me. "I couldn’t do it without friends like you." I said softly.

Noah squeezed my hand gently. "That’s what friends are for—to remind you of your strength when you forget."

We fell into a comfortable silence then, both lost in our own thoughts. The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in vibrant hues of orange and pink. The beauty of it took my breath away, a reminder that even in the darkest times, there was still beauty to be found in the world.

"You know," Noah said after a while, "I’ve been thinking. Maybe what you need is a change of scenery. A chance to clear your head and get away from all of this for a while."

I turned to look at him, curious. "What do you mean?"

Noah’s eyes lit up with excitement. "Well, I have a friend who owns a little cabin up in the mountains. It’s quiet, secluded, surrounded by nature. Maybe you could go there for a few days, just to recharge and figure things out away from all the chaos here."

The idea was tempting. A chance to escape, to breathe, to find myself again away from the constant reminders of Liam and all that had happened. "That sounds... amazing, actually," I said, feeling a glimmer of hope for the first time in weeks.

Noah beamed at me. "Great! I’ll give my friend a call and see if we can set something up. And don’t worry," he added quickly, "I’ll make sure it’s completely safe and secure. No one will know where you are except for me and Joan."

I felt a rush of affection for Noah, for his thoughtfulness and care. "Thank you, Noah. For everything. I don’t know what I’d do without you."

His expression softened, and for a moment, I thought I saw something flicker in his eyes - something deeper than just friendship. But it was gone so quickly I wondered if I had imagined it.

That’s what friends are for," he said simply.

As we continued to talk, I felt the weight on my shoulders gradually lifting. Noah had a way of making me feel safe, of reminding me of the good in the world when everything seemed dark.

He told me funny stories about his work, about the antics of his neighbor’s cat, about anything and everything that might make me smile.

And it worked. With each laugh, each shared memory, I felt more like myself again. The fear and anger that had consumed me earlier began to fade, replaced by a warm sense of comfort and security.

As the last rays of sunlight disappeared , I found myself studying Noah’s face. The curve of his jaw, the warmth in his eyes, the way his lips curves when he smiled.

Had he always been this handsome? Or was I just noticing it now, in this moment of vulnerability and gratitude?

Before I could overthink it, I leaned in and kissed him passionately.

For a heartbeat, Noah was still, clearly shocked. But then, almost involuntarily, he responded, his lips moving against mine with a tenderness that made my heart ache.

His hand came up to cup my cheek, and I lost myself in the warmth of his touch, the safety I felt in his arms.

But just as quickly, it was over. Noah pulled back, his eyes wide, conflicted.

"Diane," he said hoarsely. "I... we..."

Reality crashed in. Heat flooded my face. "Oh God. Noah, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what came over me."

He ran his fingers through his hair, looking just as confused. "Diane, you don’t have to apologize. It’s... it’s okay."

Silence hung between us, the weight of the moment settling in.

Noah finally spoke. "I care about you. A lot. But with everything happening... maybe this isn’t the right time."

I nodded, feeling both relieved and disappointed. "You’re right. I’m sorry, Noah. You’ve been such a good friend. I don’t want to complicate things."

Noah reached out, taking my hand in his. "You haven’t complicated anything," he assured me. "We’re okay. I’m still here for you, Diane. Always."

I squeezed his hand, grateful for his understanding." Tears stung my eyes, but this time, they weren’t from fear. "Thank you," I whispered.

As the room grew darker, Noah stood to leave. "Will you be okay?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.

I nodded., offering a small smile. "I will be. Joan should be home soon. And... I feel stronger now. Ready to face whatever comes next."

Noah smiled back, relief clear in his eyes. "Good. And remember, I’m just a phone call away if you need anything. I’ll let you know about the cabin as soon as I hear back from my friend."

As I watched him leave, emotions swirled inside me—embarrassment, gratitude, and something else. Hope, maybe.

But for now, I had to focus on the challenges ahead. As I closed the door behind Noah, I took a deep breath, feeling more centered than I had in weeks. The idea of the mountain cabin beckoned, offering a chance for peace and clarity.

I made my way back to the living room, curling up on the couch and gazing out at the window.

Liam would pay. Every scar. Every sleepless night. Every stolen piece of me.

I would make sure of it.