Hell Hath no fury like a billionaire's Ex-Chapter 42: Weekend Getaway

Diane’s POV

Friday afternoon arrived before I knew it. I stood in front of my room mirror, carefully looking ay my reflection as I packed a small duffel bag.

I’d chosen casual but flattering clothes for the weekend....jeans that hugged my curves, soft sweaters that brought out the green in my eyes, comfortable but cute hiking boots.

"Do you have everything?" Joan asked from the doorway, leaning against the frame with her arms crossed.

I zipped the bag closed. "I think so. Just a couple days’ worth of clothes, toiletries, my phone charger."

"Diane, are you sure this is a good idea?" Joan asked, worry etched on her face.

"Joan, don’t worry i got this. And besides we’re staying in separate rooms."

"Mmhmm," she hummed skeptically. "Just be careful.not to complicate things, that’s all I’m saying."

Before I could respond, the doorbell rang. Noah was here.

Joan gave me a quick hug. "Call me if you need anything. And Diane? Remember what I said. Be careful with his heart."

I nodded, a lump forming in my throat. Joan saw too much sometimes.

Noah stood on the porch. He wore a simple blue button-down with jeans, casual but put-together. His face lit up when he saw me, and that familiar guilt twisted in my stomach again.

"Ready for your escape?" he asked, taking my bag.

"More than ready," I replied with a smile.

We loaded my things into his Jeep, and I waved goodbye to Joan as we pulled away from the beach house. The drive to the mountains would take about two hours, giving us plenty of time to talk.

"So," Noah began once we were on the highway. "How are you feeling? Really?"

I considered my answer, watching the scenery gradually change from coastal to more wooded as we drove inland.

"Different," I finally said. "Stronger in some ways, more vulnerable in others. It’s like I’m becoming someone new, and I’m not entirely sure who that person is yet."

Noah nodded thoughtfully. "That makes sense. After everything you’ve been through, it would be strange if you didn’t change."

"What about you?" I asked, genuinely curious. "This can’t be easy for you either. Liam is your best friend."

Noah’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. "I don’t know if I can call him that anymore, not after what he is doing to you."

I studied his face, the strong line of his jaw, the furrowed concentration between his brows. "You’ve chosen sides, then?"

"It’s not about sides, Diane. It’s about right and wrong. What Liam did, cheating on you, with your sister of all people, the way he’s trying to ruin you financially...it’s wrong. Plain and simple."

His straightforward moral clarity was refreshing after months of Liam’s manipulations and lies. I reached over and placed my hand on his arm, feeling the muscle tense slightly beneath my touch.

"Thank you," I said softly. "For seeing that. For being here."

He glanced at me, his eyes warm. "Always."

The rest of the drive passed pleasantly, the conversation flowing easily between serious topics and lighter reminiscences. Noah told me about his recent projects at work, carefully avoiding any mention of Liam’s involvement. I shared stories from my childhood, finding myself opening up about parts of my past I rarely discussed.

As we got up into the mountains, the air grew cooler, and the trees thicker. Noah turned onto a narrow gravel road that passed through the thick woods before finally emerging at a clearing. And there it was...the cabin.

It was more charming than I’d expected, a substantial structure of weathered logs with a wide porch wrapping around the front. A stone chimney rose from the sloped roof, and warm light glowed from within, suggesting someone had been by to prepare for our arrival.

"What do you think?" Noah asked as he parked.

"It’s beautiful," I breathed, genuinely impressed. "Whose place did you say this was?"

"An old college friend. He barely uses it anymore, but keeps it maintained. Said we’re welcome to stay as long as we want." Noah grabbed our bags from the back. "Come on, let me show you around."

The interior was just as inviting as the exterior—rustic but comfortable, with a spacious living area centered around a river rock fireplace. A plush sectional sofa faced the hearth, and wide windows offered views of the surrounding forest and the lake I could just glimpse through the trees.

"The kitchen’s through there," Noah pointed. "Fully stocked. And there are two bedrooms down that hallway, each with its own bathroom."

I wandered to the windows, drawn by the serene view. The lake sparkled in the late afternoon sun, its surface rippled by a gentle breeze.

"This is perfect," I said, turning back to Noah. "Exactly what I needed."

He smiled, seemingly relieved. "I’m glad. Why don’t you get settled in while I start dinner? I promised you wouldn’t have to lift a finger this weekend."

I raised an eyebrow. "You cook?"

"Don’t sound so surprised," he laughed. "I’m actually pretty decent. Go on, pick whichever bedroom you want. Take some time for yourself."

I chose the bedroom with the lake view, unpacking my few belongings and taking a moment to breathe deeply. The air up here was different—cleaner, crisper, laden with the scent of pine.

After a quick shower to wash away the travel dust, I changed into leggings and a soft oversized sweater. When I emerged, the cabin was filled with delicious aromas, and I found Noah in the kitchen, stirring something on the stove.

"Smells amazing," I commented, perching on a barstool at the kitchen island.

"Just a simple pasta with a garlic cream sauce," he said modestly. "Should be ready in about ten minutes. Wine?" He gestured to an open bottle of red wine.

"I think i’d pass," I replied, careful of my pregnancy. "Doctor’s orders to take it easy."

Noah poured himself a glass, and we moved to the sofa while waiting for dinner to finish. The fire crackled invitingly, and I found myself relaxing into the cushions, watching the flames.

"Thank you for this," I said after a comfortable silence. "For thinking of me, for bringing me here."

Noah’s smile was gentle. "You deserve some peace, Diane. After everything..."

"Do I?" I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. "Sometimes I wonder if this is all fate’s revenge for something terrible I did in a past life."

"Don’t talk like that," Noah said firmly. "You didn’t deserve any of this. Liam’s actions are his own, not some punishment for you."

"You know, after I confronted him in his office the other day, I destroyed his car. Completely trashed it in the parking garage."

Noah’s eyes widened in surprise. "You what?"

I explained what I’d done, half expecting him to be horrified. Instead, he started laughing.

"You wrote ’fucking cheat’ on his Audi? God, I wish I could have seen his face." He wiped tears of laughter from his eyes. "You know how much he loves that car."

"Exactly," I said, joining his laughter. "That’s why I did it."

Noah shook his head in amazement. "Remind me never to get on your bad side."

"Too late," I teased. "You already sided against Liam. You’re stuck with me now."

Our eyes met across the sofa, and something electric passed between us. Noah cleared his throat, breaking the moment.

"I should check on dinner," he said, rising quickly.

We ate at the small dining table by the window, the pasta as delicious as it had smelled. Noah kept the conversation light, telling funny stories about his childhood and asking about my work before I’d stepped back to support Liam’s career.

"You were a talented Marketing Executive," he remembered. "Have you thought about getting back into it?"

I considered the question. "I have, actually. Robert already gave me back my position, I only took sometime off work to get over with the divorce. The recent pitch made me realize how much i missed my job...the creativity, the challenge."

"I always thought you gave it up too easily when Liam’s career took off."

That sparked a memory. "You said that at the time, didn’t you? I remember Liam was annoyed that you suggested I keep working."

Noah nodded, his expression darkening slightly. "He thought it would reflect badly on him if his wife ’had to work.’ As if your career was some kind of charity case rather than a passion."

The insight stung, though I’d long suspected as much. "He never really valued what I wanted, did he?"

"I don’t think Liam values anything he can’t directly benefit from," Noah said quietly. "It’s one of the reasons I’ve been pulling away from him, even before... everything."

After dinner, we moved back to the sofa with cups of decaf coffee. The fire had died down to glowing embers, casting the room in soft, warm light. Outside, darkness had fallen completely, making the cabin feel like our own private world.

"Tell me about your plans," Noah said, settling beside me. "After the divorce, I mean."

I took a sip of coffee, gathering my thoughts.

"It depends on how it all shakes out. If I can get a fair settlement, I’d like to buy a place of my own, go back to my Job as a Senior Marketing Executive and create a stable life for myself."

"Hey," Noah moved closer, taking my hand in his. "You’d be fine Diane. You are not alone. You have Joan, and..." frёewebηovel.cѳm

"And you?" I finished, looking up into his eyes.

"Yes," he said simply. "You have me. Whatever you need."

The sincerity in his voice made my heart ache. This wasn’t just about getting back at Liam anymore. Noah genuinely cared for me. Had maybe always cared for him too, in a way I’d never allowed myself to fully acknowledge.

"Noah," I began, not even sure what I wanted to say. "That day, at Joan’s, when I kissed you..."

His thumb traced gentle circles on the back of my hand. "You don’t have to explain. I understand. You were vulnerable, emotional..."

"No," I interrupted. "That’s not what I was going to say." I took a deep breath. "I was going to say that I don’t regret it. And I’ve thought about it. A lot."

Noah went very still, his eyes searching mine. "Diane—"

I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his, cutting off whatever he’d been about to say. For a heartbeat, he remained motionless, and I feared I’d misread everything. Then his hand came up to cup my cheek, and he was kissing me back with a tenderness that made my chest ache.

Unlike our first kiss, this one wasn’t born of desperation or vulnerability. This was deliberate, a conscious choice on both our parts. When we finally pulled apart, Noah rested his forehead against mine, his breathing slightly uneven.

"Are you sure about this?" he whispered. "I don’t want to be just a reaction to Liam, a way to get back at him."

The question triggered guilt, given my initial motives. Instead, I pushed the guilt aside, telling him.what he wants to hear. "You could never be just anything, Noah. Yes, I’m sure."

He searched my eyes for another moment, then nodded, seemingly satisfied with what he found there. "We should take things slow. You’re going through so much right now, and I don’t want to add complications."

I smiled, "Slow sounds perfect."

We stayed on the sofa for hours, talking quietly, occasionally sharing soft kisses, our bodies gradually moving closer until I was nestled against his side, his arm around me. The fire died completely, but neither of us moved to rekindle it, content in our shared warmth.

It was well past midnight when Noah finally suggested we get some sleep. He walked me to my bedroom door, brushing a light kiss across my lips.

"Goodnight, Diane," he murmured.

"Goodnight, Noah.