Hell Hath no fury like a billionaire's Ex-Chapter 43: Behind Closed Doors

Diane’s POV

As Noah’s footsteps faded down the hallway, I closed my bedroom door and leaned against it, exhaling deeply. The soft click of the lock felt...ending one Chapter, and beginning another.

My fingers trembled slightly as I reached beneath my oversized sweater, unfastening the concealed band that had been pressing against my growing belly all day.

I held the supportive garment in my hands, staring at it. How much longer could I keep this secret? The pregnancy band had become my constant companion, my shield against prying eyes and questions I wasn’t ready to answer. At nearly five months along, I was still able to hide my condition, but time was running out.

I tossed the band onto the bedside table and ran my hands over the small but distinct swell of my stomach. The twins. My babies. Our little secret.

Sliding into bed, I propped myself up with a pillow tucked behind my back for support. Sleep wouldn’t come—my mind was racing, replaying the evening with Noah, the kisses we’d shared, the way his eyes had softened when he looked at me. Genuine care, genuine affection.

And I was using it.

The thought pierced through me like a knife, and before I could stop them, tears welled up in my eyes. I was tired. So tired of the lies, the schemes, the constant vigilance. Five months of my life had become a twisted game of chess, with Liam as my opponent and everyone else...even Noah...as my pawn.

I wiped at my tears, frustrated at my own weakness. "Get it together, Diane," I whispered to myself in the darkness. But the tears kept coming, the weight of everything pressing down on me—the betrayal, the divorce, the pregnancy, the revenge.

I cried until my eyes burned and my throat ached, muffling my sobs in the pillow so Noah wouldn’t hear. Eventually, exhaustion won out, and I drifted into a fitful sleep.

The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, rousing me from my sleep.

The scent of coffee and something sweet wafted through the air, drawing me from my bed. I showered quickly, careful as always to keep my belly band within easy reach. Once dressed in jeans and a loose-fitting flannel shirt, I made my way to the kitchen.

Noah stood at the stove, his back to me as he flipped what looked like pancakes.

"Morning," I said, my voice still rough from last night’s tears.

Noah turned, his face breaking into a warm smile. "Hey, there. Sleep well?"

I nodded, not trusting myself to elaborate. "Something smells amazing."

"Blueberry pancakes," he replied, sliding a stack onto a plate. "Coffee’s fresh, though I made some herbal tea too, in case you preferred that."

The thoughtfulness of the gesture touched me. As I reached for a mug, Noah’s hand brushed mine, sending a small jolt of electricity up my arm. His eyes met mine, and for a moment we both stood frozen, the previous night’s intimacy hovering between us.

"Thank you," I said softly."

His smile deepened. "My pleasure."

We ate breakfast on the porch, watching the morning mist rise off the lake. The conversation flowed easily, focusing on simple things—the beauty of the surroundings, favorite books. It felt normal, almost healing.

"What would you like to do today?" Noah asked as we cleared the dishes. "We could hike down to the lake, or there’s a nice trail through the woods if you’re up for it."

I considered the options. A hike might be risky—too much exertion could make me light-headed, and I didn’t want to raise suspicions. But the lake sounded perfect.

"The lake," I decided. "It looks so peaceful."

An hour later, we were walking along the shore, the cool water lapping at our feet. Noah had rolled up his jeans, and I’d done the same, though I kept my loose top on despite the warming day. We’d wandered in comfortable silence, occasionally stopping to admire a particularly beautiful view or interesting rock formation.

"You seem different today," Noah observed as we paused to rest on a fallen log. "More... I don’t know. Pensive?"

I looked out across the water, considering how to respond. "I did a lot of thinking last night," I admitted.

Noah nodded, waiting for me to continue.

"About everything," I added. "Liam, the divorce. Sometimes it all feels so overwhelming."

"You’re one of the strongest people I know, Diane," Noah said quietly. "The way you’ve handled everything—it’s remarkable."

A pang of guilt shot through me. If only he knew the full truth, the schemes I’d been plotting, the secret i had been keeping. Would he still think me remarkable then?

I was about to respond when a wave of dizziness washed over me. I swayed slightly, and Noah immediately reached out to steady me.

"Are you okay?" Concern etched his face.

"Fine," I said quickly. "Just stood up too fast. I should probably eat something."

Noah’s eyes narrowed slightly, studying me. "You’ve been looking a bit pale. Are you sure you’re feeling alright?"

"Just tired," I assured him. "It’s been a lot, you know?"

He nodded, but I could see the worry hadn’t left his eyes. "Let’s head back. I packed some sandwiches for lunch."

As we walked back to the cabin, Noah kept a protective hand at the small of my back. The gesture was sweet, but it made me acutely aware of how easily my secret could be discovered. One wrong move, and that’s it.

Back at the cabin, we ate lunch on the sofa, the conversation turning to lighter topics. As the sun began to set, Noah suggested we take a drive to a nearby lookout point to watch the sunset.

"It’s spectacular," he promised. "You can see for miles."

I hesitated, then an idea struck me. "Actually, there’s somewhere else I’d like to go, if you don’t mind."

"Name it," Noah replied.

"There’s a beach resort about two hours from here," I explained. "Fountain Head Resort. It’s... it’s a place from my childhood. I’d love to see it again, maybe have dinner there?"

It was a lie, of course. Fountain Head was where Liam and I had spent a weekend early in our marriage—a weekend he’d once described as "perfect." It was where he’d looked into my eyes and promised he’d never forget what we shared, that he loved me more than anything.

The thought of being there with Noah, of creating new memories to overwrite the old ones...and perhaps capturing a few photos to ensure Liam would see them...was too tempting to resist.

Noah checked his watch. "Two hours? We’d get there just in time for dinner. Sure, let’s do it."

The drive was pleasant, the fading light casting long shadows across the landscape. Noah kept one hand on the steering wheel, the other resting on the car armrest.

Fountain Head Resort appeared exactly as I remembered it... The main restaurant overlooked the water, and as luck would have it, we were seated at a table with a prime view of the sunset.

"This place is amazing," Noah said, looking around appreciatively. "I can see why you wanted to come back."

I nodded, scanning the restaurant. It was busy, filled with couples and families enjoying the evening.

As we ordered dinner, I suggested we take a photo together. "To remember the weekend," I explained innocently.

Noah readily agreed, pulling out his phone and moving to sit beside me. He put his arm around my shoulders, and I leaned into him, making sure my face was clearly visible in the frame. I smiled, not at the camera, but at the thought of Liam seeing this image—seeing me with his best friend, happy and carefree at "His" special place.

"One more," I said after the first photo, turning to face Noah. This time, I placed my hand on his cheek and pressed a kiss to his lips just as he snapped the picture.

"That’s definitely a keeper," Noah murmured when we pulled apart, showing me the photo. It was perfect...intimate, romantic, unmistakably us.

"Will you send those to me?" I asked, trying to keep my voice casual. "I’d like to have them."

Noah nodded, already forwarding the images to my phone. "Of course."

As we ate dinner, I found myself genuinely enjoying Noah’s company. His laughter was infectious, his stories entertaining, his attentiveness touching. For brief moments, I almost forgot about my scheme, about the real reason we were there.

After dinner, we walked along the beach, the moon casting a silver path across the water. Noah held my hand, our fingers intertwined, and I leaned against his shoulder.

"Thank you for bringing me here," I said softly. "It means a lot."

He stopped walking and turned to face me, his expression serious in the moonlight. "Diane, these past few days with you... they’ve been incredible. I know the timing is complicated, with everything you’re going through. But I want you to know that I’m here for you."

I held his hands placing mine on his, to show my appreciation, partly to avoid having to respond with words that might betray my deception.

We drove back to the cabin in comfortable silence, my head resting on Noah’s shoulder as he drove. By the time we arrived, it was late, and we were both tired from the day’s adventures.

At my bedroom door, Noah kissed me goodnight, his lips lingering on mine. "Sweet dreams," he whispered.

As I sat alone on the edge of the bed, my hand hesitated over my phone, scrolling through pictures from the resort, preparing to put them to use. Yet, the day’s authenticity and sincerity made me rethink. I couldn’t bring myself to tarnish it with manipulation and revenge.

As I drifted off to sleep, a sly, triumphant smile spread across my face.