Chapter 29
722 Words
Digging Beneath the Surface
Noah stood on the balcony of the guest house Juliet had forced him into, holding a burner phone tightly to his ear. The sun had barely begun to rise, casting long shadows over the Carter estate. His voice was low, cautious.
“Chris, it’s me,” he said.
A pause on the other end, then a gasp. “Noah? Holy sh*t, man. You’re alive? You remember everything?”
Noah glanced over his shoulder, lowering his voice. “Keep your voice down. Not everyone knows I’m back… Not really. I need you to do something for me.”
“Anything.”
“Dig into Daniel Rains. Full background check. I need to know who he is. Every move he’s made in the last four years. Especially around Anna.”
Chris whistled. “So you think this guy’s not who he seems?”
“I know he’s not,” Noah muttered. “Something’s off. He got to Anna too fast. He’s too perfect. I need the truth.”
“Give me 48 hours.”
---
Elsewhere — A Dark Cafe in the City
Daniel checked his phone repeatedly before Isabelle finally walked in, fashionably late and unapologetic as always. She slid into the booth across from him with a smirk.
“Still paranoid?” she teased, glancing at the way he’d positioned himself facing the exit.
Daniel didn’t smile. “Why did you ask to meet?”
“I have a proposition,” she said, crossing her legs. “We’ve done this dance before, haven’t we? We both wanted something. You wanted Anna. I wanted Noah.”
“That was four years ago,” Daniel replied flatly.
She leaned in. “Exactly. And here we are, back where we started. Only this time, it’s more complicated.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened. “Get to the point.”
“I need your help keeping Anna away from Noah. Permanently. Whatever connection they still have—it’s real. And dangerous for both of us.”
Daniel gave a low laugh. “You mean for you.”
Isabelle’s eyes glittered. “Let’s not pretend you’re above this. You’ve built your life around her. If she leaves you for him, you lose everything.”
He didn’t respond.
“I’m willing to make it worth your while,” she continued. “Financially. Politically. I can protect your reputation. But only if you help me.”
Daniel looked at her long and hard, then finally said, “I'll consider it. But if you cross me again—”
Isabelle smiled sweetly. “Relax, Danny. For old time’s sake, let’s keep things clean.”
---
At Anna’s Apartment...
Anna stood in the kitchen, stirring her coffee absentmindedly. Daniel walked in moments later, catching her staring blankly into space.
“You okay?” he asked.
She nodded too quickly. “Just tired.”
But the truth was haunting her.
Ever since she’d started caring for Noah again, his eyes had changed. The way he looked at her sometimes when he thought she wasn’t paying attention—there was knowledge there. Familiarity.
“I think Noah’s pretending,” she whispered later that evening to her friend Kira.
Kira frowned. “Why would he fake amnesia?”
Anna looked down at her untouched cup of tea. “Maybe to protect himself. Or maybe… to expose something.”
Her gut told her she was right.
And that scared her more than anything.
---
Later That Night — Carter Mansion
Juliet entered Noah’s room with Isabelle trailing behind her like a loyal shadow.
“We thought we could play cards,” Juliet said with fake warmth, placing a tray of snacks on the table.
Isabelle sat closer to Noah than necessary. “You’re looking better, Noah.”
He smiled tightly. “Thanks.”
As they played, Isabelle placed a hand over his. “We used to be really close before the accident.”
Noah tilted his head. “Did we?”
Juliet beamed. “She’s always been like family.”
“More than that,” Isabelle added with a wink.
Noah leaned back, eyes cold despite the smile. “Funny. I keep having dreams of someone else. A woman with fire in her eyes. A fighter.”
Juliet’s hands stilled. Isabelle’s face paled.
Noah’s grin widened, dangerous and calm.
Let the war begin.
- Writer
