Until Love Finds Us

Episode Five: The Silent Treatment

The next morning, Noelle still wasn’t talking to him. Dave woke up, stretched his arms, and turned to see her stubbornly facing the other side of the bed, arms crossed, wrapped in a blanket like a grumpy cocoon.

He smirked.

"Still sulking?" he teased, running a hand through his messy bed hair.

Noelle ignored him.

Dave sighed dramatically. "Wow, my own wife won’t even look at me. My heart hurts."

Silence.

She didn’t even flinch.

Dave glanced at the clock. He had work to get to.

With a small chuckle, he got out of bed and headed to the bathroom to freshen up. When he came out, dressed in his crisp button-up and tie, Noelle was still in bed, scrolling through her phone like he didn’t exist.

He grabbed his watch from the nightstand and walked toward the door. Before leaving, he turned back and gave her one last look.

"Alright, then. Have fun sulking all day, Mrs. Carter."

Still, no response.

Dave shook his head, chuckling as he left for work.

Noelle finally looked up from her phone after he was gone.

"Tch. Annoying man," she muttered.

But somehow, it felt a little too quiet without him teasing her.

At the office, Dave was in the middle of reviewing some reports when his assistant knocked on the door.

"Sir, your father-in-law is here to see you."

Dave immediately stood up. "Send him in."

Moments later, Mr. Bennett walked in, looking as sophisticated as ever in his tailored suit.

Dave greeted him with a warm smile. "Dad, what a surprise."

Mr. Bennett chuckled at the casual greeting.

Mr. Bennett sighed as he sat down. "That daughter of mine… Is she giving you a hard time?"

Dave smirked. "Define ‘hard time’?"

Mr. Bennett shook his head with an amused expression. "I know Noelle can be difficult. She’s stubborn, mischievous, and doesn’t like being told what to do. But she has a soft heart deep down."

Dave leaned back in his chair, his smile softening. "I know. She acts tough, but she’s not as cold as she pretends to be."

Mr. Bennett looked relieved. "That’s good to hear."

Dave stretched his arms. "Don’t worry about her, Dad. I’ve gotten used to her antics."

Mr. Bennett raised an eyebrow. "Used to it? You mean she hasn’t changed at all?"

Dave let out a short laugh. "Not even a little. But it keeps things interesting."

Mr. Bennett chuckled, shaking his head. "You’re a good man, Dave."

Dave smirked. "Tell that to your daughter. She’s been giving me the silent treatment all day."

Mr. Bennett laughed. "That sounds like Noelle, alright."

The two men continued chatting for a while before Mr. Bennett left, feeling reassured that Dave could handle his daughter’s fiery personality.

Lataer that night...

When Dave returned to the apartment, the smell of food greeted him. He raised an eyebrow as he stepped into the kitchen and found Noelle sitting at the counter, eating casually.

She didn’t even glance at him, too busy enjoying her meal. The silence between them was thick.

"Ignoring me again?" Dave sighed as he loosened his tie. He grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and leaned against the counter, watching her.

Noelle didn’t respond. She just continued eating as if he wasn’t even there.

Shaking his head, Dave left the kitchen and went to the bedroom to change into a more comfortable shirt. When he returned, he pulled out a chair and sat across from her.

For a few moments, he just watched her eat, his chin resting on his palm. Then, with a smirk, he spoke.

"You know, I never thought I’d see the day when my wife would actually eat dinner at home instead of partying all night."

Noelle paused mid-bite but didn’t say anything.

Dave’s smirk grew. "Oh? Still giving me the silent treatment? Should I be worried?"

Still, no response.

He leaned forward slightly. "Noelle, are you perhaps… madly in love with me but too shy to admit it?"

That did it.

Noelle snapped her head up and glared at him. "Excuse me?!"

Dave chuckled. "Ah, so you can still talk. I was starting to think my wife had lost her voice."

Noelle rolled her eyes. "You wish."

He grinned, clearly satisfied that she was finally talking. "See? The silent treatment doesn’t suit you, babe."

She scoffed. "Don’t call me that."

Dave shrugged. "Alright, wife."

Noelle groaned in frustration and went back to eating.

Dave smirked, enjoying every second of teasing her. This was their dynamic, bickering, teasing, and her always getting annoyed. But deep down, he liked it. It made their arranged marriage a little less boring.

One night, Noelle was getting ready to go out like usual. She stood in front of the mirror, fixing her hair while Dave leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed.

"You know," he started, his voice calm yet firm, "I don’t like you going out late every night."

Noelle rolled her eyes. "Not this conversation again."

He didn’t back down. "You’re my wife. Do you know how it looks when my wife is out partying every night while I stay home?"

She turned to him, arms crossed. "Oh, so it’s about your image now?"

Dave sighed, running a hand through his hair. "No, Noelle. It’s about your safety. You think I don’t notice? You come home tired, sometimes looking uneasy, and don’t even get me started on that bruise you tried to hide last time."

Noelle froze for a second but quickly covered it with a scoff. "I can take care of myself."

Dave raised an eyebrow. "Yeah? And what if something worse happens? What if some guy tries to pull something again?"

She went silent for a moment, then turned back to the mirror, acting uninterested.

"Whatever. I don’t need your permission."

Dave smirked, already knowing she would say that. "Fine. Then let’s make a deal."

Noelle raised an eyebrow through the mirror. "What kind of deal?"

He stepped closer, meeting her gaze through the reflection. "I’ll let you go out, but I’m coming with you. If you refuse, then you’re not going anywhere."

Noelle spun around, looking at him in disbelief. "You? At a club?"

Dave shrugged. "Why not? I could use some fun."

She narrowed her eyes. "You just want to keep an eye on me."

He didn’t deny it. "Call it whatever you want. But that’s the deal. Take it or stay home."

Noelle gritted her teeth. She hated that he was so annoyingly persistent. But she also knew he wasn’t bluffing.

After a moment of intense eye contact, she sighed dramatically. "Fine! But don’t ruin my night."

Dave grinned. "No promises."

At the Club

The moment they stepped into the club, Noelle regretted her decision.

Dave was drawing too much attention.

Women were staring. Some whispering, some not even bothering to hide their interest.

It wasn’t just his looks but his presence was undeniable. He carried himself with confidence, effortlessly standing out among the crowd.

Noelle took a sip of her drink, annoyed as she watched a group of women eyeing him like hungry wolves.

Nelly, who was next to her, smirked. "Damn, your husband is popular. Didn’t know I’d be competing with half the club just to get a dance with him."

Noelle rolled her eyes. "Take him. I don’t care."

Nelly giggled. "Sure you don’t."

Noelle huffed. She didn’t care. She didn’t. But then...

One of the boldest girls walked up to Dave, batting her eyelashes. "Hey, handsome. Wanna dance?"

Dave gave a polite but uninterested smile. "No thanks."

The girl pouted. "Come on, just one dance?"

Before Dave could respond, Noelle appeared out of nowhere, wrapping her arm around his.

"Sorry, sweetheart. He’s taken." She smiled sweetly but her grip on his arm was deadly.

Dave raised an eyebrow, amused.

The girl huffed and walked away.

Noelle released him immediately, crossing her arms. "You’re annoying."

Dave smirked, leaning closer. "Were you jealous, babe?"

Noelle scoffed, looking away. "I just didn’t want you embarrassing me by flirting with random girls."

Dave chuckled. "I wasn’t flirting."

She ignored him and took another sip of her drink, pretending she wasn’t flustered.

Tonight was going to be a long night.

Noelle told herself she wouldn’t care.

She told herself that Dave coming to the club with her was just part of the deal.

But why...why was it so hard to ignore all the women staring at him?

She was supposed to be enjoying herself, yet every time she looked around, there was always another girl trying to catch his attention. Whispering. Smiling. Flipping their hair dramatically like they were in a shampoo commercial.

It was infuriating.

Dave, on the other hand, seemed completely unbothered. He had barely touched his drink, only sipping it casually while leaning against the bar.

Noelle took another shot, ignoring the warmth rising to her face. Maybe if she drank more, she’d stop noticing the way those women were practically drooling over him.

After a few more drinks, her frustration disappeared. Because suddenly, everything was funnier. The music sounded better. The lights looked prettier. And most importantly Dave didn’t look as annoying anymore. In fact…he looked kinda…cute. Wait. No. She refused to admit that. Instead, she giggled and grabbed his hand. "Come dance with me!"

Dave stared at her, clearly caught off guard. "Noelle, are you drunk?"

She pouted. "I’m not drunk. Just a little… happy."

Dave chuckled, shaking his head. "That’s literally what a drunk person would say."

She ignored him and dragged him onto the dance floor. The second they got there, she let go of his hand and started dancing.

Her body swayed with the music, her hair moving with every turn. The way she laughed so freely, her eyes twinkling under the club lights. Dave couldn’t take his eyes off her. She looked so carefree. So happy. He had never seen this side of her before. And without realizing it, he smiled behind her. Dave wasn’t the type to dance, so he just stood there, hands in his pockets, watching her.

Noelle, noticing his lack of movement, turned to him with a playful pout. "Why aren’t you dancing?"

Dave smirked. "I don’t dance."

Noelle rolled her eyes. "Ugh, you’re so boring."

She grabbed his hand again, trying to make him move, but he didn’t budge.

Dave just watched her, his gaze softening. Did she even realize how cute she looked right now? How her cheeks were flushed from the alcohol, how her lips curled into the most genuine smile, how she laughed without a care in the world? For the first time since their marriage he saw her as something more than just the woman he was forced to be with. He saw someone…he didn’t mind getting to know. Maybe...just maybe this marriage wouldn’t be so bad after all.

The Aftermath of a Wild Night.

Dave sighed, staring at the drunk mess clinging to his back.

"Remind me why I agreed to this deal again?" he muttered under his breath.

Noelle mumbled something incoherent, her face buried against his shoulder.

"Yeah, that’s what I thought," he said, adjusting his grip on her as he carried her up the stairs to their apartment.

Laying Her Down—And a Disaster

As soon as he reached their bedroom, he carefully laid her on the bed. Finally. He could go take a shower and...

BLERGH!

Dave froze. Slowly, he turned his head to look at Noelle. She had just thrown up. All over his shirt.

You’ve got to be kidding me.

For a long moment, he just stood there, staring at the mess. Then, with another deep sigh, he ran a hand through his hair.

"Great. Just great."

The Struggle of Changing Her Shirt

Dave knew he had no choice but to clean her up.

But if she finds out I changed her shirt, she’ll murder me in the morning.

Still, he couldn’t just let her sleep in a vomit-covered shirt. Gritting his teeth, he grabbed a clean oversized T-shirt from her drawer and carefully *very carefully *tried to remove her dirty one. Noelle, still half-conscious, suddenly swatted his hands away.

"Don't touch me, you p*****t…" she mumbled, her words slurred.

Dave rolled his eyes. "Oh, for God’s sake, I’m just trying to help you."

Noelle groaned, turning away from him. After a few more struggles, he finally managed to change her into the clean shirt.

He sat back, exhausted. "You're impossible."

She didn’t respond. Looking at her now, fast asleep, her hair messy, her breathing soft... She actually looked...peaceful. Dave shook his head, smiling slightly. "What am I gonna do with you?"

Then, he turned off the lights and went to sleep knowing full well tomorrow morning was going to be chaotic.

Morning Chaos

Noelle woke up with a pounding headache and a strange sense of discomfort. Something felt…off. She blinked a few times, trying to clear her vision. Then she looked down at her shirt.

Wait. This isn’t what I wore last night.

Her sleepy brain took a moment to register the situation. Her eyes widened.

"DAVE!" she shrieked, sitting up so fast she nearly fell off the bed.

In the bathroom, Dave, who was in the middle of brushing his teeth, sighed heavily. He already knew what was coming.

A few seconds later, the bathroom door slammed open.

"You changed my clothes?!" Noelle accused, arms crossed, eyes burning with fury.

Dave spat out his toothpaste and wiped his mouth before looking at her calmly. "Good morning to you too, dear wife."

"Don’t change the subject!" she snapped. "You undressed me in my sleep?! You’re such a p*****t!"

Dave snorted, unbothered. "Relax. I didn’t see anything. You threw up all over yourself. What was I supposed to do? Let you marinate in your own puke?"

Noelle’s face turned red with embarrassment.

"That...that’s not the point!" she sputtered. "You should’ve...I don’t know! Figured out another way!"

"Like what?" he asked, leaning lazily against the sink. "Wake you up and let Drunk You fight me for an hour? No thanks. I value my life."

Noelle huffed. "You still should’ve asked for my permission!"

"You were unconscious."

"Still!"

Dave let out an exaggerated sigh. "Fine, next time I’ll let you sleep in puke. Happy?"

Noelle threw a towel at him. They bickered all the way to the kitchen, where Dave finally poured himself a coffee, looking completely unaffected.

Noelle, still annoyed, glared at him from across the table.

"You better not touch me without permission again," she grumbled.

Dave smirked, taking a sip of his coffee.

"No promises."

The rest of the morning, Noelle was sulking. She refused to look at Dave, refused to speak to him, and whenever he walked past her, she would dramatically turn her back on him like he didn’t exist. Dave found it amusing. He leaned against the kitchen counter, watching as Noelle aggressively scrolled through her phone on the couch, her lips pursed, her expression sour.

"Still mad?" he asked, sipping his coffee.

Noelle ignored him.

Dave chuckled. "Wow, you’re really committed to this act, huh?"

Silence.

"You do realize I saved you from sleeping in your own vomit, right?" he continued. "That’s what a good husband does."

That made her snap.

She whipped her head toward him, eyes blazing. "A GOOD husband wouldn’t undress his wife without her permission!"

Dave sighed, rubbing his temple. "For the last time, I didn’t see anything. I have self-control, you know?"

Noelle rolled her eyes. "Yeah, sure. Whatever helps you sleep at night."

Dave smirked. "I actually slept great. You snored, though."

Noelle gasped. "I DO NOT SNO—"

"You do," he interrupted, grinning. "Loudly."

Noelle grabbed a napkin and hurled it at him.

Dave caught it effortlessly.

"Real mature," he teased.

Noelle crossed her arms, grumpily turning her back on him again. Dave shook his head, still sipping his coffee, watching her from across the room. He still couldn’t believe he was married to this woman. She was dramatic, stubborn, and a complete handful. But for some reason, it wasn’t as bad as he thought it would be.

A week later, on the weekend, Noelle’s parents invited them for dinner. Dave wasn’t exactly thrilled. Not that he disliked her parents; her father, especially, was a great man but the idea of spending a whole evening pretending to be a happily married couple with Noelle? That was exhausting.

As they drove to her parents’ house, they bickered the entire way.

“I still don’t understand why we have to go,” Noelle grumbled, adjusting her lipstick in the car mirror. “It’s not like we’re actually...” She stopped herself before finishing the sentence.

Dave glanced at her. "Actually what? Married?" He smirked. "Hate to break it to you, sweetheart, but legally, you’re stuck with me."

Noelle scowled. "Don’t remind me."

Dave chuckled. "Oh, I will. Every chance I get."

She huffed, crossing her arms. As they pulled into her parents’ driveway, Dave let out a deep breath.

"Okay," he said, turning to her. "Let’s just get through this dinner without you murdering me in front of your parents."

Noelle forced a fake smile. "No promises."

Inside Her Parents' House

The second they stepped inside, Noelle’s mother, Margaret, greeted them with a warm smile.

"You two made it!" she said, pulling Noelle into a hug before turning to Dave. "And look at you, Dave! So handsome, as always."

Dave flashed his usual charming smile. "Good to see you, Mom."

"Mom, stop acting like he’s a prince," Noelle muttered.

Margaret ignored her daughter’s attitude and led them into the dining room.

Noelle’s father, Robert Bennett, was already at the table, waiting for them.

"Dave, son," Robert greeted with a firm handshake. "How’s work treating you?"

Dave smiled. "Busy as always, sir. But I can’t complain."

Robert chuckled. "That’s what I like to hear."

Noelle, meanwhile, rolled her eyes. Her father liked Dave a little too much, in her opinion.

As they sat down for dinner, the bickering resumed.

"Dave, can you pass the salt?" Noelle asked sweetly.

Dave handed it to her with an innocent smile. "Of course, darling wife."

Noelle's eye twitched.

Her mother beamed. "Aww, you two are so cute together!"

Noelle almost choked on her water.

Dave, of course, was enjoying every second of this.

"See, Noelle?" he said with a smirk. "Your parents think we make a great couple."

Noelle kicked him under the table. Dave bit back a laugh. Her father, unaware of their silent battle, sighed happily. "It’s good to see you two getting along."

Noelle gritted her teeth. "Yeah. So great."

Dave just smiled. He was having the time of his life.

Leo at the Café

Leo sat at the corner of a busy café, his fingers tapping restlessly against the table. His coffee had long gone cold, but he barely noticed. His attention was on his phone, where Noelle’s name sat at the top of his call log.

Five missed calls.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"She’s ignoring me," he muttered under his breath.

From across the table, his friend, Jake, raised an eyebrow. "Dude, maybe you should take the hint."

Leo shot him a glare. "She’s not ignoring me. She’s just… busy."

Jake scoffed. "Yeah, too busy with her husband."

Leo’s jaw clenched at the word. Husband.

He hated it.

He hated the thought of Noelle being married to someone else.

"She doesn’t love him," Leo said firmly.

Jake sighed. "Maybe not. But she’s still his wife, man. What are you planning to do? Keep chasing after her like a lost puppy?"

Leo didn’t respond.

Because, deep down, he knew he wasn’t ready to let her go.

After leaving her parents' house, Noelle and Dave decided to stop by a nearby park to get some fresh air. Well, Dave decided. Noelle had simply rolled her eyes and mumbled something about wanting to go home, but he ignored her complaints. Now, they walked along the park’s dimly lit path, the cool night breeze ruffling Noelle’s wavy hair. The city lights twinkled in the distance, and the faint sounds of children laughing and couples chatting filled the air.

“Why are we even here?” Noelle grumbled, folding her arms over her chest.

Dave smirked. “Because you ate too much at dinner. You looked like you were about to explode.”

Her eyes widened. "Excuse me?" She shot him a deadly glare. “I did not eat too much!”

Dave raised an eyebrow. “No? Then why did your dad have to stop you from taking a third plate of dessert?”

“That was not my third plate. And besides, it’s my dad’s house. I can eat whatever I want,” she huffed.

Dave chuckled, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that.”

Noelle narrowed her eyes at him. “You’re so annoying.”

“You say that every day.”

“Because it’s true every day.”

Dave laughed, shaking his head. “You know, for someone who doesn’t like arguing, you sure love to argue with me.”

Noelle scoffed. “That’s because you’re impossible to talk to. You say the most ridiculous things just to get on my nerves.”

Dave smirked, leaning slightly closer. “And yet, you still talk to me.”

Noelle opened her mouth to snap back, but no comeback came. He had a point, and she hated that.

Instead, she looked away, pretending to admire the trees. “Whatever.”

They walked in silence for a moment, the tension between them lingering but oddly comfortable.

Finally, Dave spoke, his voice a little softer this time.

“…Your parents are nice.”

Noelle glanced at him in surprise. “You think so?”

“Yeah. Your mom is sweet. Your dad is a little intimidating, but I can tell he cares about you a lot.”

Noelle’s lips twitched, but she quickly masked her smile. “Of course he does. I’m his favorite child.”

Dave chuckled. “You’re his only child.”

“Exactly.”

They kept walking, the sound of their footsteps blending with the rustling leaves. And for the first time that night, they weren’t bickering.

By the time they got back to their apartment, Dave was exhausted. He barely said a word before heading straight to the bedroom. Noelle, on the other hand, took her time changing into her pajamas, scrolling through her phone, and enjoying the peaceful silence.

When she finally crawled into bed, she glanced over at him. He was already asleep. His steady breathing filled the room, his face relaxed for once, no teasing smirk, no sarcastic remarks. Just… peace. She rolled her eyes. “Of course you sleep like a baby,” she muttered under her breath, turning off the lamp.

The Next Morning

Dave was already dressed when Noelle walked into the kitchen, rubbing her sleepy eyes. He had a suitcase by the door, his white dress shirt neatly tucked in, sleeves rolled up just enough to show his forearms.

She yawned. “Where are you going?”

Dave took a sip of his coffee before answering. “Business trip. Three days.”

Noelle blinked. Three days?

She didn’t know why that information caught her off guard. It wasn’t like she needed him around. In fact, it sounded like the perfect break from their constant bickering.

“Oh.” She shrugged. “Well, have fun, I guess.”

Dave smirked, setting his mug down. “Try not to miss me too much.”

Noelle scoffed. “As if.”

He chuckled, grabbing his suitcase. “See you in three days, wife.”

Before she could throw a sarcastic reply, he was already out the door.

Day One

The apartment was finally quiet. Noelle sprawled out on the couch, watching TV without anyone stealing the remote. She blasted her favorite songs, danced around in her pajamas, and ordered all the junk food she wanted. It was perfect. No annoying husband. No teasing remarks. No one to bicker with. She felt free.

Day Two

The apartment was too quiet. She scrolled through her phone, staring at the empty space next to her on the couch. It wasn’t like she needed him around, but… why did it feel so weird without him? Her finger hovered over his contact. Nope. Not happening.

Instead, she texted Nelly.

Wanna go out tonight?

Day Three

She was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling. It was official. She was bored. Completely, utterly bored. And maybe, just maybe she missed bickering with him. But she would never admit that. Right?