Falling in Love : I love you, Today and Forever
Chapter 826: Miracle

Chapter 826: Miracle

"Umm, this is good," Aria moaned as she ate the pasta Noah had cooked especially for her.

"Thank you," Noah beamed. He loved it whenever Aria praised his cooking. He loved cooking for her and every time she complimented his culinary skills, he felt all his hard work was worth it.

"Where’s Joshua by the way?" Aria looked around, but couldn’t find the man anywhere.

"I have no idea." Noah shrugged. He had returned to the bedroom once Ethan left with Valerie and her team. So, he didn’t know where everyone else was or what they were up to.

"Noah?"

"Hmm?"

"I have a question for you." Aria hesitated as she rolled her fork on the plate. The matter had been bugging her for quite some time and she didn’t know how to bring it up before him.

"What is it, Aria?" Noah noticed Aria’s grim expression and he stopped eating while he waited for her to speak up. Something was bothering her for sure. Her face said it all.

"Do you feel..." Aria fidgeted in her spot uneasily while she arranged her words in her mind.

"Does it bother you that I have PTSD? I mean, after all, I’m sick, mentally." Aria finally braced herself and asked the question that was bothering her.

PTSD was no joke. There was no guarantee that one could be cured of it completely. It differed from person to person and their mental strength.

Aria had read a few articles about PTSD and knew that people who had it also suffered from co-occurring conditions like depression, suicidal thoughts, and anxiety issues. Although she was far from showing those symptoms, she couldn’t say the same about the future.

’What if Noah wanted to leave her because of it?’ She thought and lowered her head as she bit her lip.

"What! No." Noah was even surprised to hear her ask the question. However, he wasn’t annoyed at her for doubting him or his love for her. He understood her circumstances and the reason why she was having such doubts.

"Aria, you have PTSD and you’ll eventually recover from it. It’s not something to be anxious about." Noah held her hand and looked at her keenly. "And if I were to be bothered by it, then I’m unworthy of being your boyfriend, or anybody’s boyfriend for that instance."

"But..."

"Aria, listen to me and listen to me carefully." Noah pushed his chair closer to her and leaned forward until his face was inches from hers.

"I love you and that won’t change irrespective of what happens, what you say," Noah assured her. "If you’re still unconvinced, let’s return to our bedroom and I’ll show you how much I love you."

The touching moment was broken when he uttered the last sentence and Aria glared at him, although she was anything but annoyed.

"Noah, I’m serious."

"When did I say I’m joking? I’m serious as well," Noah said in all seriousness, rendering Aria speechless.

"I love making love to you, fucking you until you are crying tears of pleasure and screaming in joy. If given a choice, I’d never leave the bedroom and make love to you all day, all night. Do you want to try?"

Aria didn’t doubt him at all. Noah was damn serious about it and if she suspected him or go as far as to even nod her head, she would be in deep trouble. Noah had a large sex drive and he had proven it to her time and again. If she were to push his limits, then she’d be the one to suffer. So, she surrendered before it was too late.

"No, no, please. I got it. I won’t ask such questions anymore."

"Good. I’ll let you go this time. But if you doubt my love for you once more, then I’m locking you in my bedroom for an entire day and no one can save you," Noah warned and Aria gulped in fright as she nodded fervently.

Noah felt a tinge of regret. Aria had given up just when he was about to take action. If she hadn’t accepted defeat so quickly, he’d have shown her how deep his love for her was.

"Oh, yeah, I forgot to tell you. Ian has given a day off for you tomorrow."

"Got it." Aria nodded. "I wonder why Dad hasn’t come down yet," She mused as she looked behind her.

"He couldn’t sleep yesterday and was working till dawn. Maybe he is catching up on some sleep." Noah shrugged.

"Hmm." Aria pushed the last bite of pasta into her mouth and leaned back. "Ivy must be hungry too. I’ll bring her some food."

"I’ll come with you."

While Aria filled a bowl of congee and some pasta on a plate, Noah cleaned the dining table. Once done, they went to see Ivy together.

Unlike Joshua, Aria didn’t knock at the door and entered the room directly, only to halt in shock when she saw the scene before her.

Noah was a step behind her. So, it took him a moment more to see what was happening and he too was stunned to see the two people on the bed deep asleep.

Ivy was lying on the bed, her body tilting towards the left slightly while Joshua was sleeping on her left with his left hand wrapped around her waist. Although there was a foot distance between their bodies, their closeness was impossible to ignore.

Aria blinked a few times to clear her eyes. ’Am I hallucinating?’ she thought and glanced at Noah, only to find him as stunned as her.

"What’s happening?’ she mouthed, unwilling to disturb the couple who seemed to be at peace, especially Joshua who hadn’t slept so well in weeks.

"I have no idea," Noah mouthed back. He didn’t know what was happening either. It was understandable if Joshua himself laid down on the bed beside Ivy. But he wouldn’t dare do it without Ivy’s permission. She had to have permitted him to lay down beside her.

’How did this miracle happen?’ he wondered and gave Aria a questioning look. Should they go in and wake them up or leave and come back a few hours later?

Aria gestured towards the door and Noah understood her thoughts immediately. Whatever was happening, it was between Ivy and Joshua and they had no reason to disturb them. They didn’t know how things had ended up this way between them. So, they didn’t want to make it awkward by waking them up in such a situation.

"What the hell was that?" Aria couldn’t control herself once they were back in the kitchen.

"I don’t know." Noah shook his head, his mind going blank when he recalled the scene he had just seen.

"Do you think Joshua himself laid down beside her?"

"Without Ivy’s permission?"

Aria nodded.

"Not possible. He wouldn’t do that, not when he knows he would piss Ivy off, more than she already is."

Aria hummed thoughtfully.

"Then, how did this happen? I thought it would take them a long time to break the ice between them."

"Well, something must have happened for Ivy to give in," Noah stated, clearing his head out of his ridiculous thoughts. "Don’t worry, Aria. Ivy knows what she’s doing. She wouldn’t do anything without consideration."

"I hope so. I don’t want her to regret it later."

’Something in my mind tells me she wouldn’t,’ Noah thought but didn’t say it out loud.

"What do we do now?"

"What do you want to do?" Noah looked at the time on his watch. It was barely six in the evening and they had a lot of time. Moreover, Ethan would only start with his mission the next day. So, they couldn’t monitor the situation until then.

"Do you want to watch a movie or something?" he suggested.

"Sure." Aria had no qualms with it. "It’s been quite some time since I watched a movie."

"I hope by the time the movie ends, they have woken up," Noah mumbled as he and Aria went to the home theater to watch a movie.

"What do you want to watch?" Noah browsed through the movies and looked for a good movie.

"I’m fine with anything." Aria made herself comfortable on the seat and raised the handle beside her to make the two seats into a couple seat.

Noah browsed through the selection of movies. ’Action? No. There’s been a lot of action in our lives lately. Let’s take a break. Suspense? Thriller? No, way. What if the scenes trigger Aria? Romance? Aria will kill me. Drama? I’m going to kill myself. Sci-fi? Let’s give our brains some rest. Comedy? Oh yeah!’

"Dumb and Dumber?" Aria was surprised at his choice of movie and let out a helpless laugh.

"Never a miss with a great comedy movie." Noah winked at her and switched off the lights.

Noah didn’t do anything mischievous during the movie, allowing Aria to relax and let loose. And she relaxed and laughed all the while, showing him that it was the best decision to choose a comedy movie.

By the time the movie ended, Aria was a laughing mess and he had to hold her to steady herself.

"That was good." Aria stifled her laugh when she called one of the funny scenes.

"I’m glad you liked it."

"You can never go wrong with Jim Carrey."

"True that," Noah agreed in a breath. "Should we take a look at Ivy and Joshua? They must be awake by now."

"Let’s go."

This time, they went to Ivy’s room directly. Ivy was wide awake while Joshua was still fast asleep.