The Bride Widow
Chapter 138: Ch 138: My Reputation? - Part 1

Chapter 138: Ch 138: My Reputation? - Part 1

Daniel took a deep breath, steadying himself as he stared at Anabella. She had turned her head away from him, her face a picture of quiet defiance. But he knew her too well—or so he thought. He could see the faint trace of doubt in her body language, the tension in her jaw, and the way her fingers clutched the hospital blanket.

"I’m not just here for me," Daniel said finally, his tone quieter, almost pleading. "This isn’t just about saving my company or my reputation. This is about James too."

Anabella’s eyes flickered briefly toward him at the mention of his son. Daniel caught it and pressed on, his voice gaining urgency. "You know how much James looks up to me. If I lose everything, it won’t just be me who suffers. He’ll lose his stability, his home, his future. He’s already struggling to adjust, and this—this could ruin him."

Anabella’s throat tightened at the mention of James. She couldn’t deny she had always had a soft spot for the boy. Despite everything that had gone wrong in her life with Daniel, James had been a bright spot—a kind, curious child who had nothing to do with the mess his parents had created.

Daniel noticed her hesitation, and it gave him hope. He softened his tone further, leaning slightly closer. "I know I’ve made mistakes, Anabella. But James doesn’t deserve to suffer because of them. You care about him, don’t you? You don’t want to see him hurt."

Anabella’s lips pressed into a thin line, her heart wavering against her better judgment. But before she could respond, the door swung open, and the doctor stepped inside, clipboard in hand. His sharp eyes took in the scene—the tension between Anabella and Daniel—and his expression hardened.

"I believe visiting hours are over," the doctor said firmly, his voice cutting through the room like a knife. He gestured toward Daniel. "Sir, I need you to leave. Now."

Daniel straightened, his jaw tightening. "I’m not leaving until we’ve finished talking."

The doctor’s gaze didn’t waver. "This is a hospital, not a conference room. The patient’s health comes first, and she’s clearly agitated. Leave now, or I’ll have security escort you out."

Before Daniel could argue further, another figure appeared in the doorway—Noah. His usual playful demeanor was absent, replaced by a stormy expression that sent a chill through the room. His sharp eyes zeroed in on Daniel, and his body tensed like a predator ready to strike.

"Noah," Anabella started, her voice faint with a mix of relief and apprehension.

But Noah wasn’t looking at her. He was focused entirely on Daniel, his hands curling into fists at his sides. "What the hell are you doing here?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.

Daniel turned to face Noah, his confidence faltering under the alpha’s glare. "This doesn’t concern you," he said, though his voice lacked its usual edge.

Noah’s lips curled into a snarl as he took a step closer. "You think you can just waltz in here after everything you’ve done? You think you have any right to bother her?"

"Noah, don’t—" Anabella tried to interject, but her voice was drowned out as Noah closed the distance between him and Daniel in a flash.

Without warning, Noah grabbed Daniel by the collar, his strength overpowering the other man effortlessly. Daniel struggled, his hands clawing at Noah’s grip, but it was useless. Noah’s fury was palpable, his muscles coiled with restrained violence.

"You have no idea how much I’ve wanted to do this," Noah growled, his voice filled with venom. "You think you can keep hurting her, showing up when it’s convenient for you? Not anymore."

"Noah, stop!" Anabella’s voice broke through, panicked and urgent. "Please, let him go!"

Noah hesitated for a brief moment, glancing back at her. The anguish in her eyes gave him pause, but his grip on Daniel didn’t loosen. Instead, he used his other hand to shove the door open wider, glaring at the doctor. "Call security. Get him out of here."

The doctor nodded, already moving to comply. Noah dragged Daniel toward the door, his strength making it clear that Daniel had no chance of resisting. Before shoving him out into the hallway, Noah leaned in close, his voice a deadly whisper. "Stay away from her. If you don’t, I won’t be so gentle next time."

With one final push, Daniel stumbled into the corridor, his pride and composure shattered. Security was already approaching, and Noah didn’t bother sparing him another glance as he returned to the room.

Anabella sat frozen on the bed, her hands trembling slightly. "Noah..." she started, her voice wavering.

Noah knelt beside her, his anger replaced by concern. "Are you okay? Did he say anything to upset you?"

Anabella shook her head, though tears welled in her eyes. "You didn’t have to do that," she whispered. "It’s just going to make everything worse."

Noah reached out, his hand resting gently on hers. "I’ll handle whatever comes next," he said firmly. "You don’t need to deal with him anymore. I won’t let him hurt you again."

Anabella’s chest rose and fell as she tried to steady her breathing. Her hands fidgeted with the edge of the hospital blanket as she looked up at Noah, who was still kneeling beside her bed. His expression was unreadable, but she could see the flicker of concern in his eyes.

"I’m not worried about him hurting me," she said softly, breaking the heavy silence in the room. Her voice trembled slightly, but she forced herself to meet Noah’s gaze. "What I’m worried about is you, Noah. Your reputation."

Noah blinked, momentarily caught off guard. His brow furrowed, and for a moment, he didn’t know how to respond. Anabella’s words weren’t what he’d expected, and the weight of her concern struck him in a way he hadn’t anticipated.

"My reputation?" he echoed, his tone light but tinged with disbelief. A faint, lopsided smile curved his lips as he tried to deflect the seriousness of the moment. "Come on, Anabella. That’s the last thing you need to worry about. My reputation is pretty much bulletproof."